General Training Task 1 · Informal letters
Missing a friend’s celebration
An original IELTS practice question with a planning route and a sample answer to learn from.
Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. Suggested practice level: foundation, not a predicted band.
Your writing task
You accepted an invitation to a friend’s celebration but can no longer attend. Write a letter to your friend. Explain why you cannot come, apologise, and suggest another way to celebrate together.
How to approach this question
Cover all three task points with specific details and a natural, friendly tone.
Informal letters: develop friendly apologies and practical requests →
Give a clear, believable reason you can no longer attend and acknowledge the disappointment or inconvenience. Keep the explanation proportionate to a letter to a friend.
Suggest a specific alternative, such as a meal on another date, and invite your friend to choose a suitable time. Use a warm tone rather than business-style wording.
These are possible directions, not required opinions or facts to memorise. Develop your own response and check every claim against the task.
A possible plan
- Opening: greet your friend naturally and explain why you are writing.
- First task point: give a useful detail or personal suggestion.
- Remaining task points: address every request with concrete details and a friendly tone.
- Closing: invite a reply or mention your next contact, then use a friendly sign-off.
Vocabulary you can use precisely
Choose language that fits your meaning. You do not need to include every phrase.
- make it up to you
- Do something kind to compensate for disappointing someone.
Let me make it up to you by taking you out for lunch next weekend.
- get together
- Meet informally to spend time with someone.
Could we get together the following Saturday instead?
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