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 has asked how to use an app you recommended for learning languages.
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 Polina,
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 Polina,
I'm so glad you're going to try Lingoleap! It really helped me with my Spanish, so I'll explain how to get started.
To set it up, go to your phone's app store, search for "Lingoleap" and download it. It's free to start with. Open the app and create an account using your email address, then choose the language you want to learn and your level. The app also asks how many minutes you want to practise each day, and I'd suggest fifteen to begin with.
The best features, in my opinion, are the short lessons and the speaking exercises. Each lesson takes about five minutes, so it's easy to fit one in. The speaking practice listens to your pronunciation and tells you what to improve.
My top tip is to practise a little every day, rather than for long periods once a week. Turn on the daily reminder, and try to keep your streak going. It becomes a game!
Best wishes,
Adam
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I'd better explain what happened. | start telling a story |
| To cut a long story short, | give a quick summary |
| The thing is, | introduce an explanation |
| That's why | link a reason to a result |
| I hope you understand. | ask for sympathy |
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.