Letter to a manager requesting time off work

The task

You are working for a company. You need to take some time off work and want to ask your manager about this.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

→explain why you want to take time off work
→give details of the amount of time you need
→suggest how your work could be covered while you are away

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8185 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally request a period of leave from my position as a Senior Analyst to attend to a pressing family matter that requires my presence overseas.

Specifically, I would like to request two weeks of unpaid leave, starting from Monday, 14 October, until Friday, 25 October. My elderly mother has recently undergone surgery, and I need to travel to support her recovery during this critical period. I have ensured that I have sufficient leave entitlement remaining, though I am happy to discuss the financial implications with the HR department if necessary.

Regarding my current responsibilities, I have already drafted a detailed handover document outlining the status of the ongoing client projects. I suggest that Sarah Jenkins assumes temporary responsibility for the quarterly reports, as she is already familiar with the data sets. Additionally, I am happy to dedicate my final three days before departure to briefing the team thoroughly to ensure there is no disruption to our workflow.

Thank you for considering my request during this challenging time. I look forward to your positive response.

Yours sincerely,

David 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

This letter achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all bullet points with professional, specific justifications and a consistent semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a concrete plan for work coverage, instead offering only vague statements about catching up later.

→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

pressing
requiring quick or immediate attention and action
overseas
in or to a foreign country across sea
entitlement
the official right to have or do something
handover
the act of passing control to someone else
disruption
disturbance or problems which interrupt an event
briefing
a meeting for giving information or instructions

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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