General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Letter to University Admissions Regarding Education Gap: 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.
  • 193 words
  • Formal letters
  • Application
  • 20 minutes

The task

You are applying to university but have a two-year gap in your education.

Write a letter to the admissions officer. In your letter:

  • →state the course you are applying for
  • →explain the reasons for the gap in your education
  • →describe how the experiences during the gap year will benefit your studies

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally submit my application for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering programme commencing this autumn. Having reviewed the curriculum, I am confident that my academic background and recent experiences make me an ideal candidate for this degree.

Regarding my academic history, there is a two-year hiatus following my secondary education. During this period, I chose to volunteer with a non-governmental organisation focused on reforestation in Southeast Asia. This commitment required my full-time presence in remote areas, which made simultaneous academic study impossible.

However, this time away from formal education proved invaluable. Working in the field provided me with practical, hands-on experience in sustainable land management and soil conservation. I gained a profound understanding of the logistical challenges inherent in large-scale environmental projects, which will undoubtedly enrich my contributions to classroom discussions. Furthermore, this period of independence has sharpened my time-management skills and deepened my resolve to pursue engineering as a career, ensuring I am now fully prepared for the rigours of university life.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of joining your academic community.

Yours faithfully,

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 addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, cohesive language and maintains a consistent formal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain how the gap year experience specifically benefits university studies, instead focusing only on what was done during the time off.

  • →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

  • hiatus

    a pause or break in a sequence or activity

  • commencing

    beginning or starting something at a specific time

  • invaluable

    extremely useful or having a very high worth

  • inherent

    existing as a permanent or essential natural attribute

  • rigours

    the difficult or demanding aspects of a situation

  • enrich

    to improve the quality or value of something

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 addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, cohesive language and maintains a consistent formal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain how the gap year experience specifically benefits university studies, instead focusing only on what was done during the time off.

Keep practising

More application letters

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