General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · request

Letter to a friend visiting my foreign city: 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.
  • 201 words
  • Informal letters
  • Request
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You are living in a city in a foreign country, and a friend from your home country is coming to the same city soon for several days.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

  • →ask him/her to bring some things from home which you need
  • →say why you need them
  • →make an arrangement to meet this friend

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8201 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah,

I was absolutely thrilled to hear that you are finally heading over here for a holiday next month! It feels like ages since we last caught up, and I cannot wait to show you around this vibrant city.

Since you have plenty of room in your suitcase, would you mind bringing a couple of things from home for me? Specifically, could you pack those spicy dry curry masalas from our favourite shop on High Street and perhaps a few packets of my preferred herbal tea?

I have been struggling to find authentic ingredients here, and my cooking has really suffered as a result. The local supermarkets stock various spices, but they simply lack the depth of flavour I crave when making a proper home-cooked meal. Having these would make such a difference to my kitchen.

Regarding your arrival, why don't I meet you at the central station when your train gets in? I have cleared my schedule for the entire day, so we can head straight to my place, drop off your bags, and grab some lunch. Let me know your exact arrival time so I can be there waiting for you.

See you very soon,

Best wishes,

Jamie

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 fully addresses all three bullet points with natural, cohesive language that maintains a consistent, friendly tone throughout. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide specific reasons for the requested items or using overly formal, rigid phrasing that does not suit the informal nature of the task.

  • →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

  • thrilled

    extremely pleased and excited about something

  • vibrant

    full of energy, life, and excitement

  • crave

    to have a very strong desire for something

  • cleared my schedule

    made myself free by removing other plans

  • authentic

    done or made in a traditional or original way

  • depth of flavour

    a complex and rich quality in food

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?+

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with natural, cohesive language that maintains a consistent, friendly tone throughout. A common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide specific reasons for the requested items or using overly formal, rigid phrasing that does not suit the informal nature of the task.

Keep practising

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