IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter Inviting a Friend to Visit (Band 9 Sample)
This General Training Task 1 asks you to write an informal letter inviting a friend to visit your country. A band-9 letter covers all three bullet points, keeps a warm, natural tone throughout, and reads like a real message to a friend. Below is a model letter of roughly 190 words, followed by a breakdown of why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
An English-speaking friend is planning to visit your country for the first time. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: suggest the best time of year to come, recommend some things to do together, and offer to help with the arrangements.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
191 words · Band 9Dear Mark,
I was thrilled to hear you're finally planning to come and visit — it's about time! I can't wait to show you around, so let me give you a few ideas to get us started.
If you can manage it, try to come in October. The unbearable summer heat will have died down by then, and the whole country is at its most beautiful, with clear skies and a lovely, mild climate that's perfect for exploring.
As for what to do, we absolutely have to spend a few days up in the mountains, where the scenery is breathtaking. After that, I thought we could head to the coast, relax on the beach and eat our way through all the local dishes I've been telling you about for years.
Please don't worry about a thing when it comes to planning. I'm more than happy to sort out your accommodation and work out an itinerary, so all you need to do is book your flights and turn up.
Do let me know your dates as soon as you can!
All the best, Linh
03 · Why this scores Band 9
All three bullet points are fully covered — the best time to come (October, with a reason), things to do together (the mountains and the coast), and a clear offer of help (accommodation and an itinerary). The letter is well over 150 words and every point is developed, not just listed.
The letter opens and closes appropriately and moves logically from greeting, to when, to what, to help, to sign-off. Cohesion is natural — "so let me give you a few ideas", "As for what to do", "After that", "Please don't worry" — reading like a real message rather than a list of answers.
The vocabulary is idiomatic and warm — "it's about time", "the heat will have died down", "eat our way through", "sort out your accommodation", "turn up" — exactly the relaxed, natural language expected of an informal letter to a friend.
A range of structures is used accurately: a future perfect ("the heat will have died down"), a first conditional ("If you can manage it"), and a relative clause ("where the scenery is breathtaking"). Contractions are used correctly to match the informal register, and the letter stays error-free.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
What register should this letter use?
Informal, because it is to a friend. Use contractions ("can't", "I'll"), a first-name greeting ("Dear Mark") and a casual sign-off ("All the best"). Formal phrasing would actually lower the score here, since it does not fit the relationship.
How do I make sure I cover all three bullet points?
Give each bullet its own short paragraph. This letter has one paragraph for when to come, one for things to do, and one for the offer of help. Covering every bullet fully is the single most important part of Task Achievement.
How long should a General Training letter be?
At least 150 words; a band-9 letter is usually 170–200. This model is 191 words, enough to develop all three points naturally without padding.
How should I open and close an informal letter?
Open with "Dear [first name]," and a friendly line, and close with something warm like "All the best,", "Take care," or "See you soon," followed by your first name. Consistency of tone from greeting to sign-off matters for cohesion.
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