General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Application for a language tutor position in Australia

You have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year.

Write a letter to the couple. In your letter:

explain why you think you would be suitable for the job
say what else you could do for the family
give your reasons for wanting the job

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thompson,

I am writing to express my strong interest in your advertisement for a language tutor for your two children. With my professional background in education and my native proficiency in the language you wish them to acquire, I am confident that I can provide an immersive and effective learning experience.

I hold a degree in Linguistics and have spent the past five years teaching primary-aged students. My pedagogical approach focuses on interactive, play-based learning, which I believe is essential for children to develop natural fluency. I am patient, adaptable, and skilled at tailoring lesson plans to suit individual learning styles, ensuring that your children remain engaged throughout the year.

Beyond tutoring, I am happy to assist with household responsibilities, such as school pickups or helping with homework in other subjects. I am also an experienced cook and would enjoy sharing traditional dishes from my home country with your family.

My primary motivation for this role is my desire to live in Australia and experience your culture firsthand. I am eager to contribute positively to your family life while helping your children achieve their linguistic goals.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding this opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

204 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response achieves all requirements by addressing every bullet point with specific, logical detail while maintaining a consistently professional tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific reasons for wanting the job or listing duties that are irrelevant to the context of a live-in or local tutor position.

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.

Useful phrases from the letter

pedagogical: relating to the methods and practice of teaching
immersive: providing complete involvement in a specific subject
fluency: the ability to express oneself easily and articulately
tailoring: adapting something for a particular purpose or person
firsthand: obtained directly from personal experience or observation
linguistic: relating to language or the study of languages

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.

Practise IELTS General writing

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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 long 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.