IELTS Semi-formal Letter: Letter to Supervisor Requesting Early Semester Leave

The task

You are studying overseas. You need to return to your country before the end of the semester for a family event.

Write a letter to your supervisor. In your letter:

→request some time off
→explain why you need to leave early
→reassure him/her that your studies will not suffer

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8184 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Dr. Aris,

I am writing to formally request permission to depart from the university slightly before the official end of the autumn semester. My intended departure date is 10 December, which is one week prior to the conclusion of the term.

This request stems from an unexpected family milestone, as my sister is holding her wedding ceremony on 12 December in my home country. As this is a significant occasion for my immediate family, it is important that I am present to participate in the celebrations and assist with the final preparations.

I have carefully reviewed my remaining academic obligations to ensure that my studies will not be compromised. I have already completed my major research project and have arranged to submit my final essay electronically by 8 December. Furthermore, I have consulted with my module tutors, who have confirmed that my final examinations are scheduled for early December, meaning my absence will not interfere with any assessment requirements.

Thank you for considering my request during this busy time of the year. I look forward to your positive response.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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 specific, logical details while maintaining a consistently polite, semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific plans for how academic work will be managed, often resulting in an underdeveloped argument that lacks professional credibility.

→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

depart
to leave a place, especially on a journey
milestone
an important event in the development of something
obligations
things that you must do because of duty
compromised
put into a situation that causes damage
electronically
using computers or other electronic equipment
interfere
to get in the way of something

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 request letters

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