Letter to a local bookshop inquiring about a book

The task

You are looking for a specific book that is hard to find.

Write a letter to a local bookshop. In your letter:

→provide details of the book you are looking for
→ask if they currently have it in stock
→inquire how long it would take to order it if out of stock

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 8199 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to enquire about the availability of a specific publication that I have been unable to locate at other retailers. I am hoping your establishment might be able to assist me in securing a copy.

The book is titled 'The Architecture of Silence' by Elena Vance, published by Heritage Press in 2012. It is a hardcover edition with a distinctive navy blue dust jacket. I have checked several online databases, but it appears to be currently out of print, which is why I am reaching out to local independent shops.

Could you please check your current inventory to see if you happen to have a copy in stock? If it is not available on your shelves, I would be very interested in knowing if you have the capacity to order it through your wholesale suppliers.

Furthermore, if a special order is required, could you kindly advise on the estimated timeframe for delivery? I would appreciate knowing the total cost, including any shipping fees, so that I may prepare the necessary payment.

Thank you for your time and assistance with this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

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.

Write a letter, get a band free →

Examiner's view

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with specific, natural details and maintaining a consistently professional tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to ask about the timeframe for ordering or being too brief, which results in an underdeveloped response to the prompt's requirements.

→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

enquire
To ask for information about something
establishment
A business organization or shop
securing
Obtaining or getting hold of something
inventory
A complete list of items in stock
timeframe
The period during which something is planned
wholesale
Selling goods in large quantities to businesses

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?+

Keep practising

More giving information letters

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