Sample IELTS General Writing Task 1: Formal Letter

Write a letter to the editor of a prominent newspaper requesting his help to locate a person you read about in a newspaper article. In your letter mention:

a. Why do you need the information?

b. What information do you need?

c. In what other ways can the editor help you?

Write minimum 150 words.

Dear Sir/Madam

I wish to draw your attention to an article - published on October 25, 2018 - in your esteemed newspaper,  and request you to provide all the information at your disposal, so that I may be able to find a particular person whom I am searching for. 

The article in question made mention of a boy who went missing from his house in Delhi's posh Jor Bagh area after leaving for his tuition at 3 pm on that fateful day. He never returned. Well, that boy is my friend's nephew. While trying to help my buddy, I have been running from pillar to post for some leads which might help us to locate the child's whereabouts. His distraught family fervently hopes that your help will be able to show the light at the end of this dark tunnel

The family members are unable to provide any information which may help me in any constructive way. So, if you could set up a meeting between me and the reporter of that article concerned - in your presence, of course - then it would be of immense help to me. A face-to-face meeting with the journalist can provide me with more information about where he gathered all his information from. And it is quite possible that I might finally get to talk with the person or persons who saw or interacted with him last.

All this of course would be of immense help to me. However, you may assist us in several other ways too. You could help me set up a one-on-one meeting with the Minister of State for Law and Order. I am sure that after your intervention, he will take a concerned view of the incident and urge the police to do a thorough job of finding the child. Considerable awareness will be spread among Delhites about the matter if you front-page the article, and also tweet it using your personal handle. And this may help to bring about a closure to this matter.

On behalf of the grieving family, I look forward to a favourable response from you.

Yours faithfully

Samit Sengupta

www.english-academy.in