General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Formal request to Human Resources for remote work

Your employer has recently allowed some employees to work remotely from home. You would also like to work from home.

Write a letter to the HR manager for permission to work from home for the next six months. In your letter:

mention why you are writing
explain why you would like to work from home
say how this can benefit you and the company

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Ms. Sterling,

I am writing to formally request permission to transition to a remote work arrangement for the next six months, beginning on the first of next month. Having observed the recent policy shift allowing colleagues in the development department to work from home, I am eager to explore whether such an arrangement could be extended to my role in the marketing team.

Currently, my daily commute consumes two hours of travel time, which significantly impacts my productivity and energy levels. By working from home, I would be able to reclaim this time, allowing me to start my tasks earlier and maintain a better work-life balance.

I am confident that this shift would be mutually beneficial. From my perspective, the quiet home environment will allow me to focus on complex analytical projects without the frequent interruptions present in the open-plan office. For the company, this arrangement ensures that I remain fully accessible via digital platforms while reducing the overhead costs associated with my desk space. I am fully committed to maintaining my current performance standards and am happy to attend in-person meetings whenever necessary.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by clearly addressing all prompts with a professional, persuasive tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to explain how the company benefits, often focusing entirely on personal convenience rather than business outcomes.

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

transition: to change from one state or condition to another
reclaim: to get back something that was previously lost
mutually beneficial: something that provides advantages to both involved parties
overhead costs: regular expenses required to operate a business
accessible: easy to reach or communicate with at any time
analytical projects: tasks requiring detailed examination and logical thinking processes

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.