General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · other

Letter of Resignation to a Manager

You have decided to resign from your work to try a new field.

Write a letter of resignation to your boss. In your letter:

tell your boss of your decision and explain why you are leaving
explain what you have learned from your current job and how you feel about leaving
ask for a letter of reference

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as Marketing Coordinator, effective two weeks from today. After much contemplation, I have decided to pivot my career toward the renewable energy sector, as I have developed a keen interest in sustainable business development.

Working at this company for the past three years has been an incredibly enriching experience. I have gained invaluable skills in project management and data analysis, which have significantly bolstered my professional confidence. While I am excited about my future prospects, leaving this team is bittersweet. I have truly valued the camaraderie we have built and the supportive environment you have fostered here.

As I prepare for this transition, I would be very grateful if you could provide me with a letter of reference. Your endorsement would carry significant weight as I apply for roles in my new field, and I would appreciate your highlighting my contributions to our recent regional campaigns.

Thank you for your guidance and understanding throughout my tenure. I wish the company continued success.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with a balanced, professional tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is including irrelevant personal information or using overly informal language that fails to maintain the professional boundary required for a resignation letter.

Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

Useful phrases from the letter

contemplation: the action of thinking profoundly about something
pivot: to change your career path or focus
enriching: improving the quality or value of something
bolstered: to support or strengthen a specific area
camaraderie: mutual trust and friendship among team members
tenure: the conditions or period of holding office

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?

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

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.