IELTS Formal Letter: Letter to newspaper editor requesting a front-page advertisement

The task

You want to rent out a small apartment to a family, and you have decided to advertise it.

Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper asking to advertise your ad on the front page of the newspaper. In your letter:

→give details of the ad that you want to publish
→mention that you want the ad to be published on the front page
→say how you would like to pay for the advertisement

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8173 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Editor,

I am writing to formally request the placement of a classified advertisement in the next edition of your publication regarding a residential property I wish to rent out.

The advertisement concerns a charming, two-bedroom apartment located in the Riverside district. It is ideally suited for a small family, featuring a spacious living area, modern kitchen amenities, and proximity to local primary schools. I have attached the full text of the advertisement, which includes my contact details and the monthly rental price.

I would specifically like this notice to appear on the front page of the newspaper. I believe this prominent placement will ensure maximum visibility among local residents who are currently seeking quality family accommodation.

Regarding the payment for this service, I am happy to settle the invoice via bank transfer or credit card. Please let me know the total cost for a front-page placement and provide your banking details or a secure payment link at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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.

Write a letter, get a band free →

Examiner's view

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by maintaining a consistently formal tone and addressing all three bullet points with specific, relevant details. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to justify why they want the front page or neglecting to state how they intend to pay, which undermines the task achievement criteria.

→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

classified advertisement
a short notice placed in a newspaper or magazine
residential property
a building used specifically for people to live in
proximity
being near something in distance or time
prominent placement
a position that is easily seen and noticed
settle the invoice
to pay the total amount owed for services
at your earliest convenience
as soon as it is easy or suitable

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?+

Keep practising

More request letters

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