You are planning to visit a city where a friend of yours lives. Write a letter to your friend.
This letter asks for a real favour — a place to stay — so the tone needs to be warm and light enough that the request doesn't feel like an imposition.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are planning to visit a city where a friend of yours lives. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter,
explain your plans to visit the city
ask if you could stay with them
say what you would like to do during your visit
You do not need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Tural,
Write at least 150 words.
What this letter needs
The main difficulty is the middle bullet point: asking to stay with someone is a bigger ask than a normal favour, so it needs softening with a reason, an offer to help out, and reassurance about not being any trouble, without sounding apologetic or overly formal. A strong answer also links the third bullet point back to the friend specifically, showing that spending time with them matters as much as the sightseeing.
Structure
Salutation — Dear Tural, — a first-name salutation suits asking a personal favour of a friend.
Opening — Open with the travel plans and dates, so the practical basis for the request for a bed is clear from the start.
Body 1 — Explain the reason you're visiting and the dates, keeping the tone upbeat and genuinely excited.
Body 2 — Make the request to stay directly but softly — give a reason, such as cost or wanting to see them more, and reassure them you won't be any trouble.
Body 3 — List what you'd like to do, balancing sightseeing with time specifically together, since that reinforces why staying with them matters.
Closing — Close by asking them to let you know honestly if it works, then sign off warmly.
Model answers
Band 6.0 model answer
157 words
Dear Tural,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing because I am planning to visit London next month for a short holiday, from 10 to 17 July. I have not been there before, so I am very excited about the trip.
Since hotels in London are very expensive, I was wondering if I could stay with you during my visit. I would only need a place to sleep, and I promise I will not be any trouble. Of course, I will help with the cooking or cleaning while I am there.
During my visit, I would really like to see some famous places, like Big Ben and the British Museum. It would also be great if we could spend some time together, maybe go to a nice restaurant or just relax and talk like we used to.
Please let me know if this is possible. I hope to hear from you soon.
Take care, Orkhan
Why this is Band 6.0
States the travel plan and request plainly: 'I was wondering if I could stay with you during my visit.'
Reassures the friend simply: 'I promise I will not be any trouble.'
Covers all three bullets clearly, though the language stays fairly plain throughout.
Band 7.0 model answer
175 words
Dear Tural,
I hope everything's going well with you! I'm writing because I've finally booked a trip to London for a week in July, from the 10th to the 17th, and I couldn't be more excited, since it'll be my first time there.
As hotels in central London are eye-wateringly expensive, I was wondering whether I could possibly stay with you for a few nights. I'd honestly be happy on a sofa, and I'd make sure to pull my weight with cooking or cleaning while I'm there — I promise I won't turn into an annoying houseguest!
While I'm visiting, I'd love to tick off a few classic sights, like Big Ben and the British Museum, but honestly, spending proper time with you matters just as much. Maybe we could grab dinner somewhere nice one evening, or just stay in and catch up properly for once.
Let me know if staying with you would work, and if there are any dates that suit you better. I really can't wait to see you.
Take care, Orkhan
Why this is Band 7.0
Softens the request naturally: 'I was wondering whether I could possibly stay with you for a few nights.'
Uses idiomatic phrasing accurately, such as 'I'd make sure to pull my weight with cooking or cleaning.'
Balances sightseeing and friendship: 'honestly, spending proper time with you matters just as much.'
Tone stays consistently warm and natural throughout.
Band 8.5 model answer
202 words
Dear Tural,
I hope life's treating you well! I've got some exciting news — I've finally booked a trip to London for a week in July, from the 10th to the 17th, and I've been counting down the days ever since, given it'll be my very first time in the city.
Central London hotels are eye-wateringly expensive, so I wanted to ask, cheekily, whether I could crash at yours for a few nights instead. I'd be more than happy on the sofa, and I'll gladly cook, clean or run errands to earn my keep — I promise I won't overstay my welcome or turn into the houseguest from hell!
While I'm there, I'd love to tick off a few classic sights like Big Ben and the British Museum, but honestly, the main reason I want to stay with you rather than book a hotel is you. Maybe we could grab dinner somewhere brilliant one night, or just curl up with tea and finally catch up properly after all this time.
Let me know honestly whether this would work for you, and if any particular dates suit you better than others. I genuinely can't wait to see your face again.
Take care, Orkhan
Why this is Band 8.5
Request is confident and warm: 'I wanted to ask, cheekily, whether I could crash at yours for a few nights instead.'
Idiomatic language used fluently, e.g. 'I won't overstay my welcome or turn into the houseguest from hell!'
Shows genuine personality and honesty: 'the main reason I want to stay with you rather than book a hotel is you.'
Complex grammar handled naturally, such as 'or just curl up with tea and finally catch up properly after all this time.'
Closes with real warmth: 'I genuinely can't wait to see your face again.'
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.
This is a informal letter question. The answers above show you what each band looks like when it is finished. What they cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in twenty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the letter is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Answers checked here may be published on this page, without your name, to help other learners. Nothing else about you is stored.
Common questions
How do I ask to stay with someone without it sounding presumptuous?
Give a light reason, like cost, and explicitly reassure them you won't be any trouble, as in 'I promise I won't overstay my welcome' — it softens the request naturally.
Should I mention paying rent or money in this letter?
It's not necessary and can feel oddly formal between friends — offering to help out practically, such as cooking or cleaning, reads as more natural than discussing money.
Is it okay to list tourist attractions I want to see?
Yes, briefly — but balance it with something that shows the visit is really about seeing your friend, not just using their home as a free hotel.
What if my friend might say no — should the letter sound uncertain?
A little softness is fine, such as 'I was wondering, cheekily, whether…', but the letter should still sound confident and warm, not anxious.
