General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Application letter for a part-time position

You learned the news from your friend regarding a part-time job at a new international company near your house.

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

explain why you need that job
give details of what you can do for the company
suggest the time that you can work

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally express my interest in the part-time vacancy at your new branch, which was recently brought to my attention by a friend. As I live in the immediate vicinity of your office, I am eager to contribute to your operations while balancing my current academic commitments.

Currently, I am seeking a position that allows me to gain professional experience while financing my studies. Your company’s reputation for excellence in the international market is highly appealing, and I am keen to develop my skills within such a dynamic environment.

Regarding my qualifications, I possess strong administrative and interpersonal skills. During my previous volunteer work at a community centre, I became adept at managing client inquiries and maintaining organised digital records. I am confident that my proficiency in both English and French would be a valuable asset for your front-desk operations.

I am available to work every weekday afternoon from 2:00 PM onwards, as well as all day on Saturdays. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application further during an interview at your convenience.

Yours sincerely,

James Sterling

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

Why this scores well

This response earns a Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently professional and polite tone. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide clear, actionable availability or using overly casual language unsuitable for a formal job application.

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

immediate vicinity: in the local area very close by
academic commitments: the responsibilities related to being a student
dynamic: characterised by constant change, activity, or progress
adept: very skilled or proficient at something
valuable asset: a person or thing that is highly useful
at your convenience: at a time that is suitable for you

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.