General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · giving information

Letter to a cousin's friend requesting local travel advice

You are going to spend your vacation in a city in a foreign country. You have never been there before. Your cousin has a friend who lives there.

Write a letter to your cousin's friend. In your letter:

introduce yourself
say why you are making this trip
ask some questions about the city (e.g. places to see, things to do, things to bring)

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sarah,

I hope you are having a wonderful week. My cousin, Mark, mentioned that you are currently living in Vancouver, and he suggested I reach out to you since I am planning to visit your city next month.

My name is Alex, and I am a long-time friend of Mark’s. I have always been fascinated by the Pacific Northwest, and after years of hearing stories about the stunning landscapes, I have finally decided to take a three-week sabbatical to explore the region properly. This will be my first time travelling to Canada, and I am incredibly excited to experience the local culture.

As someone who knows the area well, could you perhaps suggest a few must-see spots that aren't overly crowded with tourists? I am particularly interested in hiking trails or hidden galleries. Furthermore, considering the unpredictable weather in that part of the world, what specific clothing or gear would you recommend I pack for mid-autumn? Any advice on local transport or hidden gems for dining would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your time and help with my travel preparations.

Best wishes,

Alex

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

Why this scores well

This response achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with natural, specific detail and maintaining a consistent semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to adopt the semi-formal register, often sounding either too stiff like a business letter or overly casual with slang, while also neglecting to fully develop the request for advice.

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

sabbatical: a period of leave from work for travel
fascinated: extremely interested in something or someone
must-see: a place that is highly recommended to visit
unpredictable: changing often and therefore difficult to foresee
hidden gems: excellent places that are not widely known
preparations: the actions taken to get ready for something

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.