General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · application

Letter to manager expressing interest in language training

You have heard that your company is organizing language training abroad for a limited number of participants.

Write a letter of interest. In your letter:

state your position in your company
explain why they should include you in the training
explain how your training could benefit you and your company

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 formally express my keen interest in the overseas language training programme recently announced by the human resources department.

Currently, I hold the position of Senior Logistics Coordinator, where I have spent the last three years streamlining our international supply chains. My role requires frequent communication with our European partners, and I believe this opportunity would be instrumental in my professional growth.

I should be considered for this programme because I have consistently exceeded my quarterly performance targets and demonstrated a strong commitment to the company’s expansion goals. My dedication to improving my professional skillset has already been evidenced by my recent completion of an advanced certification in global trade management.

Participating in this immersion training would allow me to negotiate more effectively with our primary suppliers in Germany. By removing language barriers, I could secure more favourable contracts and improve our operational efficiency. Ultimately, this will translate into significant cost savings for the firm and foster stronger, more transparent relationships with our key stakeholders.

Thank you for considering my application for this valuable initiative. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this further.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistent, professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to link the training to specific company benefits, resulting in a vague application that lacks personal justification.

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

keen interest: a strong and enthusiastic desire for something
streamlining: making a system or process more efficient
instrumental: serving as an important or vital means
immersion training: learning a language by being completely surrounded by it
operational efficiency: the capability of an enterprise to deliver products effectively
stakeholders: people with an interest or concern in a business

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.