A semi-formal application: the same level of detail as a job application but with a warmer, community-service tone. Show genuine motivation for the cause, not just a need for something on your CV.
20 min·≥ 150 words·Classic GT scenario
You have seen a notice that a local charity shop is looking for volunteers to work a few hours each week. You are interested and want to apply. Write a letter to the manager of the charity shop. In your letter: • say why you are interested in volunteering there • describe any relevant experience or skills you have • explain when you would be available to start and how many hours you could offer You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,
How to crack it
A 4-step plan for the letter
Fix the register first.
Who is the reader — stranger, acquaintance, or friend? That decides every word from "Dear…" to the sign-off. Tone, purpose and bullet-point coverage contribute to Task Achievement; there is no published half-score allocation for register.
Cover every bullet point.
Address and develop each bullet point. One paragraph per bullet can help you plan, but it is not a compulsory structure or a whole-task band cap.
Open with the purpose.
"I am writing to…" (formal) or "Just wanted to tell you…" (informal). The reader should know why you're writing by the end of line one.
Close in the same voice.
"Yours faithfully" after Dear Sir or Madam; "Yours sincerely" after a name; "Best wishes" to a friend. A mismatched sign-off is a register error in the last line they read.
What loses you the band
The four traps this question sets
Mixed register
"I am writing to inform you" next to "gonna" — pick one voice and hold it.
A skipped bullet
All three bullet points must be covered AND developed. Two done well is still a penalty.
Copying the prompt
Paraphrase the situation in your own words — lifted lines don't count toward 150.
“Some people think that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. O…”
40 min · ≥250 words
“In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the h…”
40 min · ≥250 words
“Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages…”
40 min · ≥250 words
Use plausible details
Letters benefit from relevant details that fit the situation. You can invent plausible details for the task; do not use sensitive personal information in public examples.