Level B2 (approx. band 5.5-6.5) · General Training only Formal letters in General Training Task 1 test a delicate skill: being clear and polite at the same time. Some learners sound rude: You must give me my money. Others are so polite that the reader cannot find the request. In this episode: • The structure of a formal letter • Polite directness • Complaints and requests • Application letters • Model • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key points: • Purpose, three bullet paragraphs, action line. Every bullet gets its own paragraph. • Polite frame, clear action, time limit. • Problem, effect, request, each with a ready-made phrase. • Interest, experience, availability, with the present perfect for experience. IELTS Complete Course: a self-study podcast from A1 to C2 for Academic and General Training. Listen, pause and answer, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair. Independent course, not affiliated with the IELTS test owners.