General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · giving information

Letter to Sports Club Manager Requesting Membership Information: 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.
  • 180 words
  • Formal letters
  • Giving information
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You have recently moved to a new neighbourhood and would like to join a sports centre there. You have found a private sports club.

Write a letter to the manager of the sports club. In your letter:

  • →introduce yourself
  • →say why are you interested in this sports club
  • →ask some questions about the club e.g facilities, membership, costs etc

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8180 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I recently relocated to the Oakwood district and am currently seeking a local facility to maintain my fitness routine. Having heard excellent reviews regarding your establishment, I am keen to learn more about the membership options available at your sports club.

My primary motivation for choosing your club is its proximity to my new residence, which would allow me to train consistently before work. Furthermore, I am an avid swimmer and have been impressed by the high standards of maintenance described on your website, which align perfectly with my requirements for a professional training environment.

Could you please provide details regarding the current annual membership fees and any joining incentives for new residents? Additionally, I would appreciate it if you could clarify the peak-hour access policies for the swimming pool and gym equipment. It would also be helpful to know if the club offers personal training sessions, as I am interested in refining my technique under expert guidance.

I look forward to hearing from you soon and potentially visiting for a trial session.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan 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 addressing all bullet points with a professional, cohesive tone and sophisticated vocabulary suited to a formal enquiry. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to ask specific questions about the facilities or using an overly informal tone, which breaks the consistency required for this task.

  • →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

  • relocated

    moved to a different place to live

  • keen

    very interested, eager, or enthusiastic

  • proximity

    the state of being near in distance

  • incentives

    things that encourage someone to do something

  • clarify

    to make a statement or situation less confused

  • refining

    improving something by making small changes

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 bullet points with a professional, cohesive tone and sophisticated vocabulary suited to a formal enquiry. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to ask specific questions about the facilities or using an overly informal tone, which breaks the consistency required for this task.

Keep practising

More giving information letters

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