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 stayed with a friend's family for a week and had a wonderful time.
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 Pavel,
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 Pavel,
I'm back home now, and I wanted to write straight away to say a huge thank you to you and your whole family for having me for a week. I had the most wonderful time.
Your parents were so kind and welcoming, and I felt like a member of the family from the first evening. Thank you for giving me your room and for taking so much time off work to show me around.
It's hard to choose my favourite memory, but I think it's the day we spent at the lake, when we swam, had a picnic and then stayed up late to watch the stars. I'll also never forget your mum's delicious dumplings, or the board games when your dad kept losing.
Now it's your turn! You must come and visit me this summer. My parents are excited to meet you, and I'd love to show you my city. I promise to be as good a host as you were.
Best wishes,
Olga
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Thanks a lot for | informal thank-you |
| You really didn't have to | show surprise at a kind act |
| I can't tell you how much it meant to me. | show strong feeling |
| I owe you one! | promise to return a favour |
| Write back soon! | friendly closing |
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