You made a friend when you visited another city a few months ago. This friend has come to your city for some work and will stay for another week. You want to invite this friend to your home for dinner. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - express how you feel about him/her visiting your city - invite the friend to your home for dinner - give location and date - when you would want him/her to come
Sample Response
Dear Cane,
I'm so glad to know that you're currently visiting my city for some work. I also hope that you're managing to do your work without any trouble. I'm so looking forward to meeting you.
I had always wanted to invite you to visit me and my city after meeting you about 6 months ago. But because of my busy work schedule, I couldn’t do so yet. But, now that you are already in my city, I don’t really want to let pass this opportunity to invite you. In fact, I want to invite you to my home in order to enjoy some dinner with me next Saturday which would be the 20th of September.
As for my location, I live only about a 15-minute drive away from your hotel. All you need to do is head towards the west on Highway 9 and drive about 10 minutes to reach Edmond Street. After reaching Edmond Street, drive about 5 minutes on Fuller road towards the north until you reach the midway mall. My home is right behind the mall. But, don’t hesitate to call me if you've any trouble finding my location.
Hope to see you soon then!
Warm wishes,
Peter
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural phrasing Original: currently visiting my city for some work Suggested revision: in my city for work Why it matters: This is a more natural and concise way to describe the visit.
- 2. Improve collocation Original: do your work without any trouble Suggested revision: complete your work smoothly Why it matters: This collocation expresses the same hope more naturally.
- 3. Choose natural intensifier Original: so looking forward Suggested revision: really looking forward Why it matters: “Really” is a more idiomatic intensifier with “looking forward.”
- 4. Correct the tense Original: had always wanted Suggested revision: have wanted Why it matters: The present perfect fits a wish that began after the meeting and continues now.
- 5. Spell out the number Original: about 6 months Suggested revision: about six months Why it matters: Spelling out this small number suits the style of a personal letter.
- 6. Vary the transition Original: But because Suggested revision: However, because Why it matters: This transition avoids repeating “But” across consecutive sentences.
- 7. Use present perfect Original: couldn’t do so yet Suggested revision: haven’t been able to do so yet Why it matters: The present perfect correctly connects the past delay with the present situation.
- 8. Remove incorrect comma Original: But, now Suggested revision: But now Why it matters: A comma should not separate “But” from the following adverb here.
- 9. Correct word order Original: let pass this opportunity Suggested revision: let this opportunity pass Why it matters: The object must come before the bare infinitive in this construction.
- 10. Make invitation natural Original: in order to enjoy some dinner with me Suggested revision: to have dinner together Why it matters: This is a warmer and more idiomatic expression for an informal invitation.
- 11. Present the date clearly Original: next Saturday which would be the 20th of September Suggested revision: next Saturday, 20 September Why it matters: An appositive date is clearer and avoids an unnecessary relative clause.
- 12. Use concise direction Original: head towards the west Suggested revision: head west Why it matters: The shorter directional phrase is more natural in instructions.
Suggested Rewrites
- currently visiting my city for some work in my city for work
- do your work without any trouble complete your work smoothly
- so looking forward really looking forward
- had always wanted have wanted
- about 6 months about six months
- But because However, because
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter achieves its friendly purpose clearly, covers the requested invitation and location details, and gives especially practical directions. Its main limitation is that the requested arrival time is left implicit rather than stated, while a few awkward expressions reduce polish; the highest-priority improvement is to add a precise dinner time and revise unnatural phrases without losing the warm, direct tone.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The invitation, date, location, warm reaction, and intended day are all clear, although the exact arrival time is not specified.
State a precise time for dinner and briefly indicate whether the proposed date suits the friend.
Coherence and Cohesion
The letter progresses logically from greeting and invitation to detailed directions, with clear paragraphing and easy-to-follow sequencing.
Reduce repetitive openings with 'But' and connect the invitation details more smoothly within the second paragraph.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is sufficiently varied and specific, particularly in the directions, but several collocations are not fully natural.
Use more idiomatic phrases such as 'let this opportunity pass' and 'have dinner together'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of simple and complex sentences is handled with good overall control, despite occasional tense and phrasing slips.
Refine tense choices in sentences such as 'I couldn't do so yet' and check capitalization in place names.