In IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 you write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The task describes a situation and gives you three bullet points you must cover. This guide shows you how to pick the right tone, structure the letter and avoid the mistakes that cost marks.
The three types of IELTS letter#
The first thing to decide is who you are writing to. That decides the tone, the greeting and the sign-off.
| Type | Who you write to | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Someone you don’t know: a company, a manager you’ve never met, a council | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, + full name |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know but need to respect: your boss, landlord, teacher, neighbour | Dear Mr Patel, / Dear Ms Lee, | Yours sincerely, (or Kind regards,) + full name |
| Informal | A friend or family member | Dear Sam, / Hi Anna, | Best wishes, / Take care, / Love, + first name |
Tip: The task tells you the tone indirectly. “Write a letter to the manager of a shop” means formal. “Write to your landlord” means semi-formal. “Write to a friend” means informal. The first line also tells you how to begin: “Begin your letter as follows: Dear …”.
A simple structure that works every time#
- Greeting: Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr Patel, / Dear Sam,
- Opening paragraph (purpose): one or two sentences saying why you are writing.
- Body paragraph 1: the first bullet point.
- Body paragraph 2: the second bullet point.
- Body paragraph 3: the third bullet point.
- Closing line: what you want to happen next.
- Sign-off and name.
Warning: Missing one of the three bullet points is the most common reason for a low Task Achievement score. Tick each bullet as you cover it.
Useful phrases by tone#
| Purpose | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | I am writing to complain about… / I am writing to enquire about… | I hope you’re doing well. I’m writing to tell you about… |
| Explaining | I would like to draw your attention to… | You won’t believe what happened… |
| Requesting | I would be grateful if you could… / Could you please… | Could you do me a favour and… |
| Apologising | I would like to apologise for… | I’m really sorry about… |
| Closing | I look forward to hearing from you. / I would appreciate a prompt reply. | Can’t wait to see you! / Write back soon. |
Sample 1: formal complaint letter#
You recently bought a coffee machine from an online shop, but it stopped working after one week. Write a letter to the shop. In your letter:
- give details of the purchase
- explain what the problem is
- say what you would like the shop to do
Band 8-style answer:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to complain about a coffee machine that I purchased from your website on 3 September (order number 58213).
The machine, a Barista Pro 200, cost £189 and was delivered promptly. For the first week it worked perfectly. However, since last Monday it has stopped heating the water, and the warning light flashes red whenever I switch it on. I have followed every step in the troubleshooting section of the manual, but the problem continues.
As the machine is clearly faulty and still within its first month, I would be grateful if you could arrange for it to be collected and send me a replacement as soon as possible. If a replacement is not available, I would like a full refund to my original payment card.
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Yours faithfully,
Daniel Ortega
(171 words)
Sample 2: semi-formal letter to a landlord#
There is a problem with the heating in the flat you rent. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter:
- describe the problem
- explain how it is affecting you
- suggest what should be done
Band 8-style answer:
Dear Mr Collins,
I am writing to let you know about a problem with the heating in the flat at 14 River Street.
For the past five days the radiators in the bedroom and living room have stayed cold, even when the boiler is on its highest setting. Hot water still works, so I think the fault is with the heating system itself rather than the boiler.
As the temperature has dropped below freezing at night, the flat has become uncomfortably cold. I have had to buy an electric heater, which is increasing my bills, and I am worried that damp may start to form on the walls.
Would it be possible for you to send a heating engineer this week? I work from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so either of those days would be convenient for a visit.
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Priya Nair
(168 words)
Sample 3: informal letter to a friend#
A friend is coming to visit your town for the first time. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- say how you feel about the visit
- suggest some things you can do together
- give advice about travelling to your town
Band 8-style answer:
Dear Lucas,
I was so happy to get your message. I can’t believe you’re finally coming to visit after all this time!
I’ve already started planning. On Saturday morning we could walk along the old harbour and have breakfast at a little café I love, which does amazing pastries. In the afternoon, if the weather’s good, let’s hire bikes and cycle up to the lighthouse. The view from the top is incredible. On Sunday there’s a food market in the main square, so we can try some local dishes.
The easiest way to get here is by train. There’s a direct one from the airport every hour, and it only takes about forty minutes. Just text me when you’re on board and I’ll meet you at the station. Oh, and bring a warm jacket, because it gets windy by the sea!
Can’t wait to see you.
Best wishes,
Elena
(170 words)
Common mistakes in IELTS letters#
- Wrong sign-off: “Yours faithfully” goes with “Dear Sir or Madam”; “Yours sincerely” goes with a name.
- Mixing tones: “Hey, I’m writing to complain…” in a letter to a company, or “Dear Sir, I hope you’re well!” to a friend.
- Writing an address or date: you don’t need them in IELTS. Start with the greeting.
- Too short: under 150 words loses marks. Aim for 160–190 words, and check with the free word counter.
- Memorised openings: “I am writing this letter to inform you that…” for every letter. Make the first sentence specific to the task.
Practise with more sample letters#
Each of these practice questions has a full Band 8-style model letter and examiner notes:
- Complaint letter: a faulty laptop bought online
- Complaint letter: a faulty smartphone
- Letter to a shop about a laptop
- Formal letter: power cuts in an apartment building
- Semi-formal letter: asking your manager for leave
- Thank-you letter to a workshop organiser
- Feedback letter about a community workshop
Then move on to Writing Task 2 topics and essay types.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How many words should an IELTS letter be?#
At least 150 words. Aim for about 160–190 words: enough to cover all three bullet points well, while leaving time to check your letter.
How do I know if an IELTS letter is formal or informal?#
Look at who you are writing to. A company or someone you don’t know means formal. Someone you know but respect, like a manager or landlord, means semi-formal. A friend or relative means informal.
Should I write an address in my IELTS letter?#
No. You don’t need an address or a date. Start with the greeting, for example “Dear Sir or Madam,”.
Is “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely” correct?#
Use “Yours faithfully” when you start with “Dear Sir or Madam”. Use “Yours sincerely” when you start with the person’s name, such as “Dear Mr Collins”.
Is letter writing in IELTS Academic?#
No. The letter is only in General Training Writing Task 1. In Academic Writing Task 1 you describe a graph, chart, table, map or process instead.