This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing a letter to you a cinema/theatre manager to ask about a jacket/coat that you forgot.

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IELTS Essay: Letter to a Cinema Manager

Write a letter to the manager of a cinema (movie theatre) about a jacket you have left behind after a film. In your letter:

• Describe the jacket
• Describe where you were seated
• Explain what you want to be done

Dear theatre management,

I am writing because I forgot my jacket during a recent showing at your cinema. The jacket is made from handmade hemp so it is rough and very distinctive. It is dyed blue and there is embroidery on the sleeves of brightly colored flowers.

I was in cinema 6 for the afternoon session of King Kong. I ordered my tickets online beforehand and I just double-checked to confirm that my friend and I were seated in row K, seats 12 and 13, near the center of the cinema.

I would advise you to check under the chairs in the cinema and in your lost and found section. If you are able to locate my jacket, please give me a phone call at 781-334-5054 and I will drive over to pick it up. If it is more convenient, you can also mail it to the return address on this envelope.

Thank you for your assistance.

Regards,

Jeremy

Analysis

1. Dear theatre management,

2. I am writing because I forgot my jacket during a recent showing at your cinema. 3. The jacket is made from handmade hemp so it is rough and very distinctive. 4. It is dyed blue and there is embroidery on the sleeves of brightly colored flowers.

1. Address the letter to someone.
2. You can begin with a greeting.
3. Include the first bullet point.
4. Add in some more detail if you want.

1. I was in cinema 6 for the afternoon session of King Kong. 2. I ordered my tickets online beforehand and I just double-checked to confirm that my friend and I were seated in row K, seats 12 and 13, near the center of the cinema.

1. Begin to develop the second point.
2. Add more detail to it.

1. I would advise you to check under the chairs in the cinema and in your lost and found section. 2. If you are able to locate my jacket, please give me a phone call at 781-334-5054 and I will drive over to pick it up. 3. If it is more convenient, you can also mail it to the return address on this envelope.

4. Thank you for your assistance.

5. Regards,

6. Jeremy

1. Develop the last point.
2. Keep developing it.
3. The more detail, the better!
4. Add an ending sentence.
5. Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
6. Write your name at the end of the letter.

Vocabulary

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

Dear theatre management,

I am writing because I forgot my jacket during a recent showing at your cinema. The jacket is made from handmade hemp so it is rough and very distinctive. It is dyed blue and there is embroidery on the sleeves of brightly colored flowers.

I was in cinema 6 for the afternoon session of King Kong. I ordered my tickets online beforehand and I just double-checked to confirm that my friend and I were seated in row K, seats 12 and 13, near the center of the cinema.

I would advise you to check under the chairs in the cinema and in your lost and found section. If you are able to locate my jacket, please give me a phone call at 781-334-5054 and I will drive over to pick it up. If it is more convenient, you can also mail it to the return address on this envelope.

Thank you for your assistance.

Regards,

Jeremy

Answers

Practice writing sentences with the words below on a piece of paper:

management the people in charge

I am writing because my intention is

forgot don’t remember

jacket coat

recent showing shown not that long ago

handmade hemp made from the hemp plant

rough not smooth

distinctive unique

dyed blue the color is blue

embroidery hand-stitched images

sleeves where your arms go in a shirt/jacket

brightly colored flowers strong colors for the plants/flowers

afternoon session showing after noon

ordered purchased

online beforehand on the internet before the show

double-checked looked again

confirm make sure

row line of seats

near next to

center in the middle

advise give advice

check under the chairs look under the seats

lost and found section area where you put missing items

locate find

give me a phone call ring me up

drive over come get

pick it up come get it

convenient if it is easy

mail it send by delivery

return address where I live

envelope what letters are sent in

thank you for your assistance much obliged

Pronunciation

Practice with this tip using Google voice search to improve your pronunciation:

ˈmænɪʤmənt
aɪ æm ˈraɪtɪŋ bɪˈkɒz 
fəˈgɒt 
ˈʤækɪt 
ˈriːsnt ˈʃəʊɪŋ 
ˈhændˈmeɪd hɛmp 
rʌf 
dɪsˈtɪŋktɪv
daɪd bluː 
ɪmˈbrɔɪdəri 
sliːvz 
ˈbraɪtli ˈkʌləd ˈflaʊəz
ˈɑːftəˈnuːn ˈsɛʃən 
ˈɔːdəd 
ˈɒnˌlaɪn bɪˈfɔːhænd 
ˈdʌbl-ʧɛkt 
kənˈfɜːm 
rəʊ 
nɪə 
ˈsɛntə 
ədˈvaɪz 
ʧɛk ˈʌndə ðə ʧeəz 
lɒst ænd faʊnd ˈsɛkʃən
ləʊˈkeɪt 
gɪv miː ə fəʊn kɔːl 
draɪv ˈəʊvə 
pɪk ɪt ʌp
kənˈviːniənt
meɪl ɪt 
rɪˈtɜːn əˈdrɛs 
ˈɛnvələʊp
θæŋk juː fɔː jɔːr əˈsɪstəns

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Dear theatre m___________t,

I__________________e I f__________t my j________t during a r______________g at your cinema. The jacket is made from h_________________p so it is r________h and very d____________e. It is d___________e and there is e____________y on the s__________s of b______________________s.

I was in cinema 6 for the a__________________n of King Kong. I o__________d my tickets o________________d and I just d________________d to c____________m that my friend and I were seated in r___w K, seats 12 and 13, n____r the c__________r of the cinema.

I would a_______e you to c_____________________s in the cinema and in your l________________________n. If you are able to l_________e my jacket, please g______________________l at 781-334-5054 and I will d_____________r to p_________________p. If it is more c_______________t, you can also m________t to the r_________________s on this e_____________e.

T_________________________e.

Regards,

Jeremy

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:

Best Place to Sit in the Cinema

Speaking Practice

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

Film/Movie Star

1. Who is your favourite film star?
2. Would you like to be a film star?
3. Have you ever met a film star in person?
4. Are film stars popular in your country?

Writing Practice

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

You recently attended a conference and would like to give a presentation to your colleagues about it. Write a letter to your manager and include

• The topic of the conference
• Why you want to present about it
• When it could be done

IELTS Essay: Letter to a Manager