General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Letter to Training Organiser Offering to Manage Social Events: 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.
  • 188 words
  • Formal letters
  • Application
  • 20 minutes

The task

You are going on a month-long training program in the UK and know that the head of the course would like one of the participants to be the social events organizer.

Write a letter to the Training Organiser. In your letter:

  • →express your interest in the role
  • →request more information about it
  • →explain what experience you have

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8188 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my keen interest in serving as the social events organiser for the upcoming month-long training program in the UK. Having reviewed the course outline, I believe that fostering a cohesive group environment is essential, and I would be delighted to contribute to this aspect of the experience.

Could you please provide further details regarding the specific expectations for this role? I am particularly interested to know the approximate budget allocated for social activities and whether there are established traditions or specific goals that the organisers hope to achieve during the month. Understanding the level of administrative support available would also assist me in planning effectively.

Regarding my suitability, I have significant experience in this area. During my previous tenure at a multinational consultancy, I acted as the primary coordinator for our annual international conferences, where I successfully managed team-building excursions for groups of up to fifty people. I am adept at sourcing local venues and tailoring activities to accommodate diverse cultural backgrounds and interests.

I look forward to the possibility of assisting you with these arrangements.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Sterling

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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 fully addresses all three bullet points with a professional, consistent tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 error is failing to explain relevant past experience in sufficient detail, instead providing vague claims without context.

  • →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

  • cohesive

    well-integrated and working effectively as a unit

  • tenure

    the period during which someone holds a job

  • sourcing

    finding and obtaining goods or services

  • accommodate

    to provide what is needed for someone

  • keen interest

    a very strong desire to do something

  • tailoring

    adapting something for a specific 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?+

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with a professional, consistent tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 error is failing to explain relevant past experience in sufficient detail, instead providing vague claims without context.

Keep practising

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