IELTS Speaking Part 1 Band 9 Model Answers – Topic: Email/Letter

1. Do you like to write a letter or an email?

Due to time constraint and professionalism, emails are much more favorable than traditional handwritten correspondence. However, I still enjoy the sophistication and artfulness of handwritten letters since each one is unique and intensely personal. Therefore, unless in business context, I usually send written notes or invitations for my friends and family for their intimacy.

Constraint (n): a thing that limits or restricts something, or your freedom to do something

Correspondence (n): the activity of writing letters

Sophistication (n): the quality of being sophisticated

Artfulness (n): the quality of being artful or of acting in an artful manner

Intensely (adv): in a way that shows very strong feelings, opinions or thoughts about somebody/something

Intimacy (n): the state of having a close personal relationship with somebody

2. Do you think emails are useful?

Obviously yes. It’s one of the most primary tools in business communication as well as personal correspondence. On the business front, emails are immediate, direct and efficient for both internal and external communication. Parties can send and receive inquiries or contracts in the matter of seconds, which helps keep the flow of information and business process going.

Internal (a): involving or concerning only the people who are part of a particular organization rather than people from outside it

External (a): happening or coming from outside a place, an organization, your particular situation, etc.

Inquiry (n): a request for information about somebody/something; a question about somebody/something

3. Who do you usually write to and what do you write about?

I write to my family, and to my friends; we keep each other posted about our lives and work, and also we have heart-to-hear talks about our opinions and feelings.

4. What sorts of letters (or emails) do you think are most difficult to write?

In my opinion, complaint letters are one of the toughest pieces of writing because of the discomfort they may cause. Since I’m an easy-going and conflict-averse person, I don’t usually complain when I should, whether it’s a poor service experience or product. Hence, writing a formal letter of complaint is even more difficult, especially when I have to carefully choose my words and tones so it can be less critical and more constructive.

Discomfort (n): a feeling of worry or embarrassment

Conflict-averse (a): having a tendency to avoid conflicts

Constructive (a): having a useful and helpful effect rather than being negative or with no purpose

5. Do you think email might one day replace handwritten letters?

Regarding the widespread use of emails in modern communication, it’s understandable that some might think handwritten letters could be completely replaced one day but I don’t. Since handwriting is the most primal tool of human interaction and closely connected with cultural identity, it would be preserved and promoted. Besides, many have preferred handwriting in more personal notes or letters since it can express how special the recipients are.

Widespread (a): existing or happening over a large area or among many people

Primal (a): connected with the earliest origins of life; very basic

Cultural identity (n): the identity or feeling of belonging to a group

Recipient (n): a person who receives something

6. How do you feel when you receive a letter or email?

I will be very glad to receive a letter or email, because it means that there is someone who cares for me and sends me something for greetings, or if they have something to discuss with me, I am also pleased to reply to them.

7. Who do you usually write to and what do you write about?

I write to my family, and to my friends; we keep each other updated about our lives and work, and also we have heart-to-heart talks about our opinions and feelings.