General Training Task 1 letter
IELTS General Training Letter: Reference for a friend
Question type: General Training Task 1: formal letter
The question
A friend of yours has applied for a job at a company in your town, and the manager has asked you to write a reference.
Write a letter to the manager. In your letter: - say how long and how well you know your friend - describe their personal qualities - explain why they would be suitable for the job
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ...
Write your own answer first. Then get an estimated band and corrections from our AI marker.
Answer this questionSee a sample report to find out what you get. Marking is paid: from $0.40 a check on the monthly plan, or 5 checks for $15.
How to approach it
- Say exactly how you know the person and for how long. This makes the reference believable.
- Support each quality with a short example of something they did.
- Connect the qualities to the job in the last main paragraph.
Sample letter
199 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.
Dear Mr Hughes,
I am writing in support of Lena Fischer, who has applied for the position of receptionist at your hotel. I am pleased to recommend her.
I have known Lena for seven years. We met when we were both volunteers at a local community centre, and we worked together there every weekend for three years. Since then we have remained close friends, so I know her well both personally and in a working environment.
Lena is one of the most reliable people I have met. In all the time we volunteered, she never missed a shift and was always the first to arrive. She is also patient and friendly. At the centre she often helped elderly visitors who were confused about forms, and she never made them feel that they were wasting her time. In addition, she stays calm under pressure, even when several people need attention at once.
I believe these qualities would make her an excellent receptionist. She enjoys meeting people, communicates clearly and takes pride in doing a job properly. She also speaks German and English fluently, which would be useful with international guests.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.
Yours sincerely,
Tomas Novak
Useful language from this answer
- I am writing in support of…
- the opening for a reference
- I know her well both personally and…
- explaining why your opinion is reliable
- one of the most reliable people I have met
- strong but believable praise
- stays calm under pressure
- a useful quality for many jobs
- please do not hesitate to contact me
- a formal closing line
Common mistakes with this question
- Listing adjectives with no examples: 'kind, honest, hard-working'. Show each quality in action.
- Writing about yourself more than your friend.
- Forgetting to link the qualities to the job. The third bullet asks why they are suitable.
Now write your own answer
Reading a model helps, but writing is what improves your band. Answer this question and get an estimated band for all four criteria, with corrections taken from your own sentences.
See a sample report first. Marking is paid: from $0.40 a check on the monthly plan, or 5 checks for $15.
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This model answer was written by TestWise Prep to show the features of a high-scoring answer. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise.