General Training Task 1 letter

IELTS General Training Letter: Asking for time off

Question type: General Training Task 1: semi-formal letter

The question

You need to take some time off work for a family event.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: - explain why you need time off - say how long you will need - explain how your work will be covered while you are away

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows: Dear ...,

Write your own answer first. Then get an estimated band and corrections from our AI marker.

Answer this question

How to approach it

Use a polite, professional tone: you know your manager, but this is a work request.
Give the exact dates and number of days.
Show you have planned how your work will be covered.

Sample letter

193 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.

Dear Ms Patel,

I am writing to ask whether I could take some time off work next month for an important family event.

My younger sister is getting married in Lahore on 21 June, and as the only other sibling, I have been asked to help organise the celebrations. Since the wedding involves several events over a number of days, I would need to travel a few days beforehand.

I would like to request five working days of leave, from Monday 17 June to Friday 21 June, returning to work on Monday 24 June. I still have eleven days of annual leave remaining this year, so this would come from my normal allowance.

I have already spoken to James, who is familiar with my accounts, and he has kindly agreed to deal with any urgent client requests while I am away. Before I leave, I will make sure that the monthly report is completed and prepare a handover note listing all ongoing tasks. I will also check my email once a day in case anything important comes up.

Please let me know if these dates are convenient or if you would like to discuss the arrangements.

Kind regards,

Omar Farooq

Useful language from this answer

I am writing to ask whether I could…: a polite request
I would like to request five working days of leave: stating exactly what you need
this would come from my normal allowance: reassuring your manager
a handover note: a document explaining your work to a colleague
in case anything important comes up: showing responsibility

Common mistakes with this question

Being too informal with a manager, for example 'Hey, can I have next week off?'
Not giving exact dates or the number of days.
Forgetting the third bullet point about how your work will be covered.

Now write your own answer

Reading a model helps, but writing is what improves your band. Answer this question and get an estimated band for all four criteria, with corrections taken from your own sentences.

Get my answer marked Take a timed Writing test

This model answer was written by TestWise Prep to show the features of a high-scoring answer. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise.