GT-T1-003 General Training · Task 1 · beginner · 20 min · 150+ words Informal Letter Society

Invitation Letter - Birthday Party

The question

You are organizing a birthday party for a family member and want to invite your English-speaking friend. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: • Explain the occasion and why it is important • Give details about the time, date and location • Say what you would like your friend to bring Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Instructions

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. • Use informal, friendly tone • Include all necessary party details • Make the invitation sound appealing • Show enthusiasm about the event

How to approach this informal letter question

An informal letter goes to a friend or relative. Write naturally, with a personal tone, while still covering every bullet point.

Start with "Dear [first name]," and a friendly line.
Cover each bullet point with personal detail and feelings.
Use contractions and everyday expressions, but keep your grammar accurate.
Close with "Best wishes," or "Love," and your first name.

How to plan this answer

Structure

Opening: 'Dear' and your friend's name, then a friendly line saying you are inviting them to a party.
Paragraph 2: explain the occasion, such as whose birthday it is and why this particular birthday matters to your family.
Paragraph 3: give the date, the time and the location, with directions or public transport options.
Paragraph 4: say what you would like your friend to bring and why it would help the evening.
Closing: express your hope that they can come, ask them to confirm, and sign off 'Love' or 'See you soon'.

Points to cover

Occasion: a grandparent's 80th birthday, so the party is a family milestone your friend can share in and understand.
Date and time: a named weekday, a full date and a clear start time, such as Saturday 14 March from 6 p.m.
Location: the family home with the street name, or a community hall, with the nearest bus stop or station mentioned.
What to bring: a dish to share, a dessert, or a small wrapped gift, plus a reason such as 'we are having a big buffet'.
Enthusiasm: say you would love them to meet the family, and mention music, food or a planned game to make the invitation appealing.

Useful vocabulary

It would mean a lot to me if you could come: It would mean a lot to me if you could come on Saturday.
We are celebrating: We are celebrating Grandma's eightieth birthday with a big family dinner.
get there: Just take the number 12 bus from the station, and it stops right outside.
bring along: Could you bring along a dessert for the table?
a small something: Bring a small something if you like, but it is not necessary.
feel free to: Feel free to bring a friend if you want to.
Give me a shout: Give me a shout if you need directions when you arrive.
Let me know if you can make it: Let me know if you can make it so that I can plan the food.
I'd love you to meet: I'd love you to meet my cousins, who are great fun.

Common mistakes

Giving the date without the day of the week, or the time without a.m. or p.m.
Writing 'the party is at my house' without a street name or any directions.
Using a formal tone such as 'I would be delighted to invite you', which sounds strange in a friendly letter to a friend.
Listing what to bring without saying why, so the request feels like a chore rather than part of the fun.
Leaving out the reason the birthday matters, which is the first bullet point.

Examiner tip: Give each key detail its own sentence, using full dates and times, so your friend can act on the invitation without needing to ask any follow-up questions.

Model answers by band score

Written for this question to show what changes from one band to the next. Try the task yourself first, then compare.

Band 6 answer

Dear Anna, How are you? I hope you are well. I am writing to invite you to a birthday party for my sister Lucy. The party is because Lucy will be thirty years old this month. It is very important for us because she has been working very hard and we want to make her happy. Also my parents is coming from another city so it is a good chance for all the family to be together. The party will be on Saturday, 14th June at 6 pm. It will be at our house, 25 Park Road, near the big supermarket. We will have dinner, music and a cake. It is going to be a lot of fun. Could you bring some cold drinks and also your guitar, because Lucy love your songs? You don't need to bring a present, but a card is nice. Please tell me if you can come. I really hope you will, because it will not be the same without you! Best wishes, Mia

Why this is band 6

Informal register is right (first-name greeting, contractions, 'Best wishes') and all three bullets are covered.
The explanation of why the occasion matters is thin and repetitive ('very important', 'very hard'), and the vocabulary is basic.
Errors such as 'my parents is coming' and 'Lucy love your songs' show some control problems, but meaning is clear.
Band 7 would develop the reasons and use a more natural, friendly tone with a wider range of structures.

Band 7 answer

Dear Anna, I hope you are well. I am writing to invite you to a surprise birthday party for my sister, Lucy, who is turning thirty this month. This birthday is really special to us. Lucy has just finished her medical studies after years of hard work, so my parents and I want to celebrate that achievement as well. Besides, my cousins are travelling from abroad, which means the whole family will be together for the first time in two years. The party will take place on Saturday, 14th June, starting at 6 pm. It will be held in the garden of our house at 25 Park Road, about five minutes' walk from the central station. We will have a barbecue, some music and, of course, a large cake. If possible, could you bring a few cold drinks and your guitar? Lucy loves your songs and it would be a lovely surprise. Please don't worry about a present, because your company is more than enough. Let me know whether you can come. I would be delighted to see you there! Best wishes, Mia

Why this is band 7

Appropriate friendly register with a warm opening and closing, and all three bullets are fully addressed.
The importance of the occasion is explained with specific reasons ('just finished her medical studies', 'first time in two years').
Good range of language and clear paragraphing, with only rare minor errors.
To reach band 8 it would show a more natural, idiomatic tone and more precise details, such as how to find the house.

Band 8 answer

Dear Anna, I hope you are keeping well. I am writing with some exciting news: we are throwing a surprise party for my sister Lucy, who turns thirty this month, and I would love you to be there. The occasion means a great deal to all of us. Lucy has just qualified as a doctor after seven demanding years. My parents and I wanted to celebrate her success properly, and my cousins are flying in from Canada, so it will be the first time in ages that the whole family has been together. The party is on Saturday, 14th June, from 6 pm onwards, in the garden at our house, 25 Park Road. It is a five-minute walk from the central station. There will be a barbecue, music and a huge cake. If you could bring some cold drinks and your guitar, that would be fantastic. Lucy adores your songs, and I am sure she would be thrilled. Please do not feel you need to buy a present. Do let me know if you can make it. It will not be the same without you! Warm wishes, Mia

Why this is band 8

Warm, natural register with idiomatic phrases ('throwing a surprise party', 'make it', 'in ages').
Each bullet is developed with relevant, well-chosen detail (why it matters, practical directions, a specific request).
Precise vocabulary and flexible structures, with errors being rare and not noticeable.
Band 9 would sound completely effortless, and be less reliant on conventional phrases.

Band 9 answer

Dear Anna, I hope you are well. I am writing with some exciting news: we are throwing a surprise party for my sister Lucy, who turns thirty this month, and it simply would not be the same without you. The occasion means a great deal to us. Lucy has just qualified as a doctor after seven gruelling years. We would like to celebrate properly, and with my cousins flying in from Canada, it will be the first time in ages that the whole family has been under one roof. The party takes place on Saturday, 14th June, from 6 pm until late, in the garden of our house at 25 Park Road. It is a five-minute walk from the central station. There will be a barbecue, music and a cake the size of a small table. Might I ask you to bring some cold drinks and your guitar? Lucy still talks about the songs you played at my birthday. A present is quite unnecessary; your company is gift enough. Do let me know whether you can come. Fingers crossed! Love, Mia

Why this is band 9

Voice is fully natural and friendly, with personal touches ('cake the size of a small table', 'keeping my fingers crossed').
All bullets are thoroughly developed: the reason for the party, the logistics and the request are each explained with detail.
Language is sophisticated yet idiomatic and error-free, with seamless paragraph flow.
Tone and closing ('Love') are consistent with a letter to a close friend.

Band levels are our estimate against the public IELTS criteria; they are not official scores.

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