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.
Your cousin lent you money when you had an unexpected expense.
Write a letter to your cousin. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Bakhtiyor,
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 Bakhtiyor,
I wanted to write and thank you properly for lending me the 400 euros last month. You really saved me, and I'm very grateful for how quickly you agreed to help.
As you know, my car broke down unexpectedly, and the mechanic told me the engine needed urgent repairs. It was just a week before payday, and I had nothing left in my savings after paying the rent. I need the car to get to work, since there's no bus service from my village, so I didn't know what to do. Then you phoned and offered the money before I'd even asked. I'll never forget that.
I'm happy to say that the car is running perfectly again, and I'm back at work as normal.
I plan to pay you back in full on the 30th of this month, when I get my salary. If it suits you, I could transfer the money to your account or bring it in cash when I visit you on the weekend. Please tell me which you'd prefer.
Thanks again for everything. I owe you a good dinner, too!
Best wishes,
Rustam
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Thanks a lot for | informal thank-you |
| You really didn't have to | show surprise at a kind act |
| It was so kind of you. | praise a kind act |
| I can't tell you how much it meant to me. | show strong feeling |
| Write back soon! | friendly closing |
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