General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · giving information

Letter to college tutor explaining course enrollment reasons: 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.
  • 192 words
  • Formal letters
  • Giving information
  • 20 minutes

The task

You have just started a new course at a college and your tutor has asked you to write him a letter with the reasons for your enrollment in the course.

Write a letter to the tutor. In your letter:

  • →mention how you found out about the course
  • →explain what got you interested in the course
  • →mentione how this course will benefit you

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8192 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally introduce myself as a new student in your Introduction to Digital Marketing course and to outline my motivations for enrolling in this programme.

I first discovered this course while browsing the college’s online prospectus last month. I was specifically searching for a module that balanced theoretical marketing principles with practical application, and your syllabus appeared to be the most comprehensive option available.

My primary interest in this subject stems from my background in small business management. Having witnessed the rapid shift toward e-commerce, I became fascinated by how targeted social media strategies can transform a brand’s visibility. I am eager to understand the analytical side of these campaigns and how to interpret consumer data effectively.

I anticipate that this course will be instrumental in my professional development. By mastering these digital tools, I intend to implement more sophisticated marketing strategies for my own enterprise. Furthermore, the networking opportunities within this class will undoubtedly prove invaluable as I seek to connect with other professionals in the industry.

I look forward to your upcoming lectures and to contributing to the class discussions.

Yours sincerely,

James Sterling

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 clearly addresses all three bullet points with logical, well-developed arguments and maintains a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific, personal reasons for enrollment, instead relying on overly generic statements that lack depth or relevance to the student's background.

  • →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

  • prospectus

    a document describing the features of a college course

  • comprehensive

    including all or nearly all elements of a subject

  • stems from

    to be caused or originated by something

  • instrumental

    serving as a crucial means of achieving something

  • sophisticated

    having a high degree of complexity and refinement

  • enterprise

    a project or undertaking, typically a business organization

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 clearly addresses all three bullet points with logical, well-developed arguments and maintains a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific, personal reasons for enrollment, instead relying on overly generic statements that lack depth or relevance to the student's background.

Keep practising

More giving information letters

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