General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · invitation

Letter to a friend sharing exciting competition news: IELTS informal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 informal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 201 words
  • Informal letters
  • Invitation
  • 20 minutes
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The task

Your photograph recently won a photography competition and will be shown in an exhibition.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

  • →describe the photograph you sent to the competition
  • →tell him/her about the exhibition where your photo will be shown
  • →invite him/her to the exhibition

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8201 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sarah,

You will never guess the news! I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that the photograph I entered into the National Landscape Competition actually won first prize, and it is going to be displayed in a public gallery.

The shot I submitted was the one I took while we were hiking in the Lake District last autumn. It captures that magical moment just as the sun broke through the heavy grey clouds, illuminating the golden bracken on the hillside. The contrast between the moody sky and the vibrant colours on the ground really seemed to catch the judges' eyes.

The exhibition is being held at the Riverside Gallery downtown. My winning piece will be part of a larger showcase featuring the top twenty entries, which opens next Friday evening and runs for a full month. It is a lovely space, and I am quite excited to see my work hanging on a professional wall.

I would love for you to join me at the opening night ceremony on the 15th. There will be a small reception with drinks, and it would be wonderful to celebrate this with you. Let me know if you can make it.

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 response achieves Band 8 by seamlessly integrating all three bullet points into a cohesive narrative with a warm, natural tone suitable for a friend. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific descriptive details about the photo, leading to a generic response that lacks the depth required for a high score.

  • →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

  • thrilled

    extremely pleased and excited about something

  • bracken

    a type of large fern often found on hillsides

  • illuminating

    lighting something up or making it bright

  • moody

    having a dark or slightly gloomy appearance

  • showcase

    a display or exhibition of selected items

  • reception

    a formal social occasion held to welcome guests

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?+

This response achieves Band 8 by seamlessly integrating all three bullet points into a cohesive narrative with a warm, natural tone suitable for a friend. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific descriptive details about the photo, leading to a generic response that lacks the depth required for a high score.

Keep practising

More invitation letters

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