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General Training Task 1 — request letter: Absence from class due to illness — letter to professor. This page gives the exam question and a band 9 model answer, with the tone, opening and closing lines that suit the letter. Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
You are attending part-time classes at a school, but will be absent for a few days due to illness. Write a letter to your
professor.
In your letter, you should:
• Explain your situation
• Express your concern about missing the lessons
• Say how you plan to catch up on the missed lessons
| Letter type | Request |
| Tone | Formal |
| Opening | Dear Professor [Surname], |
| Closing | Yours sincerely, |
Dear Professor Williams,
I am writing to inform you of my inability to attend classes this week due to a medical condition for which I am currently receiving treatment, and to express my sincere concern regarding the impact of this absence on my academic progress.
My doctor has advised me to rest at home for five days, and I have enclosed a medical certificate confirming this. I anticipate returning on Monday 23rd, provided my recovery continues as expected.
I am particularly worried about missing the lectures on research methodology and the practical workshop on Thursday, as both cover material that will form the basis of next month's assessed assignment. I am concerned that falling behind now could affect my performance later in the course.
To catch up, I plan to collect notes from classmates, review recorded materials on the student portal, and attend your office hours following my return to clarify anything I have not fully understood. Please let me know if there is any additional reading you would recommend.
Yours sincerely,
Strategy
Formal academic request. Express genuine concern about ACADEMIC IMPACT (not just missing class). Bullet 3 (catch-up
plan) should include 2+ specific actions: get notes, watch recordings, attend office hours.
Common trap
This is FORMAL — the professor is not your friend. Never use "Hi" or casual language. Use "Dear Professor
[Surname]" and maintain respectful academic register throughout.
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