You are going to have a party to celebrate a special occasion. Write a letter to a friend inviting them to the party.
This informal letter asks you to invite a close friend to a celebration, making the invitation feel genuinely warm rather than just informative.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are going to have a party to celebrate a special occasion. Write a letter to a friend inviting them to the party.
In your letter,
explain what you are celebrating
give details of when and where the party will take place
suggest what your friend could bring or do to help
You do not need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Amira,
Write at least 150 words.
What this letter needs
The tricky part of this task is balancing genuine excitement with the practical details the examiner is checking for — the date, time, location and what to bring — without the letter turning into a checklist. A strong answer weaves the reason for celebrating into real feeling, gives clear enough directions that a friend could actually find the place, and makes the request for help sound like a natural favour between friends rather than an instruction.
Structure
Salutation — Dear Amira, — a first-name salutation fits the close, celebratory tone of a party invitation.
Opening — Open by sharing the good news you're celebrating with genuine enthusiasm, so the reason for the letter is clear straight away.
Body 1 — Cover the celebration itself first, since it's the reason for writing and naturally leads into the details that follow.
Body 2 — Give the date, time and address clearly, adding a landmark or transport detail so a friend unfamiliar with the area could still find it.
Body 3 — Ask for a specific, easy favour — a dish, a drink, or help setting up — so your friend knows exactly how they can contribute.
Closing — End by saying the celebration won't feel complete without them, then sign off warmly and ask them to confirm soon.
Model answers
Band 6.0 model answer
158 words
Dear Amira,
I hope you are well. I am writing to invite you to a party because I am celebrating my new job. I got the job last week and I am very happy about it, so I want to celebrate with my close friends.
The party will be on Saturday, 20 June, at 7 pm. It will take place at my house on Koroglu Street, number 14. It is not far from the metro station, so it will be easy for you to find.
It would be great if you could bring some snacks or drinks, because there will be around fifteen people. Also, if you have time, could you come a bit early to help me set up the chairs and tables? That would really help me a lot.
I really hope you can come, because the party will not be the same without you. Please tell me soon if you are free.
Best wishes, Orkhan
Why this is Band 6.0
Covers all three bullet points clearly and in order, from 'celebrating my new job' to the date and address to what to bring.
Uses simple, accurate sentence structures throughout, such as 'It will take place at my house on Koroglu Street, number 14.'
Tone stays friendly but plain, with phrases like 'I really hope you can come' rather than more developed idiomatic language.
Band 7.0 model answer
180 words
Dear Amira,
I hope you're doing well! I'm writing with some exciting news — I've just been offered a promotion at work, and I'd love to celebrate with a small party at my place.
The party is planned for Saturday, 20 June, starting at 7 pm, and it'll go on until quite late, so there's no need to rush off. I've moved to a new flat on Koroglu Street, number 14, which is only a five-minute walk from the metro station, so it should be easy for you to find.
Since I'm inviting quite a few people, it would really help if you could bring a dish or a couple of drinks to share. If you're free earlier in the day, I'd also appreciate a hand setting up the chairs and decorating the balcony — you always have such good ideas for that sort of thing!
It really wouldn't feel like a proper celebration without you there, so I hope you can make it. Let me know as soon as you can whether Saturday works for you.
Best wishes, Orkhan
Why this is Band 7.0
Groups the content logically, using a clear transition like 'Since I'm inviting quite a few people' to link the party to the request for help.
Mixes simple and complex sentences, e.g. 'and it'll go on until quite late, so there's no need to rush off.'
Uses natural informal phrasing accurately, such as 'you always have such good ideas for that sort of thing.'
Maintains a consistently warm, conversational tone without ever slipping into stiffness.
Band 8.5 model answer
210 words
Dear Amira,
I hope this finds you well! I've got some brilliant news — I was offered the senior analyst position at work yesterday, and honestly, I still can't quite believe it. I'd love nothing more than to celebrate with the people who've supported me along the way, starting with you.
I'm hosting a small get-together at my new flat on Koroglu Street, number 14, this Saturday the 20th of June, from 7 pm onwards — and knowing us, it'll probably run well past midnight! The flat's barely a five-minute stroll from the metro station, so getting there shouldn't be a headache even in the evening rush.
Since there'll be around fifteen of us squeezed into my living room, would you mind bringing along a bottle of something and maybe that pasta salad you always make so well? If you're free that afternoon, I'd also love an extra pair of hands to string up some fairy lights on the balcony — you've got a much better eye for that than I do.
It genuinely wouldn't feel like a proper celebration without you there laughing at my terrible playlist choices, so please say you'll come. Drop me a message whenever you get a moment and let me know.
Best wishes, Orkhan
Why this is Band 8.5
Develops the celebration bullet with real personality: 'honestly, I still can't quite believe it.'
Uses idiomatic language a native speaker would actually write, like 'knowing us, it'll probably run well past midnight!'
Handles complex grammar with no strain, as in 'you've got a much better eye for that than I do.'
Shows warmth and humour together in 'you there laughing at my terrible playlist choices.'
Essentially error-free throughout, reading as a genuine letter rather than an exercise.
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 casual can I be in this kind of letter?
Very — contractions, exclamation marks and dashes for asides ('and honestly, I still can't quite believe it') all sound natural here, as long as you still cover the three bullet points clearly.
Do I need to give the exact address?
A street name and number is enough; adding one landmark, like a metro station, shows you can give clear, useful directions without turning the letter into a set of formal instructions.
Should I explain why I'm celebrating in detail?
A sentence or two is plenty — examiners want to see the news covered naturally, not a full backstory that eats into your word count for the other bullets.
What if I run out of things to ask my friend to bring?
Keep it to one simple, specific request, such as a dish or arriving early to help set up — a single clear favour reads more naturally than a list of tasks.
