IELTS General Task 1 Formal Letters

You work for an entertainment company which plans to open a new theatre soon. You want to invite a famous actor to open the new theatre.

Write a letter to this famous actor. In your letter

- give some information about the new theatre

- invite her/him to open the new theatre

- explain why she/he would be a good person to open the theatre

Dear ______________ ,

You recently used a company to help you move your furniture and possessions to your new apartment. The removal company has now asked for your feedback about the service they provided.

Write a letter to the removal company. In your letter

• explain what went well on the day you moved house

• praise an employee who was particularly helpful

• mention an aspect of the service that you were not happy with

Dear Sir or Madam,

You started in your present job two years ago. You now feel it is important for your career development to move to a different department in the same company.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

• say what you have learned in your present job

• suggest how the company would benefit from moving you to a different department

• explain why you do not wish to leave the company

Dear ……………………,

You are soon going to spend three months doing work experience in an organisation.

Write a letter to the manager of the organisation where you are going to do work experience. In your letter:

Thank the manager for the opportunity to do work experience

Explain what you hope to learn from the work experience

Ask some questions about the work experience you are going to do

You recently bought some train tickets for a journey a week in advance. When you went to the station to catch the train, you were told you could not use the tickets and the staff were very unhelpful to you.

Write a letter to the train company. In your letter:

Describe the problem you had with the tickets

Say why were unhappy with the staff

Suggest what action the train company should take

You recently booked a part-time course at a college. You now need to cancel your booking.

Write a letter to the college administrator. In your letter:

Say which part-time course you booked

Explain why you need to cancel your booking

Ask about booking a different course

You have bought some clothing online and are not satisfied with your purchase.

Write an email to the company that you bought the clothing from. In your email:

Give details of the purchase

Describe the problem

Explain why you need a replacement urgently

You have just read an article in a national newspaper which claims that town centres in your country all look very similar to each other. You don't fully agree with this opinion.

Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In your letter:

Say which points in the article you agree with

Explain ways in which your town centre is different from most other town centres

Offer to give a guided tour of your town to the writer of the article

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called 'The book that influenced me most'.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter

Describe what this book was about

Explain how this book influenced you

Say whether this book would be likely to influence other people

You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter:

Correct the information in the article

Explain why it is important for the magazine to give correct information

Suggest what the magazine should do about this situation

You work for an international company, and would like to spend six months working in its head office in another country.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

Explain why you want to work in the company’s head office for six months

Say how your work could be done while you are away

Ask for his/her help in arranging it

You recently organized an all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants at the meeting said that they liked the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter

Say what the participants liked about the hotel

Explain why they were unhappy about the food

Suggest what the manager should do to improve the food in the future

You work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.

Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment. In your letter:

Describe the problem with the equipment

Explain how this problem is affecting your work

Say what you want the shop or company to do

A large company in your area has decided to spend a certain amount of money, either to sponsor a local children's sports team for two years, or to pay for two open-air concerts. It has asked for feedback from the general public.

Write a letter to the company. In your letter:

Describe the benefits of sponsoring the sports team

Summarise the benefits of paying for the concerts

Say how you think the company should spend the money

There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

Describe the complaints that have been made

Say why the reception area is important

Suggest how the reception area could be improved

You recently attended a meeting at a hotel. When you returned home, you found you had left some important papers at the hotel.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter:

Say where you think you left the papers

Explain why they are so important

Tell the manager what you want him/her to do

You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

Describe the training course you want to do

Explain what the company could do to help you

Say how the course will be useful for your job

You and some friends ate a meal at a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and you were very pleased with the food and service.

Write a letter to the restaurant manager. In your letter:

• give details of your visit to the restaurant

• explain the reason for the celebration

• say what was good about the food and the service

Dear Sir or Madam,

You are working for a company. You need to take some time off work and want to ask your manager about this.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• explain why you want to take time off work

• give details of the amount of time you need

• suggest how your work could be covered while you are away

Dear .................... ,

On a recent holiday you lost a valuable item. Fortunately you have travel insurance to cover the cost of anything lost.

Write a letter to the manager of your insurance company. In your letter

• describe the item you lost

• explain how you lost it

• tell the insurance company what you would like them to do

Dear Sir or Madam,

You recently bought a piece of equipment for your kitchen but it did not work. You phoned the shop but no action was taken.

Write a letter to the shop manager. In your letter

- describe the problem with the equipment

- explain what happened when you phoned the shop

- say what you would like the manager to do.

Dear sir or Madam,

You were hurt in a minor accident inside a supermarket, and you wish to complain to the supermarket.

Write a letter to the manager of the supermarket. In your letter

• say who you are

• give details about the accident

• suggest how the supermarket could prevent similar accidents.

Dear Sir or Madam,

You are unhappy about a plan to make your local airport bigger and increase the number of flights. You live near the airport.

Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter

• explain where you live

• describe the problem

• give reasons why you do not want this development.

Dear Sir/Madam,

You travelled by plane last week and your suitcase was lost.

You have still heard nothing from the airline company.

Write to the airline and explain what happened. Describe your suitcase and tell them what was in it. Find out what they are going to do about it.

Dear ______________ ,

Your local hospital has advertised for people to do unpaid work helping at the hospital. You would like to do some work at the hospital in your free time.

Write a letter to the hospital. In your letter

- explain why you would like to do unpaid work at the hospital

- say what type of unpaid work you would be able to do

- give details of when you would be available for this work

Dear Sir or Madam,