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HOW TO WRITE IELTS LETTERS

(TASK 1-GENERAL TRAINING TEST)

1. Instructions for IELTS Letters

You will be given instructions and three points to include in your letter. Below is
an example of the type of instructions you can get:

You recently had a holiday visiting your friends and you stayed in their house.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
 thank your friend for staying with them
 tell them what you enjoyed most about the holiday
 explain you are sending photos of the holiday with the letter

Tips for IELTS letter writing

1-Spend no more than 20 mins on this letter. You will need a full 40 minutes for
task 2, therefore do not go over 20 minutes for task 1. It is your responsibility to
control the time in your writing test.
2-Spend around two minutes planning and then the rest writing.
3-Always leave two minutes to check your letter for spelling or grammar mistakes.
4-You must write over 150 words (between 160 and 180 to be safe). Writing a letter
over 300 words is a waste of time.
5-Your letter is worth around 40% of your final writing score.
6-You do NOT need to write an address on the letter.
7-Pay close attention to who you are writing to and the relationship you have with
that person. This will decide your style of writing and your tone.
8-Pay attention to the aim and purpose of the letter.
9-It is essential that you use the three points to structure your letter (write about
every one of them) and provide the foundation for the information.
10-All points must be included clearly in your letter. If you fail to include all the
points in your letter, your band score will be lower.
11-You must use your imagination to fill in details and decide the names of the
people (if it is necessary) in your letter.
12-Begin your letter by addressing the person and then an opening line. Always
sign off appropriately.

2. Types of IELTS Letter

There are three different types of letters:
-Personal
-Semi-formal and
-Formal.
Each type of letter will use different language. It will have a different beginning
and a different way of signing off. Your first task, before you start writing, is to
decide which type of letter you must write by identifying the task given. Below
are examples of the three different types of letters.
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Personal
You would like to invite a foreign friend to visit you for your birthday.
Write a letter inviting your friend. In your letter:
 tell your friend about your birthday
 explain how much the visit would mean to you
 suggest that your friend stays at your house for the visit

A personal letter is to someone you have a close personal relationship with about
a social situation or personal situation.

Semi-formal
Your friend has a travel company and would like you to come and work with him.
Write a letter replying to your friend’s offer. In your letter:
 explain what you know about your friend’s company
 choose whether you accept or decline the offer
 give reasons for your choice

A semi-formal letter is to someone you have a close personal relationship with,

such as a friend, about a formal or serious situation such as work. This means it is
to someone you know informally about something formal = semi-formal. Note: A
personal relationship means you share your private life (your home life) with that
person = a friend. It does not mean your teacher, your boss, your manager, or
anyone else you know in a formal setting such as school or work.

Formal
You are interested in applying for a scholarship program to study at a foreign
university.
Write a letter to inquire about the course. In your letter:
 explain which course you are interested in
 tell what you know about the university
 explain why you should receive the scholarship

A formal letter is to someone you know in a formal way (a landlord, a boss, a

manager, a teacher etc) or someone you have not met and whose name you do not
know (customer services, local council, hotel manager etc) about a serious or
formal situation.

3. Letter Aims
Letters can be based on different content which will affect the style of the letter.
Below is a list of some of the common contents for letters. Although there are
hints about whether the letters are usually formal or not, please note that you will
know the style by reading the instructions given to you.
 complaints (usually formal)
 invitations (usually personal or semi-formal)
 applications or resignations (usually formal)
 request (any style)
 making arrangements (often formal)
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 explanation (sometimes semi-formal or personal)

 informative (often personal/ semi-formal but formal can also appear)
 apology (any style)

4. Letter Openings
Letters usually start with an opening statement which explains the reason for
writing the letter. This opening statement varies depending on whether you are
writing a formal or informal letter. Below are two examples of an opening
statement.
Can you spot which one is formal and which one is informal?

A) I am writing this letter with regards to the scholarship program to study at

London University which I read in Sunday Times on December 1st, 2020.

B) It’s been so long since we last were in touch, but I haven’t forgotten all the
wonderful times we spent together last year. It’s my birthday coming up and I
wanted to invite you over to stay at my place for the celebration.

C) I’m just writing to say thank you for the offer of joining your company.

Answer:
A is formal, B is personal (informal), and C is semi-formal

5. Signing Off
Depending on the style and aim of the letter, you will need to adapt your final
sentence or comment.
 Dear Sir / Madam, = Yours faithfully, (formal letters)
 Dear Mr Robson, = Yours sincerely, (formal letters)
 Dear John Robson, = Yours sincerely (formal letters)
 Hi Dave, / Dear Dave, = See you soon, / Take care, / All the best (informal
or semi-formal)
Note:
 We use “Sir / Madam” when we do not know the person’s name that we are
writing to, for instance when you write to the manager of a hotel or the
local council. You do not use these titles if you know the name of the
person. You should NOT use those titles in your speaking test.
 You can also write a formal letter to someone whose name you know. You
can use either “Mr Robson” or “John Robson”.
 We use no title and no last name when we write to a friend.
Below are some examples of final comments before signing off, can you tell which
ones are formal and which not?

A) It’ll be great to catch up again soon. Give my best to everyone in the family.
B) I look forward to hearing from you.

Answer
A is personal and B is formal.
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Names
You should write a name at the end of your letter. You can use your name, or you
can invent one.
 Dear Sir, = Yours faithfully, John Brown (always with a family name but
with or without a title)
 Dear Mr Robson, = Yours sincerely, Mrs Susan Harper (always with a family
name but with or without a title)
 Hi Dave, or Dear Dave, = See you soon, Brian (not title and no family name
because it is informal).

6. Grammar: Formal and Informal

Formal and informal (friendly) letters contain different language and style of
writing. While informal letters can contain contractions (I’m writing …), these
contractions are unacceptable in formal writing, then you need to write the words
in full (I am writing …).
In a formal letter, you could write “I am writing with regards to ….”. whereas for
a semi-formal letter you can write “I’m writing about…” or “I’m writing to say..”
or “I just want to let you know that..”. Therefore, it is important to adapt your
writing to suit the style of the letter. Also remember to use a range of different
sentence structures in order to get a high score.

7. Vocabulary: Formal and Informal

For vocabulary, be very careful using academic language in a personal letter. This
would be inappropriate and will reduce your band score rather than increase it.
Here are some examples of the difference between formal and informal language:
 You will be collected at the airport = I’ll pick you up at the airport
 The next available appointment is on Thursday = how about we meet up on
Thursday?
 I would like to invite you to visit my house on…. = Why don’t you pop round
to my place on …..
 I highly recommend that you come in August = it’d be great if you came in
August
 Please respond at the earliest convenience = Get back to me as soon as you
can
 Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend on … = Sorry, but I won’t be able
to make it on ….

8. Spelling and Punctuation

The examiner will check your accuracy in your spelling and your punctuation (this
means your use of commas and full stops). If you make frequent errors in spelling
or in punctuation it is unlikely to get over band score 6.0

9. Structure and Paragraphs

You must also organise your letter into paragraphs. This is an essential part of your
letter writing and the examiner will be marking you on your ability to use effective
paragraphing. Do not forget to leave a blank line between paragraphs. In IELTS
writing task 1, the letter structure below is most common as it usually follows the
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three points which you must include in your letter. However, you must adapt it to
suit the task given to you by IELTS. Then, spend time reading the instructions and
deciding your paragraphing.

Most common structure:

 TITLE
Dear Sir / Madam,
Dear Ms Smith,
Dear Susan,

 PARAGRAPH 1: INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCE THE TOPIC (Introduce yourself when necessary. The reason/s of
the letter)
-What you are complaining about
-What you need
-What position you are applying to
-Why you are writing
I am writing to…express my disagreement with…/ask for…/complain
about…/apologize for… / express my gratitude…/express my
concern…/thank you for…/congratulate…/inform…
The reason I am writing is…
I would like to apply for the position…

 PARAGRAPH 2: DETAIL THE TOPIC

o one point with detail
o another point with detail
o final point with detail

 PARAGRAPH 3: EXPECTATIONS/FEELINGS
-I expect a full refund of…
-Please look into this matter as soon as possible…
-I hope at least an apology…
-Please contact me to…

 CLOSING STATEMENT (if needed)

-I look forward to hearing from you
-Thanks for your time and consideration
-Thanks in advance…
-I hope…

 SIGNING OFF and

 NAME (choose a name or use your own)
-With love,
Mary

-Regards/Kind regards/Best regards,

Sophia Garrido
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-Yours sincerely, (when you know the name of the person you are writing to)
Ms. Garrido//Sophia Garrido

-Yours faithfully, (when you do not know the name of the person you are writing to)
Ms. Garrido
10. Planning Your Letter
You should spend around two minutes planning your letter. Covering all the points
in your letter, adding details, using the appropriate style of letter writing and using
paragraphs well count for about 50% of your marks. Then, it is worth taking time
to plan your letter well. Follow the points below for a well-planned letter:
a) read the instructions
b) identify what style of letter you must write
c) read through the points you must include in your letter
d) plan what information you will add to each point
e) start writing

***Important: once you have finished writing, read the letter again
and check for minor errors such as spelling, plural/singular, a/an and
punctuation, among others.
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SAMPLES OF LETTERS

IELTS Complaint Letter (Formal Letter)

Complaint letters are one of the most common types of letters that you can be
expected to write.

You bought a TV a week ago but when you got home you discovered it did not work
properly. You called customer service to report the problem, but you have not yet
received any help.
Write a letter to the company and in your letter:
 introduce yourself
 explain the problem
 and state what action you would like from the company
Write at least 150 words
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Sarah Connor, and I am one of your frequent customers. I am writing

this letter to report the faulty TV that I purchased from your company last
week.

On Tuesday, 12th June, I visited your store to purchase a TV. I bought a Samsung
Smart TV which has the code 40L675B40. When purchasing this TV, I was assured
that this was the latest model and the best there was to buy. However, when I
arrived home I discovered that the remote control was not working and the
picture quality was also not as good as promised, in fact it was quite blurry. I
called your customer service department immediately on Tuesday and they
assured me that my TV would be replaced or fixed within two days. I am
disappointed to say that this has not happened, and I have received no
communication since then.

I am exceedingly displeased with both the quality of the product I purchased

from your company as well as the poor service I have received from you. I hope
this problem will be resolved promptly. I expect to receive a replacement TV or
have my current TV repaired but only if it could be fixed within a day.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible to resolve this problem.

Yours faithfully,
Ms. Connor

228 words
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You rented a car from Car Rental Company. The air conditioner has stopped working.
You phoned the company a week ago, but it still has not been repaired.
Write a letter to the company. In your letter
 introduce yourself
 explain the situation
 say what action you would like the company to take
Write at least 150 words
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is George Trump. I am writing to complain about the problem with the
air conditioning of the car, which I rented on 24th April. My work as a salesman
requires driving minimum six to eight hours a day. In the hot weather that we
have now, driving a car without a functional air conditioner is uncomfortable
and very tiring.

The car I rented is a Ford Fusion with registration number JFBB 49. I rented this
car from your Santiago Airport rental office. I was assured that the car was
in excellent condition, but I noticed a fault in the air conditioner the same day
I rented the car. It only worked for a short period of time before it stopped and
could not be turned on later. I phoned your customer service a week ago and
they assured me that I will have a replacement car within 24 hours. It is
extremely disappointing that I have not had any communication from them since
that day.

I request an immediate replacement of the car and expect a reply from you as
soon as possible. I also believe I deserve an apology and an appropriate
compensation for the inconvenience caused to me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Trump

215 words

IELTS Apology Letter

It is common to be asked to write an IELTS apology letter. You might be given a formal or
informal apology letter. You must use the correct style and tone to get a high band score.
Always decide what type of letter you must write before you start planning.
Below you will find:
 an informal apology letter: question and model answer
 a formal apology letter: question and model answer
Note the difference in tone, content and also language between formal and informal
apology letters.
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IELTS Informal Apology Letter

Write a letter to a friend. You have borrowed something from your friend, and it got
damaged.
 Apologize for damaging the product
 Explain what happened
 Say how are you going to fix the issue

Dear Robert,

Sorry it’s taken me so long to write to you but at last I put pen to paper to
explain why I haven’t returned that DIY book I borrowed from you.
To be honest, I’ve been feeling so guilty that I delayed writing to you. I have to
own up that I damaged the book accidentally. I’m so very sorry. I know how
important that book is to you as it was passed down from your late father.

What happened is that I had been reading up on the chapter about DIY plumbing
when I knocked over my cup of coffee which splashed all over the book. Most of
the stain is on the pages that were open at the time.

I’ve sent the book away to be repaired. I didn’t realise that was even possible
until I researched it. Anyway, it should be as good as new when I get it back
next week and then I’ll send it on to you.

Again, I’m so sorry for the delay in telling you. I hope you can forgive me.

Best wishes,
Mary

184 words

IELTS Formal Apology Letter

Write a letter to your boss apologising for the recent meeting you missed at work.
 Apologise for missing the meeting.
 Explain what happened.
 Say what you will do to compensate.

Dear Mr Brown,

I am writing to apologise for the meeting I missed last Friday about development
plans for the company. I am sincerely sorry for not being able to attend this
meeting. I am aware of the importance of the meeting but, unfortunately, my
absence was unavoidable.

The reason for not attending this meeting was that I had a car accident on the
way to work that day. Although the accident was not serious, I was taken to
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hospital for a check-up and not allowed to leave until I had been given the all
clear from a doctor.

I understand how crucial this meeting was and, therefore, I have asked one of
my colleagues, Jessica Parker, to review the meeting with me after work today.
We will go over all development plans and also people’s roles and
responsibilities. By the end of today, I will be up to speed with all plans.

I hope you will forgive my absence and be assured of my commitment to this

company and its future.

Yours sincerely,
Ronald Smith

176 words

IELTS Personal Letter

Last month you had an overseas holiday with some friends where you stayed at their
house. They have just sent you some holiday photos.
Write a letter to your friends. In your letter:
 thank them for the holiday and the photos
 explain why you didn’t write earlier
 invite them to come and stay with you

Hi Mariam and Joseph,

How are you both? I hope this letter finds you well. Thank you so much not only
for such a memorable holiday but also for the lovely photos that you sent of
our holiday together. It brought it all back to me so vividly. Staying with you
and seeing where you live was a real eye-opener for me. New Zealand is
certainly a scenic country with remarkable landscape and wildlife, particularly
up in the north where you are.

Sorry, it has taken me so long to write back and thank you. Almost as soon as
we landed back in the UK, my father became sick. Since then, we’ve been
running around looking after him and getting carers sorted out. He seems to be
improving now and hopefully will be back to normal soon.

Next month, we’ll be celebrating our Wedding Anniversary and we’d be

delighted if you could come over to celebrate it with us. It’ll be a chance for
you to meet the rest of the family and see a bit of England. Of course, you must
stay with us. There’s plenty of room and we’ll pick you up at the airport. I really
hope you can make it.

Take care and write back soon.

Caroline

211 words
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Write a letter to your friend who lives in another country and in your letter:
 Invite him/her to a public event in your country.
 Describe the public event.
 Explain about other plans you have for your friend when he/she will visit.

Hi Karim,

How have you been since we last met? I thought I’d drop you a line and see if
you fancy coming over for Bonfire night which is on November 5th.

Bonfire night is a great event in England, particularly in my hometown. It starts

as soon as the sun has set because the event is held around a huge bonfire. As
the weather is cold, the bonfire adds wonderful warmth. On the fire, there’s a
guy which represents Guy Fawkes, a man who once tried to blow up Parliament.
On top of that there’s also fireworks and a chance to cook your own food on the
fire, which I’m sure you’ll love.

While you’re over, we’ll be able to do a trip to London as I know you’ve always
wanted to visit. The Christmas lights will have been switched on by then and
they are amazing. You’ll also be able to visit the Christmas markets and do all
your Christmas shopping.

I really hope you’ll be able to come over. It won’t be the same without you.

Write back soon,

Nikol

183 words
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IELTS Letter Samples

Practicing in writing is a must. Here is a collection of sample letters to help you prepare
for IELTS writing task 1. IELTS sample tasks below are a range of personal, semi-formal
and formal which are all common in task 1.

1-You have just spent a week with a friend on holiday. When you got home, you realised
you had left your wallet there.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
 thank your friend for the holiday
 explain that you left your wallet in their house
 give them instructions of how to send it back to you.

2-You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference.

Write a letter to a former teacher. In your letter:
 give details of the job
 explain why it is important to you
 suggest what information your teacher could put in the reference.

3-A friend has written to you asking for advice about a problem at work. You have had a
similar problem in the past.
Write a reply to your friend. In your letter:
 tell your friend you understand the problem
 explain what happened to you in the past
 suggest possible solutions to the problem.

4-Work is being done on the street where you live. The noise is disturbing you.
Write a letter of complaint to your local council. In your letter:
 introduce yourself
 explain what the problem is
 suggest solutions to the problem.

5-You saw an advert in the newspaper asking for volunteers to help run a charity event.
Write a letter of application to the organisers. In your letter:
 explain why you are interested in helping
 give details suitable past experience
 suggest ways you might help with the event.

6-You need to take leave from your work of over one month for personal reasons.
Write a letter to your boss. In your letter:
 explain the reason for the leave and the length of leave you need
 explain how you will keep up-to-date while you’re away
 suggest how your work could be covered while you are away.
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7-You have decided to resign from your work in order to try a new field.
Write a letter of resignation to your boss. In your letter:
 tell your boss of your decision and explain why you are leaving
 explain what you have learnt from your current job and how you feel about leaving
 ask for a letter of reference.

8-You have organised to go on holiday with your friend. However, you must change your
plans.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
 tell them how much you are looking forward to the holiday
 explain why you must change your plans
 suggest alternative arrangements.

9-You recently ordered something online. When the delivery came it was not complete.
Write a letter to the company. In your letter:
 explain what you ordered and what was missing from your delivery
 explain the importance of this delivery
 ask for a replacement item to be sent.

10-A friend has offered you some work in his company. You are currently employed and
not able to start for three months.
Write a reply to your friend. In your letter:
 give details of what you know about his company
 explain your current situation
 give your answer to the offer and explain why.