# Letter thanking a friend for your stay: IELTS Writing Task 1 samples

Writing Task 1 - General Training - Travel

You recently spent a few days staying with a friend who lives in another country.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Maria,

You should say:
- thank your friend for having you to stay
- say what you enjoyed most about the visit
- tell your friend about your journey home

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

Dear Maria,

Thank you so much for letting me stay at your place last week. I had a great time and I really appreciated that you showed me around your city, even though you had to work some days.

The best part of my visit was the day we went to the beach. The water was so clear and the seafood at the small restaurant near the harbour was delicious. I also really enjoyed meeting your family at Sunday lunch. Your mum is so kind and her cooking is amazing!

Unfortunately, my journey home wasn't so easy. The train to the airport was cancelled, so I had to take a taxi, which cost me nearly fifty euros. Then, when I arrived at home, I realised I forgot my sunglasses in your guest room. Could you send them to me when you have time? I would be really grateful for that.

I hope I'll be able to return the favour soon when you come to visit me in Seoul.

Take care,

Ji-woo

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 letter covers the three bullets in a warm, friendly way and includes enjoyable details such as the seafood restaurant and meeting Maria's family. "I would be really grateful for that" sounds rather formal for a close friend. Small errors such as "arrived at home" and "realised I forgot" are noticeable. The journey paragraph also drifts into a request. A Band 8 letter would use more vivid, idiomatic language and keep each paragraph focused on its bullet.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-1/letter-thanking-friend-for-your-stay).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.