IELTS General Writing Task 1: A Day Off Work to Help Your Father

Jan 18, 2022 | IELTS, IELTS Test, IELTS Writing

This month we are returning to IELTS Writing General Task 1. This month, it is a semi-formal letter to your manager asking for some time off work. 

Here is the template followed when answering this month’s question…

Salutation – it is to set the tone from the start and Dear… nearly always works 

1st paragraph – answering the first bullet point

2nd paragraph  answering the second bullet point

3rd and 4th paragraphs – answering the third bullet point

Sign off – it is important to maintain the tone with which you started

The Question 

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.

You work for a company and need to take a day’s leave to help your father who has a problem.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

  • describe your father’s problem
  • explain how you will help your father
  • suggest how your work for this day can be completed

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear …………… ,

IELTS General Task 1 Writing Model Answer - Helping your father to move house © Andrew Turner @ EnglishWithAnExpert.com

The Answer

Dear Jim, 

I’m writing to request a day of leave tomorrow, in lieu of the holiday pay I’m currently owed, to help my father with his forthcoming house move. He has, unfortunately, been let down at the last minute by a professional firm, and needs an extra pair of hands for the bulkier items. 

Should my request be approved, I plan to arrive early in the morning and – after a quick breakfast, of course – get started straight away. Ideally, the move will be complete by mid-afternoon, giving me a little free time to catch up on our outstanding project items. 

I plan to make up the remaining hours from home over the course of next week. It could, in fact, be a useful opportunity to trial a hybrid working model! Who knows… perhaps, if all goes well, we’ll be able to implement flexible working policies for everyone in the future.

Yours, 

Marcus Moir

What next?

If you would like to answer the same question and receive feedback, purchase one of our Writing Correction Packages.

If you would like to watch a video about how to write IELTS General Task 1 letters, visit this page.

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