General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · advice

Letter to a friend seeking career change advice

You are considering a career change and want advice from a friend.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

explain why you are unhappy with your current job
describe the new career path you are considering
ask for their opinion and advice on the matter

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 are doing well and that the new flat is finally feeling like home. I am reaching out because I have been feeling quite restless lately and could really use a fresh perspective on my professional life.

To be honest, my current role in data entry has become incredibly monotonous. The office atmosphere is rather stifling, and I feel like I am just ticking boxes rather than contributing anything meaningful. The lack of creative freedom is draining my energy, and I have realised that sitting behind a screen crunching numbers is simply not sustainable for me long-term.

I have been seriously considering a transition into landscape gardening. I have always found solace in nature, and the idea of designing green spaces and working outdoors feels like a much better fit for my personality. It would be a significant shift, but the prospect of creating something tangible is genuinely exciting.

Since you have always been so sensible with your own career moves, I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think this is a viable path, or should I consider a more gradual transition? Any advice you have would be invaluable.

Best wishes,

James

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response covers all three bullet points with natural, cohesive language and a consistently friendly tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to elaborate on why the current job is unsatisfactory or providing vague, generic advice requests.

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

restless: unable to relax because of boredom or dissatisfaction
monotonous: dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety
stifling: suffocating or restrictive in an oppressive way
tangible: perceptible by touch; clear and definite
viable: capable of working successfully; feasible
invaluable: extremely useful or indispensable

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

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

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.