General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · thanks

Letter to restaurant manager thanking for birthday service: IELTS formal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 formal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 180 words
  • Formal letters
  • Thanks
  • 20 minutes

The task

You celebrated your birthday with some friends last week in a restaurant. It was a great success and you and your friends enjoyed the evening very much.

Write a letter to the restaurant to thank them. In your letter:

  • →mention the food, service, and atmosphere
  • →also, suggest any improvements to make things better

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8180 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional evening my friends and I enjoyed at The Gilded Bistro last Saturday. We gathered to celebrate my birthday, and the experience exceeded our expectations in every regard.

The quality of the cuisine was truly outstanding; the slow-roasted lamb was perfectly seasoned and prepared to perfection. Furthermore, the waitstaff were remarkably attentive throughout the evening, ensuring our glasses were never empty without ever being intrusive. The atmosphere of the restaurant, with its warm lighting and tasteful decor, provided the ideal backdrop for our small celebration.

Regarding potential improvements, I would suggest considering a slightly more diverse selection of non-alcoholic cocktails, as some of my guests felt the current options were somewhat limited. Additionally, a minor adjustment to the acoustic levels during the peak hour would facilitate easier conversation, as the background music became slightly overwhelming when the dining room was full.

Thank you once again for making my birthday so memorable. I look forward to returning to your establishment in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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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 addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, natural language and maintains a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide constructive suggestions, instead offering vague praise that does not address the prompt's requirement for improvement.

  • →Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
  • →If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
  • →No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

  • exceptional

    unusually good or of a very high standard

  • cuisine

    a style or method of cooking and food

  • attentive

    paying close attention to someone's needs or wishes

  • intrusive

    causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome

  • backdrop

    the setting or scenery behind something

  • establishment

    a business organization or public institution

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

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 addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, natural language and maintains a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide constructive suggestions, instead offering vague praise that does not address the prompt's requirement for improvement.

Keep practising

More thanks letters

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