General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Formal Application for Local Newspaper Job Advertisement: IELTS formal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 formal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 178 words
  • Formal letters
  • Application
  • 20 minutes

The task

You saw a job advertisement in the local newspaper and want to apply.

Write a letter to the employer. In your letter:

  • →state which job you are applying for and where you saw it
  • →briefly outline your relevant qualifications and experience
  • →express your enthusiasm for the position

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear Sir or Madam,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8178 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in the Administrative Assistant position advertised in last Thursday’s edition of the City Gazette. Having followed your company’s recent growth, I am keen to contribute to your team.

Regarding my background, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and have spent the past four years working as an office coordinator at a busy logistics firm. In this role, I have developed advanced proficiency in document management and internal communications, while consistently meeting tight deadlines. My experience has equipped me with the organisational skills necessary to handle high-volume administrative tasks efficiently.

I am particularly enthusiastic about this role because of your firm’s reputation for innovation in the logistics sector. The opportunity to apply my expertise within such a forward-thinking environment is highly appealing, and I am confident that my proactive approach would make me a valuable asset to your operations department.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my suitability for this role in an interview.

Yours faithfully,

James Sterling

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response achieves task fulfillment by addressing all bullet points with professional, cohesive language and a consistently formal tone. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to link their specific experience to the job requirements, resulting in a generic list of skills rather than a persuasive argument.

  • →Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
  • →If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
  • →No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

  • proficiency

    a high degree of competence or skill

  • logistics

    the commercial activity of transporting goods

  • forward-thinking

    planning for the future in a progressive way

  • asset

    a useful or valuable person or quality

  • proactive

    creating or controlling a situation by taking action

  • suitability

    the quality of being right for a purpose

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

A Band 8 response achieves task fulfillment by addressing all bullet points with professional, cohesive language and a consistently formal tone. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to link their specific experience to the job requirements, resulting in a generic list of skills rather than a persuasive argument.

Keep practising

More application letters

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