General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Job application letter to a community college

You have seen an advertisement for a community college that needs teachers for night classes.

Write a letter to the community college. In your letter:

say which advertisement you are answering
describe which course(s) you want to teach, and what it/they would be about
explain why you would be a suitable teacher

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 express my keen interest in the part-time teaching position advertised in last Sunday’s edition of the City Gazette. Having long admired the commitment of the Oakwood Community College to adult education, I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to your night class programme.

I would like to propose teaching an introductory course in digital photography. The syllabus would cover the technical fundamentals of manual camera operation, alongside an introduction to post-production editing software. My goal would be to equip students with the skills to transition from automatic settings to creative, manual control.

My suitability for this role stems from my ten years of experience as a professional freelance photographer. Furthermore, I have spent the last three years tutoring beginners at a local arts centre, which has refined my ability to explain complex technical concepts in an accessible, engaging manner. I am highly organised, reliable, and passionate about fostering creativity in adult learners.

Please find my curriculum vitae attached for your review. I would be delighted to discuss how my expertise could benefit your students during an interview at your convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Rigby

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response addresses all three bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently formal tone appropriate for a job application. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to link their experience directly to the specific subject mentioned, or using overly casual language that undermines professional credibility.

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 desire or enthusiasm for something
programme: a planned series of future events or courses
syllabus: an outline of the subjects in a course
fundamentals: the basic principles or core parts of something
refined: improved by making small, specific, expert changes
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.