General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · giving information

Feedback letter to the Cookery School Director

You recently did a short cookery course. The cookery school has asked for your feedback on this course.

Write a letter to the course director at the cookery school. In your letter:

describe what you enjoyed about the course
say how much cooking you've done since the course
suggest another cookery course you'd like the school to offer

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to provide feedback regarding the three-day Italian Cuisine workshop I attended at your academy last week. Overall, the experience was exceptional and has significantly improved my culinary confidence.

The most enjoyable aspect of the course was the hands-on approach to pasta making. Chef Marco’s technique for achieving the perfect dough consistency was particularly enlightening. Furthermore, the small class size allowed for individualised guidance, which ensured that I mastered the folding methods effectively. The atmosphere was professional yet highly encouraging.

Since completing the workshop, I have been quite active in my own kitchen. I have successfully prepared fresh tagliatelle for my family on three separate occasions, and I even experimented with a wild mushroom ragu. My newfound skills have certainly made home cooking a far more rewarding endeavour.

Regarding future offerings, I would be delighted if your school could introduce a course focused on authentic Mediterranean seafood preparation. There is a noticeable gap in the local market for advanced techniques in filleting and seasoning fish, and I believe many former students would be keen to enrol.

Thank you for providing such a high-quality educational experience.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Thompson

194 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently formal, professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide a specific suggestion for a new course, instead offering only a vague comment about wanting more classes.

Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

Useful phrases from the letter

culinary: Relating to cooking or the kitchen environment.
enlightening: Providing a greater understanding of a complex subject.
individualised: Tailored to meet the needs of a specific person.
endeavour: An attempt to achieve a goal or task.
enrol: To officially register as a member of a course.
authentic: Of undisputed origin; genuine and traditional.

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How long should an IELTS General Training letter be?

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.