General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · other

Letter to HR Manager Declining a Job Offer

You cannot go to a company where you got an offer.

Write a letter to the HR supervisor. In your letter:

explain the reason why you decline the offer
express you gratitude
explain you like your current job very much

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Ms. Thompson,

I am writing to formally decline the offer for the Senior Project Coordinator position at your company. While I was initially very enthusiastic about the opportunity, I have decided not to proceed with the appointment.

My decision follows a significant change in my personal circumstances. Unexpected family commitments have arisen, which require my full attention for the foreseeable future. Consequently, I am unable to commit to the professional responsibilities and travel requirements associated with this role at this time.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the time you and your team invested in interviewing me. It was a pleasure learning about your innovative approach to sustainable development, and I truly appreciate the confidence you placed in my skills.

Ultimately, I have found that I am deeply satisfied with my current position as a Lead Analyst. My existing project portfolio is incredibly fulfilling, and my team has recently entrusted me with additional leadership responsibilities that I am eager to pursue. Given this stability, it feels inappropriate to depart at this juncture.

Thank you once again for this offer. I wish you and your company continued success.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Miller

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

Why this scores well

This response earns a Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with a sophisticated, professional tone and clear, logical development. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to explain why the current job is preferred, often providing only a vague statement rather than specific reasoning.

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

proceed: to continue with a planned course of action
foreseeable future: the time period that can be predicted
entrusted: assigned a responsibility to someone for safekeeping
juncture: a particular point in events or time
sustainable development: growth that meets present needs without compromising future
portfolio: a collection of projects or investments held

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.