IELTS General Task 1 Formal Letters

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