請別人寫推薦信（Recommendation Request Letter）在 IELTS General Task 1 通常是 formal——寫給離職多年的主管、大學畢業後沒聯絡的老師。雖然你跟對方認識過，但距離夠遠，所以對話按 formal 處理。

You are applying for a postgraduate course and need a reference. Write to a former lecturer asking them to write one for you.

先看 Formal Letter 深度解析。

推薦信請求的特殊禮儀

請對方花時間幫你寫推薦信——這是請求別人付出時間，所以禮節要到位：

  1. 開場提醒對方你是誰（畢業時間、修過哪門課）
  2. 解釋你要申請什麼、為什麼選擇這條路
  3. 明確問對方願不願意（不是預設）
  4. 給對方需要的資訊：CV、申請文件、deadline
  5. 給 opt-out 出路：「如果您現在太忙，完全理解」

8 組推薦信請求必備句型

| 中文 | 英文 | |---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 您可能不記得我了 | You may not remember me, but... | | 我冒昧寫信來 | I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to... | | 自從畢業以來 | Since graduating from your course in 2024, | | 我特別想請您寫 | I would value your reference in particular because... | | 完全理解您可能很忙 | I fully understand if your schedule does not permit this. | | 截止日期是 | The deadline for submission is the 30th of June. | | 附件是相關文件 | Please find attached my CV and a draft personal statement. | | 萬分感激 | I would be deeply grateful for any assistance you can offer. |

162 字完整範文（逐段解析）

題目：You are applying for a postgraduate course and need a reference letter. Write to a former lecturer asking them to write one.

  • explain why you are writing
  • say why you have chosen them
  • give details of what you need and by when

Dear Dr Patel,

[§1 提醒身份 + 目的] You may not remember me, but I was a final-year Economics student in your Development Theory module during the 2022-23 academic year. I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to provide a reference for a postgraduate application I am preparing.

[§2 bullet 2 為何找她] Since graduating, I have been working as a research assistant at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, and I am now applying for an MSc in Development Economics at Edinburgh, with a deadline of the 30th of June. I would value your reference in particular because the dissertation I wrote under your supervision genuinely shaped my decision to pursue this field.

[§3 bullet 3 所需資訊 + 期限] Please find attached my up-to-date CV and a draft personal statement to support your reference. The university has a short online form which takes around twenty minutes to complete. I fully understand if your schedule does not permit this, and I would not wish to impose.

[§4 收尾] I would be deeply grateful for any assistance you can offer.

Yours sincerely, Tseng Hui-min

字數：162。formal 語氣穩定、提醒身份、附件齊全、給 deadline、留 opt-out。

台灣考生推薦信請求常犯錯誤

錯誤 1：預設對方一定會寫

Please write me a reference by 30th June — 像下命令。改成 I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to... — 留拒絕的空間。

錯誤 2：忘了提醒身份

對方一年帶 200 個學生——不可能記得你。第一段一定要：「我是 2022-23 學年您 Development Theory 課程的最後一年學生」。

錯誤 3：沒附 CV / 沒給 deadline

讓對方還要回信問你「你成績如何？」「什麼時候要交？」——失禮。第一封信就附齊：CV、申請文件草稿、明確 deadline。

錯誤 4：沒留 opt-out

如果對方真的太忙——硬要他寫只會寫出敷衍的 reference 反而害你。一定要 I fully understand if your schedule does not permit this.

自我練習

寫一封 160 字 formal 信給前主管 Mr Davies：你離職一年、現在要申請當地基金會的 grant、需要一封專業推薦信、deadline 兩週後、附 CV 與 grant proposal。

檢查表：

  • [ ] Dear Mr Davies, + Yours sincerely,
  • [ ] 提醒對方你的身份（職位 + 期間）
  • [ ] 用 would be willing to，不要預設
  • [ ] 附件 + deadline 都明確
  • [ ] 留 opt-out 句

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