General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · other

Letter to club secretary resigning from membership: 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.
  • 188 words
  • Formal letters
  • Other
  • 20 minutes
Write a letter, get a band free →Read the letter

The task

For the past year, you have been a member of a local club. Now you want to discontinue your membership.

Write a letter to the club secretary. In your letter:

  • →what type of membership you have
  • →how you have paid for this
  • →give details of how you have benefited from the club
  • →explain why you want to leave

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8188 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally request the cancellation of my membership with the Riverside Fitness Club, effective from the end of this month.

I currently hold a gold-tier individual membership, which grants me full access to all facilities, including the swimming pool and evening fitness classes. My monthly subscription fee of £45 is processed automatically via a direct debit mandate established when I joined last year.

Being a member has been a thoroughly rewarding experience. The state-of-the-art equipment and the professional guidance provided by the trainers have significantly improved my physical well-being. Furthermore, the club’s social events provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow members, making my exercise routine much more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, my circumstances have changed as I am relocating to another city for work next week. Consequently, I will no longer be able to utilise the facilities, and I would appreciate it if you could ensure that no further payments are deducted from my account after my final day of attendance.

Thank you for your assistance and for the excellent service provided during my time at the club.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Smith

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

A Band 8 response fully addresses every bullet point with natural, cohesive language and appropriate formal register. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to specify the payment method or providing vague reasons for leaving, which prevents the letter from feeling authentic.

  • →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

  • effective

    starting from a specific date or time

  • gold-tier

    a high level of membership status

  • direct debit mandate

    an instruction to a bank to pay money

  • state-of-the-art

    using the most modern and advanced technology

  • relocating

    moving to a new place to live

  • utilise

    to make practical and effective use of

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 every bullet point with natural, cohesive language and appropriate formal register. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to specify the payment method or providing vague reasons for leaving, which prevents the letter from feeling authentic.

Keep practising

More other letters

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Write a letter, get a band free