General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · request

Letter to a friend requesting help finding work

You are going to another country to study. You would like to do a part-time job while you are studying, so you want to ask a friend who lives there for some help.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

give details of your study plans
explain why you want to get a part-time job
suggest how your friend could help you find a job

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sarah,

I hope you are doing well! It has been such a long time since we last caught up. I am reaching out because I have some exciting news: I have finally been accepted into the Master’s programme in Architecture at the University of Melbourne, and I am moving over in September.

My course is quite intensive, spanning two years, and I will be focusing on urban sustainable design. I am really looking forward to the academic challenge, though I know it will be a major adjustment moving across the globe.

I am planning to pick up some part-time work alongside my studies. While my savings will cover my tuition, I really need to earn some extra cash to manage the high cost of living in the city and perhaps save a little for weekend travel around Australia.

Since you are already well-established there, I was wondering if you might keep an ear to the ground for me. If you happen to hear of any casual positions in cafes or bookstores, I would be incredibly grateful if you could let me know. Even just pointing me toward local job boards or agencies would be a huge help.

Can’t wait to see you soon!

Best wishes,

Alex

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with natural, cohesive language and maintaining a consistently warm, informal tone suitable for a friend. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is using overly formal phrases like 'I am writing to enquire' or 'I would appreciate your assistance,' which sound unnatural when addressing a close 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

intensive: requiring a great deal of effort or concentration
adjustment: a small change to improve or adapt something
well-established: having existed or been successful for a long time
keep an ear to the ground: to pay attention to what is happening around
casual: work done on an irregular or part-time basis
grateful: feeling or showing appreciation for something received

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.