Use the greeting, sign-off and paragraph plan below for this semi-formal letter, write it on a 20-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model letter.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
A bookshop near your university needs a part-time assistant.
Write a letter to Ms Silva, the shop owner. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Ms Silva,
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
A letter to a named person ends Yours sincerely, followed by your full name.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 150 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Dear Ms Silva,
I am writing to apply for the part-time assistant position at your bookshop, which I saw advertised in the window yesterday.
I am a second-year English Literature student at the university, and I have been a regular customer of your shop for the last three years. I love the atmosphere here, and I would be delighted to share my passion for reading with your customers.
I have worked with customers before. For the past eighteen months, I have worked at weekends in a café, where I served customers, handled the till and dealt politely with complaints. This has taught me to stay calm during busy periods. I am also comfortable with computers and could help with the shop's website and social media.
I could work on Saturdays and Sundays all day, and on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after my lectures finish at one.
I have attached my CV and would be happy to come for an interview at any time.
Yours sincerely,
Gabriela Santos
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I'm writing to ask about the possibility of | polite opening for a request to join something |
| I'd be keen to take part in | show enthusiasm |
| I have some experience of | mention background briefly |
| I'm available to start from | give a start date |
| I look forward to hearing from you. | standard polite closing |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.