General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · invitation

Letter to a friend inviting them hiking

You are planning a challenging hiking trip and want a friend to join you.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

describe the details of the hiking trip
explain why you think they would enjoy the challenge
outline the physical preparation required

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sam,

I hope you’ve been keeping well! I’m reaching out because I’ve finally finalised the plans for that rugged trek through the Cairngorms I mentioned last year, and I’d love for you to join me.

The expedition is scheduled for mid-September, covering roughly sixty kilometres over four days. We’ll be navigating some fairly steep, unmapped terrain and camping under the stars each night. It’s a demanding route, but the panoramic views from the summit of Ben Macdui are absolutely unparalleled.

Knowing your love for adrenaline and off-the-beaten-track adventures, I’m certain this would be right up your alley. You’ve always thrived when pushed out of your comfort zone, and I think this is the perfect opportunity for us to escape the daily grind and test our resilience.

Regarding preparation, we’ll need to start some serious cardiovascular training. I suggest hiking with weighted backpacks on weekends to build stamina. It’s essential we get our legs conditioned for the incline, so perhaps we could tackle a few local hills together before the trip begins.

Let me know if you’re up for the challenge!

Best wishes,

Alex

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response addresses all three bullet points with clear, natural language and a consistent, friendly tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific details about the physical preparation, instead offering only vague statements about 'getting fit'.

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

finalised: Completed the plans or arrangements for something.
expedition: A journey undertaken by a group for exploration.
unparalleled: Having no equal; better than anything else.
right up your alley: Something that is perfectly suited to your interests.
daily grind: The repetitive and tedious nature of everyday work.
stamina: The ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.

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.