General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · other

Letter to an Editor recommending an influential book: IELTS formal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 formal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 207 words
  • Formal letters
  • Other
  • 20 minutes
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The task

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called 'The book that influenced me most'.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter:

  • →describe what this book was about
  • →explain how this book influenced you
  • →say whether this book would be likely to influence other people

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8207 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Editor,

I am writing to contribute to your upcoming feature, 'The book that influenced me most'. Having been a loyal reader of your magazine for many years, I would like to nominate 'Man’s Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl as a work that profoundly shaped my perspective.

This memoir chronicles Frankl’s harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. Rather than focusing solely on the brutality of his environment, he explores the psychological mechanisms that allowed individuals to endure unimaginable suffering. He argues that the primary human drive is not pleasure, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful.

Reading this text during a period of significant personal hardship provided me with a vital psychological framework. It taught me that while we cannot always control our external circumstances, we retain the ultimate freedom to choose our attitude in any given situation. This shift in mindset helped me cultivate resilience and find purpose even amidst adversity.

I believe this book would be immensely influential to others, particularly those navigating modern life’s inevitable challenges. Its timeless message offers a profound sense of clarity and empowerment, making it an essential read for anyone seeking deeper self-understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

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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 addressing all three bullet points with sophisticated, specific vocabulary and a consistently formal, professional tone. A common mistake at Band 6 is failing to clearly explain the personal influence, often providing only a vague summary of the book's plot instead of a detailed reflection.

  • →Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
  • →If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
  • →No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

  • harrowing

    extremely distressing or disturbing experiences

  • mechanisms

    the processes or methods by which something works

  • framework

    a basic structure underlying a system or concept

  • cultivate

    to try to acquire or develop a quality

  • adversity

    a state of serious or continued difficulty

  • timeless

    not affected by the passage of time

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

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 addressing all three bullet points with sophisticated, specific vocabulary and a consistently formal, professional tone. A common mistake at Band 6 is failing to clearly explain the personal influence, often providing only a vague summary of the book's plot instead of a detailed reflection.

Keep practising

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