General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · thanks

Letter to an English teacher expressing gratitude

You recently completed a short-term course in an English-speaking country and found one of your teachers very good.

Write a letter to the teacher. In your letter:

thank him/her
say why you liked his/her lessons
say what your further planning of study is

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your instruction during my recent intensive English course in London. Completing this programme has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I wanted to thank you personally for your dedication.

I particularly enjoyed your lessons because of your unique ability to make complex grammar concepts accessible and engaging. Rather than relying solely on textbooks, your incorporation of real-world debates and contemporary media kept the classroom atmosphere vibrant. Your constructive feedback on my writing assignments was invaluable, as it helped me identify and address specific recurring errors that I had previously struggled to overcome.

Regarding my future studies, I have decided to enrol in an advanced academic writing course at my local university this autumn. My ultimate goal is to apply for a Master’s degree in International Relations, so mastering formal register is my current priority. I feel much more confident entering this next phase thanks to the solid foundation you provided.

Thank you once again for your mentorship and kindness throughout the term.

Best wishes,

Alex Rivers

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully develops all three bullet points with specific, natural details while maintaining a professional yet warm semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to link the teacher's style to specific learning outcomes or providing only generic, superficial praise.

Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

Useful phrases from the letter

intensive: concentrated effort over a short period of time
accessible: easy to understand or approach by anyone
vibrant: full of energy, enthusiasm, and lively activity
invaluable: extremely useful or helpful in many ways
register: the level of formality used in language
mentorship: guidance provided by an experienced person to another

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?

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

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.