# Letter to a college about an evening course: IELTS Writing Task 1 samples

Writing Task 1 - General Training - Education

You would like to join an evening course at a local college, but the college website does not give you all the information you need.

Write a letter to the college. 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,

You should say:
- say which course you are interested in and why
- explain what information you need
- ask whether there are any requirements for joining the course

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request some information about the Spanish for Beginners evening course which starts at your college in January.

I am interested in this course because my company is going to open a new office in Madrid next year and I hope to work there for some months. I have never studied Spanish before, so I believe a beginners course is the best choice for me, especially as I learn best in a classroom.

Your website explains the topics of the course, however it does not mention the fee or how many students are in each class. I would also like to know if there are lessons on Saturday, because I sometimes have to work late during the week.

In addition, I would like to ask if there are any requirements to join the course. For example, do I need to buy a textbook before the first lesson, or will the college provide all the materials?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Yours faithfully,

Marco Bianchi

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 letter answers each bullet clearly, and the reason for choosing the course is relevant and believable. Questions about the fee, class size and Saturday lessons show what is missing from the website. However, "Thanks in advance" is too casual for a formal letter, and "beginners course" and the comma before "however" are errors. A Band 8 letter would link its questions more closely to the writer's situation and keep the closing line formal.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-1/letter-to-college-asking-about-evening-course).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.