Letter to librarian explaining a lost library book

The task

You are an international student and have borrowed a book from the local public library. You left the book on a bus and when you contacted the bus company, they could not find it.

Write a letter to the librarian. In your letter:

→explain the situation
→ask what you should do

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8176 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally apologise for the loss of a library book that I recently borrowed, titled 'Modern Architectural History'.

Last Tuesday, while travelling home on the number 42 bus, I inadvertently left the book on the seat beside me. Upon realising my mistake shortly after disembarking, I immediately contacted the bus company’s lost property department. They conducted a thorough search of the vehicle, but unfortunately, they were unable to locate the item. I suspect it may have been taken by another passenger.

I feel terrible about this oversight and would like to know the appropriate procedure for replacing the book. Could you please inform me if I am expected to purchase a replacement copy, or if there is a standard fine I should pay to cover the cost? I am more than willing to compensate the library for this loss and would appreciate your guidance on how to settle this matter as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and assistance in resolving this unfortunate situation.

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 both bullet points with a consistent, polite formal tone and professional vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain the specific steps already taken to recover the item, or using overly casual language inappropriate for a library official.

→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

inadvertently
happening by accident or without intending to
disembarking
the act of leaving a ship or vehicle
thorough
carried out with great care and attention
oversight
a mistake made because of failing to notice
compensate
to give someone money for a loss suffered
guidance
advice or information aimed at resolving a problem

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

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