General Training Writing Task 1

A foreign friend is going to visit your country on holiday. She has asked you to recommend a beautiful place to visit.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

• say where she should visit

• describe how she can get there

• say what she can do while she is there

• and say why she will enjoy it

You went for dinner at a local restaurant but the meal was disappointing. You would like to complain to the restaurant manager.

Write a letter to the manager. In your letter:

• explain why you decided to eat at the restaurant

• describe the problems

• say what you would like the manager to do

You are organising a family event for your grandmother’s 90th birthday. You want to invite your cousin. Write an email to your cousin.

In your letter:

• say why you are organising the family event

• give details about when and where it will take place

• explain why it is important to attend

One of the employees in your team regularly comes to work with an untidy appearance. You must write a letter to ask him/ her to improve his/ her appearance for work.

In your letter:

• explain what the problem is

• say why an untidy appearance is not acceptable

• suggest how he/ she can improve his/ her appearance

Your city government wants to turn the city centre into a pedestrian only area. You have decided to write a letter to your local newspaper editor.

In your letter you should say:

• why you are writing

• if you agree or disagree with the government’s decision

• why it is a good/ bad idea for the city

You have been living in a rented flat for 3 years. You recently received a letter from your landlord in which he informed you that your rent will increase by 30% next year. You are not happy about this very large increase.

In your letter you should say:

• say why you are writing

• describe the problem and explain how you feel

• propose a solution

You play on a sports team with some friends. One of your friends missed a match because he was in hospital. Write a letter to your friend to tell him about the match.

In your letter:

• tell him/ her the result of the match

• describe what the conditions were like

• say how you felt about the match

You are writing a letter to a friend describing a new colleague at work and asking for advice on how to get along with him/ her.

In your letter, you should say:

• describe your colleague

• explain why it is difficult to get along with him/her

• and ask for advice on how to build a good relationship

You recently had an exciting experience and you want to tell your friend about it. Write a letter to your friend describing the experience.

In your letter, you should say:

• explain what the experience was

• describe why it was so exciting

• share your feelings during the experience

• invite your friend to join you for a similar adventure

Your college has a programme for a small number of students to study abroad for a year. Write a letter to the programme organiser to express your interest in participating.

In your letter you should:

• say why you want to study abroad

• describe some of the difficulties you will face and how you will deal with them

• and express your thanks for considering your application

You are looking for a part-time job at a children’s summer camp. Write a letter to the manager of the summer camp.

In your letter:

• introduce yourself

• explain what experience and special skills you have

• tell him/ her when you think you could start

You are worried about an environmental issue in the area where you live. Write a letter to the local authorities expressing your concerns and suggesting possible solutions.

You should:

• clearly describe the environmental problem you observed

• explain why this issue is important

• suggest specific actions that could be taken to address the problem

You recently attended a business conference in a foreign country. Write a letter to the organiser of the conference.

In your letter:

• thank them for organising the event.

• say what you liked about the conference

• provide feedback on any improvements that could be made

You recently purchased a mobile phone, but you are experiencing some issues with it. Write a letter to the customer service department of the company from which you bought the phone.

In your letter:

• describe the problem with the mobile phone

• explain how this issue is affecting you

• ask the company to fix the problem

Your neighbours have written to complain about the noise from your house/ flat. Write a letter to your neighbours.

In your letter:

• explain the reasons for the noise

• apologise

• describe what action you will take

A foreign friend is going to move to your hometown and has asked for your advice about living in the town. Write a letter to your friend.

In your letter:

• suggest a good part of the city to live in

• explain what public transport there is

• and say what there is to do in the city

You are currently taking a course at a university but you will need to take a week off. Write a letter to the university Principal.

In your letter:

• say what course you are on

• explain why you have to take a week off

• and say what you would like the Principal to do

You are doing a language course in a foreign country. Your accommodation was organised by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation. Write a letter to the course provider.

You should:

• say what the problem is

• describe the accommodation you were expecting

• ask the course provider to solve the problem

You would like to ask for leave from your work in order to travel back to your hometown to attend an important celebration.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

• provide details of the celebration you would like to attend

• say why it is important to you

• and explain how you will make sure that your work is done while you are away

During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businesswoman who owns a chain of shops. While talking she suggested that you should contact her about a possible job in one of the shops.

Write a letter to the businesswoman. In your letter:

• remind her where and when you met

• tell her what type of job you are interested in

• explain why you would be suitable for the job