In the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you’ll be asked to write a letter in response to a practical, everyday situation. This could be a complaint, a request, or — as in today’s example — a personal update to a close friend. The tone can range from formal to informal, depending on the situation, but the prompt below requires an informal approach: warm, natural, and conversational.
In this post, we’ll look at a sample letter sharing exciting family news with a friend, followed by a clear breakdown of why it works — using the IELTS marking criteria as a guide.
The Question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.
You have recently had a baby and want to share the news with a friend who lives abroad.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- share the news about the new baby
- describe how you and your family are feeling
- invite your friend to come and visit
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear …………… ,
How to Structure Your Answer
A clear structure will help your writing feel natural and easy to follow. Here is a suggested outline:
Opening: Greeting and Big News Begin with a warm, friendly greeting. Don’t keep your friend waiting — share the exciting news early in the opening paragraph. You might mention the baby’s name, gender, or date of birth to add a personal touch.
Paragraph Two: About the Baby Expand on the news. You could include details such as how the birth went, what the baby looks like, or any funny or touching moments from the first few days. Keep the tone light and enthusiastic.
Paragraph Three: How Everyone is Feeling Share how you and your family are adjusting. This is your chance to express emotions honestly — the joy, the tiredness, the excitement. Mention other family members’ reactions if relevant, such as an older sibling or grandparents.
Paragraph Four: The Invitation Invite your friend to come and visit to meet the new arrival. You might suggest a timeframe, mention how much it would mean to you, and keep the tone warm and encouraging.
Closing End on a cheerful, friendly note. Use an appropriate informal sign-off.
Model Answer
Dear Sophie,
I hope you’re doing well — I have the most wonderful news to share with you! My daughter, Isla, was born on the 14th of March, and I still can’t quite believe she’s here. She weighed just over three kilograms and has a full head of dark hair, which none of us were expecting!
The birth went smoothly, and we were home within two days. She’s already got us wrapped around her little finger, she only has to make a sound and everyone comes running!
As for how we’re all coping, I won’t pretend the nights aren’t exhausting, but the joy more than makes up for it. My mum has been staying with us this week, which has been an enormous help. Jamie is absolutely smitten and keeps asking when Isla will be old enough to play football with him!
We would absolutely love for you to come and visit when you get the chance. Even a long weekend would be wonderful, there’s always a spare room for you here. It would mean so much to us to have you meet her in person.
I can’t wait to hear from you soon.
Best wishes,
Priya
(Word count: 195)
Why This Letter Works
✅ Task Achievement
All three bullet points are fully and clearly addressed. The opening paragraph introduces the news of the baby’s birth with specific, natural detail. The third paragraph responds directly to how the family is feeling, covering both the challenges and the joy of the new arrival honestly and warmly. The invitation to visit is extended in the fourth paragraph with a genuine, friendly tone. The letter feels complete and appropriately personal throughout, and the informal register is maintained consistently from start to finish — there are no slips into formal or overly professional language.
✅ Coherence and Cohesion
The letter is organised into four clear, purposeful paragraphs, each with a distinct focus: the news, details about the baby, the family’s feelings, and the invitation. The progression feels natural and logical, mirroring how a real letter to a close friend might flow. Cohesive devices are used smoothly and unobtrusively — phrases such as “As for how we’re all coping” and “Even a long weekend would be wonderful” guide the reader from one idea to the next without feeling mechanical.
✅ Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is varied, natural, and well-suited to an informal context. Expressions such as “she’s got us wrapped around her little finger,” “absolutely smitten,” and “an enormous help” demonstrate confident use of idiomatic and collocational language. The writer avoids repetition by varying how emotions and reactions are expressed across the letter, and the vocabulary never tips into overly formal territory, which would be inappropriate here.
✅ Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The letter uses a good mix of sentence types and lengths, which gives the writing a natural rhythm. Contractions such as “I won’t,” “she’s,” and “can’t” are used appropriately throughout, which is entirely correct in an informal letter and helps maintain the friendly tone. Structures such as “She only has to make a sound and everyone comes running” demonstrate confident, flexible grammar use. There are no errors, and punctuation, including the exclamation marks, is used judiciously to convey enthusiasm without overdoing it.
Practice Makes Perfect
Writing informal letters can be challenging, but with regular practice, you’ll improve your ability to stay on topic and meet the IELTS requirements. Try writing your own response to this question, then compare it to the model answer above.
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