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General Training Task 1 · Letters by purpose

IELTS invitation letters: the occasion, the details, the reply

An IELTS invitation letter says what you are inviting the reader to and why, gives the practical details they need to accept, covers any extra request in the task and asks them to reply. The tone depends on who you are inviting.

The official General Training format asks for a letter of at least 150 words. The model answer and tasks below are original teaching material, not official IELTS questions or examiner-scored responses.

A four-paragraph plan for an invitation letter

  1. Invite and explain the occasion. Say what the event is and why you are holding it.
  2. Give the arrangements. Date, time, place and anything the reader needs to know to come.
  3. Cover the extra point. Tasks often add a favour, a suggestion or a reason the reader should come.
  4. Ask for a reply. Close warmly and invite the reader to let you know.

Follow the order of the bullet points unless another order is clearer for the reader. Every bullet needs its own developed point, not a single line that repeats the question.

Choose the tone for the reader

Who you are writing to, the tone to use, and a suitable greeting and closing
ReaderToneGreetingClosing
A friend or relativeInformalDear SamLots of love or See you soon
A colleague or neighbourSemi-formalDear Mr HughesBest wishes or Kind regards
A speaker, guest or organisationFormalDear Dr EvansYours sincerely

Informal invitations use contractions, questions and enthusiasm. A formal invitation, for example asking someone to speak at an event, is polite and precise: “We would be delighted if you could attend.” Our guides to formal, semi-formal and informal letters go further into register.

Model answer

Original practice task

You have recently moved into a new flat and are planning a small party. Write a letter to a friend. In your letter:

  • invite your friend to the party
  • explain the arrangements
  • ask your friend to help with something

Dear Sam,

I hope you're well! You'll be pleased to hear that I've finally moved into my new flat, and I'm having a few friends round to celebrate. I'd love you to come.

The party is on Saturday 25 October, from about seven o'clock. It'll be quite relaxed, with some food, music and a chance to see the place. There will only be about ten of us, mostly people from my old job, so you'll know a few faces. The flat is a five-minute walk from Central Station, and I'll send you the exact address and the door code nearer the time.

I've got a small favour to ask, too. You make the best curry I've ever tasted, so would you mind bringing a dish of it? I'll pay for the ingredients, of course. If you could come a little early, you could also help me move the sofa, which still isn't in the right place!

Let me know if you can make it.

Lots of love,

Alex

168 words, counted the way our writing workspace counts them. Names and details are fictional.

Why it works

  • The invitation is clear: The first paragraph gives the occasion and the invitation itself.
  • Practical arrangements: Date, time, who will be there and how to get there let the friend decide.
  • A specific favour: “Would you mind…” makes the request polite, and offering to pay is a natural thank-you.
  • A consistent informal tone: Contractions, an exclamation and “Lots of love” suit a close friend throughout.

Useful phrases

Use these to start a sentence, then finish it with details from your own task. Examiners look for memorised language, and a memorised paragraph does not answer your bullet points.

Informal invitations

  • I'm having a… and I'd love you to come.
  • Are you free on…?
  • It would be great to see you.

Formal invitations

  • I would like to invite you to…
  • We would be delighted if you could attend…
  • Please let me know by… whether you will be able to attend.

Arrangements

  • It starts at… and should finish at about…
  • The easiest way to get there is…
  • Don't worry about bringing anything, but…

Closing

  • Let me know if you can make it.
  • I really hope you can come.
  • Formal: I look forward to hearing from you.

Mistakes to avoid

Missing details

Without a date, time and place, the reader cannot accept. Give the essentials even in an informal letter.

Forgetting the third bullet

Invitation tasks often add a favour or suggestion. Make sure that point gets its own sentences.

The wrong register

“I would be delighted if you would honour me with your presence” sounds strange to a friend. Match the tone to the reader.

Practise with original questions

Both are informal letters to friends: one ends with an invitation, and the other plans a friend's visit with suggestions. Each has planning notes and an annotated answer.

Questions about IELTS invitation letters

How do you write an invitation letter in IELTS?

Say what you are inviting the reader to and why, give the date, time and place, cover any extra point the task asks for, such as a favour, and ask the reader to reply.

Is an IELTS invitation letter formal or informal?

It depends on the reader. Invite a friend or relative informally. If you are inviting someone you do not know well, such as a guest speaker, write formally.

How long should an IELTS invitation letter be?

The task asks for at least 150 words, and the question suggests spending about 20 minutes on it. Practical details add words quickly, so make sure each bullet still gets its own development.

Write your invitation letter and check it

Write for 20 minutes, then get an estimated band for each criterion, a checklist of the bullet points you covered and what to revise first. Your first check needs no account.

Write an invitation letter →What the Task 1 checker looks for →Compare free and Pro →

More letters by purpose: Complaint letters · Apology letters · Request letters · Thank-you letters. Or start from the General Training Task 1 guide.