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 student and would like your local library to open later in the evenings.
Write a letter to the head librarian. 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 a student at the nearby university and I regularly use your library. I am writing to ask whether it could stay open later in the evenings on weekdays.
At present the library closes at 6 pm, which is exactly when most of my lectures finish. I travel for forty minutes to reach it, so I rarely have time to find the books I need. The university library is very crowded, and I study much better in your quiet reading room.
Many other people would benefit as well. Several classmates face the same difficulty, and people who work during the day, such as office employees and shop assistants, cannot visit before closing time. Parents could also use the children's section once school finishes.
The most useful hours would be from 6 pm to 9 pm, Monday to Thursday. Even closing at 8 pm would make a real difference to students like me, and I am sure the extra hours would be well used.
Thank you for considering my request.
Yours faithfully,
Ali Rahimov
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I am writing to enquire about | formally ask for information on a topic |
| 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 |
| Thank you for your time and consideration. | polite closing line |
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.