IELTS Writing Task 1 · General Training

Semi-formal letter: asking a property agent about accommodation

A real-format letter task with a band 8 semi-formal letter, the plan behind it, and the phrases worth keeping. Aim for 150 to 190 words in 20 minutes.

The task

You are moving to a new city for work and need somewhere to live. Write a letter to a property agent. In your letter: - introduce yourself and explain your situation - describe the type of accommodation you are looking for - ask any questions you have about the area.

Band 8 model answer

195 words. The minimum is 150, and anything under it is penalised on Task Achievement; a strong answer sits between 150 and 190, which leaves time to check the figures.

Dear Ms Adeyemi, My name is Chidi Nwosu and I will be moving to Port Harcourt at the start of October to take up a position as a laboratory supervisor at a hospital in the GRA district. Your agency was recommended to me by a colleague who rented through you last year, so I am writing to ask for your help in finding somewhere to live. I am looking for a furnished two-bedroom flat with reliable power, ideally in a building with its own generator, within about thirty minutes of the hospital by road. My budget is up to 1.8 million naira a year, and I would prefer a lease of at least twelve months, since I expect to stay in the city for some time. I would be grateful if you could tell me which neighbourhoods are quietest in the evenings, whether rent is normally paid a year in advance, and what documents you will need from me before a viewing. I will be in the city for two days from 12 September and could visit properties then. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Chidi Nwosu

Why this answer earns band 8

"Dear Ms Adeyemi" with "Yours sincerely" is the convention for a named recipient you do not know, and getting this pairing right is an easy Task Achievement mark that many letters lose.
"to take up a position as a laboratory supervisor" introduces the writer with a job, a place and a date in one clause, the specific detail that makes the situation believable.
"a furnished two-bedroom flat with reliable power, ideally in a building with its own generator" describes the accommodation in the concrete terms an agent can act on, which is what the second bullet is testing.
"I would be grateful if you could tell me which ..., whether ..., and what ..." packs three questions into one parallel structure, scoring under Grammatical Range and Accuracy while keeping the paragraph tidy.
"within about thirty minutes of the hospital by road", "a year in advance", "before a viewing" are the precise, topic-specific collocations Lexical Resource rewards in a letter about housing.

The plan, reusable on any letter of this kind

Opening (40-50 words): who you are, where you are moving, when and why, and how you found the agent.
Bullet 2 (50-60 words): the accommodation you want, with size, features, location, budget and lease length.
Bullet 3 (50-60 words): two or three questions in one polite structure, then when you can view.
Close (1-2 lines): thanks and the correct sign-off for a named recipient.

Phrases worth learning

to take up a position as	to explain a move for work in a formal register
was recommended to me by	to open a letter to a business you have not dealt with
ideally in a building with	to add a preference without making it a condition
I would be grateful if you could tell me whether	the politest way to ask a yes-or-no question in writing
I look forward to hearing from you	the standard close for a letter that expects a reply

Names, districts and amounts are invented for the model. In the exam, invent your own with the same confidence; what the examiner checks is whether all three bullets are covered in the right tone.

Questions about this answer

What band is this model answer?

It is written to band 8, and the notes under it quote the answer's own words to show why.

How long should a Task 1 answer be?

Aim for 150 to 190 words in 20 minutes. This model answer is 195 words, and anything under 150 is penalised on Task Achievement.

What is the most common mistake on Task 1?

Writing under the 150 word minimum, which is penalised on Task Achievement, or missing one of the three bullet points.