General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · thanks

Congratulating a close friend on their book publication: 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.
  • 172 words
  • Informal letters
  • Thanks
  • 20 minutes
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The task

Your friend has had his/her first book published a few days ago. He/she has recently sent you a copy of that book.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter:

  • →congratulate him/her for having his/her first book published
  • →thank your friend for sending you a copy of the book
  • →say what do you think about the book

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8172 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah,

I was absolutely thrilled to hear the news about your first novel, 'The Whispering Pines,' hitting the shelves! Please accept my heartiest congratulations on this incredible milestone; I know how hard you have worked to bring this story to life.

Thank you so much for sending me a signed copy. It was such a lovely surprise to find it waiting on my doorstep yesterday. I felt honoured to be one of the first people on your list to receive a hardback edition.

I managed to dive into the first few chapters last night, and I am already hooked. Your descriptive language is truly evocative, and the way you built the tension in the opening scene is masterful. I particularly loved the protagonist’s dry wit; it makes her feel so authentic. I am genuinely looking forward to finishing it over the weekend and cannot wait to hear about your plans for the next one.

Let’s catch up soon so I can grill you on all the plot twists.

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

This letter achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all prompts with an enthusiastic, authentic tone and well-developed, natural vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific feedback on the book, instead using vague, generic praise that could apply to any creative work.

  • →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

  • milestone

    a significant stage or event in someone's life

  • hooked

    captivated or very interested in something

  • evocative

    bringing strong images or memories to mind

  • masterful

    performed or produced with great skill

  • authentic

    genuine and true to real life

  • grill

    to question someone intensely about something

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?+

This letter achieves Band 8 by fully addressing all prompts with an enthusiastic, authentic tone and well-developed, natural vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific feedback on the book, instead using vague, generic praise that could apply to any creative work.

Keep practising

More thanks letters

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