100 Informal Letter Openings for IELTS (Band 9 Level)

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When preparing for the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, candidates often struggle with the right way to start a letter. The opening lines set the tone, and in informal letters (to friends, family, or close acquaintances), you need to sound natural, warm, and conversational.

Many students make the mistake of writing the same line again and again, such as “I hope you are fine” or “How are you?”. While these are not incorrect, they sound repetitive and lack fluency. To achieve a higher band score, especially Band 8 or Band 9, you must show variety in vocabulary, natural phrasing, and appropriate tone.

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📌 When Do You Write Informal Letters in IELTS?

In IELTS General Writing Task 1, you write an informal letter when the recipient is:

• A friend (e.g., inviting them to a party, asking for help)
• A family member (e.g., sharing news, requesting something)
• A close relative (cousin, uncle, aunt, sibling, etc.)

👉 Use friendly tone, contractions (I’m, you’re, can’t), and personal closings (Yours lovingly, Best wishes, Lots of love).

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📌 Why Strong Openings Matter

A good opening line will:

• Show the examiner that you understand tone (informal vs. formal).
• Demonstrate flexibility with vocabulary.
• Immediately make your writing sound authentic and fluent.

For example:
❌ “I hope you are fine.” (basic, overused)
✅ “Hey Sam, I hope life’s treating you well! It feels like ages since we last talked.” (natural, advanced, informal tone)

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📌 100 Band 9 Informal Letter Openings

We have prepared 100 examples of informal letter openings that you can use in your IELTS exam prepration. They are divided into categories such as:

• Invitations (birthday, parties, events)
• Asking about a trip or holiday
• Writing to parents/family
• Requesting help from a sibling or friend
• Sharing exciting news with relatives
• Apologizing for not keeping in touch
• Thanking someone
• Catching up with a friend
• Giving updates about your life
• Congratulating a friend

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🥳 Inviting Someone (Birthday / Party / Event)

1. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing great! My birthday is just around the corner, and I’d love for you to join.

2. Hi [Name], I hope everything’s going smoothly! I’m planning a little party, and it won’t be the same without you.

3. Hey buddy, I hope life’s treating you well. Guess what? I’ve got something exciting coming up, and I want you there.

4. Hi [Name], I hope you’re keeping well! I’m throwing a small get-together, and you’re on top of my invite list.

5. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing fine! My birthday is next week, and you just have to be there.

6. Hi [Name], I hope you’re cheerful as always. I’m organizing a little celebration, and I’d love your company.

7. Hey [Name], I hope you’re in good spirits! I’m writing to invite you to a special occasion of mine.

8. Hi [Name], I hope you’re keeping busy but happy! I wanted to ask if you’re free to celebrate with me.

9. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing amazing! I have a party planned, and it wouldn’t be complete without you.

10. Hi [Name], I hope all’s good on your end. I wanted to share some exciting news and invite you over.

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✈️ Asking About a Trip / Holiday

11. Hey [Name], I hope you’ve been doing well! How was your recent trip? I can’t wait to hear all about it.

12. Hi [Name], I hope everything’s fine! I’ve been eager to know how your vacation went.

13. Hey [Name], I hope you’re keeping well. I heard you had a trip recently, and I’d love to hear the details.

14. Hi [Name], I hope things are going great. I’ve been dying to know about your holiday adventures!

15. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing fine. Tell me, how was your journey?

16. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing amazing! Your recent trip must have been wonderful—I’d love to hear all about it.

17. Hey [Name], I hope you’re well. Ever since you returned, I’ve been waiting to ask about your holiday.

18. Hi [Name], I hope everything is good. I’m curious—how did your trip go?

19. Hey [Name], I hope you’re keeping well. I’m sure your journey was exciting, and I’d like to know the highlights.

20. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing great. So, how was the trip?

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👨‍👩‍👧 Telling Parents / Family News

21. Hi Mom and Dad, I hope you’re both doing fine. I have some wonderful news to share with you.

22. Dear Mom and Dad, I hope everything’s good at home. I couldn’t wait to tell you about something exciting.

23. Hi Mom, Hi Dad, I hope you’re keeping well. I’ve just started a new chapter in my life.

24. Hi Mom and Dad, I hope you’re doing great. I wanted you to be the first to know some news.

25. Hi Mom, I hope you’re healthy and happy. I’ve got an update about my career.

26. Hi Dad, I hope everything’s fine on your end. I wanted to tell you something that happened recently.

27. Hi Mom and Dad, I hope life’s treating you kindly. I’ve got something important to share.

28. Hi Mom and Dad, I hope you’re both good. I couldn’t hold back from writing you this letter.

29. Hi Mom, Hi Dad, I hope everything’s smooth at home. I wanted to share some big news.

30. Dear Mom and Dad, I hope you’re doing fine. Something great has come up that I must tell you.

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👭 Requesting Help (Brother/Sister/Friend)

31. Hey [Name], I hope everything’s fine! I need a little help and thought of you first.

32. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing well. Can I ask you for a small favor?

33. Hey [Name], I hope you’re keeping good. I need your advice on something important.

34. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. I wanted to ask for your support with a situation I’m facing.

35. Hey [Name], I hope you’re well. You’re the first person I thought of because I need some help.

36. Hi [Name], I hope life’s going smoothly. I’m writing to ask for your assistance.

37. Hey [Name], I hope everything’s okay. I really need your help with something urgent.

38. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing good. I have a small issue, and I thought you’d be the best to ask.

39. Hey [Name], I hope you’re in good health. I’m in a bit of a fix and need your help.

40. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. Could you give me a hand with something?

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👨‍👩‍👦 Sharing Exciting News (Uncle/Aunt)

41. Hi Uncle [Name], I hope you’re keeping well. I have some great news to share.

42. Hi Aunt [Name], I hope you’re doing fine. I couldn’t wait to write and tell you something exciting.

43. Hi Uncle, I hope everything’s smooth at your end. Some wonderful news just came up.

44. Hi Aunt, I hope you’re good. I’m writing to share something special.

45. Hi Uncle [Name], I hope you’re doing well. I’ve got something exciting to tell you.

46. Hi Aunt [Name], I hope you’re in good spirits. I have big news that I wanted you to hear first.

47. Hi Uncle, I hope you’re fine. I thought you’d love to know what just happened.

48. Hi Aunt, I hope you’re doing well. I couldn’t wait to share my happiness with you.

49. Hi Uncle, I hope you’re good. Something wonderful has happened in my life.

50. Hi Aunt, I hope you’re well. I’m excited to tell you some great news.

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👧 Apologizing for Not Keeping in Touch

51. Hey [Name], I hope life’s been kind to you. I’m really sorry it’s been so long since we last spoke.

52. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. I know it’s been ages since I wrote, and I feel bad about it.

53. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing well. I must apologize for not keeping in touch.

54. Hi [Name], I hope everything’s fine on your end. Sorry for the silence all this while.

55. Hey [Name], I hope you’re well. I feel guilty for not writing sooner.

56. Hi [Name], I hope you’re keeping well. It’s been far too long since we last connected.

57. Hey [Name], I hope you’re fine. I’m sorry for disappearing for so long.

58. Hi [Name], I hope you’re cheerful as always. I know I should’ve written earlier.

59. Hey [Name], I hope you’re good. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch lately.

60. Hi [Name], I hope all’s well. It feels like forever since we last spoke, and I’m sorry for that.

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🎁 Thanking Someone

61. Hey [Name], I hope you’re good. I just wanted to thank you for your kind help.

62. Hi [Name], I hope everything’s going great. Thanks a ton for being there for me.

63. Hey [Name], I hope you’re fine. I’m writing to say thanks for your support.

64. Hi [Name], I hope you’re well. Your help meant a lot to me, and I wanted to thank you.

65. Hey [Name], I hope you’re good. I truly appreciate everything you did for me.

66. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing great. I’m grateful for your kindness.

67. Hey [Name], I hope all’s well. Thanks so much for helping me out recently.

68. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. I’m thankful for your generosity.

69. Hey [Name], I hope life’s good. I’m writing just to say thanks for always being there.

70. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing amazing. I can’t thank you enough for what you did.

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🌍 General Catching Up (Friends)

71. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing great! It feels like forever since we last caught up.

72. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. How have you been lately?

73. Hey [Name], I hope life’s been treating you well. It’s been ages since we talked.

74. Hi [Name], I hope you’re cheerful as always. What’s new with you these days?

75. Hey [Name], I hope you’re well. It’s high time we caught up!

76. Hi [Name], I hope everything’s fine. I was just thinking about you.

77. Hey [Name], I hope you’re good. It feels like such a long time since our last chat.

78. Hi [Name], I hope life’s going smoothly. I’ve been missing our talks.

79. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing fine. How are things at your end?

80. Hi [Name], I hope everything’s good. Let’s catch up—it’s been too long.

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🏡 Describing Daily Life / Giving Updates

81. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing great. Things have been quite busy on my side lately.

82. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. Life here has been exciting, and I wanted to share some updates.

83. Hey [Name], I hope all’s well. I thought I’d write to tell you what’s been happening here.

84. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing fine. A lot has been going on, and I wanted to update you.

85. Hey [Name], I hope you’re good. I’ve got some news to share about my routine.

86. Hi [Name], I hope life’s going smoothly. Things have been hectic lately.

87. Hey [Name], I hope you’re fine. I wanted to give you a quick update on my life.

88. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing well. A few things have changed here, so I thought I’d tell you.

89. Hey [Name], I hope you’re cheerful. I wanted to write and let you know what’s new.

90. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. There’s been a lot happening lately.

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🎉 Congratulating / Celebrating Friend’s Success

91. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing awesome! Congrats on your recent achievement—I’m so proud of you.

92. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. I just heard the great news, and I couldn’t wait to write.

93. Hey [Name], I hope life’s going well. Congratulations on your success!

94. Hi [Name], I hope you’re cheerful as always. Well done on your accomplishment.

95. Hey [Name], I hope everything’s fine. I’m thrilled to know about your recent success.

96. Hi [Name], I hope you’re doing fine. Congratulations! You truly deserve it.

97. Hey [Name], I hope you’re good. I wanted to write and say well done!

98. Hi [Name], I hope you’re in high spirits. Your success made me so happy.

99. Hey [Name], I hope you’re doing great. Congrats! You’ve worked hard for this.

100. Hi [Name], I hope you’re fine. I’m overjoyed at your recent achievement.

👉 These openings will save you time in the exam and help you avoid repeating the same line.

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📌 Final Tip

Remember, the opening + closing of your letter should match the recipient. If it’s informal, don’t use stiff or formal words. Be warm, personal, and natural.

By practicing these 100 openings, you’ll always have a fresh way to start your letter — and that fluency can make a real difference to your IELTS Writing score.