Letter to a friend asking for computer help

The task

You recently bought a new computer but are having some trouble setting it up.

Write a letter to a friend who is good with computers. In your letter:

→describe the new computer you bought
→explain the specific problem you are having
→ask if they can come over and help you

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8197 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sam,

I hope you have been doing well lately. I am reaching out because I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my old laptop, but I have hit a bit of a wall getting everything running.

I treated myself to the latest 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip. It is an incredibly sleek machine, and the display quality is lightyears ahead of my previous clunky PC. I was really looking forward to using it for my video editing projects, but things have not gone quite as smoothly as I had hoped.

The main issue is that I cannot seem to migrate my data or configure the external monitor correctly. Every time I plug it in, the screen just flickers black, and I am worried I might mess up the settings by trying to force a fix. I have spent hours scouring online forums, but I am still completely stuck.

Since you are the biggest tech whiz I know, would you be free to pop over this weekend? I would be happy to order some pizza or grab some beers while we sort it out. Let me know if that works for you.

Best wishes,

Alex

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 addresses all three bullet points with a natural, consistent informal tone and clear purpose throughout. The most common Band 6 mistake is writing in a rigid, formulaic style that fails to sound like a genuine letter between friends.

→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

bit the bullet
decided to do something difficult that was avoided
hit a wall
reached a point where no progress is possible
sleek
having an elegant, streamlined, and attractive appearance
lightyears ahead
far more advanced than something else
scouring
searching through something thoroughly to find information
tech whiz
someone who is extremely skilled with technology

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 request letters

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