General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · giving information

Letter to a manager regarding upcoming work experience: 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.
  • 180 words
  • Formal letters
  • Giving information
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You are soon going to spend three months doing work experience in an organization.

Write a letter to the manager of the organization where you are going to do work experience. In your letter:

  • →thank the manager for the opportunity to do work experience
  • →explain what you hope to learn from the work experience
  • →ask some questions about the work experience you are going to do

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8180 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to undertake a three-month work placement at your firm, starting next month. I am very much looking forward to joining your team and contributing to your ongoing projects.

During my time with the organization, I am particularly keen to gain practical insights into international marketing strategies. Having studied the subject extensively, I am eager to observe how your department translates theoretical concepts into successful campaigns within the retail sector. Furthermore, I hope to refine my professional communication skills by collaborating with your experienced staff members.

To ensure I am fully prepared, I would appreciate a few clarifications. Could you please confirm the expected daily working hours and the dress code policy? Additionally, would it be possible to receive a brief overview of the specific project I have been assigned to, or perhaps some recommended reading materials, so that I can hit the ground running?

Thank you once again for this valuable professional development opportunity. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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 addressing all bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to ask specific, logical questions, often resulting in vague inquiries that do not demonstrate the candidate's genuine interest in the placement.

  • →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

  • undertake

    To commit oneself to begin a task or project

  • keen

    Showing great enthusiasm or interest in something

  • retail sector

    The industry involved in selling goods to the public

  • clarifications

    Requests for more detail to make something understandable

  • hit the ground running

    To start a new activity with great energy

  • professional development

    Learning to earn or maintain professional credentials

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 addressing all bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to ask specific, logical questions, often resulting in vague inquiries that do not demonstrate the candidate's genuine interest in the placement.

Keep practising

More giving information letters

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