IELTS Formal Letter: Letter to College Enrolment Officer Requesting Course Admission

The task

Although you have never formally studied computing, you have always been interested in computers. You have just read about a computer course that really interests you, but it is only for people who have completed an elementary course.

Write a letter to the college enrolment officer. In your letter:

→explain why you are writing
→describe your circumstances
→ask if a special exception can be made for you so you can enroll in the course

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8193 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Advanced Computing Systems course scheduled to commence next month. Having reviewed the curriculum, I am convinced that this programme aligns perfectly with my educational aspirations.

Although I lack formal qualifications in information technology, I have dedicated significant time to self-study over the past three years. I have taught myself several programming languages, including Python and HTML, and I frequently troubleshoot hardware issues for my local community centre. My passion for computing is deep-seated, and I have consistently sought opportunities to expand my technical knowledge through online tutorials and practical projects.

I understand that the course prerequisites specify the completion of an elementary computing qualification. Given my extensive practical experience and proven ability to master technical concepts independently, I would like to request an exception to this entry requirement. I would be more than happy to sit for a proficiency assessment or provide a portfolio of my past projects to demonstrate my suitability for this level of study.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your response regarding whether this special arrangement is possible.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Pendelton

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 bullet points with a persuasive, formal tone and sophisticated, natural vocabulary. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide specific evidence of their self-study, resulting in a generic argument that lacks convincing detail.

→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

commence
to begin or start something in formal terms
aspirations
a strong desire to achieve something important
deep-seated
firmly established and very difficult to change
prerequisites
things that must happen or exist before something
proficiency
a high degree of skill or expertise
suitability
the quality of being right for a purpose

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 application letters

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