GT-T1-202 General Training · Task 1 · beginner · 20 min · 150+ words Semi-formal Letter Society

Letter to a Neighbour About Collecting Your Post

The question

You are going away on a business trip for one week, and your post will still be delivered to your flat while you are gone. Your neighbour lives across the hall, and you have only spoken to them a few times. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: • explain why you are going away and for how long • ask them to collect your post and keep it safe • offer to do something for them when you come back Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ______,

Instructions

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. • Use a polite, friendly tone: contractions are acceptable, but avoid slang. • Cover all the points in the bullets, in a clear and logical order. • Organise your letter into short paragraphs with a clear opening and closing. • Sign off with a suitable phrase such as 'Kind regards' or 'Best wishes'.

How to approach this semi-formal letter question

A semi-formal letter goes to someone you know a little, such as a neighbour or a teacher. Be polite but warmer than in a formal letter.

Use the person's name (Dear Mr Hall,) and a friendly but respectful opening.
Cover each bullet point in its own paragraph.
Some contractions are fine; keep the language clear and courteous.
Close with "Yours sincerely," and your name.

How to plan this answer

Structure

Opening: 'Dear' and your neighbour's name, then a short friendly line explaining why you are writing.
Paragraph 2: explain that you are going on a business trip for one week and give the dates and the reason for the trip.
Paragraph 3: ask your neighbour to collect your post each day and keep important letters safe, and give a contact number for emergencies.
Paragraph 4: offer something in return, such as baking, watering plants or taking in a parcel.
Closing: thank them warmly and sign off 'Kind regards' or 'Best wishes'.

Points to cover

Trip details: a week away for a work conference, leaving on Monday and returning the following Monday.
Post: ask them to bring your post in each day and stack it on the hall table, especially any bank or bill letters.
Safety: ask them to keep letters somewhere dry and secure, and to phone you if anything urgent arrives.
Offer: a cake, watering their plants, or helping with their shopping when you are back.
Relationship: mention a small thing you have chatted about before, so the letter feels personal rather than formal.

Useful vocabulary

I'm going away on business: I'm going away on business for a week, so I wanted to ask you a favour.
I'd be really grateful if you could: I'd be really grateful if you could pop round to pick up my post.
pop round: Would you mind popping round each morning to collect my post?
in case anything urgent arrives: Could you keep an eye out for letters in case anything urgent arrives?
keep an eye on: Could you keep an eye on the flat while I'm away?
it would be a huge help: It would be a huge help if you could bring my post in each day.
I'll be back on: I'll be back on the twelfth, so I'll collect everything then.
I'd gladly return the favour: I'd gladly return the favour whenever you need a hand.
Please don't hesitate to call me: If anything comes up, please don't hesitate to call me.

Common mistakes

Making the letter too formal, for example 'I am writing to inform you', when the prompt asks for a relaxed tone.
Using slang such as 'cheers mate' or 'gonna', which the task does not allow.
Asking for the favour without saying how long you will be away or when the post will arrive.
Forgetting the offer in return, which is a required point in the bullets.
Omitting the name in the opening, rather than using the given 'Dear ______,' format with the neighbour's name.

Examiner tip: Keep the tone relaxed but clear: give your dates, make one specific request, and offer a real favour in return, so the letter reads as genuine.

Model answers by band score

Written for this question to show what changes from one band to the next. Try the task yourself first, then compare.

Band 6 answer

Dear Mr Patel, I am your neighbour from the flat across the hall, my name is Daniel Brown. We have talk only few times, so I hope you do not mind that I write to you. I am going away on a business trip next week. My company send me to another city for a meeting with our customers and I will stay there for one week. I will come back on the Saturday. I want to ask you a favour. My post will still come to my flat while I am away, and I wonder if you could to collect it from the floor and keep it in your flat safe. Please do not worry if there are many letters, I will take them when I come back. If something look important you can call me on my phone. When I come back, I would like to do something for you. Maybe I can take you for a coffee or cook a dinner for you. Please tell me what you want. Thank you very much for your help. Yours sincerely, Daniel Brown

Why this is band 6

All three bullets are covered (reason and length of trip, asking to collect and keep post safe, offering something) in a sensible order.
Register is mostly appropriate and polite ('I hope you do not mind', 'I wonder if'), and the opening and closing are acceptable.
Errors are noticeable ('We have talk', 'My company send', 'could to collect', 'look important') and the offer is general, with limited vocabulary.
Band 7 would control verb forms, add precise detail (dates, how to contact) and sound more naturally friendly.

Band 7 answer

Dear Mr Patel, I hope you don't mind me writing to you. I'm Daniel Brown and I live in the flat across the hall from yours. We've only spoken a few times, but I'm hoping you might be able to help me with something. I'm going away on a business trip for a week, from Monday 3rd until Monday 10th. My company is sending me to its head office in Manchester to work on a new project with our colleagues there. My post will still be delivered to the flat while I'm away, and I'd be very grateful if you could collect it from the doormat every few days and keep it somewhere safe. There shouldn't be much, but I'm expecting a bank letter which is important. I will leave a spare key with you if you prefer, and you can contact me on 07700 900123 if there is any problem. When I come back, I'd like to thank you properly. I'd be happy to look after your plants, take out your rubbish or invite you for dinner, whichever you would like. Thank you very much for your help. Kind regards, Daniel Brown

Why this is band 7

All three bullets are fully covered, with a clear reason, exact dates and a specific offer.
The tone is polite and semi-formal with sensible contractions and a suitable closing ('Kind regards'), matching the task.
Language is varied and accurate with only slight awkwardness, e.g. leaving a spare key is an unnecessary and slightly unnatural detail for a near-stranger.
Band 8 would sound more natural for a first-contact letter, with smoother links and a more tactful, well-judged request.

Band 8 answer

Dear Mr Patel, I hope you don't mind me writing. I'm Daniel Brown, and I live in the flat directly across the hall from yours. Although we've only exchanged a few words in passing, I wonder if I could ask you a small favour. I'm travelling to Manchester next week on a business trip, as my company is opening a new office there and I've been asked to help set it up. I'll be away for a full week, leaving on Monday 3rd and returning on Monday 10th. During that time, my post will still be delivered to my door. I would be extremely grateful if you could pick it up now and then and keep it somewhere safe until I return. There won't be a great deal, but I'm expecting some important documents from my bank, so I'd rather they didn't sit on the mat. If anything looks urgent, you're very welcome to email me at [email protected]. To say thank you, I'd love to treat you to dinner once I'm back, or I could water your plants the next time you go away. Thank you so much, and apologies for the trouble. Kind regards, Daniel Brown

Why this is band 8

Every bullet is developed with natural, relevant detail (reason with context, specific request with a justification, a tailored offer).
Register is exactly right for a neighbour you barely know: friendly but respectful ('I wonder if I could ask you a small favour', 'apologies for the trouble').
Language is precise and flexible ('exchanged a few words in passing', 'I'd rather they didn't sit on the mat') with very rare errors.
Band 9 would be wholly effortless in flow, with no slightly formulaic touches and an even more natural voice.

Band 9 answer

Dear Mr Patel, I hope you don't mind my writing out of the blue. I'm Daniel Brown, from the flat directly across the hall, and although we've only exchanged pleasantries on the stairs, I was hoping you might be able to do me a small favour. I'm off on a business trip next week. My company is opening a new office in Manchester and I've been asked to help get it up and running, so I'll be away for a full seven days, from Monday 3rd to Monday 10th. Unfortunately, my post will carry on arriving while I'm gone. Would you be kind enough to pick it up from the mat every now and then and keep it somewhere safe until I'm back? There won't be much, but I'm expecting some important papers from my bank, and I'd hate for them to go astray. Should anything look urgent, you're more than welcome to email me at [email protected]. By way of thanks, I'd love to take you out for dinner when I return, or if you'd prefer, I could keep an eye on your flat the next time you're away. Thank you ever so much. Kind regards, Daniel Brown

Why this is band 9

All three bullets are addressed fully and tactfully, with a believable reason, a clear and justified request and a considerate offer.
Tone is pitch-perfect for a neighbour he barely knows: warm, polite and unpresuming ('out of the blue', 'I'd hate for them to go astray').
Vocabulary and structures are natural and error-free, with excellent paragraphing and sequencing.
The letter reads as a real person writing, with no clumsy phrases or redundancy.

Band levels are our estimate against the public IELTS criteria; they are not official scores.

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