General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a friend recommending a great movie

You recently watched a great movie and think your friend would like it.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

say what movie you watched and what it is about
explain why you think your friend will like it
suggest when and where you could watch it together

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sarah,

I hope you have been doing well lately. I just finished watching a movie called 'The Midnight Architect' last night, and it was so brilliant that I immediately thought of you.

It is a gripping science fiction drama about a woman who discovers she can manipulate time through her architectural blueprints. The plot is incredibly intricate, with plenty of unexpected twists that kept me glued to the screen for the entire two hours. The cinematography is also breathtaking, featuring some of the most stunning futuristic cityscapes I have ever seen.

I am certain you would love it because you have always been fascinated by urban design and psychological thrillers. The way the film blends complex engineering concepts with deep emotional dilemmas is exactly the kind of storytelling you enjoy.

Since it is still playing at the independent cinema downtown, perhaps we could catch a matinee there next Saturday afternoon? There is a lovely café right next door where we could grab a coffee afterward to discuss the ending. Let me know if that works for you!

Best wishes,

James

181 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 natural, cohesive language and a consistent, warm tone. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide specific details about the movie's plot, instead offering only vague praise.

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

gripping: extremely exciting and keeping your full attention
intricate: having many complex and interrelated parts
breathtaking: so spectacular that it is astonishing
futuristic: having a very modern or advanced appearance
matinee: a film showing held during the daytime
dilemmas: situations where a difficult choice must be made

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.