1.

Inviting a friend
You are studying English at a private language school attended by many international
students. You are planning a surprise birthday party for a friend who has been feeling
particularly sad and homesick. Write to another classmate and invite him / her to the party.
In your letter:

 explain the reason for the party

 give the date and time of the party
 suggest what the classmate could bring to the party

Begin your letter as follows: Dear ________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Hi Kate,
Guess what? I’m planning a surprise birthday party for Sakura, our new classmate from
Japan, on next Saturday. Would you like to come and join us?
As you may have known, Sakura has just been here since last month, so she has been
feeling really sad and homesick. We are all international students, so I believe you
understand this feeling. Her birthday is coming so close, too, so I want to hold a small
party to cheer her up.
It will be in my room on next Saturday, Dec 7th, at 8p.m. Ann, Cheng, THOM, Dave and
Helen have agreed to come, too. I know you’re a great cook, so you may bring some sushi,
she would be very surprised. I’m leaarning to sing a Japanese song, hope that won’t be a
disaster.
It would be fun. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Loi
2. Advising a friend about a holiday
An English-speaking friend wants to spend a two-week holiday in your region and has
written asking for information and advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

 offer to find somewhere to stay

 give advice about what to do
 give information about what clothes to bring

Begin your letter as follows: Dear _______

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
(Question taken from Instant IELTS by Guy Brook-Hart)

Dear Julie,
Thanks so much for your latest letter. I'm really excited to hear that you're planning to
visit Toronto. It will give me a chance to take you around, as you did so kindly for me
when I was in Amsterdam last year.
Regarding your visit, I would be happy to help in any way possible. First, unless you really
like freezing weather, I suggest you come in the summer months of July or August. Though
most hotels are expensive at that time, we have some wonderful guest suites available in
our high-rise building, for only about $50 per night. They are fully furnished studio
apartments, with a kitchen, so you can have the option of eating in. Just let me know your
dates and I can make a reservation for you.
Summer is also the time when all the tourist sites are open. We can visit Centre Island,
Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, the
Science Centre and Thousand Islands. The weather should be warm and comfortable,
around 25-30 degrees Celsius, so bring your informal summer clothes, a swimsuit and an
umbrella, too. We get summer showers quite often.
I can't wait for you to come! Write soon with more details,
Warm wishes
Irene
(207 words)

(Taken from: http://www.goodluckielts.com/sample-IELTS-letter-009.html)

3. Apologizing to a friend
You borrowed an important textbook from a classmate last term. You now realize your
classmate had returned home overseas and you still have the book. Write a letter to to him
/ her. In your letter:

 apologize for the mistake

 find out how important the book is to him / her
 say what you will do

Begin your letter as follows: Dear _____________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
(Question taken from Action Plan for IELTS by Vanessa Jakeman and Clare McDowell)

Dear Donna,
Hope you are enjoying a great time with your family in Nepal. Now, do you remember the
Chemistry book you lent me last term? I’ve just realized that I haven’t returned it to you
yet. I’m so sorry about that.
I was really grateful for your kindness. Thank to the book, I was able to finish that course
successfully. We both know how difficult it is for me to get the knowledge of the subject if I
don’t have the book. I really appreciate it, so after finishing reading it, I put it in the
bottom drawer of my desk to make sure it can not be destroyed anyway. However, because
of this carefulness, I didn’t remember it until recently when I was tidying my room.
I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. I’d love to know whether it is very important
to you and you need to have it back anyway. If it is, please give me your address in Nepal
so that I can send it back to you by post. Or else, is there any of your friends could help
carry this book back to you? However, if the book is not so important, I can transmit some
money to you as a compensation. Please tell me how I can fix my mistakes.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Loi
4. Thanking a friend for a holiday
You have recently been to stay with an old friend for a few days. You hadn't seen each
other for a long time. Write a letter to the friend. In your letter:

 say how you felt about the visit

 refer to something enjoyable that you did while staying with him / her
 invite your friend to visit you

Begin your letter as follows: Dear ________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
(Question taken from Action Plan for IELTS by Vanessa Jakeman and Clare McDowell)

Dear Jackol,
I am writing to let you know that we had a great time during my stay in your house last
week. You have been very nice to us especially to my mother and my little sister.
I enjoyed the fun-filled trips to the beach, the adventurous hiked to Mt. Samat and the
basketball games that we have spent even though we always lose to the opponents. I also
like the shirts and delicacies that you brought us from your hometown. I have shared it to
some of my friends so that they can also have a taste of it.
I hope that you also enjoyed your stay with us last year and I apologise if my little sister
was very talkative every time she saw you. Please visit us again next year so that we can
try some of the tourist spots that we have missed this year. We are looking forward to your
next visit.
Best Regards,
Tickol

(Taken from: https://www.ielts-mentor.com/writing-sample/gt-writing-task-1/164-general-

training-writing-task-1-sample-27-you-have-recently-been-to-stay-with-an-old-friend-for-
a-few-days)
5. Advising a friend about work
An English-speaking friend is coming to study in your town next year and has written
asking for information and advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

 Offer to find a place for him / her to live

 Give advice about how to find a part-time job
 Give information on where he / she can learn your language

Begin your letter as follows: Dear __________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Dear Scott,
I’m so happy to hear that you’re coming to Viet Nam for your next school year. I’m
writing to give you some information and advice as you asked for in your last letter.
Firstly, you don’t need to worry much about accommodation. It’s quite easy to find a good
apartment in Da Nang with a reasonable price. I woud recommend you to have a bicycle
or motorbike of your own, which will help you a lot in traveling around.
Concerning part-time job, there are a lot of choices for English-speakers, the most popular
one is being an English tutor. You can earn a lot with it. I would help you seek for one
once you arrive here.
One more thing, I really appreciate that you would love to learn Vietnamese. You can
enroll for a course run by Da Nang university of Foreign Languages.
Hope those may help. I can’t wait to see you here and be your guide.
Love,
Loi
6. Forgetting something at a friend's
You stayed at your friend's house when you participated in a conference in Australia. You
left a briefcase with important documents in your room. Write a letter to your friend. In the
letter:

 thank your friend for the stay

 describe the briefcase
 ask him/her to return it to you by post

Begin your letter as follows: Dear _________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Dear Kate,
I just arrived in Da Nang yesterday in good health. I’m so greatful for my great stay at
your house last week. Thank to it, the conference had gone very smoothly. However, I’ve
just realized that I’ve left my briefcase in my room. I’m writing to ask for your help with it.
It is a black suitcase which is made of leather. It has a black plastic handle and the zip
fastener is in golden colour. I think you can easily find it on the table next to the bed. I’m
so careless to forget to bring it back with me.
The document inside it is very important and I need it for the report next week, so could
you please send it back to me by post as soon as possible? I will pay all the postal fee.
Thank you in advance for your kind support.
Best wishes,
Loi
7. Reminding a Friend
A year ago, you lent your favorite book to a friend who you thought would enjoy it.
Unfortunately, your friend has forgotten to return it. The book has sentimental value to you
as it had been presented by your grandmother. Write a letter to your friend. In the letter:

 ask how he or she is doing

 remind him / her about the book
 explain why you need it back

Begin your letter as follows: Dear ________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Hi Ly,
How is everything with you? I heard that you’re quite busy with your work but you enjoy it
a lot. Spending time with children is always great. You definitely still have a huge interest
in astronomy. Do you teach them about the stars and the planets? They would love it, like
you and me when we were in secondary school.
It’s been a while that with the pace of life, astronomy hasn’t been a very close friend of
mine. It’s not until last weekend when I was tidying my room that I found some books and
pictures about it: the beautiful Saturn with its magnificent ringlets, the powerful solar
winds or the interaction of the two galaxies. And when I seeked for the Solar System,
which I lent you last year, I realized that you haven’t returned it to me yet. I love it not
only because of the interesting knowledge in it, as you may feel the same, but also, it’s very
valuable for me since it was given to me by my beloved grandmother.
Have you finished reading it? If yes, you can send it back to me as soon as posible, my
address remains unchanged. Or else, if you haven’t, you can give it back to me after
finishing it.
Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Best,
Loi
8. Congratulating a Friend
Your best friend just had her first baby. You are currently overseas but will be returning to
your hometown in a week. Write to your friend. In your letter:

 congratulate your friend

 tell her when you will be returning home
 ask when you could drop in to meet her and the baby

Begin your letter as follows: Dear _________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Dear Thom,
How are you and the baby? I’m just so excited to know that you’ve just given birth to a
cute baby girl. Congratulations to you and you family! Tuan-your kind husband must have
been more than happy.
The baby must be beautiful like her mother. I wish I could be with you right now to share
the happiness. However, you know I am in Dubai for a business trip. I will go back in one
week and visiting you and the little Thom will be my number one priority. Please tell me
when I could drop in to see you and your angel. I have a very special present for her.
Reply soon. I can’t wait too see you two.
Best wishes,
Loi
9. Requesting Help
Your parents will be celebrating their 40th anniversary next month. You are planning a big
celebration, but you are not sure how to make the occasion really memorable. Write to
your best friend, Joan, who is a professional event planner. In your letter:

 explain why the occasion is special

 ask for her assistance
 set up a time to meet at your friend's convenience to discuss your plans

Begin your letter as follows: Dear Joan,

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Dear Joan,
It’s great to know that your recent project has finished successfully and you’re having
some time to rest. Now, before you get busy again with your work, I would love to ask for
your help with the 40th aniversary of my parents, as I’ve told you before.
As you know, this is a very special occasion as it marks a milestone for my parents’
marriage, in which they have been together through ups and downs for such a long time.
In addition, I want to make it big and memorable since a lot of our relatives and my
parents’ friends will come. Remember Aunt Kim? She will come back from the USA for
this date.
I have a few ideas for it, but to make sure the celebration is perfect, I need your advice,
since you’re an expert in event planning. Do me a favor with this, please.
So could we meet up this weekend? I can go to the coffee shop next to your office and we
can discuss it. Please tell me your convenient time.
Reply soon.
Love,
Loi
10. Admitting a Mistake
You attended an old friend's wedding in another city, about 3 hours away, a week ago. It
was an outdoor wedding held on a rainy day and you had taken along a rather expensive,
elegant umbrella. When you returned, you were tired and went straight to bed. You had a
very busy week. This weekend, when it started to rain, you realized you had the wrong
umbrella. You must have taken someone else's umbrella, which was very similar to your
own, when leaving the wedding reception. Write to your friend who got married. In your
letter:

 congratulate him / her on the beautiful wedding

 explain the situation
 ask how you can return this umbrella and locate your own

Begin your letter as follows: Dear Joan __________

You should write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Dear Joan,
How is your new life? I’m sure it must be great. Thank you for having me on your beautiful
wedding. Despite of the rain, it was such a big success that we all enjoyed it very much.
Unfortunately, I made a mistake in your wedding ceremony. I have taken the wrong
umbrella home. I’m writing to you to ask for your help with it.
When attending the reception, I took along with me an elegant umbrella, which is a make
of Pasotti Italian. It is light caleste with some small blue sappheres. When the ceremony
ended, I returned home and took a sleep right away. Only till this weekend when it started
to rain did I realize that I were keeping someone else’s umbrella, which was in the same
color and model as mine. However, it bears a letter “J” on the side, which suggested that
it must have belonged to a lady whose name starts with “J”. Can you possibly help me find
out its owner so that I can return it and get back my own?
Thank you in advance. Look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Loi
In your last letter, your friend said this. Write a letter to answer her question.
Topic 1: I’ve just seen a brilliant program about dolphins on television. Which program
have you enjoyed recently? How much television do you watch?
Topic 2: My daily life is busy and has a lot of fun. What about you? Please describe your
weekday. How do you deal with your work during the day? What are your hobbies after
working? Do you enjoy your life?
Topic 3: I’ve just joined a film club. I’ve already seen some fantastic films. What kind of
films do you like watching?
Topic 4: You went to a party last weekend, didn’t you? Did you have a good time there?
Tell me about that party?
Topic 5: In your last letter, you said you had moved to a new house in the city, what does
it look like? What kind of furniture have you got? Tell me about it.
Topic 6: I’m glad you like your job. In your next letter, tell me about it.
Topic 7: I’m glad you like learning English. Your teacher sounds really nice – and your
friend do too. Tell me about your English classes.
Topic 8: I’ve always wanted to know more about your favorite sport. Tell me about it.
Why do you like it?
Topic 9: I guess there are many traditional festival in your country. What is the most
important one? Why do people celebrate this festival?
Topic 10: In your next letter, could you give me some advice? Tell me how to keep fit and
healthy.