General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Job Application Letter for City Museum Shop Position: 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.
  • 192 words
  • Formal letters
  • Application
  • 20 minutes

The task

You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City Museum shop during the holidays. You decide to apply for the job.

Write a letter to the director of the Museum. In your letter:

  • →introduce yourself
  • →explain what experience and special skills you have
  • →explain why you are interested in the job

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8192 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my interest in the shop assistant vacancy at the City Museum, as advertised in the Daily Chronicle. As a long-time admirer of the museum’s historical collections, I am eager to contribute to your retail operations during the upcoming holiday season.

Currently, I am a second-year History student at the local university. My academic background has provided me with a deep appreciation for the museum’s exhibits, which allows me to engage meaningfully with visitors. Regarding relevant experience, I spent last summer working in a busy bookstore, where I developed strong inventory management skills and honed my ability to assist diverse customers efficiently.

I am particularly drawn to this role because I am passionate about public engagement and heritage education. Working in your shop would provide a unique opportunity to combine my interest in history with my retail experience, ensuring that museum visitors receive helpful information while purchasing souvenirs. I am reliable, punctual, and possess a professional demeanour that aligns with the museum’s standards.

I have attached my curriculum vitae for your consideration and am available for an interview at your convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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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 fully addresses all three bullet points with a sophisticated, consistent formal tone and cohesive structure. The most common Band 6 error is failing to link personal skills specifically to the museum context, often providing a generic list of retail tasks instead.

  • →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

  • vacancy

    a job position that is currently available

  • honed

    refined or developed a skill over time

  • diverse

    showing a great deal of variety

  • heritage education

    learning about and preserving historical cultural assets

  • demeanour

    outward behaviour or bearing of a person

  • curriculum vitae

    a detailed document highlighting professional and academic history

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 fully addresses all three bullet points with a sophisticated, consistent formal tone and cohesive structure. The most common Band 6 error is failing to link personal skills specifically to the museum context, often providing a generic list of retail tasks instead.

Keep practising

More application letters

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