Letter to a friend advising on university studies

The task

You have a friend who is about to enter university, and he wants you to advise him on which subject to specialize in history, in which he is very interested, or computer science, which offers better job prospects.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

→mention your recommendation
→say why you are making this suggestion
→include an example of a person who studied the course

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8174 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sam,

It is brilliant news that you have been accepted into university. Choosing between your passion for history and the career potential of computer science is a tough dilemma, but I have been thinking about it quite a bit.

If I were in your shoes, I would definitely opt for computer science. While history is fascinating, computer science offers far more flexibility in today’s digital-first job market. You can always keep history as a deep-rooted personal hobby, but a degree in tech provides a robust foundation for a lucrative career almost anywhere in the world.

My cousin, Leo, is a perfect example of this. He loved literature but chose to study software engineering instead. He now works as a senior developer for a global firm, which allows him the financial freedom to travel extensively and read all the history books he wants in his spare time. He has never regretted his choice.

Good luck with the final decision. I am sure you will excel regardless of the path you choose.

Best wishes,

Alex

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.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with a consistent, natural tone and coherent paragraph structure. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a concrete example of a person, or writing a generic response that lacks personal connection to the 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.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

dilemma
a situation requiring a choice between difficult options
digital-first
prioritising technology and online systems in business
robust
strong, healthy, and unlikely to fail or break
lucrative
producing a great deal of profit or money
extensively
covering a large area or large amount of time
excel
to be exceptionally good at a particular activity

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 many words 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.

What does the examiner look for?+

Keep practising

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