General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · other

Letter to the Editor praising a local restaurant: 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.
  • 181 words
  • Formal letters
  • Other
  • 20 minutes

The task

You had a good meal at a local restaurant with your family.

Write a letter to the newspaper. In your letter:

  • →tell them about it
  • →describe the meal you had
  • →why you think the restaurant is worth visiting

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8181 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Editor,

I am writing to draw your readers’ attention to a remarkable dining establishment, The Gilded Olive, which recently opened on High Street. Having visited with my family last Saturday, I felt compelled to share our experience as it is rare to find such quality in our neighbourhood.

We began our meal with a selection of mezze, featuring exceptionally fresh hummus and perfectly charred halloumi. For the main course, I opted for the slow-cooked lamb shank, which was tender enough to fall off the bone, while my children thoroughly enjoyed the authentic stone-baked pizzas. The flavours were balanced and clearly prepared using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

What makes this restaurant truly worth visiting is the seamless blend of professional service and a welcoming atmosphere. Despite the busy nature of the evening, the staff remained attentive without being intrusive, ensuring our needs were met promptly. Such dedication to hospitality, combined with a reasonably priced menu, makes it a standout venue for families seeking a memorable culinary experience.

I highly recommend that residents pay them a visit soon.

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Sterling

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

The response achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with sophisticated vocabulary and a consistently formal tone appropriate for a newspaper. A common Band 6 error is failing to maintain the formal register or using overly simplistic, repetitive sentence structures.

  • →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

  • compelled

    feeling that you must do something

  • mezze

    a selection of small Mediterranean dishes

  • stone-baked

    cooked in an oven with stone floors

  • seamless

    smooth and without any problems or interruptions

  • intrusive

    unwanted and disturbing to one's privacy

  • culinary

    connected with cooking or the kitchen

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?+

The response achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with sophisticated vocabulary and a consistently formal tone appropriate for a newspaper. A common Band 6 error is failing to maintain the formal register or using overly simplistic, repetitive sentence structures.

Keep practising

More other letters

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