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General Training Task 1 — request letter: Requesting an engineer to repair office equipment urgently. 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.
One of the machines at your company has stopped working properly. Your manager has asked you to contact a local
engineer to get it repaired as soon as possible. Write a letter to the engineer.
In the letter, you should include:
• Describe the problem with the machine
• Explain why it is urgent to have it fixed
• Suggest a suitable time for the engineer to visit your workplace
| Letter type | Request |
| Tone | Formal |
| Opening | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname], |
| Closing | Yours faithfully, / Yours sincerely, |
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing on behalf of Riverside Manufacturing Ltd to request urgent assistance in repairing a critical piece of equipment that has recently developed a serious malfunction and is preventing normal business operations.
The affected machine is our primary hydraulic press on the production floor. Over the past two days, it has begun making an unusually loud grinding noise during operation and now fails to complete its full cycle, leaving partially processed components that cannot be used. Our production team has attempted a basic reset, but the fault persists.
It is essential that this machine is repaired as soon as possible because we have a substantial order due for delivery by Friday, and the breakdown has already halted one of our two production lines. Further delay could result in financial penalties and damage to our reputation.
Would it be possible for one of your engineers to visit our premises on Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon? Please contact me at your earliest convenience to confirm an appointment.
Yours faithfully,
Strategy
Formal urgent request. Bullet 2 (urgency) is the most important — explain the BUSINESS IMPACT of the breakdown
(production loss, client deadlines). Suggest 2–3 possible time slots, not just one.
Common trap
Do not just say "the machine is broken" — describe the specific symptom (unusual noise / failure to start /
incorrect output) to help the engineer prepare.
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