A friend has written a letter informing you about his or her plan to visit your country/city. Write a letter to him/her. In your letter write: - what he or she can do in your country/city advise him/her about the place he/she could stay at - suggest to him/her - what to pack and bring while coming to travel to your country/city
Sample Response
Dear Alfred,
I am thrilledso excited to hear that you're planning a visittrip to Vietnam! There's so much to see and do here, and I know you'll have a fantastic time. Let's make it a memorable triptour and enjoy some time together.
Vietnam offers a wide range of experiencessomething for everyone. If you're into bustling cities, Ho Chi Minh City is a great place to visitmust-see. Explore the Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs and local foodtreats, or visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office to see their French architectural influencefor a touch of French influence. For a more laid-back experience, Hoi An Ancient Town is breathtaking. Wander the colourful streets lined with tailor shops and art galleries, or take a boat tour on the Thu Bon River at sunset. Nature lovers won't be disappointed either. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a cruise through its emerald waters amidst towering limestone karsts is an unforgettable experience.
When it comes to accommodation, Vietnam has a variety of options to suit different budgets. Hostels are a great way to meet fellow travellers, while boutique hotels offer a luxurious stay. However, I would be more than happy to accommodate you at my home during your whole stay if you prefer. I have already talked to my parents, and they are excited to meet you.
Since Vietnam has a tropical climate, pack light, breathable clothing like cotton t-shirts, shorts, and sundresses. Comfortable shoes are essential for exploring, and a light rain jacket is recommended, especially fromduring May to October. Don't forget a hat and sunscreen – the sun can be quite strong!
I can't wait to show you around my beautiful country! See you soon.
Warm wishes,
Hoa
Why this response received Band 8.0
This is a highly effective informal letter: it fully addresses activities, accommodation and packing with vivid, practical detail, while the warm tone consistently suits a close friend. The response is well organised and linguistically flexible; the main opportunity is refinement rather than repair, especially replacing a few slightly unnatural phrases such as 'memorable tour' and 'during your whole stay' with more idiomatic wording.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter fully covers all three practical requirements with relevant, well-developed suggestions and an appropriately warm informal tone.
Make the travel plan even more directly actionable by prioritising one or two destinations according to the friend's likely schedule.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses clearly from activities to accommodation and packing, with effective paragraphing and unobtrusive cohesive links.
Tighten the long sightseeing paragraph slightly so that its several destination options remain equally easy to scan.
Lexical Resource
A wide, precise vocabulary conveys places, experiences and practical advice naturally, with only a few mildly awkward collocations.
Replace phrases such as 'memorable tour' and 'during your whole stay' with more idiomatic alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex sentences are used accurately and flexibly, and the very few minor slips do not impede communication.
Refine small prepositional choices, for example using 'from May to October' rather than 'during May to October'.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A friend has written a letter informing you about his or her plan to visit your country/city. Write a letter to him/her. In your letter write:
- what he or she can do in your country/city advise him/her about the place he/she could stay at
- suggest to him/her
- what to pack and bring while coming to travel to your country/city
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.