IELTS Semi-formal Letter: Letter to colleague suggesting retirement party plans

The task

The manager at the company you work for is going to retire next month. The manager's assistant has invited some suggestions about what kind of event they should do to say goodbye to him.

Write a letter to your manager's assistant. In your letter:

→say what kind of event you have in your mind
→mention why you liked him/her as a manager
→what kind of present can be given to your manager

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 Sarah,

I was pleased to hear we are organising a farewell event for Mr. Henderson before his retirement next month. It is a wonderful gesture, and I would love to contribute some ideas regarding the celebration.

I suggest we host a formal afternoon tea in the main conference room. It would provide a relaxed atmosphere where everyone can socialise comfortably without the time constraints of a busy lunch hour. We could arrange for some light catering and perhaps a short slideshow featuring highlights from his twenty-year tenure.

I have always deeply appreciated his management style. He possessed a rare ability to remain calm under pressure, and he consistently mentored me with patience whenever I faced complex challenges. His door was always open, which made our team feel genuinely valued and supported.

As for a parting gift, I recommend a high-quality leather briefcase engraved with his initials, or perhaps a voucher for a luxury weekend break. Given his passion for hiking, he might also appreciate a premium set of binoculars for his upcoming travels.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these suggestions.

Best regards,

James 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

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with specific, developed ideas while maintaining a consistent semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific, realistic suggestions for the gift or event, resulting in vague writing that lacks the necessary detail.

→Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
→Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
→State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

tenure
the period of time someone holds a job
socialise
to spend time enjoying oneself with other people
mentored
advised or trained a younger or less experienced person
parting gift
a present given to someone who is leaving
premium
of a very high quality or standard
gestures
an action performed to show a particular feeling

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

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 advice letters

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