Invitation Writing Class 12: Formal, Informal and Reply Formats
Updated
CBSE formats for formal and informal invitations and replies in Class 12, with the marking scheme and eight solved examples.
Invitation writing class 12 covers four short formats: a formal invitation card, an informal invitation letter, and a formal or informal reply that accepts or declines. In the CBSE English Core paper, the invitation and reply question carries 4 marks and should be within about 50 words. Marks are split as format 1, content 2 and accuracy 1. A formal invitation is written in the third person with no salutation or signature, and ends with RSVP details.
This guide explains each format of invitation writing class 12 with tables and eight solved examples you can use for practice.
Key Takeaways
- Formal invitations use the third person: “The Principal requests the pleasure of your company…”.
- Formal cards have no date line at the top, no salutation and no signature; add RSVP at the bottom.
- Formal replies are also in the third person and repeat the event, date and time.
- Informal invitations and replies follow the informal letter format.
- Stay within about 50 words; include what, when, where and who is inviting.
Marks and Word Limit
| Point | CBSE Class 12 English Core |
|---|---|
| Question | Formal or informal invitation and reply |
| Marks | 4 |
| Word limit | Up to 50 words |
| Format | 1 mark |
| Content | 2 marks |
| Accuracy of spelling and grammar | 1 mark |
| Choice | One of two questions |
Invitation Writing Class 12: The Four Formats
| Format | Person | Layout | Ends with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal invitation | Third person | Card, centred lines | RSVP, name and phone |
| Formal reply | Third person | Sender’s address, date, short paragraph | No signature; writer named in text |
| Informal invitation | First person | Informal letter | Your loving friend, name |
| Informal reply | First person | Informal letter | Your loving friend, name |
Formal Invitation Format
| Order | Part | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Host | The Principal, staff and students of ABC School |
| 2 | Request line | request the pleasure of your company |
| 3 | Occasion | at the Annual Day celebration |
| 4 | Chief guest (if any) | Chief Guest: Dr. R. Mehta, District Magistrate |
| 5 | Date and day | on Saturday, 21 November 2026 |
| 6 | Time | at 5 pm |
| 7 | Venue | in the school auditorium |
| 8 | RSVP | RSVP: name, designation, phone |
Practise a Formal Invitation
Fill in the details from your question. The card updates as you type, so you can check the order of lines.
[The Principal, staff and students of ABC School]
request the pleasure of your company
at the [Annual Day celebration]
on [Saturday, 21 November 2026]
at [5 pm]
in [the school auditorium].
[Chief Guest: Dr. R. Mehta]
RSVP: [Ms. A. Sharma, Cultural Secretary, 98XXXXXX10]
8 Solved Examples
1. Formal invitation: annual day
St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Allahabad
The Principal, staff and students
request the pleasure of your company
at the Annual Day celebration
on Saturday, 21 November 2026, at 5 pm
in the school auditorium.
Chief Guest: Shri Anil Verma, District Magistrate
RSVP: Ms. Kavya Singh, Cultural Secretary, 98XXXXXX10
2. Formal reply: accepting
12, Civil Lines
Allahabad
5 November 2026
Mr. and Mrs. R.K. Gupta thank the Principal, staff and students of St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School for their kind invitation to the Annual Day celebration on Saturday, 21 November 2026, at 5 pm in the school auditorium. They are pleased to accept and will attend.
3. Formal reply: declining
45, Ashok Nagar
Allahabad
5 November 2026
Dr. Sunita Rao thanks the Principal of St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School for the kind invitation to the Annual Day celebration on 21 November 2026. However, she regrets her inability to attend, as she will be away at a medical conference in Chennai on that date.
4. Formal invitation: inauguration of a library
Green Valley Residents’ Welfare Association, Pune
The President and members
request the pleasure of your presence
at the inauguration of the Community Library
by Prof. M.S. Kulkarni, author and educationist,
on Sunday, 15 November 2026, at 10 am
at the Community Hall, Green Valley.
RSVP: Mr. S. Patil, Secretary, 97XXXXXX22
5. Formal invitation: wedding (printed card style)
Mr. and Mrs. Anil Sharma
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter
Aditi
with
Rohan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Suresh Malhotra,
on Friday, 11 December 2026, at 8 pm
at Hotel Grand, Jaipur.
RSVP: Anil Sharma, 99XXXXXX45
6. Informal invitation: farewell dinner
24, Park Avenue
Kolkata
5 November 2026
Dear Riya,
I am hosting a small dinner at home on Saturday, 14 November, at 7 pm, before I leave for college in Bengaluru. It would mean a lot if you could come. Mummy is making your favourite biryani!
Please let me know by Wednesday.
Your loving friend,
Ananya
7. Informal reply: accepting
8, Lake Road
Kolkata
6 November 2026
Dear Ananya,
Thank you for inviting me to your farewell dinner on 14 November. Of course I will come; I would not miss it! I will reach by 7 pm and bring the photo album from our school trip.
See you soon.
Your loving friend,
Riya
8. Informal reply: declining
15, Salt Lake
Kolkata
6 November 2026
Dear Ananya,
Thank you so much for the invitation to your farewell dinner. I am sorry I cannot come, as my cousin’s wedding in Patna is on the same date. I will call you before you leave and visit you in Bengaluru soon.
With love,
Megha
How to Plan Your Answer in 8 Minutes
- Read the question. Decide whether it asks for a formal card, an informal letter or a reply.
- List the facts. Note the host, occasion, date, day, time, venue and RSVP.
- Choose the person. Third person for formal; first person for informal.
- Write within 50 words. Invitation writing class 12 answers lose marks when they run long.
- Check the ending. RSVP for a formal card; a friendly close for an informal letter.
Useful Phrases
| Purpose | Formal phrase | Informal phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Inviting | requests the pleasure of your company | I would love you to come |
| Accepting | are pleased to accept the kind invitation | Of course I will come |
| Declining | regrets his inability to attend | I am sorry I cannot make it |
| Thanking | thanks … for the kind invitation | Thank you so much for inviting me |
Learn these phrases, because they save time in the exam. Moreover, they show the examiner that you know the difference between formal and informal tone.
Bonus example: formal invitation to parents
Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Bhopal
The Principal and the Science Club
cordially invite parents
to the Science Exhibition “Innovate for India”
on Friday, 13 November 2026, from 10 am to 1 pm
in the school activity hall.
RSVP: Mr. P. Mishra, Science Club In-charge, 94XXXXXX60
Notice how the card names the host, occasion, date, time and venue, and still stays well within 50 words.
Formal vs Informal Invitation
| Point | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Person | Third person | First person |
| Layout | Card with centred lines | Letter with address and date |
| Salutation | None | Dear (name), |
| Tone | Polite and impersonal | Warm and personal |
| Ending | RSVP | Your loving friend, name |
Common Mistakes
Most lost marks in invitation writing class 12 come from a few avoidable slips.
- Using “I” in a formal card. Write in the third person.
- Adding “Dear Sir” to a formal card. Formal invitations have no salutation.
- Missing RSVP. It is part of the formal format.
- Reply without repeating details. A formal reply restates the event, date and time.
- Declining without a reason. Give a short, polite reason.
Related Guides
The other short question in Class 12 is the notice; see notice writing class 12. For long answers, read job application class 12 and the letter to editor format. Informal letter rules are in our informal letter format guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the word limit for invitation writing in Class 12?
CBSE sets up to 50 words for the invitation and reply question in Class 12 English Core.
How many marks does invitation writing carry?
4 marks: 1 for format, 2 for content and 1 for accuracy of spelling and grammar.
Is a formal invitation written in the third person?
Yes. A formal invitation and a formal reply both use the third person, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Gupta thank…”.
What does RSVP mean?
It comes from the French “Répondez s’il vous plaît” and means “please reply”. Add the name and phone number of the person to contact.
Does a formal reply need a signature?
No. The writer is named in the text itself, and the reply begins with the sender’s address and date.
Can I write an informal invitation as a letter?
Yes. Informal invitations and replies follow the informal letter format with an address, date, “Dear” and a friendly close.
Practise Before the Exam
Write one formal card and one reply every week, each within 50 words, and time yourself to about 8 minutes. More formats for invitation writing class 12 and other questions are in our school letters section.
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