General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Application to volunteer for the upcoming charity event

You saw an advert in the newspaper asking for volunteers to help run a charity event.

Write a letter of application to the organizers. In your letter:

explain why you are interested in helping
give details of suitable past experience
suggest ways you might help with the event

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Event Organisers,

I am writing to express my keen interest in volunteering for the upcoming charity fundraiser advertised in yesterday’s edition of the Daily Gazette. Having long admired the work your foundation does for local youth services, I would welcome the opportunity to contribute my time to ensure this event is a success.

I have considerable experience in event coordination, having spent three years as a lead volunteer for a regional food bank. During my tenure, I was responsible for logistics, volunteer scheduling, and managing on-site registration desks. This role required me to remain composed under pressure and communicate effectively with diverse groups of attendees, skills I am eager to apply to your project.

Regarding my potential contribution, I am particularly adept at handling logistical coordination and public-facing roles. I could assist with setting up the venue, managing the sign-in process, or overseeing the information booth to ensure guests have a seamless experience. Furthermore, I am comfortable with social media promotion and would be happy to help boost attendance in the days leading up to the event.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps in the selection process.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently professional and polite tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide concrete examples of past experience, instead relying on vague or repetitive general statements.

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

keen interest: a strong and enthusiastic desire to do something
tenure: the period of time someone holds a position
composed: having one's feelings and expression under control
logistical coordination: organizing the complex details of a large operation
seamless: happening without any problems or interruptions
diverse: showing a great deal of variety

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.