General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · request

Letter to Manager Requesting a Staff Relaxation Room

You have noticed a room at your company office that can be used as a relaxation room.

Write a letter to your manager and ask to use the room for this purpose. In your letter:

explain why you are suggesting this
which room it is
what changes in the room will need to be done

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 propose that we repurpose the vacant storage room on the second floor to serve as a designated relaxation area for the team. As our recent project deadlines have become increasingly demanding, providing a quiet space for staff to recharge would significantly improve our collective well-being and productivity.

Currently, the room adjacent to the archives is largely unused, containing only a few discarded filing cabinets. Given its central location and distance from the main office noise, it is an ideal candidate for this initiative. It offers enough square footage to comfortably accommodate a few employees during their lunch breaks or short intervals.

To make the space functional, we would need to remove the redundant equipment and install some basic soft furnishings, such as a few comfortable chairs and a small coffee table. Additionally, a fresh coat of paint and perhaps some blackout blinds would help create a calming atmosphere. I have already drafted a modest budget for these improvements and would be happy to discuss the potential costs with you.

Thank you for considering this suggestion to enhance our workplace environment.

Yours sincerely,

James Sterling

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistent semi-formal tone while addressing all three bullet points with specific, logical details that flow naturally. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to suggest specific changes to the room, instead providing only vague requests for a relaxation space without explaining how the room would actually be transformed.

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

repurpose: To adapt something for a different use or purpose
well-being: The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy
candidate: A person or thing regarded as suitable for something
redundant: Not or no longer needed or useful
soft furnishings: Decorative fabric items like cushions or curtains
modest: Relatively moderate or limited in size or amount

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.