General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Letter to a Bookstore Manager Requesting a Specific Book: 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.
  • 172 words
  • Formal letters
  • Request
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You want to buy a book and you have found the book in a bookshop.

Write a letter to the bookshop manager. In your letter:

  • →ask him to find the book
  • →ask about the cost
  • →ask him to send it to 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 8172 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am contacting you to enquire about a specific publication I recently located in your establishment’s catalogue. I would be most grateful if you could assist me in securing this item.

Could you please verify if a copy of the hardback edition of 'The Architecture of Ancient Civilisations' by Dr. Alistair Finch is currently available in your inventory? I visited your store last Tuesday and noted the title on your shelves, though I was unable to retrieve it at that time.

Furthermore, I would appreciate it if you could confirm the total cost of the book, including any applicable shipping fees for delivery to my residence. Please let me know the total amount due so that I may arrange payment promptly.

Finally, I would like to request that you ship the volume to my home address once the transaction is complete. I am happy to provide my details via telephone or email to facilitate the process. I look forward to your assistance in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

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 three bullet points with a sophisticated, consistent formal tone and precise, natural vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to mention all three required points or using overly casual language inappropriate for a formal business request.

  • →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

  • enquire

    To ask for information about something

  • establishment

    A business organization or shop

  • inventory

    A complete list of items in stock

  • applicable

    Relevant or appropriate for the situation

  • facilitate

    To make an action or process easier

  • volume

    A single book that is part of a series

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 three bullet points with a sophisticated, consistent formal tone and precise, natural vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to mention all three required points or using overly casual language inappropriate for a formal business request.

Keep practising

More request letters

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