IELTS Formal Letter: Letter to seminar organizer requesting event information

The task

You would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another country.

Write a letter to the person in charge of the seminar. In your letter:

→ask for detailed information regarding the dates and program
→ask about accommodation options
→make an enquiry about the costs involved

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8180 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Ms. Sterling,

I am writing to express my strong interest in attending the upcoming International Logistics Seminar scheduled to take place in Berlin later this year. As a logistics coordinator, I believe this event would be highly beneficial for my professional development.

Could you please provide a comprehensive schedule of the seminar dates? Furthermore, I would appreciate a detailed program outline, specifically highlighting the key workshops and guest speakers, so I can ensure the content aligns with my current projects.

Regarding logistics, could you advise on recommended accommodation options? I would prefer to stay in a hotel within close proximity to the conference venue and would welcome any information on partnered hotels that offer discounted rates for attendees.

Finally, I require a breakdown of the total costs involved. Please clarify the registration fee, what it includes, and whether there are any additional charges for extracurricular networking events. Having these financial details will allow me to obtain the necessary approval from my department head.

Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan 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 addresses all bullet points with a clear, professional tone and precise, sophisticated vocabulary throughout. The most common Band 6 error is failing to expand on the points, resulting in a brief, list-like letter that lacks the necessary formal cohesion.

→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

comprehensive
including all or nearly all elements of something
logistics
the detailed coordination of a complex operation
proximity
nearness in space, time, or relationship
breakdown
a detailed analysis or summary of data
extracurricular
outside the main course of study or work
aligns
to place or arrange in a straight line

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 giving information letters

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