General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · advice

Letter to a friend about their upcoming visit

A friend has written a letter to you informing you about his or her plan to visit your country/city.

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

what he or she can do in your country/city
advise him/her about the place he could stay at
suggest to him/her what to pack and bring while coming to travel to your country/city

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 that you are finally planning a trip to Edinburgh! It has been far too long since we last caught up, and I cannot wait to show you around my favourite spots in the city.

There is so much to see here, but you definitely shouldn't miss a hike up Arthur’s Seat for the panoramic views. If you are feeling cultural, the National Museum is fantastic, and wandering through the cobbled streets of the Old Town is an essential experience. You might also enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in one of the quaint cafes near the Royal Mile.

Regarding accommodation, I highly recommend looking for a boutique guest house in the New Town area. It is much quieter than the city centre but still within walking distance of all the main attractions. If you prefer something more social, there are some lovely, highly-rated hostels near Grassmarket.

As for packing, remember that Scottish weather is notoriously unpredictable. Even in summer, bring a waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes, as you will be on your feet a lot. Don't forget an extra sweater for the chilly evenings!

I am counting down the days until you arrive.

Best wishes,

Jamie

204 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 a consistent, enthusiastic tone appropriate for a friend. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific, actionable advice, opting instead for vague suggestions like 'bring clothes' or 'stay in a hotel', which lacks the detail required for a high score.

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: extremely pleased and excited about something
panoramic: offering a wide view of a surrounding area
quaint: attractively unusual or old-fashioned in style
notoriously: well known for being bad or unreliable
essential: absolutely necessary or extremely important
boutique: a small, stylish, and typically exclusive establishment

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.