General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · thanks

Letter to a colleague thanking them for lending a book

A colleague lent you a book that helped you to prepare for a presentation at work.

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

thank your colleague for lending you the book
explain how the book helped you
tell him/her how the presentation went

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mark,

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for lending me your copy of 'Mastering Public Speaking' last week. It was incredibly kind of you to offer it to me at such short notice, and I truly appreciate your generosity.

That book proved to be an absolute lifesaver. The section on structuring arguments was particularly insightful, as it helped me simplify my complex technical data into a much more digestible format for the board members. I had been struggling to find a balance between depth and clarity, but the techniques outlined in the final chapter provided the exact framework I needed to refine my delivery.

As for the presentation itself, I am pleased to report that it went exceptionally well. The directors were very impressed with the new strategy I proposed, and we have received the green light to proceed with the project next quarter. Your support played a significant role in my confidence that day, and I am genuinely grateful for your help.

I have left the book on your desk, and I would love to treat you to a coffee later this week to thank you properly.

Best wishes,

Sarah

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistent, appropriate tone while fully addressing all bullet points with natural, specific detail. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is using overly formal, rigid language that sounds unnatural for a workplace colleague or failing to explain exactly how the book helped, instead providing only vague generalities.

Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

Useful phrases from the letter

lifesaver: a person or thing that provides essential help
insightful: having or showing an accurate and deep understanding
digestible: easy to understand or assimilate
framework: a basic structure underlying a system or concept
green light: permission or approval to proceed with something
refine: to improve something by making small changes

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?

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

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.