Sample IELTS GT Task 1 letter: surprise party for a close friend
Band 6.5 and Band 8 model answers for this IELTS question — see what raises the band, then get your own graded by AI.
Band 6.5
Prompt: You are organising a surprise party for a close friend and would like another friend to help. Write a letter to that friend. In your letter: • explain why you are organising the party • give the details of the party • say how you would like your friend to help (Begin your letter 'Dear ...,'. Informal register.)
Dear Tom,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing because I am planning a surprise party and I really need your help to organise it.
The reason I am organising this party is that our friend Lucy is turning thirty next month. She has been working very hard recently and she has had a difficult year, so I think she deserves something special to make her happy. I want it to be a big surprise for her.
Now let me give you the details. The party will be on Saturday, 20th June, at my house, starting at 7 o'clock in the evening. I am going to invite about fifteen of our close friends. There will be food, music and a birthday cake, and the theme is the 1990s, so everyone should wear clothes from that time.
Finally, I would like to ask you for some help. Could you please help me to buy the decorations and bring some music? It would also be great if you could keep Lucy busy on that afternoon, so she does not come home early and find out the secret.
Thank you so much. Let me know if you can help!
Best wishes, Claire
Band 8.0
Prompt: You are organising a surprise party for a close friend and would like another friend to help. Write a letter to that friend. In your letter: • explain why you are organising the party • give the details of the party • say how you would like your friend to help (Begin your letter 'Dear ...,'. Informal register.)
Dear Tom,
How are things? I'm writing because I'm secretly planning something special for Lucy, and I'd love to rope you in to help me pull it off.
As you know, Lucy turns thirty next month, and what a year she's had — a tough job and barely a moment to herself. I really feel she deserves a proper celebration to remind her how much we all care, so I've decided to throw her a surprise party she won't see coming.
Here's the plan: it'll be on Saturday 20th June at my place, kicking off at seven. I'm inviting around fifteen of her closest friends, and I've gone for a 1990s theme, so we'll have the music, the cheesy decorations and a cake to match — guests just need to dig out something suitably retro to wear.
This is where you come in. Would you mind picking up the decorations and putting together a 90s playlist? Most importantly, could you take Lucy out for the afternoon — lunch or shopping, perhaps — so she's nowhere near the house while we set everything up?
Let me know as soon as you can, and thanks in advance — I couldn't do this without you!
Lots of love, Claire