General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a friend sharing recent life updates: 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.
  • 186 words
  • Informal letters
  • Giving information
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You have just graduated from university and started your first full-time job.

Write a letter to a friend you haven't spoken to in a while. In your letter:

  • →share the news about your graduation and new job
  • →describe the challenges of your new routine
  • →ask how their life has been recently

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 8186 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah,

I hope everything has been going well with you lately. It feels like ages since we last caught up, so I wanted to reach out and share some big news.

I finally finished my degree last month! It was such a relief to hand in that final thesis. Shortly after the ceremony, I landed a full-time position as a junior analyst at a local marketing firm. It is my first proper role, and while it is definitely a steep learning curve, I am really enjoying the office environment.

Adjusting to this new routine has been quite a shock, though. Commuting on the morning train is exhausting, and I am still struggling to balance my work projects with my personal life. By the time I get home, I am usually too tired to do anything other than cook dinner and collapse on the sofa.

How have things been in your world? I would love to hear what you have been up to since we last spoke. Are you still living in Manchester? Let me know when you are free for a chat.

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

A Band 8 response ensures all three bullet points are covered with natural, cohesive language and appropriate informal register. The most common Band 6 mistake is failing to expand on the challenges of the routine, often providing only a brief, generic sentence instead of specific details.

  • →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

  • landed

    successfully obtained or secured a new job

  • steep learning curve

    a process that is difficult to learn quickly

  • shock

    a sudden and unpleasant or surprising experience

  • exhausting

    making you feel extremely tired and drained

  • collapse

    to fall down or sit down from tiredness

  • caught up

    to exchange news with someone after time

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?+

A Band 8 response ensures all three bullet points are covered with natural, cohesive language and appropriate informal register. The most common Band 6 mistake is failing to expand on the challenges of the routine, often providing only a brief, generic sentence instead of specific details.

Keep practising

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