Develop your writing skills

Revise useful phrases to be able to write your own letter of advice:

Letters Asking and Giving Advice

Writing Advice Letters

Here you will find advice letters samples.

Sample 1

Your friend wrote to you asking for advice on

how to manage his/her time efficiently while preparing for exams

how to cope with both study and doing household chores at home

what to do to relieve the anxiety before exams

Hi Jane,

How are you? I’m like you very busy preparing for my examinations at school. I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling anxious and unhappy. But I am grateful that you have shared your problems and fears with me. I guess I can give you some advice.

To begin with, you told me you didn’t have enough time to prepare for so many tests. If I were in your shoes I would try to talk to your teachers who I am sure will understand you very well and may really help you . Also, I reckon you should make up a schedule to spend your time more efficiently. I am pretty sure it will work. So don’t worry! You’ll be fine.

Then, you told me you needed to help your mother do all the house chores because she was very tired after work and you also had to take some tutorial classes after-school every week. I know it is tiresome. Why don’t you ask your mother to find a housemate to help her? This way, you would devote more time to study. And another thing, why not reduce your time for tutorial classes and study hard at home on your own. I am sure you can do it.

And then, I know you are worried about your examinations and you are very tired. No matter how hard you have to work I would advise you to relax sometime. For example, you can listen to quiet music or do some exercise, walk or play some board games. These are likely to relieve your anxiety.

Besides, I’m sad to know that your parents think you are lazy and irresponsible. Talk to them. You should let your parents know about your problems and then they will understand you very well and support you.

So, don’t worry! There should always be a way out!

I hope this advice will be useful. Please write to me again to tell how things are going on or if you need any more help.

Regards,

Jacky

Sample 2

Dear Fiona,

I am so glad to hear that you have decided to move to London, it’ll be great to have a friend from home living here. We’ll be able to do things together like we used to. In your letter you asked me to give you some advice about finding a flat; here are some suggestions.

If I were you, I would start by checking the classified advertisements in the London papers. For example, the ‘Daily Mail’ and the ‘Evening Standard’ have large sections with houses and flats for rent. That way, you will be able to see what is available for rent at the moment.

Another good idea is to contact an estate agent. Goldshmidt and Howland have offices all over London. That way you can get a list of all places in the area you want at a price you can afford.

I hope this helps. Please let me know how things turn out. If you need anything else, please call.

Love,

Mandy

Sample 3

Dear Mike,

Sorry I haven’t written for you for so long. I have been very busy over the last year and I never seem to get a minute to myself.

I’ d like to study computer science in Canada and I hope you can give me some advice. I would prefer a college in Toronto. I visited Toronto last year and immediately fell in love with its cosmopolitan culture. Since you have been living there for over three years, I’m quite sure you will be able to assist me in finding an appropriate institution.

This year I’m doing maths and phsics and I hope to do well in my exams. However, I don’t know which university to apply to. Could you send me information about different colleges in Toronto? I don’t have a huge budget so I am looking for a good, yet affordable institution. Also, can you find out what qualifications I need, please?

I hope you wouldn’t mind doing this for me. Although I can search online for colleges in Canada, I think getting this information from someone who has been living in the country is much better.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,

Peter