Use the greeting, sign-off and paragraph plan below for this 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.
You are a university student and want to do a summer internship at an engineering company.
Write a letter to the human resources manager. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
A letter that begins Dear Sir or Madam ends Yours faithfully, 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 Sir or Madam,
I am writing to apply for a summer internship in your engineering department. I am currently in the third year of a mechanical engineering degree at Manchester University, and I expect to graduate next June with a strong focus on design and materials.
Your company is my first choice because of its reputation for innovative projects, especially the wind-turbine blades you developed last year. I would like to see how theory is applied in a real project, and I believe that working alongside your engineers would be the best preparation for my future career.
I can offer you a combination of technical and personal skills. I am competent in CAD software and basic programming, and I have worked on a team project to design a small solar-powered vehicle, which finished second in a university competition. I am also reliable, quick to learn and used to working under pressure to meet deadlines.
I would be available from the middle of June until the end of September and I would be delighted to attend an interview. My CV is enclosed.
Yours faithfully,
Yusuf Demir
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I am writing to apply for the position of | formal opening for a job application |
| I believe I am well suited to this role because | introduce your main reason for applying |
| I am available for an interview at your convenience. | offer to attend an interview |
| Please find my CV enclosed. | tell the reader a CV is included |
| I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my application further. | formal ending asking for an interview |
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.