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General Training Task 1 — request letter: Competition prize not received — letter to newspaper. 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 recently won a competition organised by a newspaper, but you have not yet received your prize. Write a letter to the
newspaper.
In your letter:
• Describe the competition you participated in
• Explain what prize you were expecting to receive
• Request the newspaper to take action regarding the issue
| Letter type | Request |
| Tone | Formal |
| Opening | Dear Sir or Madam, |
| Closing | Yours faithfully, |
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing with reference to the Summer Photography Competition, which appeared in your publication on 12 April, and in which I was notified by letter on 3 May that I had been selected as one of the winning participants.
The competition invited readers to submit original landscape photographs, with the stated prize being a digital camera worth £350. As a keen amateur photographer, I was delighted to receive confirmation that my entry had been chosen.
However, despite more than six weeks having elapsed since notification, I have not received the prize or any communication explaining the delay. I have kept copies of my submission, the competition terms, and the notification letter, which I am happy to provide if required.
I would be grateful if you could investigate and dispatch the prize at your earliest convenience. If I do not receive a response within fourteen days, I may need to seek further advice on how to proceed.
Yours faithfully,
Strategy
Formal request with implicit complaint. Provide all specifics: competition name, date, how you were notified, what you won.
Bullet 3 should state a DEADLINE: "I would appreciate resolution within 14 days."
Common trap
Keep the tone firm but polite — this is formal. Do not say "You promised me a prize and haven't sent it!" Use: "I
am yet to receive the prize despite [X] weeks having elapsed since notification."
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