General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a friend recommending an elementary school

A friend wants to get some information about an elementary school where one of your cousins studies.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter:

say why this school is a good elementary school
mention how expensive it is
explain why your friend should get his/her child admitted there

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 hearing from you yesterday! I am so glad to hear that you are beginning the search for a primary school for little Leo. Since my cousin, Toby, has been attending Oakwood Elementary for the past three years, I have plenty of insight to share with you.

Oakwood is truly fantastic because of its focus on holistic development. Rather than just drilling children with academics, they place a huge emphasis on outdoor learning and creative arts. The teachers are incredibly nurturing, and they really go the extra mile to ensure every child feels seen and supported.

Regarding the fees, it is actually quite reasonable compared to other private institutions in the area. You are looking at roughly £4,000 per term, which includes all extracurricular activities and hot lunches. It is definitely an investment, but it feels like a fair price given the high standard of care.

You should definitely aim to get Leo admitted there because the community spirit is unparalleled. The parents are very involved, and the school hosts regular weekend events that make you feel like part of a family. Let me know if you want me to arrange a tour for you.

Best wishes,

Alice

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with specific, natural details while maintaining a warm, consistent informal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is to provide a generic list of school features without linking them to the friend's specific situation or using overly formal, stiff language.

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

holistic: dealing with the whole person rather than parts
drilling: repeatedly teaching something through rigid, constant practice
nurturing: providing care, support, and encouragement for development
reasonable: fair and not too expensive in price
unparalleled: having no equal; better than anything else available
extracurricular: activities pursued in addition to the normal curriculum

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.