General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Letter to Accommodation Officer regarding college course stay

You are going on a short course to a training college abroad. It is a college that you have not been to before.

Write a letter to the accommodation officer. In your letter:

give details of your course and your arrival/departure date
explain your accommodation needs
ask for information about getting to and from the college

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 finalise the arrangements for my upcoming visit to the Brighton Technical College. I have been accepted onto the intensive two-week 'Digital Marketing Strategies' course, which commences on 14 October and concludes on 28 October. I am scheduled to arrive in Brighton on the afternoon of 13 October and plan to depart on the morning of 29 October.

Regarding my accommodation requirements, I would appreciate a single, quiet room within the college residence halls. As I will be dedicating significant time to my evening studies, a desk with a reliable high-speed internet connection is essential. If possible, I would also prefer a room that is located away from the main common areas to ensure a peaceful environment for concentration.

Finally, could you please provide some guidance on the most convenient method of transport from Gatwick Airport to the campus? I would also be grateful for any information you could share regarding local bus routes or shuttle services that operate between the residential blocks and the main lecture theatres.

Thank you for your assistance with these arrangements. I look forward to receiving your confirmation.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with a clear, professional tone and precise vocabulary that flows naturally. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide specific dates or logistical questions, leading to an underdeveloped response that lacks the necessary detail for a formal request.

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

commences: a formal way of saying something begins
finalise: to complete the last parts of an arrangement
essential: absolutely necessary or extremely important for something
residence halls: buildings where students live while attending college
guidance: helpful advice or information about how to proceed
convenient: fitting in well with a person's needs or plans

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

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

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.