General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · giving information

Letter to a teammate explaining temporary absence: 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.
  • 189 words
  • Informal letters
  • Giving information
  • 20 minutes
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The task

You are a football player, but you have to leave the team for a while,

Write a letter to your team-mate. In your letter:

  • →why do you have to leave
  • →how much you love the football team
  • →when you are coming back

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8189 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mark,

I hope you and the rest of the lads are keeping well and training hard for the upcoming cup final. I am dropping you a quick note to let you know that I have to step away from the squad for a few weeks.

Unfortunately, my grandfather has taken quite ill, and I need to travel up north to help my family manage his care. It is a difficult time for us, and I need to be present to support them while we figure out a long-term plan.

Leaving the team is genuinely tough for me. I have absolutely loved being part of this group this season; the chemistry we have built on the pitch is something I really value. I am going to miss our training sessions and the banter in the changing room immensely.

I am aiming to be back on the training ground by the middle of next month. I will keep a close eye on the results, and I am already counting down the days until I can pull on the shirt again. Good luck with the next few matches!

Best wishes,

James

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 response achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with a natural, consistent informal tone and specific, relevant details. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to adopt an informal tone, instead using stiff, overly formal language like 'I am writing to inform you' which is inappropriate for a teammate.

  • →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

  • lads

    a friendly and informal term for young men

  • squad

    a group of people involved in a sport

  • taken quite ill

    become sick or unwell in a serious way

  • chemistry

    the way people interact and work well together

  • banter

    the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks

  • pull on the shirt

    to wear the official team uniform to play

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 response achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with a natural, consistent informal tone and specific, relevant details. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to adopt an informal tone, instead using stiff, overly formal language like 'I am writing to inform you' which is inappropriate for a teammate.

Keep practising

More giving information letters

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