General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · thanks

Letter to theatre manager regarding accident and staff assistance: 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.
  • 207 words
  • Formal letters
  • Thanks
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You recently visited a theatre and had an accident there. The staff was very helpful.

Write a letter to the manager giving good feedback. In your letter:

  • →in your letter, you should tell:
  • →describe the accident
  • →how the staff help you
  • →how similar situations could be prevented in the future

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8207 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my gratitude to your team following a recent incident during my visit to the Grand Theatre last Saturday evening for the 7:00 PM performance of 'The Tempest'.

While navigating the stairs towards the dress circle during the interval, I tripped on a loose piece of carpet near row F. I tumbled forward, resulting in a significant laceration on my palm and a badly sprained ankle, which left me unable to stand or continue watching the play.

The response from your front-of-house staff was exemplary. Two ushers, Sarah and Mark, attended to me immediately with a first-aid kit, ensuring I was comfortable while waiting for the paramedics. Their calm professionalism and genuine concern significantly mitigated the distress of the situation, and I am truly grateful for their swift intervention.

Regarding the cause of my fall, the carpet in that section appears to be frayed and uneven, posing a clear hazard to patrons in the low-light conditions of the auditorium. I suggest that your maintenance team conducts a thorough audit of all aisle flooring. Installing high-visibility adhesive strips on the edges of each step would also act as an effective preventative measure against similar accidents in the future.

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Miller

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

This response achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with specific, logical details and maintaining a consistently professional, formal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a concrete, actionable suggestion for the final bullet point, often settling for a vague request to 'be more careful'.

  • →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

  • laceration

    a deep cut or tear in the skin

  • mitigated

    made something less severe, serious, or painful

  • exemplary

    serving as a desirable model; representing the best

  • front-of-house

    the public areas of a theatre or venue

  • auditorium

    the part of a theatre where the audience sits

  • preventative measure

    an action taken to stop something from happening

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 response achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with specific, logical details and maintaining a consistently professional, formal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a concrete, actionable suggestion for the final bullet point, often settling for a vague request to 'be more careful'.

Keep practising

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