A friend is coming to visit your home for an event, but they have never been there before. Write a letter to your friend.
This letter tests whether you can give directions clearly enough that a stranger to the area could actually follow them, while still sounding like a normal letter to a friend.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
A friend is coming to visit your home for an event, but they have never been there before. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter,
give details of the event
explain clearly how to get to your home
mention anything else they should know before coming
You do not need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Elvin,
Write at least 150 words.
What this letter needs
The tricky part of this scenario is the middle bullet point — directions can easily turn into a dry list of bus numbers and street names that reads nothing like a real letter. A strong answer keeps the directions clear and sequential, moving from transport to landmark to a final identifying detail, but wraps them in the same warm, natural voice as the rest of the letter, and uses the third bullet point for one or two genuinely useful practical details rather than an afterthought.
Structure
Salutation — Dear Elvin, — a first-name salutation matches the warmth of inviting a friend to your home.
Opening — Open with genuine excitement about the event and its basic details, so the purpose of the letter is clear immediately.
Body 1 — Cover the event details first — day, time and what to expect — so your friend has the full picture before the directions.
Body 2 — Give the directions as a clear sequence — transport, then landmark, then a final identifying detail — so they're easy to follow while still reading naturally.
Body 3 — Add one or two practical details the friend wouldn't otherwise know, such as parking or what to bring.
Closing — End by expressing how much you're looking forward to seeing them, then sign off warmly.
Model answers
Band 6.0 model answer
164 words
Dear Elvin,
I am so happy that you are coming to my housewarming party next Friday evening. The party will start at 6 pm, and there will be food, music and some games, so I hope you can stay late. It has been a lot of work getting everything ready, but I am really excited.
Since you have never been to my new house before, let me explain how to get here. Take bus number 3 from the city centre and get off at Nizami Park. From there, my house is the third building on the left, with a blue door and a small garden in front.
One more thing you should know is that there is no parking near the building, so it is better to come by bus or taxi. Also, please bring some comfortable shoes because we might go for a walk after dinner.
I cannot wait to see you and show you around my new place!
See you soon, Orkhan
Why this is Band 6.0
Directions are clear and sequential: 'Take bus number 3 from the city centre and get off at Nizami Park.'
Covers all three bullets, including the practical note about parking.
Simple, functional sentences throughout with minor repetition of 'party.'
Band 7.0 model answer
184 words
Dear Elvin,
I'm really looking forward to having you over for my housewarming party next Friday! It kicks off at 6 pm, and I'm planning food, music and a few games, so it would be great if you could stay well into the evening rather than rushing off early.
Since you've never actually been to the new place, let me walk you through how to get here. The easiest way is to take bus number 3 from the city centre and hop off at Nizami Park — from there, my house is the third building on the left, with a blue door and a small garden out front, so it's hard to miss.
One thing worth knowing in advance is that there's nowhere to park near the building, so coming by bus or taxi will save you a headache. It might also be worth bringing comfortable shoes, since a few of us are planning a short walk after dinner if the weather holds up.
I really can't wait to finally show you around and catch up properly. See you Friday!
See you soon, Orkhan
Why this is Band 7.0
Directions flow more naturally as part of the letter: 'let me walk you through how to get here.'
Adds a natural closing detail to the directions: 'so it's hard to miss.'
Practical advice is phrased naturally: 'will save you a headache.'
Wider vocabulary range used accurately, such as 'hop off at Nizami Park.'
Band 8.5 model answer
210 words
Dear Elvin,
I couldn't be more excited that you're finally coming over for my housewarming party next Friday! Things kick off at 6 pm, and between the food, the music and a few games I've got planned, I'm hoping you'll settle in for the whole evening rather than disappearing after an hour like you usually do!
Since you've never set foot in the new place, let me spell out exactly how to find it. The simplest route is bus number 3 from the city centre — hop off at Nizami Park, and from there my house is the third building on the left, easy to spot thanks to the blue door and the little garden out front. Honestly, you'd have to be trying to get lost.
A couple of things worth knowing beforehand: there's genuinely nowhere to park near the building, so a taxi or the bus will spare you the hassle of circling the block. It's also worth packing a pair of comfortable shoes, since a few of us are hoping to sneak in a walk after dinner if the evening stays dry.
I honestly can't wait to finally have you here and catch up like old times. See you Friday — don't be late!
See you soon, Orkhan
Why this is Band 8.5
Directions are vivid and confident: 'you'd have to be trying to get lost.'
Natural idiomatic phrasing throughout, e.g. 'will spare you the hassle of circling the block.'
Shows real personality: 'rather than disappearing after an hour like you usually do!'
Complex grammar handled with ease, such as 'a few of us are hoping to sneak in a walk after dinner if the evening stays dry.'
Ends warmly and playfully: 'See you Friday — don't be late!'
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 detailed should the directions be?
Specific enough to actually follow — a transport option, a recognisable landmark, and one final detail like a door colour is usually the right level of detail for 150-200 words.
Is it okay to use bus numbers and street names in an informal letter?
Yes — concrete details like 'bus number 3' or 'Nizami Park' make directions genuinely useful without making the letter feel like a set of formal instructions.
What kind of 'anything else they should know' detail is worth including?
Something practical the friend wouldn't guess on their own, like limited parking or what to wear — one well-chosen detail is better than a long list.
Can I still show excitement about seeing my friend while giving directions?
Yes, and you should — opening and closing with genuine enthusiasm keeps the letter feeling personal even though the middle section is quite practical.
