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.
You haven't contacted a good friend for several months.
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 Clara,
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 Clara,
I'm so sorry I've been out of touch for so long! I've thought about you many times and felt guilty each time I saw your name on my phone.
I'd like to explain what's been going on, although it's no excuse. In March, my dad had a heart operation, and I spent most of the spring travelling back and forth to look after him. At the same time, work became really hectic because two colleagues left, and I was doing three people's jobs. By the evening, I was so tired that I couldn't face answering messages, and then it felt awkward to write after such a long gap.
The good news is that Dad is doing well now, and work has calmed down.
From now on, let's keep in touch properly. How about a quick video call every second Sunday? Even ten minutes would be great. I miss our long chats, and I want to hear all your news.
Love,
Tessa
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I'd better explain what happened. | start telling a story |
| To cut a long story short, | give a quick summary |
| That's why | link a reason to a result |
| I hope you understand. | ask for sympathy |
| Sorry for the long email! | apologise for length |
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