General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · request

Letter to a friend asking for language learning advice: IELTS informal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 informal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 191 words
  • Informal letters
  • Request
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You are currently trying to improve your knowledge of a language which is not your first language. You have a friend who speaks this language fluently. You have decided to write to this friend.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

  • →explain why you want to improve your knowledge of this language
  • →ask him/her for suggestions on how to learn more quickly
  • →propose that you meet your friend to talk about it

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8191 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Matteo,

I hope you have been doing well since we last caught up. I am reaching out because I have finally decided to take my Spanish seriously, and I could really use your help.

My primary motivation for mastering Spanish is my upcoming relocation to Madrid next spring. I have secured a new project management role there, and I want to ensure I can navigate professional meetings and social interactions with confidence. Being able to communicate fluently will certainly make the transition much smoother and allow me to connect better with my new colleagues.

Since you are so articulate, I was wondering if you have any tips on how I can accelerate my progress. I have been using apps, but I feel like I have hit a plateau. Do you have any recommendations for podcasts, specific reading materials, or perhaps techniques you used to reach your level of fluency?

If you are free next weekend, would you like to grab a coffee? It would be brilliant to catch up properly and perhaps chat more about your language learning journey. Let me know what your schedule looks like.

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

This response achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all bullet points with a natural, consistent informal tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common mistake for Band 6 answers is using overly formal, rigid language that sounds unnatural for a letter addressed 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.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

  • articulate

    able to speak clearly and express ideas well

  • accelerate

    to make a process happen or move faster

  • hit a plateau

    reach a state where little progress is made

  • fluency

    the ability to speak a language very easily

  • transition

    the process of changing from one state situation

  • catch up

    to talk to someone you have not seen

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?+

This response achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all bullet points with a natural, consistent informal tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common mistake for Band 6 answers is using overly formal, rigid language that sounds unnatural for a letter addressed to a friend.

Keep practising

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