General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · making arrangements

Letter to a close friend congratulating a newborn

A friend had a newborn baby, and you have picked up a present for the baby and want to visit to give it to him/her.

Write a letter to him/her. In your letter:

congratulate your friend
tell him why you picked up the mentioned present
suggest arrangements for the visit

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sarah,

I was absolutely thrilled to hear the wonderful news about the arrival of your beautiful baby boy! Huge congratulations to you and Mark; I am so incredibly happy for you both as you begin this exciting new chapter of your lives.

I managed to pick up a soft, organic cotton blanket from that little boutique on the high street. I chose it because it looked exceptionally cosy and gentle for a newborn’s skin, and I remember you mentioning how much you love neutral, calming colours. I really hope it keeps him snug during these chilly winter nights.

I would love to drop by and meet the little one properly if you are feeling up to it. Would next Saturday afternoon work for you? I am happy to bring over some dinner so you don’t have to worry about cooking, or if you prefer a quieter time, please let me know what suits your current routine best. I promise to keep my visit short so you can get some well-deserved rest.

I cannot wait to see you all soon and have a proper catch-up.

Best wishes,

Emma

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

Why this scores well

This response earns a Band 8 by maintaining a consistently warm, informal tone while addressing all three bullet points with specific, natural details. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to suggest clear arrangements, often providing only a vague statement like 'let me know when I can visit' instead of proposing a specific time or day.

Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
Contractions, phrasal verbs and a warm opening line are expected; a stiff formal tone loses marks here.
Still cover every bullet in its own paragraph; friendly does not mean unstructured.

Useful phrases from the letter

thrilled: Feeling extremely happy and excited about something
arrival: The birth of a new baby
boutique: A small shop that sells fashionable or unique items
snug: Warm, comfortable, and protected from the cold
up to it: Having the energy or desire to do something
catch-up: A meeting to exchange news and talk together

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?

Informal. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.

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.