General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a friend about my new job

You have recently started work in a new company.

Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your letter:

explain why you changed jobs
describe your new job
tell him / her your other news

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 have been doing well since we last caught up. I have some exciting updates to share with you, as I have recently started a new position at a marketing firm in the city centre.

I decided to move on from my previous role because I felt like I had hit a ceiling in terms of professional development. My old company was stable, but the work had become quite monotonous, and I was eager for a fresh challenge that would allow me to sharpen my digital strategy skills.

My new role as a Campaign Manager is fast-paced and incredibly rewarding. I am currently leading a small, creative team on a rebranding project for an international fashion brand. While the workload is intense, the collaborative culture here is fantastic, and I really enjoy the autonomy I have over my daily tasks.

Beyond work, I have finally moved into that apartment near the park we talked about! It is small, but having a balcony makes all the difference. I would love for you to come over for a housewarming dinner once I am fully settled in.

Let me know when you are free next month.

Best wishes,

James

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with natural, cohesive language and maintains a consistent informal tone throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide enough specific detail, leading to a shallow response that lacks the necessary word count and depth.

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

hit a ceiling: reached a limit where no further progress possible
monotonous: dull, tedious, and lacking in any variety
fast-paced: moving or developing at a very high speed
rewarding: providing satisfaction or a sense of achievement
autonomy: the freedom to act or work independently
settled in: become comfortable and familiar with a new place

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.