General Training Task 1 · 196 words
Helping a friend plan a visit
Use a warm, natural register while giving specific accommodation, activity and packing advice.
Study the method: Informal letters: develop friendly apologies and practical requests →
Band 6 goal: Informal tone
Complete every task part clearly and organise the response so the reader can follow it. This is a study route, not an examiner score assigned to the answer. How IELTS Writing is assessed.
The question
A friend from another country is coming to visit your area. Write a letter suggesting where they should stay, describing activities you can do together, and giving advice about what to bring.
The sample answer
Dear Maya, I'm so pleased you're coming to visit next month! You should stay with me if you haven't booked anywhere yet. My spare room is small but comfortable, and the bus stop outside makes it easy to get into town. You'd also save the money you would otherwise spend on a hotel.
I've already thought of a few things we could do together. On Saturday, we could visit the market by the river and try some of the food stalls. If the weather is good, I'd love to take you along the coastal walking path on Sunday. It takes about two hours, but there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the view. We can choose something indoors if it rains.
Bring comfortable shoes and a light waterproof jacket, as the weather can change quite quickly here. You won't need towels or a hairdryer because you can use mine. A small backpack would be useful for our walk, though, especially if we take lunch with us.
Let me know what time your flight arrives and I'll work out the easiest way to meet you. I can't wait to catch up properly! Best wishes, Alex
Vocabulary in context
Each phrase appears in the answer above. Learn how it works, not just a replacement word.
- catch up properly
- Spend enough time talking about what has happened since you last met.
This conversational phrase suits a friendly letter rather than a formal complaint.
- work out
- Find an answer or decide how something should be done.
Work out a route or a plan is natural in informal writing.
- would otherwise spend
- Would spend if the alternative arrangement were not available.
Otherwise links the saving to the offer of a place to stay.
Now make it your own
Your friend now wants a hotel and dislikes walking. Rewrite the first two paragraphs so the recommendations respond to those preferences.
For a smaller practice step, use the explanation, knowledge check and self-review exercise in Write a letter with purpose and tone.
The practice link opens the original question, not a copy of this answer.
Open the writing workspaceMore examples of this question type
Cover all three task points with specific details and a natural, friendly tone.