General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · application

Letter to the Headteacher volunteering for school trip

Your child is going on a trip to another country for a week. The school authority is looking for some parents who can join the trip. You are interested in going with the children.

Write a letter to the head of the school. In your letter:

say why you want to join the team
mention what you can do to assist
also ask questions related to the trip

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 express my strong interest in joining the upcoming week-long school trip to France as a parent volunteer. My son, Leo, is very excited about this excursion, and I would welcome the opportunity to support the staff during this overseas experience.

Having travelled extensively throughout Europe, I am keen to ensure the students have a safe and enriching journey. I believe my presence would provide extra peace of mind for both the faculty and the children, while also allowing me to share in my son’s educational development outside the classroom setting.

Regarding how I can assist, I am happy to help with general supervision during excursions, managing group logistics, and ensuring all students follow the school’s safety protocols. I am also comfortable assisting with basic administrative tasks or minor first aid, as I hold a current certification in paediatric emergency care.

Could you please clarify the expected costs for parent chaperones and whether any specific travel documentation is required beyond a standard passport? Additionally, I would appreciate a brief itinerary to better understand the daily schedule.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Miller

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a professional tone while effectively addressing all three bullet points with specific, relevant details. A common Band 6 error is failing to ask specific questions, instead using vague language that does not demonstrate a genuine need for information.

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

excursion: a short journey or trip made for pleasure
enriching: improving the quality or value of an experience
logistics: the practical organisation of a complex activity
protocols: the official procedure or system of rules
paediatric: relating to the medical care of children
itinerary: a planned route or journey of travel

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.