Letter to a close friend inviting them to Hawaii

The task

You have won a holiday to Hawaii with one extra ticket.

Write a letter to someone to invite them along with you. In your letter:

→explain what has happened and that you would like them to come
→give details of when the trip will take place
→inform the person of the things they will need for the trip

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8198 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah,

You will never believe the incredible news I received this morning! I entered a prize draw at the local shopping centre last month, and I have just found out that I won a luxury week-long holiday to Hawaii for two people. Since you have been talking about needing a break for ages, I would absolutely love for you to join me on this adventure.

The trip is scheduled for the second week of September, specifically from the 7th to the 14th. Everything is fully paid for, including the flights and the resort accommodation, so we really just need to pack our bags and get ready to relax on the beach.

Regarding preparations, you will need to ensure your passport is valid for at least another six months from our departure date. Also, please check if you need to apply for any specific travel authorisations for the islands. Aside from that, just bring plenty of sunscreen, some comfortable walking shoes for the volcanic trails, and, of course, your favourite swimwear.

I really hope you can make it work with your schedule. Let me know as soon as possible so I can confirm our details.

Best wishes,

Jamie

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with a natural, consistent informal tone and specific, relevant details. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide concrete details for the trip dates or requirements, often resulting in a vague response that does not fully satisfy the task instructions.

→Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
→Contractions, phrasal verbs and a warm opening line are expected; a stiff formal tone loses marks here.
→Still cover every bullet in its own paragraph; friendly does not mean unstructured.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

prize draw
a competition where winners are chosen by chance
luxury
providing a high level of comfort and pleasure
adventure
an exciting or unusual experience or activity
resort
a place visited for holidays or recreation
valid
legally or officially acceptable for a period
authorisations
official permissions required to enter a country

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Informal. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

Keep practising

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