Letter to a friend regarding their upcoming visit

The task

A friend has written a letter informing you about his or her plan to visit your country/city.

Write a letter to him/her. In your letter:

→what he or she can do in your country/city
→advise him/her about the place he/she could stay at
→suggest to him/her what to pack and bring while coming to travel to your country/city

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8197 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah,

I was absolutely thrilled to read your email! It is fantastic news that you have finally decided to visit Edinburgh this summer, and I cannot wait to show you around my favourite city.

There is so much to pack into your trip. You must hike up Arthur’s Seat for a breathtaking panoramic view of the skyline. If you enjoy history, the Royal Mile and the underground vaults are essential stops. Since you are arriving in August, the Fringe Festival will be in full swing, offering incredible street performances and comedy shows that you simply cannot miss.

Regarding accommodation, I would highly recommend booking a boutique guesthouse in the New Town area. It is much quieter than the bustling city centre but still within easy walking distance of all the major attractions. Let me know your budget, and I can send over a few specific recommendations.

As for your suitcase, the weather here is notoriously unpredictable. Even in summer, bring a sturdy waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes, as the cobblestone streets can be quite unforgiving. Layers are definitely your best friend here!

Safe travels, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes,

James

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 covers all bullet points with specific, natural suggestions and maintains a consistent, warm informal tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is providing generic advice like 'visit a museum' without naming specific locations or failing to link the packing advice to the local weather conditions.

→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

breathtaking
extremely impressive or beautiful in a dramatic way
in full swing
at the stage of greatest activity or intensity
boutique guesthouse
a small, stylish, and typically expensive hotel
notoriously
well known for being bad or unpredictable
cobblestone
a small, rounded stone used to cover road surfaces
unforgiving
not allowing for mistakes or physical discomfort

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

More advice letters

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