General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Job Application Letter to a Hotel Manager

You have seen an advertisement for a 'weekend work' in a hotel in the town where you are staying. You have worked in a hotel before and think that the job would be suitable for you. Now you want to apply for the job.

Write a letter to the hotel manager expressing your interest. In your letter:

introduce yourself
explain why you think you would be suitable for the job
ask what work you would be expected to do

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 weekend work position at the Grand Plaza Hotel, as advertised in this week’s edition of the local gazette. As a resident of this town, I have long admired the hotel’s commitment to excellence and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to your team.

Regarding my suitability, I possess two years of previous experience in the hospitality sector. During my tenure at the Riverside Inn, I gained proficiency in front-desk operations, guest relations, and basic administrative duties. My background has equipped me with the resilience to handle high-pressure situations while maintaining a professional and welcoming demeanour, ensuring that guests receive the highest standard of service.

Could you please provide further details regarding the specific responsibilities associated with this role? I am particularly interested to know if the position involves coordinating check-ins or supporting the banquet staff during busy weekend events. Additionally, I would appreciate clarification on the expected hours of operation.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I have attached my curriculum vitae for your review and look forward to the possibility of discussing my application further.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully addresses all prompt requirements with a natural, sophisticated flow and consistently formal register. A common Band 6 error is failing to ask specific questions about the duties, instead providing a generic request for information.

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 very strong and enthusiastic desire for something
tenure: the period of time someone holds a job
proficiency: a high degree of skill or competence
demeanour: outward behavior or bearing towards other people
curriculum vitae: a detailed document highlighting a person's work experience
hospitality sector: the industry focused on hotels, restaurants, and tourism

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.