General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a friend about staying at my home

Your friend will be staying at your home, but you can't be there.

Write a letter in which you explain. In your letter:

how will the keys will get to him/her
how to use electrical appliances
recommend some interesting places to 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 am so excited that you are finally visiting! I am really sorry, but an unexpected work trip means I will be away during your stay. Please make yourself at home and enjoy the flat while I am gone.

Regarding the keys, I have left a spare set with my neighbour, Mr. Henderson, who lives in flat 4B. He is expecting you, so just pop by and mention my name to collect them. He is usually home after five, but feel free to knock earlier if needed.

As for the appliances, the induction hob is quite intuitive, but the dishwasher can be a bit temperamental. If it does not start, ensure the door is clicked firmly into place. The Wi-Fi password is written on a sticky note attached to the side of the router in the hallway.

Since you enjoy history and art, you should definitely visit the Maritime Museum downtown; the architecture is stunning. Also, take a walk through the Botanical Gardens at sunset—it is quite magical. I have left a map on the kitchen counter for you.

Have a fantastic time exploring the city!

Best wishes,

Jamie

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with natural, specific details and maintaining a consistent, warm informal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide enough detail for the bullet points, resulting in a letter that feels too brief or lacks the necessary functional language to guide the guest.

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

temperamental: unreliable or prone to behaving in unpredictable ways
intuitive: easy to use and understand without needing instructions
pop by: to visit a place briefly and informally
expecting you: someone knows that you are coming to visit
stunning: extremely impressive, beautiful, or attractive to look at
magical: very pleasant, interesting, or special in a way

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.