Informal letters in the General Test

In the IELTS Writing paper Task 1 you may have to write an informal letter, for example to a friend or someone you know well. This means that your language can be more casual (e.g. It was great!) and you should be quite personal.

Answering an Informal question 

Have a look at this task, then check out our advice on how to answer the question and finally our sample answer.

Task

You are planning a two-week trip to London and would like some information before you go.

Write the letter to your friend who lives in the UK.

In your letter:

• ask for advice on accommodation
• ask what special attractions you should visit
• enquire about the weather and what clothes to bring

Begin your letter with ‘Dear…’.

You should write at least 150 words.

Remember you must

• Answer the number of prompts, ideally in separate paragraphs
• Expand on each prompt to display a variety of grammar and vocabulary
• Use vocabulary and collocations associated with friends, family and close colleagues
• Open and close the letter with appropriate formality

You will probably also use informal punctuation i.e , contracted words

Remember you should not

• Use language that distances the reader and writer
• Use formal terms of address
• Use formal grammar structures
• Use long forms of contracted words
• Use formal vocabulary 

Advice on how to complete this task

Before you write

First, work out if the letter should be formal, neutral or informal. In this instance, it is your friend so we know it should be informal. You must mention all three bullet points so think of some ideas for each of the points or you will lose marks on task achievement.

Writing Plan

The first sentence should start with an appropriate  greeting and opening comment, perhaps on when you last met or asking if they are well.

The bullet points could be set out in three separate paragraphs following the greeting.

Remember to use everyday vocabulary and informal, friendly tone throughout the letter.

Close with a positive, friendly comment.

Sample answers 1

You are planning a two-week trip to London and would like some information before you go.

Write the letter to your friend who lives in the UK.

In your letter:

• ask for advice on accommodation
• ask what special attractions you should visit
• enquire about the weather and what clothes to bring.

Begin your letter with ‘Dear…’.

You should write at least 150 words.

Dear Jenny,

It’s been two years since I last saw you. How are you? I hope things are going well for you at university in Edinburgh.

I am really excited, as I have planned a holiday to the UK this summer and will be there from the 7th to the 21st of August, based in London.

I know you used to live there and hope you can advise me on any cheap accommodation in London, as it seems really expensive from my searches on the internet. I can only afford £30 a night.

What would you say were the main attractions I must visit? I intend to visit Buckingham Palace and the British Museum but what else is a definite must?

I heard the weather in August in London can be chilly with lots of rain. Is this true? Should I bring warm clothes and waterproofs?

Hope you can drop me some advice. I’ll try my best to pop up to Edinburgh over the two weeks if I can.

Lots of love,

Jill

Sample answers 2

One of your friends lives in another country. You want to spend some time working in that country and would like some advice from your friend about job possibilities.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• say why you want to work in that country
• give some information about your skills and work experience
• ask some questions about employment in that country (e.g. hours, salary)

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear …………. ,

Dear Lada,

It’s been a few months now since you left for Australia. From what you have said, you seem to be settling in and enjoying the life but it must be a bit difficult adjusting to life in a small town. Have you made any friends yet, outside of work? 

The reason I’m writing to you is I need some advice and as you are in Australia, you’re probably the best person to ask.  I’ve been thinking of working abroad too, and Australia really appeals to me. It’s got the climate, you know I can’t deal with the cold, being very multi-cultural I don’t think I will experience any problems from the local people and being a big country I’m sure there’s many things to see and do. Besides, the beaches have got to be worth it!

So you know that I successfully left catering college and worked in a restaurant for two years before studying accountancy. I wondered if  that might be useful work experience to get a position in a city or town, you know, work in a restaurant while I look for something better. I don’t think I could use my accountancy degree, could I? Working as a book keeper, or something like that?

Anyway, I’d appreciate any advice you could give me, like, is there a useful website I could use, or can I find temporary work using a government website? If you could find out, can you let me know the salary and the hours I would expect if working in a restaurant. Oh’ and I’d probably need to find a house share. Are there any community websites that are good for this also.

So write soon,

Pedro 

Sample answers 3

You recently borrowed something from a friend and accidentally damaged it.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• remind your friend what you borrowed
• explain how the damage happened
• say what you will do about it

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear …………… ,

Dear Theo

I’m really sorry to write this letter but I thought it better than to tell you in person so you don’t get too angry.

Do you remember last semester? I borrowed a couple of PS4 games at the end of term. While we were doing our final exams, you said you’d completed the games and I asked if I could borrow them over the summer. I though what a great flatmate you are!

You see, the problem is, I packed them in my cargo luggage and a few days after I got home when I went to unpack my suitcase I noticed that the packaging was damaged. Worse than that, two of the CDs in the box were cracked too. I was really shocked, and I think you are going to be really mad at me, but it really wasn’t my fault. I tried the CDs in the PS4 and they still work which is good news but then I thought you might want to trade them in at CashConvertors in the Autumn, as they’re probably worth 50 bucks!

I really don’t know what to do. The games work, but they’re probably worthless now. So look, you got this letter and we are sharing accommodation again so I will bring them back to campus in the new semester and give them back. If you want the cash value, then I will give that to you to. 

Sorry again for this Theo, let me know what you think, otherwise I’ll see see you in few weeks.

Take care,

Jim

Sample answers 4

You are planning a holiday in another country. You would like your friend to go with you.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• explain why you need a holiday
• tell him/her about your holiday plans
• say why you would like him/her to go with you

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,

Dear Jan

Hope life’s good in the UK and your first year of working abroad’s been good.

I am enjoying living and working in Germany too but I’m working too hard I think, to impress the boss. He’s really kind to be honest and he mentioned that I am due some time off soon, it’s the law!  To be honest, I need to take a break soon, but I can’t imagine spending my free time hanging around the flat so I thought about visiting you. But rather than spending time hanging around your flat, I though we could plan a trip together, if you can take some time off too.

So I’ve already worked out there is a coach that runs direct to London from Dresden.  It takes about 20 hours but is much cheaper than the plane. That gives me 7 days in the UK. My ideas were to spend 2 or 3 days in the capital, and then get a coach either north to Manchester or Liverpool, they’re big student towns or spend some time on the south coast. You can get a train to Dover, Brighton or Bournemouth really easily. I suppose it depends on the weather.

You know we really got on when we went to France, apart from a few arguments, and it’s never as good to travel alone, so obviously I thought of my good friend Jan. I really hope you will give it some thought and if you have an ideas about what to do, just drop me a line, I’d be really interested in your ideas.

Bye for now and speak soon,

Klaus