IELTS Request Letter: Topics, Format, Phrases & Sample
A request letter is a formal or semi-formal letter in which you ask for information, help or a service. It is one of the most common letter types in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, and in CEFR and Multilevel writing tests too.
On this page you will find common request letter topics to practise with, a clear structure with useful phrases, and a real student letter corrected by an IELTS examiner.
Marked by an IELTS examiner See a real request letter with every mistake corrected and explained Band 6.5, with the exact changes that would take it higher. Tap any correction to see why it was made.IELTS request letter topics
Request letter tasks come back to the same situations: you need information before you sign up, book or buy something. Practise with these topics. Each one asks you to explain who you are and what you need to know:
- Education
- You want to join an evening course at a local college. Write to the college asking about the course content, the timetable and the fees.
- You are planning to study abroad. Write to a university asking about accommodation for international students.
- SportYour college has no sports facilities. Write to a private sports club asking about its facilities, members and costs.
- Travel
- You have booked a trip with a travel agency. Write asking for the full itinerary, what is included and what you need to bring.
- You want to stay at a hotel for a family celebration. Write asking about rooms, prices and whether they can host a dinner.
- Work
- You saw an advertisement for a part-time job. Write asking for more details about the hours, the duties and the pay.
- You would like to do a training course to improve your skills at work. Write to your manager asking whether the company could pay for it.
- Housing
- You are moving to a new city. Write to a letting agency asking about flats to rent, prices and the areas they recommend.
- Your landlord is planning repairs in your building. Write asking when the work will start and how long it will last.
- Lost propertyYou left a bag on a train. Write to the railway company describing the bag and asking how you can get it back.
- ShoppingYou want to buy a product you saw online, but some details are missing. Write to the company asking about delivery, the guarantee and returns.
- LeisureYou want to join a local club, for example a photography or cooking club. Write asking how to become a member and what activities they offer.
- VolunteeringYou would like to volunteer at an event in your town. Write to the organisers asking what volunteers do and when they are needed.
- CommunityYou want to hold an event in a community hall. Write to the manager asking about availability, the cost and equipment.
- HealthYou are interested in a new gym or a fitness class near your home. Write asking about the timetable, trainers and membership options.
Some tasks ask you to write to a friend for information, for example about a city they know well. Then use an informal letter style with the same request letter structure.
Example request letter task
Here is how a request letter task looks in the exam. The corrected sample letter further down answers this task:
Writing Task 1 General Training 20 minutes
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have just started a course in a college which has no sports facilities of its own. Write a letter to the manager of the nearest private sports club. In your letter
- introduce yourself
- say why you are interested in this sports club
- ask some questions about the club e.g. facilities, members, costs
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
IELTS Request Letter Structure & Vocabulary
Follow this structure and use these phrases to organise your request letter and keep the right formal tone.
- 1Dear Sir or Madam,
- 2I am writing to enquire about…
- 3
- 4Yours faithfully,
John Brown
- Dear Sir/Madam, (or name if given)
- The purpose of the letter: the reason for writing (1-2 sentences about what kind of information you are interested in)
- I am writing to ask for information about membership in the Snap Fitness Sports club
- I am writing to ask for a complete itinerary of a trip to Africa that I booked with your company
- I am writing in response to ... / I was interested in your advertisement in ...
- I am writing to enquire about ...
- Explanation in more detail: who you are, exactly what information you need, why, when and in what form you need it
- Who am I?
- I have read your advertisement in the … and would like to get more information
- What information do I request?
- The information I would like to obtain should include the following:
- Firstly, I would like to know ...
- I would be grateful if you could tell me what the price is.
- I wonder if I need insurance / I wonder if you could ...
- I would be interested to know if I will get a certificate
- I would like to know more about ... / I would be grateful if you could ...
- I wonder if you could possibly tell/send me …
- Could you possibly send … / May I request …?
- Could you please send me further details …?
- Why? When?
- I would appreciate (it) if you could inform me as soon as possible
- I would like to receive it as soon as possible but not later than a week before the flight
- In what form?
- You could send the above-mentioned information to my email address
- It would be of great help if you could email me the details
- You can contact me on my mobile phone number, which is 0454 ...
-
Formal ending, name, signature
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- I look forward to receiving a prompt reply.
- Yours sincerely, ... (you know the name of the person you are writing to)
- Yours faithfully, ... (you don't know the name)
Useful phrases
- First of all, I would like to know
- I would be grateful if you could inform me ...
- I would appreciate it if ... / I would also like to know whether ...
- I would be interested in knowing ...
- I would be very grateful if you would/could reply as soon as possible
- Thank you in advance for your assistance.
- I look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience
- The trip I refer to starts on March 12
A real request 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 have just started a course in a college which has no sports facilities of its own. Write a letter to the manager of the nearest private sports club. In your letter
- introduce yourself
- say why you are interested in this sports club
- ask some questions about the club e.g. facilities, members, costs
Write at least 150 words.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inquire about the Snap Fitness sports club.
My name is John Smith I am thea first year student at Western College. I wasI have just announceddiscovered that my college does not provide any sports facilities as of yet. However, I found Snap Fitness to be the nearest sports club and thoughtwould like to request for more information about it.
Firstly, I am wondering if you could possibly give me a small overview of the available facilities. It would be interesting to know whether the club offers some sports classes and personal trainings etc sessions.
Secondly, I would be interested to know how big is the gym area is and what types of equipment are available.
Lastly, I am wondering what kind of membership programme the club offers. Do you have monthly or weekly based tickets available or do I need to sign a binding contractup for a longer period?
I would appreciate it if you could send me the details to my email.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Jack Smith
(167 words)
6.5
Examiner’s band scorefor the letter as written, before the corrections
What this letter does well
The examiner gave this letter band 6.5. It is very clearly organised, it answers all three bullet points, and the tone is right for a letter to someone you do not know: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inquire about, Yours faithfully. The questions are polite and specific: facilities, equipment and membership.
IELTS Request Letter FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
Is a request letter formal or informal?
Usually formal or semi-formal, because you write to an organisation or a person you do not know well. If the task asks you to write to a friend, use an informal style with the same structure.
How do I start a request letter?
Say why you are writing in the first sentence, for example “I am writing to enquire about…” or “I am writing in response to your advertisement…”.
How many words should a request letter have?
At least 150 words in IELTS. Most strong letters have 160–190 words, which is enough to cover all three bullet points.
Can I use these topics for CEFR or Multilevel writing?
Yes. CEFR and Multilevel writing tasks often include request letters in very similar situations, so the topics, structure and phrases on this page work for those tests too. Check the word count your test asks for.
Should I end with “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”?
Use “Yours faithfully” after “Dear Sir or Madam”, and “Yours sincerely” when you know the person’s name.
