General Training Task 1 · Formal letters
Booking a public hall
An original IELTS practice question with a planning route and a sample answer to learn from.
Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. Suggested practice level: intermediate, not a predicted band.
Your writing task
You would like to hire a public hall for a local club. Write a letter to the venue manager. Explain the purpose of the event, describe the facilities you need, and ask about availability and cost.
How to approach this question
Write to an organisation or person you do not know. State the purpose clearly, cover all three task points and keep the tone polite and professional.
Formal letters: develop every task point and make the request clear →
Explain the club's event, expected attendance and preferred date. Describe the facilities needed for those activities rather than making an unrelated wish list.
Ask about availability and the full hire cost, including any equipment charges or deposit. Use a clear request that the venue manager can answer.
These are possible directions, not required opinions or facts to memorise. Develop your own response and check every claim against the task.
A possible plan
- Opening: use a formal greeting for an unknown recipient and state the purpose clearly.
- First task point: give enough specific detail for the organisation or official to understand the situation.
- Remaining task points: develop each requested point, including any action or information you need.
- Closing: end politely with a formal sign-off that matches the greeting.
Vocabulary you can use precisely
Choose language that fits your meaning. You do not need to include every phrase.
- hire fee
- The amount charged to use a venue or item temporarily.
Could you confirm whether the hire fee includes use of the sound system?
- available facilities
- Equipment or amenities that can be used at a venue.
I would appreciate further information about the available facilities.
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