Recent IELTS GT Writing Task 1 - Invitation for concert

Your friend has invited you to go to a concert, but you are unable to attend. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: 

• explain why you can’t go to the concert 

• suggest another activity you could do together on another day 

• explain how this other activity would be enjoyable for both of you

📌 Note: This question appeared in the CD-IELTS Writing exam on 16th October, 2025 in India. 

All IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions – Click to View  

Band 9 Sample Answer:

Dear Lisa,

I hope you’re doing great! Thanks so much for inviting me to the concert next Saturday — it sounds like it’s going to be an amazing evening. I really wish I could join you, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it.

I’ve just found out that my cousin’s engagement party is on the same night, and my whole family is attending. It’s one of those big family gatherings that I really can’t miss, especially since relatives are coming from out of town. I’m so sorry about this, because I was genuinely looking forward to spending the evening with you and enjoying some live music together.

Anyway, why don’t we do something the following weekend instead? There’s a new rooftop café near the city centre that just opened, and it’s got live acoustic music on Friday nights. We could grab dinner there and catch up properly — it would be a much quieter setting than a concert, so we could actually talk without shouting over the crowd!

Let me know what you think. I’ll make sure to book a table once you confirm.

Take care,

Emma

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Band 9 Insights Based on IELTS Writing Band Descriptors:

1. Task Achievement (Band 9)

• All bullet points are fully covered: the reason for not attending, an alternative activity, and an explanation of how it would be enjoyable.
• The purpose of the letter is clear from the opening line.
• The tone is friendly and natural, perfectly suited for a personal letter.
• Each idea is fully developed with specific details and a logical flow.

2. Coherence and Cohesion (Band 9)

• The letter follows the same four-paragraph organization as the model:
  1. Friendly opening and purpose
  2. Explanation of why the concert can’t be attended
  3. Suggestion of another plan
  4. Closing lines
• Linking is natural and smooth through expressions like “Anyway,” “especially since,” “why don’t we,” and “so we could actually.”
• Ideas progress logically without abrupt transitions or repetition.

3. Lexical Resource (Band 9)

• A wide range of natural informal expressions: “doing great,” “I really wish I could join you,” “grab dinner,” “catch up properly.”
• Accurate and appropriate collocations for an informal tone: “live music,” “book a table,” “spending the evening.”
• The vocabulary is lively and friendly but not overly casual or slangy.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (Band 9)

• A mix of complex and compound sentences used naturally:
  • “I’ve just found out that my cousin’s engagement party is on the same night.”
  • “We could grab dinner there and catch up properly.”
• Excellent control of tenses, punctuation, and word order.
• The letter is free from grammatical or spelling errors.

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