General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · advice

Letter to a friend recommending a holiday destination

A friend of yours is going on holiday soon and has asked you to recommend a destination.

Write a letter to your friend and recommend a good place for a holiday that you have visited before. In your letter:

say where you went
where did you stay
what you can do there
what the food was like

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 thrilled to hear you are finally planning your long-awaited getaway! Since you asked for suggestions, I cannot recommend the coastal town of Lagos in Portugal enough; it is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

I spent a week there last summer and stayed in a charming boutique guesthouse tucked away in the old town. It was just a short walk from the main square, which made it incredibly convenient for exploring the cobblestone streets.

There is so much to keep you occupied. You must take a boat tour of the Benagil caves, as the rock formations are breathtaking. If you prefer something more relaxing, the beaches are spectacular, perfect for soaking up the sun or taking a refreshing dip in the Atlantic.

As for the food, you are in for a real treat. The local seafood is exceptionally fresh, especially the grilled sardines served at the harbour. Make sure you try the 'pastel de nata' from the local bakery; they are absolutely addictive.

I am sure you will have a fantastic time wherever you end up going!

Best wishes,

Mark

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all four bullet points with specific, natural details while maintaining a warm, consistent informal tone. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is including unnecessary addresses or using overly rigid, formal language that fails to sound like a genuine letter to a friend.

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

getaway: a short holiday or vacation from daily life
boutique: a small, stylish and fashionable place to stay
tucked away: hidden in a quiet or secluded place
breathtaking: so spectacular that it takes one's breath away
exceptionally: to a very high degree; unusually or remarkably
addictive: causing a strong desire to have more often

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.