Letter to a friend requesting a lost file

The task

You stayed at your friend's house when you participated in a business seminar in Australia. You left a file with important documents in the room you stayed in.

Write a letter to your friend, describing the file, and ask him/her to return it to you by post. In your letter:

→how would you describe the file and its contents to your friend?
→what specific details would you include to help your friend locate the file?
→how would you express your gratitude and request for assistance in a polite manner?

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8197 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mark,

I hope you are settling back into your routine after the busy week of my seminar. I had a wonderful time staying with you, but I have just realised that I accidentally left a crucial file behind in the guest room.

The item is a slim, navy blue plastic folder with a clear front cover. Inside, you will find several printed spreadsheets and a few signed contracts related to my upcoming project. These documents are vital for my presentation next week, so I am quite anxious to get them back.

You should be able to find it tucked away under the bedside lamp on the small wooden desk. I must have placed it there while I was packing my suitcase on Sunday morning. It is quite easy to miss, so please check behind the lamp base.

Would you mind posting this to me? I would be incredibly grateful for your help, and I am more than happy to cover all the shipping costs. Please let me know the amount, and I will transfer the money to your account immediately.

Thank you so much for your hospitality and for dealing with this inconvenience.

Best wishes,

Sarah

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 response earns a Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with specific, natural details and maintaining a consistent, friendly tone throughout. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is using overly formal, rigid phrases like 'I am writing to request your assistance,' which feels unnatural when addressing a close friend.

→Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
→Contractions, phrasal verbs and a warm opening line are expected; a stiff formal tone loses marks here.
→Still cover every bullet in its own paragraph; friendly does not mean unstructured.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

crucial
extremely important and necessary for a specific purpose
spreadsheets
documents used for recording and analysing numerical data
tucked away
stored or hidden in a small or safe place
anxious
feeling worried or uneasy about something specific
hospitality
the friendly and generous reception of guests
inconvenience
a situation that causes trouble or extra effort

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Informal. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.

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?+

Keep practising

More request letters

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