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 message to a colleague. The tone can range from formal to informal, depending on the situation, but many prompts require a semi-formal approach: polite, respectful, and friendly without being too casual.
In this post, we’ll look at a sample letter responding to a colleague who’s planning a visit to your area. You’ll see how the letter handles the task effectively, followed by a clear breakdown of why it works—using the IELTS marking criteria as a guide. Whether you’re aiming for a higher score or just want to refine your letter-writing skills, this walkthrough will help you understand what examiners are looking for and how to apply it to your own writing.
Let’s begin with the task and a model response.
Model Question for IELTS General Training Task One
A colleague from another branch is visiting your area for a few days.
Write a letter to your colleague. In your letter:
- suggest where they could stay
- recommend some local attractions
- offer to meet them and show them around
Write at least 150 words.
✉️ Model Letter
Dear Alex,
I hope you’re doing well. I heard you’ll be visiting our branch next week, and I wanted to share a few suggestions to help you make the most of your stay.
There’s a comfortable hotel just five minutes from the office called The Elmwood. It’s reasonably priced and well-rated by business travellers. If you prefer something quieter, the Rosewood Guesthouse is a lovely alternative nearby.
While you’re here, I’d definitely recommend taking a walk through Riverside Park—it’s especially beautiful this time of year. If you’re interested in history, the City Museum offers a great overview of the local area and has a few excellent exhibitions running.
If you have some free time one evening, I’d be happy to take you out for dinner and show you around the city centre. Just let me know which day suits you best.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Best regards,
Jordan
🧠 Why This Letter Works Well
✅ Task Achievement
This letter fully addresses all aspects of the task. The writer suggests two accommodation options and gives brief but useful reasons for each. They also recommend local attractions based on interest and season, and offer to meet the colleague personally, showing thoughtfulness. The purpose of the letter is clear throughout, and the response feels complete without being too long or too short. Importantly, the tone is perfectly pitched for a semi-formal situation—it’s polite, friendly, and professional.
🔗 Coherence and Cohesion
The letter is organised into clear, purposeful paragraphs. Each one serves a function—introduction, accommodation, attractions, and the closing invitation. Ideas are logically connected using smooth linking phrases like “While you’re here” and “If you prefer…”. These cohesive devices help the reader follow the letter effortlessly without disrupting the natural rhythm.
🗣️ Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is varied, precise, and well-suited to the context. Expressions such as “reasonably priced,” “make the most of your stay,” and “offers a great overview” show that the writer can use natural collocations and idiomatic phrases effectively. The language remains clear and appropriate throughout—avoiding both slang and overly formal wording.
🧾 Grammatical Range and Accuracy
There is a good mix of sentence types, including conditionals and modals, which enhance the polite and flexible tone. Sentences like “If you have some free time…” and “I’d definitely recommend…” show confident control over grammar. The writing is clean, with no grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly to support meaning and flow.
📝 Final Thoughts
This sample is an excellent example of a high-performing IELTS General Task 1 response. It’s polite, relevant, well-organised, and demonstrates a strong command of language. If you’re aiming for a strong result in the writing test, practising letters like this—and analysing them using the official criteria—can help you improve both awareness and accuracy.
Practice Makes Perfect
Writing semi-formal 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.
If you’d like feedback on your writing, book a lesson with us today.
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