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 you cannot finish an assignment on time because you have been ill.
Write a letter to Dr Patel, your course tutor. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Dr Patel,
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 Dr Patel,
I am writing to ask whether I could have an extension for my assignment on urban planning, which is due this Friday.
Unfortunately, I have been ill with a serious chest infection for the past ten days. My doctor has advised me to rest, and I have been too weak to study properly. I can send you a medical certificate if you would like to see one.
Before I became ill, I had finished my research and completed the first two sections of the essay, which is about half of the total work. What remains is the analysis and the conclusion, both of which need careful thought, and I do not want to hand in a rushed piece of work.
I would therefore be very grateful if you could allow me to submit the assignment on Friday 28 May, one week after the original deadline. I will make sure that it is completed by then.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Laura Fernandez
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I am writing to enquire about | formally ask for information on a topic |
| I would be most grateful if you could | very polite way of asking for something |
| Could you please let me know whether | polite indirect question |
| I would appreciate it if you could send me | polite request for something to be sent |
| Please find attached | introduces a document sent with the letter |
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.