Task
You recently attended a training course for your work. Your employer has asked you for your feedback on the training course.
Write a letter to your employer. In your letter
- remind your employer what the course was about
- explain why the course was useful to you in your work
- suggest why the course may not be suitable for some of your other colleagues
Examiner’s Answer
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer.
Dear Ms Karim,
Thank you very much again for sending me on the Workplace Safety course. It was valuable training and I now feel a lot more confident that I know how to prevent accidents in the factory. We covered points such as safe storage, keeping access ways clear and fire safety.
I can report that I have already used the skills I learned; when I noticed some cables that were a trip hazard and also a large bin that was partially blocking the exit, I was able to identify and fix those problems straight away.
I understand that employees who started working with us this year have already received this training as part of their orientation but for those who have been here longer, it would be a good opportunity to refresh and add to their knowledge.
It is a well-run course that is very relevant to our workplace and I am grateful for the opportunity.
Many thanks
Examiner’s Comment
This is a good response to the task: it addresses all three bullet points, uses a suitable tone to communicate with an employer and is presented in the correct letter format. There is clear progression throughout the letter, but there could be more evidence to justify why the course might not be suitable for colleagues (the final bullet point). There are some effective cohesive devices [that | those who], but a wider range of linking expressions than [and | but] would improve the final rating.
Vocabulary is used well, and there is some effective collocation [prevent accidents | trip hazard | partially blocking]. Grammatical structures include simple and complex examples [started working with us | have been here longer], but most of the letter is in the past simple and past simple tenses.
To achieve the highest scores, the candidate would need to include a wider range of cohesive devices and grammatical structures. They could improve the response by providing further suggestions on why the course may not be suitable for other colleagues. Overall, it is a good response.
