IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter to a College (Band 9 Sample)
This General Training Task 1 asks for a formal enquiry letter to an English-speaking college about a course you plan to take. A band-9 answer covers all three requirements fully — it asks clear questions about the course itself, asks about the course fees, and confirms that the hostel fee you were quoted is correct. Because you have no personal relationship with the college, the register must stay formal throughout. The model below is about 180 words.
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1The task
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write to an English-speaking college regarding a course you intend to take. You need to ask questions about the course and course fees. You will be staying at the college hostel, so you need to confirm the fee quoted to you is correct. Write at least 150 words.
2Band 9 sample answer
178 words · Band 9Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to enquire about the Diploma in Graphic Design that your college is offering from September, as I intend to enrol for the coming academic year and would be grateful for some further information.
Firstly, I would like to ask several questions about the course itself. Could you please tell me how long the programme lasts and whether classes are held on weekdays or at weekends? I would also like to know whether any prior qualifications are required for admission, and if the diploma is recognised for progression to a full degree.
Secondly, I would appreciate a clear breakdown of the course fees, including whether the amount can be paid in instalments and if any deposit is required to secure a place.
Finally, I was quoted a hostel fee of £120 per week when I visited in June, and I should be grateful if you could confirm that this figure is still correct, as I need to budget accurately before I travel.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours faithfully, Daniel Okoro
3Why this scores Band 9
1Task Achievement
All three requirements are fully covered: several specific questions about the course (duration, timetable, entry requirements, progression), a clear request about the course fees (instalments and deposit), and an explicit confirmation of the quoted hostel fee (£120 per week from June). Nothing is left vague.
2Coherence & Cohesion
The letter is organised by clearly signposted paragraphs ("Firstly", "Secondly", "Finally"), each handling one requirement, so the reader can follow the enquiry effortlessly. Cohesion is smooth and formal rather than a bolted-on list of connectors.
3Lexical Resource
Vocabulary fits a formal enquiry precisely: "I am writing to enquire about", "I would appreciate a clear breakdown", "recognised for progression", "I should be grateful if you could confirm". The phrasing is professional and idiomatic, not memorised chunks.
4Grammatical Range & Accuracy
A range of accurate structures is used: embedded questions ("Could you please tell me how long the programme lasts"), a conditional polite request ("I should be grateful if you could confirm"), and a passive with a reported detail ("I was quoted a hostel fee"). The letter is error-free.
4Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
5Frequently asked questions
How should I open and close a formal IELTS enquiry letter?
When you do not know the recipient’s name, open with "Dear Sir or Madam," and close with "Yours faithfully,". This pairing is the correct match for an anonymous formal letter — using "Yours sincerely," here, or a first-name greeting, would break register and cost you marks.
How long should General Training Task 1 be?
At least 150 words. A band-9 formal letter is usually 170–200 words — enough to ask all your questions clearly without padding. This model is 178 words, and both the greeting and sign-off count toward the total.
Do I have to cover every part of the prompt?
Yes. Here you must ask about the course, ask about the fees, and confirm the hostel quote. Leaving out any one — most candidates forget to confirm the hostel fee — caps your Task Achievement score, so give each its own developed paragraph.
Can I invent details like the course name and the quoted fee?
Absolutely — you are expected to. Inventing a specific course (a Diploma in Graphic Design), a concrete hostel figure (£120 per week) and a date you were quoted makes your questions purposeful and realistic, which strengthens Task Achievement.
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