Use the greeting, sign-off and paragraph plan below for this informal letter, write it on a 20-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model letter.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
A friend wants to buy a laptop for university and has asked what you would recommend.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sam,
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
A letter to a friend ends warmly, for example Best wishes or Love, followed by your first name.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 150 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Dear Sam,
It was great to hear from you! Choosing a laptop can be confusing, so here's what I'd recommend after helping lots of friends do the same.
First, think about what's most important. For university, you need good battery life, because you'll often be away from a plug in lectures, so look for at least eight hours. It should also be light enough to carry around all day, ideally under 1.5 kilograms. A comfortable keyboard matters too, since you'll be typing a lot, and 8 GB of memory is the minimum you need to stop it slowing down. Unless you're studying design, you don't need an expensive graphics card.
As for where to buy, I'd check online shops like Amazon or the manufacturers' own websites first, because they usually have better prices. Many companies also offer student discounts, so ask about those.
A good laptop for study costs around 600 to 800 pounds. You may find a decent one for under 500 pounds if you wait for the September sales, so don't rush.
Let me know if you need anything else!
Take care,
Luke
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| What do you think I should do? | ask a friend for advice |
| If I were you, I'd | give friendly advice |
| You'd better | strong, friendly advice |
| It's worth trying | recommend an action |
| Hope that helps! | friendly closing |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
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Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.