General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a friend regarding upcoming visit

A friend you met last year has invited you to visit him/her in his/her country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

request advice about a gift for his/her family
ask about activities and clothing in his/her country
find out about the food

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mateo,

I was absolutely thrilled to receive your invitation to visit Argentina! I have been dreaming of exploring South America for years, and I cannot wait to finally see your country and catch up after we met in London last summer.

Since I want to make a good impression on your parents, could you suggest an appropriate gift for them? I was considering bringing some high-quality British chocolates or perhaps a bottle of gin, but I would appreciate your advice on what would be most appreciated.

Regarding my itinerary, what kind of activities would you recommend for a first-time visitor? Additionally, could you advise on the weather? I am uncertain whether I should pack light summer clothing or prepare for cooler temperatures during this season.

Lastly, I am quite curious about the local cuisine. Is there anything specific I should try, or perhaps any traditional dishes that I should be wary of if I have a sensitive stomach? I am eager to sample authentic food, so please let me know your favourite local haunts.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

James

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

Why this scores well

This response earns a Band 8 by fully addressing all bullet points with natural, cohesive language and a consistently warm, informal tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to ask about all three specific requirements or using overly formal, stiff phrasing that does not 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

thrilled: extremely pleased and excited about something
itinerary: a planned route or journey of travel
appropriate: suitable or proper in the circumstances
cuisine: a style or method of cooking
wary: feeling or showing caution about possible dangers
haunts: places frequently visited by a particular person

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.