General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Letter to movie theatre manager regarding lost jacket

You recently went to a movie theatre to enjoy a movie, but unfortunately, you left your jacket there.

Write a letter to the manager of the movie theatre about the jacket. In your letter:

describe the jacket
describe where you were seated
explain what you want the manager to do about it

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Manager,

I am contacting you regarding a personal item I inadvertently left behind at your cinema on the evening of 14 October. I attended the 7:30 p.m. screening of the latest historical drama and believe I misplaced my jacket before exiting the premises.

The garment is a navy blue, mid-length trench coat made of a wool-blend fabric. It features distinctive tortoiseshell buttons and a silk-lined interior. There is also a small, rectangular leather tag sewn inside the collar bearing the brand name 'Heritage Tailors'.

I was seated in Screen 4, specifically in row G, seat 12. I recall draping the coat over the back of the seat throughout the film, but in my rush to leave as the credits rolled, I failed to retrieve it. I checked the area immediately upon realizing my mistake, but the cleaning staff had already begun their rounds.

Could you please check your lost property department to see if it has been handed in? If it is located, I would be grateful if you could hold it securely until I can collect it later this week. Please inform me if you require any further details to assist in your search.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response addresses all three bullet points with specific, descriptive details and maintains a consistently professional, formal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide enough descriptive detail about the item, which makes it impossible for the manager to identify it among other lost goods.

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

inadvertently: in a way that is not intentional
misplaced: to lose something by putting it somewhere else
distinctive: easy to recognize because of being different
premises: the land and buildings owned by a company
retrieve: to get something back from a place
lost property: a place where lost items are kept

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.