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 have bought a sofa from a furniture shop and need to agree a delivery time.
Write a letter to the shop's delivery department. 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 recently bought a three-seater grey sofa from your shop in Queen Street, and I am writing to arrange its delivery. The order number is 90417, and I paid for it on 5 October.
I am usually at work during the week, so I would prefer the sofa to be delivered at the weekend. I will be at home all day on Saturday 19 October, and I can also receive it on Sunday 20 October after 1 pm. If neither day is possible, I could take a morning off work, but I would need at least a week's notice.
Please note that I live in a third-floor flat, and the building does not have a lift. The stairs are narrow, so I would be grateful if the delivery team could bring the sofa up by hand and take care not to damage the walls. I would also like them to remove the packaging and take it away with them.
Could you please confirm the date and give me an approximate delivery time?
Thank you very much.
Yours faithfully,
Mehmet Arslan
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I would like to arrange a meeting to discuss | formal way to propose a meeting |
| Would it be possible to reschedule | polite way to ask to change a time |
| I propose that we meet on | suggest a time |
| Please confirm whether this date is convenient. | ask if a date suits the reader |
| I look forward to your confirmation. | polite closing asking for a reply |
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.