IELTS Business Letter: Topics, Structure, Phrases & Sample
IELTS Business Letter is a formal or semi-formal type of letter that is usually written when you need to write a letter to a company or an organisation.
Marked by an IELTS examiner See a real business letter with every mistake corrected and explained Band 7.5, with the exact changes that would take it higher. Tap any correction to see why it was made.IELTS business letter topics
Business letter tasks are about work: you write to your manager, a colleague or a client. Practise with these topics:
- Time offYou need two weeks off work for a family reason. Write to your manager explaining why, when you will be away and who can do your work.
- SuggestionYour manager has asked for ideas to improve the office. Describe a problem, suggest a solution and explain how it would help.
- TrainingYou would like to attend a training course. Write to your manager describing the course, how it would help your work and who would pay.
- ProblemThe equipment you use at work often breaks down. Write to your manager describing the problem, how it affects your work and what should be done.
- ScheduleYou would like to change your working hours or work from home some days. Explain why and how it would work.
- EventYour company is planning an event for staff. Write to your manager suggesting what kind of event, where and when.
- DelayA project you are working on will not be finished on time. Write to your manager explaining why and what you will do about it.
- ColleagueA colleague has left your company. Write to your manager recommending someone to replace them and explain why.
- LeavingYou are leaving your job. Write to your manager explaining why, when you will leave and how you can help before you go.
- ThanksYour manager helped you with a difficult project. Write to thank them, describe how they helped and what you learned.
- ComplaintYou are unhappy with the cleaning or the food at your workplace. Write to the person responsible describing the problem and suggesting improvements.
- ClientA client has asked for information about your company’s services. Write describing what you offer, the prices and how to order.
Example business letter task
Here is how this kind of task looks in the exam. The corrected sample letter further down answers it:
Writing Task 1 General Training 20 minutes
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You work in an international company. You need to take some time off work. Write a letter to your employer. In your letter
- explain why you need this time off
- give details of when you want this time off
- say who can do your work when you are away
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ... ,
Note! You will find the IELTS Business Letter Sample with grammar corrections and estimated band score down below.
IELTS Business Letter Structure & Vocabulary
We have listed the structure of a typical IELTS formal letter and a selection of useful language and phrases for you to use. It is important here to use a formal, neutral style, no contractions, exclamation marks, no colloquial language, no direct questions.
- 1Dear Sir or Madam,
- 2I am writing to…
- 3
- 4I would appreciate it if…
- 5Yours faithfully,
John Brown
- Dear Sir/Madam, (or name if given)
- Explain who you are and why you are writing
- I am writing in regard to books I borrowed from the library on July 15, 2021, and never returned.
- I am writing to apologise.
- I would like to apply for one of the scholarships I saw advertised in …
- I am writing to inform you that I will be leaving the company.
- Explanation in more detail: describe your situation and make it clear
- At present I am training to be a ... and I finish my course at the end of June.
- The reason I apply for the scholarship is that ...
- Suggestions: what you expect, apologise if needed; be polite and positive
- I understand that other students may need those books and deeply apologise for the inconvenience. I will return the books as soon as possible.
- I would appreciate being given the opportunity to ... and would be very grateful if you would consider my application.
- Formal ending, name, signature
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- Yours sincerely, ... (you know the name of the person you are writing to)
- Yours faithfully, ... (you don't know the name!)
A real business letter, corrected by an IELTS examiner
A student wrote this letter on the example task above, and an IELTS examiner marked it. Mistakes are in red and crossed out, and the examiner’s corrections are in green right after them. Hover over a correction, or tap it on your phone, to see why it was changed.
Writing Task 1 Student letter 20 minutes
You work in an international company. You need to take some time off work. Write a letter to your employer. In your letter
- explain why you need this time off
- give details of when you want this time off
- say who can do your work when you are away
Write at least 150 words.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear ... ,
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am writing to ask for an unpaid holidayleave for two weeks. Unfortunately, my sister had a car crash in Thailand and she needs a kidney donor and since I am her closest relative I might be the only one who could save her.
I would like to fly out as soon as possible, as her condition is getting worse very fast according to doctor Liu's phone call. I have already booked the first available flight to Asia and the return tickets as well. Therefore, the exact period of time of my absence would be two weeks starting from the 21st of January. I will arrive toback in the UK in the early morning of the 7th of February and I would be able to start working at the same day.
Since my colleagues Mr White and Mr Black both have a full overview of my duties, they could very well do my work during the above-mentioned weeks. However, I could be contacted in urgent mattersshould anything urgent arise.
Please consider this extreme situation I am facing at the moment and allow me to have this time off work.
Yours sincerely,
Jane Stafford
(193 words)
7.5
Examiner’s band scorefor the letter as written, before the corrections
What this letter does well
The examiner gave this letter band 7.5. The purpose is clear from the first sentence, the dates are exact, and the writer shows that the work will be covered by two colleagues. The tone is polite and formal, which is right for a request to a manager.
