This IELTS informal letter is about declining an invitation to an engagement party.
Getting the Tone Right
IELTS informal letters are often to a friend.
With these types of letters, you need to make sure the tone is not too formal. Remember when you write to a friend you keep it friendly. If the tone is too formal your score can be affected for Task Achievement.
Remember you must write about the three bullet points you are given.
Now take a look at the question and model answer.
IELTS Informal Letter: Engagement Party
| You have been invited to the engagement party of a friend from another country. You cannot go but you have bought a gift for him/her. Write a letter to this friend. In your letter • say how you feel about the engagement • explain why you cannot go • tell your friend about the gift you have bought for him/her Write at least 150 words You do NOT need to write any addresses Begin your letter as follows: Dear…. |
Model Answer
Dear Angela,
I’m so happy to know that you and Robert are finally engaged. It feels like just yesterday when you were asking me for advice about whether he was the one meant for you. I can’t wait to see you in your wedding dress!
I know you’re currently busy preparing for your engagement party, and of course, starting your wedding preparations, so forgive me in advance for adding to the stress. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to your engagement party because it coincides with my comprehensive exams for my master’s. I tried rescheduling, but my dean says there are no other available dates this semester.
But don’t worry about your wedding day! I have enough accumulated leave at work for that. In the meantime, I’ll be sending my engagement gift via courier. It’s the beautiful scarf we saw in Milan, the one we saw after talking about you and Robert’s compatibility! My friend had a recent business trip there, so I asked him to purchase it. I’m telling you now so that you can use it at the party. Think of it as an assurance of a match made in heaven!
That’s all for now. Post pictures of everything!
Love,
Lily
(202 Words)
Evaluation of the model answer
Your letter is warm and thoughtful, but there are a few minor adjustments that can improve clarity and flow. Here’s an evaluation with some suggestions:
Tone and Content: Band 9
- The tone is perfect for a friendly, personal letter. You convey happiness and excitement for Angela’s engagement while maintaining a polite tone when explaining why you can’t attend the engagement party. The thoughtful gesture of sending a gift ties in nicely with the memories you’ve shared, giving the letter a personal touch.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
- The letter flows smoothly from one topic to the next, moving from congratulations to your apology and then to the engagement gift.
- To improve cohesion, you could mention the scarf earlier in the paragraph where you talk about missing the party, as it feels slightly disconnected from the previous sentence.
Language and Grammar: Band 8.5
- The letter is generally free of errors, with only minor issues.
- The sentence “I’m telling you now so that you can use it at the party” could be slightly smoother if rephrased to: “I’m letting you know now so you can wear it to the party.”
- Also, “…but my dean says there are no other available dates this semester” could be made more formal with: “…but my dean informed me that no other dates are available this semester.”
Suggestions for Improvement:
- You might add a closing sentence wishing Angela the best for her engagement party, like: “I hope the engagement party goes beautifully, and I’ll be thinking of you!”
Overall, it’s a well-written and heartfelt letter! Just a couple of minor refinements would make it even more polished.
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