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Opening a new sports hall

Use the greeting, sign-off and paragraph plan below for this formal letter, write it on a 20-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model letter.

WRITING TASK 1

FormalInvitation

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Your community centre is about to open a new sports hall and you want an important guest to open it.

Write a letter to Mrs Alvarez, a local company director who has supported the project. In your letter

  • describe the new sports hall
  • explain why you are inviting her
  • give details of the ceremony

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mrs Alvarez,

GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.

Plan your letter

Start with
Dear Mrs Alvarez,
End with
Yours sincerely,

A letter to a named person ends Yours sincerely, followed by your full name.

  1. 1OpeningSay who you are, if needed, and why you are writing.
  2. 2Paragraph 1Describe the new sports hall
  3. 3Paragraph 2Explain why you are inviting her
  4. 4Paragraph 3Give details of the ceremony
  5. 5ClosingSay what you would like to happen next, then sign off.

Write it on the clock

Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.

20:00

0 words of 150 minimum

Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.

Band-8 model letter

Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.

Show model letter (188 words)

Dear Mrs Alvarez,

I am delighted to invite you to open the new sports hall at the Eastfield Community Centre, which has been made possible largely thanks to your generous support.

The hall is a modern, fully equipped facility with a basketball court, a climbing wall and a fitness studio, and it will be used by schools, local clubs and residents of all ages. It has been designed to accommodate more than three hundred people, and it will be open to the community seven days a week.

We would very much like you to perform the opening because without the donation from your company, the project would not have been possible. Many local families know this and would like to thank you in person.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday 6 October at 11 am. It will begin with a short speech, followed by the cutting of the ribbon, and a demonstration by our young athletes. Light refreshments will be served afterwards, and we will arrange parking for you at the main entrance.

I do hope you will be able to join us.

Yours sincerely,
Karen Mitchell

Key phrases

PhraseMeaning
I would like to invite you toformal way to ask someone to attend
It would be a great honour if you could join us.very polite invitation
The event will take place ongive the date and place
Please let me know whether you will be able to attend.ask for a reply
I do hope you will be able to come.express hope that the person accepts

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