Letter Sample #23 – You would like some time off work to complete a qualification

GT Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) Sample # 23

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are studying for a qualification, and you would like some time off work to complete it.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

  • ask for some time off to complete the qualification.
  • suggest what you will do later at work if you get time off
  • say how the qualification will help your job or company

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,


Model Answer 1:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request your permission for taking two weeks’ leave from office in order to complete my MBA from the University of Edinburgh. I am hoping that you would permit me to take off work from the coming 2nd August.

I am enrolled in the executive MBA and have almost finished my required courses to be awarded the degree. I am working on my thesis, which I must submit to the university by August 15th. I have more than three weeks paid holidays and sick leaves that I have not used up during the last two calendar years. Now I am hoping to take two weeks off to complete my thesis and take an exam to complete my MBA.

I would be able to check my email daily, sometimes reply to them and be available for emergency phone calls. On return, I will be ready to work extra hours and come early to catch up on anything I had missed. I have already spoken to my teammates and they have assured that they can share my responsibilities for two weeks.

I fathom my temporary absence from office would not create any inconvenience to you and the rest of the team. My MBA degree and thesis would enable me to get some insights on the consumer market and I will be able to apply this knowledge to better serve our company and I believe that will give us a competitive edge.

I am looking forward to hearing a positive response from you.

Yours sincerely,

Joseph Garrett


Model Answer 2:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request for a few days’ “leave” to complete a qualification course on “advanced supply chain management” starting from the next Monday.

I found out a couple of weeks ago that an announcement for a new post is about to come very soon in our company, and if I heard it properly, it is going to be a Senior Managerial position in the department of Supply Chain. I just wanted to let you know that I am really interested in the position as I have already worked in the same department for a couple of years in the past before moving to “Production”.  Besides, I have already started to take a certification course on “advanced supply chain management” which will take two weeks to finish from now.

I will make up the loss by working extra days on the weekends and holidays if it helps my company. I have also talked to James who has agreed to share some of my workloads during my absence.

Now, only if you allow me the “leave” for the next two weeks, only then should I be able to get the certification in time. This move will certainly help our company as I already know a great deal about the tasks and the system, because of my past experience, which may just not be the case if we hire a “Manager’ from outside.

Yours faithfully,

Jeremy Chris

One Comment to “Letter Sample #23 – You would like some time off work to complete a qualification”

  1. Awesome article.

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