General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · invitation

Letter to a famous actor requesting an opening appearance

You work for an entertainment company which plans to open a new theatre soon. You want to invite a famous actor to open the new theatre.

Write a letter to this famous actor. In your letter:

give some information about the new theatre
invite her/him to open the new theatre
explain why she/he would be a good person to open the theatre
dear_______________,

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Ms. Sterling,

I am writing on behalf of Zenith Entertainment to cordially invite you to preside over the grand opening of our latest venture, The Grand Meridian Theatre, on 15th November. Located in the heart of the city’s cultural district, this state-of-the-art venue features a retractable proscenium arch and world-class acoustic engineering, designed specifically to host high-calibre dramatic productions.

It would be a profound honour if you would agree to perform the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Your presence would undoubtedly elevate the prestige of the launch and draw significant attention from both the media and the local arts community.

We believe you are the ideal person for this occasion given your unparalleled contribution to contemporary theatre. Your recent performance in 'The Silent Echo' deeply resonated with our team, and your commitment to supporting independent venues aligns perfectly with our vision for The Grand Meridian. Having an artist of your stature inaugurate our stage would provide an inspirational start for the many young actors who will perform here.

We look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to our theatre.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

183 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, natural language and a consistent formal tone throughout. The most common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific, logical reasons why the actor is the right choice, often resulting in vague or repetitive praise.

Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

Useful phrases from the letter

cordially: in a warm and friendly, yet formal manner
proscenium arch: the frame or arch separating the stage area
inaugurate: to introduce or begin an event or project
unparalleled: having no equal; better than anything else
stature: the level of importance or reputation someone has
preside: to be in charge of a formal event

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.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How long 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.