General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · giving information

Letter to Employer Providing Feedback on Training Course

You recently attended a training course for your work. Your employer has asked you for your feedback on the training course.

Write a letter to your employer. In your letter:

remind your employer what the course was about
explain why the course was useful to you in your work
suggest why the course may not be suitable for some of your other colleagues

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 provide my feedback regarding the 'Advanced Data Analytics' workshop I attended last week, which you kindly sponsored for my professional development.

The course focused on mastering predictive modelling techniques using our current software suite. It provided a comprehensive overview of how to interpret large datasets, which was exactly the training I required to streamline our quarterly reporting process.

This training has been immensely useful. I have already begun implementing the automated forecasting tools we studied, which has significantly reduced the time I spend on manual data entry. Furthermore, the techniques for visualising complex trends have made my presentations to the board far more impactful and easier to understand.

However, I believe this course might not be suitable for the entire team. The material required a strong foundation in statistical programming, which many of our administrative staff do not possess. For those colleagues, a more introductory course on basic data management would be more appropriate and beneficial.

Thank you again for the opportunity to enhance my skills.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Jenkins

177 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 consistent, professional tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to link the training content to specific work tasks or providing vague reasons why colleagues might find it unsuitable.

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

sponsored: provided the funds for my attendance
predictive modelling: using data to forecast future outcomes
streamline: make a process more efficient and simple
manual data entry: inputting information by hand into a system
impactful: having a strong or positive effect
foundational: basic knowledge required to understand complex topics

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.