General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Formal request for room relocation to Accommodation Officer: 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.
  • 179 words
  • Formal letters
  • Request
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You live in a room in a college where you share it with another student. You find it very difficult to study and work there because your roommate always has friends visiting. He/she has parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking you.

Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer at the college. In your letter:

  • →ask for a new room next term
  • →you would prefer a single room
  • →explain your reasons

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8179 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally request a transfer to a different room for the upcoming academic term. I currently reside in Room 402, and I find the living environment increasingly unsuitable for my academic commitments.

My primary difficulty stems from my roommate’s frequent social gatherings. Our room is consistently occupied by his friends, often late into the evening, which makes it impossible for me to concentrate on my studies or complete necessary coursework. Furthermore, my personal belongings are occasionally used without my prior consent, leading to significant frustration and a lack of privacy.

Given these ongoing issues, I would strongly prefer to be assigned a single room for the next term. Having a private space would allow me to maintain a productive study schedule and ensure that my personal property remains secure. I believe this change is essential for me to perform to the best of my ability in my upcoming examinations.

Thank you for your time and for considering my request. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Miller

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

This letter achieves Band 8 by clearly addressing all three bullet points with a consistent, professional tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain why a single room is specifically needed, or using overly aggressive language that compromises the formal tone.

  • →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

  • unsuitable

    not appropriate or acceptable for a specific purpose

  • academic commitments

    the responsibilities and tasks related to university studies

  • social gatherings

    meetings of people for the purpose of enjoyment

  • prior consent

    permission granted before an action is taken

  • productive

    achieving or producing a significant amount of work

  • assigned

    allocated or given a specific task or place

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?+

This letter achieves Band 8 by clearly addressing all three bullet points with a consistent, professional tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain why a single room is specifically needed, or using overly aggressive language that compromises the formal tone.

Keep practising

More request letters

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