General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · advice

Letter to a friend giving advice on visiting parents

Your friend has written a letter to you asking for advice regarding a visit that his/her parents will be making to your area in the near future.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

recommend a place where they can stay
suggest the places they can visit
offer to do something with them

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sarah,

It was lovely to hear from you! I am so excited that your parents are planning a trip to Brighton next month; they are going to absolutely love the seaside atmosphere here.

Regarding accommodation, I highly recommend The Grand Regency on the seafront. It is incredibly comfortable and situated right in the heart of the city, making it very convenient for them to stroll along the promenade. It is a bit pricey, but the service is impeccable and they offer fantastic views of the English Channel.

As for sightseeing, they should definitely spend a morning at the Royal Pavilion to admire the unique architecture. Afterwards, a walk through The Lanes is a must, as it is packed with quirky independent shops and charming cafes. If the weather holds up, a trip to the Seven Sisters cliffs is also unforgettable.

I would be delighted to take them out for a traditional afternoon tea on the pier during their stay. Please let me know their exact dates so I can clear my schedule and join you all for a catch-up.

Can’t wait to see you both soon!

Best wishes,

Jamie

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all three bullet points with specific, natural recommendations and maintaining a consistently warm, informal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific names or locations, offering only vague advice like 'they should stay in a hotel' or 'visit some parks'.

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

seaside atmosphere: The pleasant feeling or mood of the coast.
promenade: A paved public area for walking by water.
impeccable: Having no flaws or errors; perfectly excellent.
quirky: Characterized by peculiar or unexpected attractive traits.
holds up: Remains in a good or acceptable condition.
catch-up: A meeting to discuss recent news and events.

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

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

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.