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General Training Task 1 — informal letter: Telling a friend about a sports training programme. This page gives the exam question and a band 9 model answer, with the tone, opening and closing lines that suit the letter. Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
You have recently joined a sports training program and would like to tell your friend about it. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter, you should:
• Explain what the training program involves
• Describe why you think it is beneficial
• Convince your friend to join as well
| Letter type | Informal |
| Tone | Informal |
| Opening | Dear [First Name], |
| Closing | Take care! / Cheers, / Love, |
Dear James,
I have to tell you about something I started last month that has completely changed my routine — I joined a local triathlon training programme, and I am absolutely loving it! The sessions run three evenings a week and combine swimming, cycling, and running, with a qualified coach guiding us through structured workouts rather than just exercising aimlessly.
I think you would find it genuinely beneficial because the programme is designed for all fitness levels, and the group atmosphere keeps you accountable in a way that solo gym sessions never could. Since I started, my stamina has improved noticeably, and I actually look forward to training rather than dreading it.
Honestly, I think you would be brilliant at this, especially given how competitive you are! The next intake begins in April, and there are still a few places available. Why not come along to a trial session with me one evening? I really think you should give it a go.
Take care!
Strategy
Fully informal register — contractions, exclamations, and personal anecdotes are expected and rewarded. Use idioms
naturally (e.g. "give it a shot").
Common trap
Never write "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Yours faithfully" in an informal letter. Using formal language here is a Task
Achievement failure.
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