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 have moved to a new city and haven't written to a friend for a while.
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 Anya,
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 Anya,
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write! A lot has happened since I moved here, but I've been thinking about you.
The city is wonderful. It's much bigger and noisier than our hometown, but there is always something to do. My favourite place so far is the old market by the harbour, where I go every Saturday morning for fresh bread and coffee. It rains far too much, though!
I'm settling in quite well. My flat is small but cosy, and I share it with a nice girl from Spain who's teaching me to cook paella. At work, my colleagues have been welcoming and I've already joined a running club, so I'm starting to meet new people. Still, it hasn't been completely easy, and I felt lonely during the first weeks.
What I miss most is you and our evenings together at the café, and my mum's cooking, of course. It would be great if you could come and visit soon.
Love,
Vera
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guess what? | introduce surprising news |
| I thought I'd let you know | share news casually |
| Apparently, | pass on something you heard |
| Keep me posted! | ask for updates |
| Drop me a line soon. | ask for a quick reply |
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