Structure and tone
How to write an IELTS application letter
The tone comes from the reader, not the purpose. In this set: 39 formal, 3 semi-formal.
The outline every sample here follows
- 1.Salutation: Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
- 2.Opening: State the purpose of the letter in the first one or two sentences.
- 3.Body: One paragraph per bullet point, in the order given, each with a specific detail (a date, a name, a reason).
- 4.Closing line: Close with the action you want: I would appreciate a reply by Friday, or Let me know when you are free.
- 5.Sign-off: A sign-off that matches the salutation, then your name.
42 letters
All IELTS application letter samples
- Application for a language tutor position in AustraliaYou have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year.formal · application
- Application for a Part-Time Position at United Football ClubYou are looking for a part-time job at a football club.formal · application
- Application for a Student Loan for Part-time StudyYou have learned that a financial organization in your city gives money as a loan to students who like to take a part-time course. You are interested in doing the course and have decided to take a loan.formal · application
- Application for Academic Excellence Scholarship at UniversityYou have read about a scholarship offered by a university and wish to apply.formal · application
- Application for home assistance position with Mrs BarrettMrs Barrett, an English-speaking woman who lives in your town, has advertised for someone to help her in her home for a few hours a day next summer.formal · application
- Application for Quality Assurance Manager position at UniversityYou are a current student of Loren Brusque University, studying Business Administration. You want to apply for the post of Quality Assurance Manager you have recently seen on the university's notice board.formal · application
- Application for School Science Trip Volunteer PositionYour children go to a local school that requires volunteers to accompany school science trips.formal · application
- Application for the Sales Manager positionYou have seen an advertisement in this week's magazine that invites suitable candidates to apply for the sales manager position in a company.formal · application
- Application letter for a part-time positionYou learned the news from your friend regarding a part-time job at a new international company near your house.formal · application
- Application letter for an apartment property management positionYou have seen an advertisement in a newspaper for a property management position at an apartment complex. You want to apply for the job.formal · application
- Application Letter for Summer Hotel Staff PositionYou have seen an advertisement for part-time work in a hotel for three months over the summer.formal · application
- Application letter to Mr Moore for waiter positionA restaurant has advertised in a newspaper that a waiter/waitress is required for evening work. It has also been mentioned that the prospective candidate should have some experience.formal · application
- Application letter to museum director for volunteer roleA museum near your home is looking for people to do part-time voluntary! unpaid work. You would like to do some voluntary unpaid work at the museum.formal · application
- Application to Join the City Chamber OrchestraYou would like to join the local orchestraformal · application
- Application to volunteer at the local city hospitalYour local hospital has advertised people to do unpaid work helping at the hospital. You would like to do some work at the hospital in your free time.formal · application
- Application to volunteer for the upcoming charity eventYou saw an advert in the newspaper asking for volunteers to help run a charity event.formal · application
- Formal Application for Local Newspaper Job AdvertisementYou saw a job advertisement in the local newspaper and want to apply.formal · application
- Inquiry letter to university regarding scholarship applicationYou are interested in applying for a scholarship program to study at a foreign university.formal · application
- Job application for summer camp activity leader positionYou would like a job working in the summer camp which runs sports and outdoor activities for children and young people.formal · application
- Job Application Letter for City Museum Shop PositionYou have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City Museum shop during the holidays. You decide to apply for the job.formal · application
- Job Application Letter for Restaurant Waiter PositionA restaurant has placed an advertisement for waiters and waitresses in your local newspaper.formal · application
- Job application letter to a community collegeYou have seen an advertisement for a community college that needs teachers for night classes.formal · application
- Job Application Letter to a Hotel ManagerYou have seen an advertisement for a 'weekend work' in a hotel in the town where you are staying. You have worked in a hotel before and think that the job would be suitable for you. Now you want to apply for the job.formal · application
- Job Application Letter to Global Tech SolutionsYou are looking for a full-time job, and recently you saw a job opening in an advertisement.formal · application
- Job Application Letter to Mr. Moore for WaiterYou want to apply for the following job. Waiter/waitress required for evening work. Some experience is necessary.formal · application
- Letter of application for an au pair positionYou have seen an advertisement in an Australian magazine for someone to live with a family for six months and look after their six-year-old child.formal · application
- Letter to a restaurant owner requesting employmentDuring a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.semi-formal · application
- Letter to a School Principal Requesting Student AdmissionYour family is going to move to another town.formal · application
- Letter to an Australian scholarship provider for fundingAn Australian company offers money to foreign students to study in Australia.formal · application
- Letter to an employment agency seeking part-time workYou are looking for a part-time job.formal · application
- Letter to College Enrolment Officer Requesting Course AdmissionAlthough you have never formally studied computing, you have always been interested in computers. You have just read about a computer course that really interests you, but it is only for people who have completed an elementary course.formal · application
- Letter to college principal offering career talkA local college wants people with a job to come and talk to students about what it is like to work. You would like to do this.formal · application
- Letter to college regarding short course applicationYou are interested in studying a short course at a college in an English speaking country.formal · application
- Letter to Hostel Warden Requesting College AccommodationYou are a college student in an English speaking country. You share a rented apartment with others but want to move to the college accommodation instead.formal · application
- Letter to local council offering voluntary servicesYou live in an English-speaking country and you want to do some voluntary work.formal · application
- Letter to manager applying for a full-time positionYou work a part-time job in a company, and the company posted an advert seeking a person for a full-time position.semi-formal · application
- Letter to manager expressing interest in language trainingYou have heard that your company is organizing language training abroad for a limited number of participants.semi-formal · application
- Letter to project manager offering environmental project assistanceYour local newspaper had an advertisement asking people to help with environmental projects in your area.formal · application
- Letter to the Headteacher volunteering for school tripYour child is going on a trip to another country for a week. The school authority is looking for some parents who can join the trip. You are interested in going with the children.formal · application
- Letter to Training Organiser Offering to Manage Social EventsYou 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.formal · application
- Letter to Training Organiser offering to run social events, from a student society chairYou are going on to a month-long training programme in the UK and know that the head of the course would like one of the participants to be the social events' organiser.formal · application
- Letter to University Admissions Regarding Education GapYou are applying to university but have a two-year gap in your education.formal · application
Frequently asked questions
Should an IELTS application letter be formal or informal?+
It depends on who you are writing to, not on the purpose. Of the 42 application letters here, 39 formal, 3 semi-formal. From the reader named in the prompt. An unnamed organisation or official is formal; a named person you deal with professionally is semi-formal; a friend or family member is informal.
How should I structure an IELTS application letter?+
Open with the purpose in one sentence, then one paragraph per bullet point in the order given. Close with the action you want: I would appreciate a reply by Friday, or Let me know when you are free.
How many words and how long for the letter?+
At least 150 words in about 20 minutes; 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Leave 40 minutes for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.
How is the letter scored?+
Scored on task achievement (purpose clear, all bullets covered, tone consistent), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Task 1 is worth half of Task 2.
Keep going
Other IELTS letter types
- Formal letters · 266
- Semi-Formal letters · 88
- Informal letters · 129
- Complaint letters · 118
- Request letters · 103
- Information letters · 67
- Apology letters · 31
- Advice letters · 28
- Arrangement letters · 25
- Invitation letters · 19
- Thank-You letters · 15
- Landlord letters · 20
- All IELTS letter samples
- IELTS General Training writing practice
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