Letter Sample #4 – You would like to participate in a work-related seminar

GT Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) Sample # 4

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another country.

Write a letter to the person in charge of the seminar and ask for detailed information regarding the dates, program, accommodation and cost.

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

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Model Answer 1:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am Subroto Roy, a banker from Delhi, India, would like to get details about a seminar you are going to conduct in London next month. I have seen an online advertisement regarding the seminar and now I need more information on this to finalise my participation.

The online advert that I saw yesterday outlines the course title as “International Coordination of Regulatory Standards in Banking” and this would be a greatly helpful seminar for me. However, it does not include related other details that I am looking for. As an interested candidate, I would like to know the exact schedule of the workshop, the duration of it, and prerequisites. I would be highly glad if you can inform me how can I book my seat and how much it would cost. Besides, I will need to travel to London from Delhi and that is why I also need to know whether you provide any accommodation facility. In case you do not, what would be the best alternative? Finally, I would like to know about the lecturers of the seminar and if the participants would be awarded any certificate.

Thank you in advance for your prompt reply.

Yours faithfully,

Subroto Roy

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Sample Answer 2:

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am, Lora Sienna, writing to you regarding the upcoming conference in Australia on the ‘Strategies and Online Initiatives for expanding Small Business’. I have completed my MBA from the University of London and own a small boutique business in my hometown, Wexford, Ireland. I need a few more details regarding the seminar and I am hoping that you could provide those promptly.

First of all, I need to know the exact schedule of the conference to plan my travel. Secondly, I would like to know about the activities involved in it. Furthermore, please inform me about the lecturers of the seminar.

Also, let me know if the accommodation is provided by you or should be arranged by the participants. Besides, please inform me about the type of accommodation provided for the candidates, if it is managed by you and is it a hotel or a guest house. And finally, what will be the total cost for a person for attending the conference?

I look forward to getting a reply from you so that I can start making arrangements for the trip.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Yours faithfully,

Lora Sienna

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Tips:

This is a formal letter and you should NOT use any informal expression/word in it. Begin the letter as “Dear Sir or Madam” and end it with “Yours faithfully + your full name.”

The letter instructs you to write to someone in charge of a professional seminar in a different country. So, you should begin the letter with your intention to participate in it. Optionally you can mention how you have learned about the seminar.

In the body of the letter, you must ask about the schedule and venue of the seminar, who might be the lecturer, what topics and area it would cover, whether they would provide any accommodation or not and finally how much the seminar would cost. You can ask for additional information if you like. 

Also, mention that you really need the information to decide whether you would be able to finally make it or not.

Note: There are so many questions you can ask about the seminar. But limit them to seminar schedule + seminar topics and discussion topics + accommodation + cost + (one to two more questions).

Your letter should never be less than 150 words. However, if you wite way more words (more than 250), there are more chances of making mistakes and obviously and most importantly less time to finish your task 2. So our recommendation is to write between 160 and 180 words.