Formal Letter of Request

If you’re preparing for the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, it’s important to understand how to write a clear and well-structured formal letter. In this sample, you’ll see how to request a temporary transfer to another branch of your company — one of the common letter topics in the IELTS exam. Pay attention to the tone, layout, and how each bullet point in the task is addressed. Use this Formal Letter of Request example to boost your writing band score and gain confidence for test day.

You are employed at an international organization and would like to request a six-month placement at the company’s main office located overseas.

Write a letter to your supervisor. In your letter:

  • describe your reasons for wanting to work at the main office abroad for half a year
  • explain how your current responsibilities can be managed during your absence
  • request your supervisor’s assistance in making the necessary arrangements

Dear Mrs. Smith,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request a six-month transfer to our company’s head office in Paris.

As highlighted in our recent staff meeting, one of the key challenges we continue to face is a lack of effective teamwork. In my role as the lead of the tech department, I believe that spending time at the head office would allow me to observe and adopt proven strategies to foster stronger collaboration within our team here. Exposure to the practices and culture at the central office could offer valuable insights that would benefit our department in the long term.

To ensure my responsibilities are covered during my absence, I have already discussed the matter with Robert, one of our senior technicians. Given his experience and familiarity with our projects, I am confident he can oversee operations effectively. I will also remain available for support via video calls whenever necessary.

I would be very grateful if you could support my request and kindly liaise with the head office regarding the possibility of this temporary transfer.

Thank you for considering my proposal. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Jessica Miller