Moving to a new city and inviting a friend

The task

You have recently gone to live in a new city. You want to let an English-speaking friend who lives in another country know about it.

Write a letter to your English-speaking friend. In your letter:

→explain why you have gone to live in the new city
→describe the place where you are living
→invite your friend to come and see you

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 hope everything is going well in Toronto! I’m writing to share some exciting news: I have recently moved to Bristol. I decided to make the leap because I landed a fantastic new role as a landscape architect with a local firm here, and it felt like the perfect time for a fresh start in a vibrant city.

My new home is a charming flat located in the Clifton area. It is situated in a quiet, leafy street lined with beautiful Georgian townhouses, yet it is only a short walk from the bustling harbour. The apartment itself has high ceilings and large windows that overlook a small communal garden, which is lovely for relaxing after a long day at the office.

Now that I have finally unpacked my boxes, I would love for you to come and visit. You really must see the Suspension Bridge in person, and I know you would adore the independent cafes around here. Please let me know when you might have some time off work; it would be brilliant to catch up properly and show you around my new neighbourhood.

Can’t wait to hear from you 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.

Write a letter, get a band free →

Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response achieves full coverage of all bullet points with a natural, consistent tone and appropriate vocabulary. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to develop the description of the new place sufficiently, leading to a response that feels repetitive or lacks specific detail.

→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

make the leap
to take a brave step and try something new
vibrant
full of energy, life, and excitement
leafy
an area with many trees and plants
bustling
a place that is busy and full of activity
adore
to love or like something very much
catch up
to talk to someone you have not seen recently

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 giving information letters

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