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IELTS Letters – Band 9

IELTS Writing Task 1 – samples of IELTS letters of Band 9

IELTS Letter, topic: Introduction of an exchange student to a host family

This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 3 General Training book, Practice Test 14

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are travelling next month to stay with a family you do not know as part of a language training course. Write a letter to the family to introduce yourself.

In your letter,


– tell the family a little about yourself
– ask about the type of food that the family eats
– say when and how you will be arriving

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mr and Mrs Greene,

Sample Band 9 Letter

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Greene,

My name is Caroline Hague and I am an exchange student about to participate in an English Language Training course in London. The organisation that arranged this course for me has assigned you to be my host family for those four weeks and I would therefore like to introduce myself.

I come from the Netherlands and live in Maastricht, a beautiful and historical city not too far away from the country’s capital, Amsterdam. I would like to know more about the English language, culture and literature, and therefore I have applied for this training course. I am an active outdoor person and love to ride my bike, and I am also passionate about music.

I am interested in the type of food that is popular in your family, as I am a vegetarian. Do you eat a lot of meat? If yes, that’s no problem for me, I will only have to know in advance so I can bring a few essentials.

In a month’s time, on the twenty-second of May, I will be arriving at Gatwick airport at 4 pm. I have seen that you have kindly offered to pick me up and so I will be waiting at the Terminal A pick-up at 5.15 pm. I look forward to meeting you then.

I hope to hear back from you and to see you soon!

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Hague

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IELTS Letter, topic: Letting a friend know about your change of plans

This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 3 General Training book, Practice Test 13

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

A friend is expecting you to stay with him in two weeks’ time, but unfortunately you forgot that you have a business trip at the same time. Write a letter to your friend.

In your letter,

– apologise and say that you cannot come to visit
– explain why you will not be able to visit
– suggest another time that you could visit

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Tom,

Sample Band 9 Letter

Dear Tom,

I have rather upsetting news for you, for which I am very sorry. Although my stay with you in two weeks has been planned for a while, I will have to cancel.

Yesterday during work, I had another meeting with a colleague regarding the town hall project, which I told you about the past few months. During the conversation, a business trip, which had been planned and booked since last year, came up. I will need to speak to several representatives of other town halls in the area. I had completely forgotten about this, and unfortunately it is at the exact same time as my planned stay at your house. I hope you won’t be too angry with me and allow me to make it up to you in some other way.

Why don’t I come and visit you at the end of your vacation, when you have returned from Europe? I remember you saying that you have three weeks left before going to New York. If that works for you, please get back to me, as I would love to see you before Christmas.

Hope to see you soon!

Best wishes,

Johnny

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