General Training Writing Task 1 · informal · invitation

Letter to a friend inviting them on holiday

You are planning a holiday in another country and would like a friend to accompany you.

Write a letter to the friend asking him/her to join you. In your letter:

why you are taking a holiday?
what your holiday plan is
why you would like him/her to go with you?

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Jamie,

I hope you’ve been doing well lately. I’m finally taking some time off work next month, and I’ve decided to treat myself to a long-overdue break in Japan. I’d love for you to join me on this adventure.

After a particularly gruelling project at the office that lasted nearly six months, I am completely burnt out. My manager insisted I take two weeks of leave, so I figured a complete change of scenery would be the best way to recharge my batteries before heading back to the grind.

My plan is to spend the first week exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo, hitting up the local markets and hidden sushi bars. After that, I’m planning to take the bullet train down to Kyoto to hike through the bamboo forests and visit the ancient temples. It’s going to be a perfect mix of city energy and peaceful nature.

It wouldn’t be the same without you there. You’ve always been the best travel companion, and your knack for navigating new cities would be a lifesaver. Plus, I know how much you love Japanese cuisine, so I’m sure we’d have a blast hunting for the best ramen in town.

Let me know if you can make it work!

Best wishes,

Alex

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

Why this scores well

This letter reaches Band 8 by maintaining a consistent, natural informal tone while addressing all three bullet points with specific, personal detail. A common Band 6 error is using overly formal, repetitive phrases like 'I am writing to invite you' instead of engaging naturally with the friend.

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.

Useful phrases from the letter

gruelling: Extremely tiring and demanding a lot of effort
burnt out: Physically and emotionally exhausted from excessive work
recharge my batteries: To rest and regain one's energy
grind: Hard, monotonous, and tedious daily work
knack: A natural skill or talent for doing something
lifesaver: A person who provides help in a difficult situation

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?

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

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.