This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing to your boss about an application letter at work.

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Application Letter

You are interested in applying for a new position at your company but have some questions. Write a letter to you boss. In your letter include:

• Which position you are considering
• What questions you have about it
• How your boss can help you decide whether or not to apply

Dear John,

I am writing to inform you of my desire to apply for the position of assistant to the regional manager and ask your advice as to my suitability for this role. The job opening was advertised in a recent company-wide memo and would involve working for Ted Johnson, who holds your equivalent position in the Lynn district.

I have several questions. Firstly, will you be willing to recommend me for this position if I choose to apply? Secondly, what are the primary role requirements for such an assistant? Finally, would it be possible to keep my current job if my application is unsuccessful?

I would also like to ask for your thoughts before submitting a final application. I’ve been working directly under you for 3 years so you can best assess my abilities. You could greatly help me by being direct and honest as to my potential and whether or not I am pursuing a viable career path.

Thank you for taking the time.

Best Regards,

David

Analysis

1. Dear John,

2. I am writing to inform you of my desire to apply for the position of assistant to the regional manager and ask your advice as to my suitability for this role. 3. The job opening was advertised in a recent company-wide memo and would involve working for Ted Johnson, who holds your equivalent position in the Lynn district.

1. Address the letter to someone.
2. Include your purpose for writing.
3. Add in some more detail if you want.

1. I have several questions. 2. Firstly, will you be willing to recommend me for this position if I choose to apply? 3. Secondly, what are the primary role requirements for such an assistant? 4. Finally, would it be possible to keep my current job if my application is unsuccessful?

1. Begin to develop the second point.
2. Add more detail to it.
3. Keep developing it.
4. Put in as much as possible for a higher task achievement score.

1. I would also like to ask for your thoughts before submitting a final application. 2. I’ve been working directly under you for 3 years so you can best assess my abilities. 3. You could greatly help me by being direct and honest as to my potential and whether or not I am pursuing a viable career path.

4. Thank you for taking the time.

5. Best Regards,

6. David

1. Develop the last point.
2. Keep developing it.
3. Finish developing it.
4. Add a final thought at the end of the letter.
5. Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
6. Write your name (or a fake one) at the end.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take notes on a piece of paper to aid memory retention.

Dear John,

I am writing to inform you of my desire to apply for the position of assistant to the regional manager and ask your advice as to my suitability for this role. The job opening was advertised in a recent company-wide memo and would involve working for Ted Johnson, who holds your equivalent position in the Lynn district.

I have several questions. Firstly, will you be willing to recommend me for this position if I choose to apply? Secondly, what are the primary role requirements for such an assistant? Finally, would it be possible to keep my current job if my application is unsuccessful?

I would also like to ask for your thoughts before submitting a final application. I’ve been working directly under you for 3 years so you can best assess my abilities. You could greatly help me by being direct and honest as to my potential and whether or not I am pursuing a viable career path.

Thank you for taking the time.

Best Regards,

David

Answers

I am writing to inform you my purpose for the letter is

desire want

apply put in an application

position job

assistant to the regional manager working under a boss in charge of a large area

advice suggestion

suitability how well you would fit in

role job

job opening new position available

advertised opened up

recent company-wide memo message sent to the whole company

would involve is likely to entail

holds has

equivalent position same job

district area

several a bunch

willing able to do it

recommend give support

primary role requirements main job duties

would it be possible to keep could I potentially remain

current now

application noun for apply

unsuccessful doesn’t work out

thoughts ideas

submitting putting in

directly under working right below

assess form an opinion on

abilities capacities

greatly help be of much assistance

direct frank

honest truthful

potential possible

pursuing trying for

viable career path good way forward

thank you for taking the time thanks for listening

Best Regards sincerely

Pronunciation

aɪ æm ˈraɪtɪŋ tuː ɪnˈfɔːm juː 
dɪˈzaɪə 
əˈplaɪ 
pəˈzɪʃən 
əˈsɪstənt tuː ðə ˈriːʤənl ˈmænɪʤə 
ədˈvaɪs 
ˌsjuːtəˈbɪlɪti 
rəʊl
ʤɒb ˈəʊpnɪŋ 
ˈædvətaɪzd 
ˈriːsnt ˈkʌmpəni-waɪd ˈmiːməʊ 
wʊd ɪnˈvɒlv 
həʊldz 
ɪˈkwɪvələnt pəˈzɪʃən 
ˈdɪstrɪkt
ˈsɛvrəl 
ˈwɪlɪŋ 
ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd 
ˈpraɪməri rəʊl rɪˈkwaɪəmənts 
wʊd ɪt biː ˈpɒsəbl tuː kiːp 
ˈkʌrənt 
ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n 
ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfʊl
θɔːts 
səbˈmɪtɪŋ 
dɪˈrɛktli ˈʌndə 
əˈsɛs 
əˈbɪlɪtiz
ˈgreɪtli hɛlp 
dɪˈrɛkt 
ˈɒnɪst 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl 
pəˈsjuːɪŋ 
ˈvaɪəbl kəˈrɪə pɑːθ
θæŋk juː fɔː ˈteɪkɪŋ ðə taɪm
bɛst rɪˈgɑːdz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Dear John,

I_______________________u of my d________e to a_______y for the p_________n of a_______________________________r and ask your a________e as to my s____________y for this r______e. The j______________g was a____________d in a r________________________o and w______________e working for Ted Johnson, who h______s your e_____________________n in the Lynn d________t.

I have s__________l questions. Firstly, will you be w________g to r______________d me for this position if I choose to apply? Secondly, what are the p__________________________s for such an assistant? Finally, w_______________________________p my c__________t job if my a____________n is u_______________l?

I would also like to ask for your t____________s before s____________g a final application. I’ve been working d_______________r you for 3 years so you can best a_________s my a___________s. You could g_____________p me by being d_______t and h_________t as to my p_____________l and whether or not I am p___________g a v_________________h.

T_______________________________e.

B______________s,

David

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20140314-take-a-quiz-get-a-career

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)

1. Do you work or are you a student?
2. Do you like your current job?
3. In the future, do you want to change jobs?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Write a letter to your manager about your work from the last year. Include

What you did

What you think you could improve

A training request

IELTS Essay: Letter to a Boss