General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Letter to college principal offering career talk

A local college wants people with a job to come and talk to students about what it is like to work. You would like to do this.

Write a letter to the principal of the college. In your letter:

explain what you would like to talk about
say why students would be interested in your job
suggest a possible date and time for the talk

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Dr. Aris,

I am writing to express my strong interest in volunteering as a guest speaker for your upcoming career series at the college. Having recently read your notice regarding industry professionals sharing their experiences, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my career in software architecture.

My presentation would focus on the transition from academic theory to practical application within the technology sector. I intend to provide a realistic overview of the daily challenges and rewards involved in leading development teams, while also highlighting the essential soft skills that are rarely covered in a classroom environment.

Students would likely find this talk engaging as the tech industry is a popular career path, yet many are unaware of the collaborative nature of the role. I can offer firsthand insight into how they might bridge the gap between their current studies and the expectations of modern employers, which I believe would be highly beneficial for those nearing graduation.

I would be available to visit the college on Wednesday, 15th November, at 2:00 pm. Please let me know if this time aligns with your current schedule, or if you would prefer an alternative date.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Sterling

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a professional tone throughout, addresses all three bullet points with specific, relevant details, and uses sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a specific date and time, or writing a generic letter that lacks a clear professional context.

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

volunteering: offering to do something without being paid
practical application: the use of something in real life situations
industry professionals: people who work in a specific field
firsthand insight: knowledge gained from direct personal experience
bridge the gap: reduce the difference between two separate things
aligns with: fits or matches with a specific schedule

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.