A friend of yours has recently achieved something significant, such as passing an important exam, getting a new job, or winning a competition. Write a letter to your friend.
This letter asks you to celebrate a friend's success in a way that feels genuinely warm and specific, rather than a generic 'well done'.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
A friend of yours has recently achieved something significant, such as passing an important exam, getting a new job, or winning a competition. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter,
congratulate them on their achievement
say how you found out about it
explain why you think it is such a great achievement
You do not need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Gunel,
Write at least 150 words.
What this letter needs
The risk in this scenario is that congratulations can default to vague phrases like 'I'm so happy for you' repeated three times. A strong answer earns its praise by referencing real specifics — how you heard the news, and, most importantly, a genuine reason the achievement is impressive, such as past setbacks the friend overcame — so the letter reads as a considered response rather than a reflex reaction.
Structure
Salutation — Dear Gunel, — a first-name greeting matches the personal, celebratory tone of good news shared between friends.
Opening — Open with the congratulations stated directly and warmly, naming the achievement so the letter's purpose is instantly clear.
Body 1 — Expand briefly on your own reaction to the news, showing genuine excitement rather than a flat statement.
Body 2 — Explain who told you the news and how, adding a small human detail to keep it feeling like a real story rather than a fact.
Body 3 — Give a specific, genuine reason the achievement matters, ideally referencing something the friend had to overcome.
Closing — Close by suggesting a way to celebrate together, then sign off warmly with continued congratulations.
Model answers
Band 6.0 model answer
158 words
Dear Gunel,
Congratulations on passing your driving test! I am so happy for you, and honestly, I could not stop smiling when I heard the good news. You really deserve this after everything you have been through with it.
I found out about it from your sister, who told me last week when I saw her at the market. She was so proud of you that she could not stop talking about it, and she even showed me a photo of you holding your new licence.
I think this is a great achievement because I know you failed the test twice before and you never gave up. You practised almost every day after work, even when you were very tired. This shows how hardworking and determined you are.
I am really proud of you, and I hope we can celebrate together soon, maybe with a nice dinner. Well done again — you truly earned it!
Best wishes, Orkhan
Why this is Band 6.0
States congratulations directly and explains how the news arrived, covering all three bullets clearly.
Simple, sincere language throughout, such as 'I am so happy for you.'
Gives a genuine reason for the achievement mattering: 'you failed the test twice before and you never gave up.'
Band 7.0 model answer
181 words
Dear Gunel,
Congratulations on finally passing your driving test! I honestly couldn't stop grinning when I heard, and I had to write to you straight away — you've been working towards this for so long, and it's brilliant to see it finally pay off.
I actually found out from your sister, who bumped into me at the market last week and could hardly get the words out fast enough, she was so excited. She even pulled out her phone to show me the photo of you holding your new licence!
What makes this such a genuinely great achievement, in my opinion, is that you didn't pass on your first attempt, or even your second — you kept going anyway. Practising almost every single evening after a full day of work takes real determination, and it's exactly why this feels so well deserved. That kind of persistence deserves real recognition.
I'm so proud of you, honestly, and I think we should celebrate properly soon, maybe with dinner somewhere nice. Well done again — you earned every bit of this!
Best wishes, Orkhan
Why this is Band 7.0
Reaction feels more genuine and detailed: 'I honestly couldn't stop grinning when I heard.'
Adds a natural human detail to how the news arrived: 'she could hardly get the words out fast enough, she was so excited.'
Develops the reason for the achievement with more nuance: 'you didn't pass on your first attempt, or even your second — you kept going anyway.'
Natural idiomatic phrasing used accurately throughout, such as 'you earned every bit of this.'
Band 8.5 model answer
214 words
Dear Gunel,
Congratulations on finally passing your driving test! I actually laughed out loud with relief and happiness when I heard, and I couldn't wait another minute before writing to you — after everything you've put into this, seeing it finally pay off feels like a genuine victory, not just a tick on a form.
I heard the news from your sister, of all people, who practically ambushed me at the market last week, bursting to tell someone. She whipped out her phone before I'd even said hello, grinning as she showed me the photo of you proudly holding your new licence.
What makes this achievement so impressive to me isn't just the pass itself, it's everything that led up to it. You didn't get it on your first attempt, or your second, and plenty of people would have quietly given up somewhere around then. Instead, you kept dragging yourself out for lessons after exhausting days at work, week after week, until it finally clicked. That's not luck, that's sheer stubborn determination, and it deserves every bit of celebration.
I'm honestly so proud of you, and I really think this calls for a proper celebration soon, dinner's on me. Well done again, truly — you earned every single bit of this.
Best wishes, Orkhan
Why this is Band 8.5
Opens with vivid, genuine reaction: 'I actually laughed out loud with relief and happiness when I heard.'
How the news arrived is told as a real story: 'She whipped out her phone before I'd even said hello.'
The achievement is framed with real insight: 'That's not luck, that's sheer stubborn determination.'
Complex sentence structures handled fluently, e.g. 'a genuine victory, not just a tick on a form.'
Warm, confident closing: 'dinner's on me.'
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 avoid sounding repetitive when congratulating someone?
Vary how you express it — direct congratulations, a description of your own reaction, and a specific reason it's impressive each say 'well done' differently without repeating the phrase.
Does it matter how I say I found out the news?
It's one of the three required bullet points, so it needs a real answer — a small detail, like who told you and how they reacted, makes it feel like a genuine story rather than a formality.
What makes an explanation of 'why it's a great achievement' strong rather than generic?
Referencing something specific the person overcame, like past failed attempts or exhaustion from balancing work and effort, rather than a general statement like 'it's very impressive.'
Can I suggest celebrating together, or is that unnecessary?
It's a natural and warm way to close this kind of letter, and it reinforces that the congratulations are genuine rather than just polite.
