General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · making arrangements

Letter to friends confirming our upcoming holiday arrangements: 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.
  • 190 words
  • Informal letters
  • Making arrangements
  • 20 minutes

The task

You have arranged a plan for travel and accommodation for your friends.

Write a letter to them. In your letter:

  • →remind them about the plans
  • →give them the details of accommodation
  • →suggest what things they should bring to the trip

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8190 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah and Mark,

I am so excited that our trip to the Lake District is finally just around the corner. I have spent the last few days finalising everything, so I wanted to send over a quick summary of our plans to ensure we are all on the same page.

We are booked into a charming, converted farmhouse called Willow Cottage, located just outside Keswick. It has three bedrooms and a lovely open-plan kitchen where we can cook our dinners. I have already paid the deposit, and the owner will leave the key in a secure lockbox by the front door; I will text you the code once we arrive on Friday afternoon.

Regarding packing, please remember to bring sturdy hiking boots, as the trails can be quite muddy this time of year. Also, pack a decent waterproof jacket because the weather in the mountains is notoriously unpredictable. Finally, do not forget your swimming gear if you fancy a brave dip in the lake!

I really cannot wait to catch up and enjoy some fresh air with you both. See you on Friday at the cottage.

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 covers all three bullet points with specific, natural details while maintaining a consistent, friendly tone throughout. The most common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific accommodation details or offering generic packing advice that lacks a logical connection to the trip's location.

  • →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

  • finalising

    completing the last details of a plan

  • converted

    changed in form to serve a different purpose

  • sturdy

    strongly and solidly built or constructed

  • notoriously

    well known for a particular bad quality

  • unpredictable

    changing often and therefore difficult to foresee

  • brave dip

    a courageous swim in cold water

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 covers all three bullet points with specific, natural details while maintaining a consistent, friendly tone throughout. The most common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific accommodation details or offering generic packing advice that lacks a logical connection to the trip's location.

Keep practising

More making arrangements letters

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