General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Letter to Lost Property Office Regarding Missing Items: 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
  • Request
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You recently traveled by train and think that you left some of your possessions on the train.

Write a letter to the lost property office of the main station and include the following information. In your letter:

  • →the details of your journey
  • →a description of the lost items
  • →what you would like the office to do and any other relevant information

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 Sir or Madam,

I am writing to report the loss of my personal belongings following a journey on the 14:15 express service from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads yesterday, 14 October. I occupied seat 12B in carriage C for the duration of the trip.

Upon disembarking, I inadvertently left behind a dark navy leather briefcase. Inside, there is a silver MacBook Pro laptop, a set of noise-cancelling headphones, and a hardback notebook with a black cover. The briefcase has a small scuff mark on the bottom right corner, making it easily identifiable.

Could you please check your records and the train’s carriage for these items? If they have been handed in, I would appreciate it if you could contact me immediately via telephone or email to arrange collection. I am happy to provide proof of ownership if required.

I am currently staying in Bristol for business and will be heading back to London on Friday evening. If the items are located, I would be grateful if you could hold them securely until my return. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan 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

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with specific, logical details while maintaining a consistently professional and polite tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide enough descriptive detail about the lost items, which makes the request for assistance vague and less effective.

  • →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

  • inadvertently

    without intending to or by mistake

  • disembarking

    leaving a ship, aircraft, or train

  • scuff mark

    a shallow scratch or scrape on a surface

  • identifiable

    able to be recognized or established as something

  • proof of ownership

    evidence that shows an item belongs to you

  • be grateful

    to feel or show appreciation for something

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, logical details while maintaining a consistently professional and polite tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide enough descriptive detail about the lost items, which makes the request for assistance vague and less effective.

Keep practising

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