Use the greeting, sign-off and paragraph plan below for this semi-formal 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 colleague covered your work for a week while you were ill.
Write a letter to your colleague, Mr Scott. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Mr Scott,
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
A letter to someone you know but not closely can end Kind regards or Best wishes as well as Yours sincerely, followed by your 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 Mr Scott,
I am writing to thank you for taking over my work while I was off ill last week. I came back this morning and found everything in order, and I know that it was only because of you.
I realise that you had to deal with my clients as well as your own, and that you stayed late on at least two evenings to finish the monthly invoices. It was extremely generous, as you were already busy preparing for the product launch.
Your help made a big difference to me. Instead of worrying about the office, I was able to rest properly, and I am now feeling much better. Without you, I would have come back to a mountain of problems.
Of course, I would be glad to return the favour whenever you need it. If you are planning a holiday or are ever unwell, please just let me know, and I will cover for you. In the meantime, may I take you to lunch on Friday as a small thank-you?
Best wishes,
Hassan Ali
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I just wanted to say thank you for | warm, polite opening |
| It was extremely kind of you to | praise someone's generosity |
| I really appreciated | say you valued something |
| I'd love to return the favour some time. | offer to help in future |
| Thanks again for everything. | friendly closing |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.