IELTS · Guide 6 · 4 min read
IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training: formal and informal letters
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 explained: the letter task, formal, semi-formal and informal tone, covering the three points, and timing.
What Task 1 asks you to do
In General Training Writing Task 1, you write a letter in response to an everyday situation. You must write at least 150 words, and you should spend about 20 minutes on it. Task 2, the essay, carries more weight, so keep Task 1 within its time.
The task describes a situation and gives you three points to cover. A typical prompt might ask you to write to a neighbour about noise, to a company about a faulty product, or to a friend about a visit. All three points must appear in your letter.
The three tones
The situation tells you who you are writing to, and that decides the tone. Getting the tone right is part of the task.
| Tone | Who you write to | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Someone you do not know, often in an official role | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr Patel, | Yours faithfully, (no name known) / Yours sincerely, (name known) |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know but not closely, such as a manager or landlord | Dear Ms Lewis, | Kind regards, / Best wishes, |
| Informal | A friend or family member | Dear Sam, / Hi Sam, | Best wishes, / Take care, / See you soon, |
The task usually says "Begin your letter as follows: Dear ..." and leaves the name for you to choose. You do not need to write an address.
Exam tip: a mismatch in tone is a common reason for a lower score. "Hey, what's up?" to a council officer, or a stiff, official style to a close friend, both show the examiner you have not judged the situation.
A reliable structure
- Opening line: the greeting, then one or two sentences saying why you are writing.
- Point 1: one short paragraph.
- Point 2: one short paragraph.
- Point 3: one short paragraph.
- Closing: a sentence that looks ahead or states what you would like to happen, then the sign-off and your name.
You can change the order of the points if it reads more naturally, but cover each one fully. Adding detail, such as dates, times or a specific example, makes the letter convincing.
An invented example task
You recently stayed at a hotel and left a coat in your room. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter: say when you stayed; describe the coat; explain how you would like it returned.
This is a formal or semi-formal letter. You do not know the manager's name, so "Dear Sir or Madam" and "Yours faithfully" fit.
A possible opening:
I am writing about an item I believe I left behind during my recent stay at your hotel.
A paragraph for the second point:
The coat is a knee-length dark green raincoat with a hood and two large front pockets. There is a small tear near the left cuff, which may help your staff to identify it.
Notice the extra details. They answer the point fully and give the examiner more of your language to assess.
Language for each tone
Formal and semi-formal:
- I am writing to enquire about / to complain about / to request ...
- I would be grateful if you could ...
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- Avoid contractions: write "I am", not "I'm".
Informal:
- It was great to hear from you.
- I'm really sorry I couldn't make it.
- Why don't we ...? / How about ...?
- Contractions, short sentences and friendly phrases are fine.
Common mistakes
- Missing a point. Leaving out one of the three points limits your score, however good the language.
- Inconsistent tone. Starting formally and drifting into slang.
- Under 150 words. Short letters are penalised.
- Memorised openings that do not fit. Examiners recognise set phrases that have nothing to do with the task.
- No clear purpose. The reader should know why you are writing by the end of the first two sentences.
Exam tip: before you write, decide in a single sentence what you want the reader to do. Every paragraph should help achieve that.
Timing in 20 minutes
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Read the task, decide the tone, note ideas for each point | 3 minutes |
| Write | 14 minutes |
| Check tone, grammar and that all three points are covered | 3 minutes |
How it is marked
Task 1 is marked on four equal criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. For a letter, Task Achievement includes covering all three points, making the purpose clear and using a suitable tone.
For the current rules, check ielts.org.
Check yourself
- How many points does a General Training Task 1 letter have to cover?
- Which closing goes with "Dear Sir or Madam"?
- Are contractions acceptable in a formal letter?
- What decides the tone of your letter?
- What is the minimum word count, and how long should you spend?
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