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You were absent from an important event held by the company you work for - GT Letter Band 9 Sample

Updated: Jan 10, 2024

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You were absent from an important event held by the company you work for.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter,

  • apologize for your absence

  • explain why you had to be at the other event

  • explain what you will do to catch up


Write at least 150 words.


IELTS Letter Writing Band 9 / GT Writing Task 1 Band 9 Sample

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Model Answer 1


Dear Mr. Thompson,


I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my sincere apologies for missing the crucial annual strategy meeting held on January 5th, an event I understand was significant for our team and company.


Firstly, I want to extend my deepest regret for not being present. My absence was due to an unforeseen family emergency that required my immediate attention. My brother, who lives abroad, was hospitalized due to a severe health issue, and as his closest kin, I had to fly out urgently to be with him and oversee his care. This situation arose suddenly, leaving me no time to inform you or the team about my inability to attend the meeting.


To ensure I am up-to-date with the discussions and decisions made during the meeting, I plan to review the meeting minutes and reach out to my colleagues for detailed briefings. I have also scheduled a meeting with Ms. Johnson, who has kindly agreed to share her notes and insights from the event. Additionally, I will put in extra hours this week to not only catch up on what I missed but also to contribute effectively to the ongoing projects and strategies discussed.


Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience my absence may have caused. I assure you that I am committed to maintaining open communication in the future and ensuring such situations are handled with more foresight.


Warm regards,


Emily Foster


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Model Answer 2


Dear Ms. Clarkson,


I trust this message reaches you in good health and high spirits. I am penning this letter to convey my heartfelt apologies for not attending the pivotal team-building workshop hosted by our company last Thursday, an event I acknowledge was of paramount importance.


Please allow me to express my deepest regret for my absence at the workshop. The reason for my absence was an imperative commitment to attend a close friend's wedding overseas, which was scheduled a year ago. This friend, whom I have known since childhood, chose me as his best man, a role that entailed significant responsibilities that I could not forsake. The coincidence of the dates between the two events placed me in a challenging position, and I had to honor my longstanding commitment.


To ensure that I am aligned with the knowledge and skills shared during the workshop, I have arranged a session with our colleague, Sarah Jennings, who will brief me on the key takeaways and activities conducted. I am also planning to spend additional hours this week going through the workshop materials and implementing the learned strategies in our current projects, thus ensuring my contribution remains robust and informed.


I apologize for any inconvenience my absence may have caused and sincerely appreciate your understanding in this matter. Rest assured, I am dedicated to staying connected and proactive in all future company engagements.


Kind regards,


Jordan Matthews


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Model Answer 3


Dear Mr. Smith,


I am writing to let you know the reason of my absence during the celebration of our company’s 50th anniversary that was held in the meeting room on November 24th at 7.00 p.m.


I am aware that my presence was of high importance to you, as we had planned for this event for more than 3 months. I would like to apologize sincerely if I have disappointed you by not showing up.


I would like to elaborate on what happened. On the same date, I had to attend the wedding ceremony of my brother that was held in Sheraton Four Points Hotel at 8.00 p.m. Moreover, the hotel was quite far from our firm, which made it impossible for me to attend both events. In addition, I was the Man of Honour, and that is why I had to be present there during the whole event.


Finally, I would like to request for your approval if I could send an apology and a huge flower arrangement to the company owner. My objective is to show my regret for missing such a valuable gathering. If you could approve this gesture, I would be grateful.


Thank you in advance for your understanding. I am looking forward to receiving your adequate decision.


Yours sincerely,


Jessica Nigri


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