IELTS Letter Writing Tips

10 Steps to Get Higher Marks on the IELTS Letter Writing Task

1. Identify the type of letter you are being asked to write. Is it a formal, semi-formal
or informal letter? The entire tone of your letter is based on your answer to this
question. Adjust your style and choice of words according to the type of letter you
have been asked to write.

2. Open and close the letter correctly. Remember that each type of letter requires a
different opening and closing. The chart below will help you remember this:

Style Characteristics Opening Ending

To someone you have not

Dear Sir /
Formal met, whose name you don't Yours Faithfully
Madam
know

To someone you may or may

Semi- Dear Mr Brown,
not have met, whose last Yours Sincerely
formal Dear Ms Stone
name you know & use

To someone you know well,

Dear John Best Regards
Informal whose first name you know
Dear Anita Warm Wishes
and use
3. Open a formal and semi-formal letter with a formal sentence. Don't try to be
friendly, as you do not know the person you are writing to. Get right down to business and
indicate the reason you are writing, as shown below:

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to inquire about / I am writing in connection with...
Dear Mr Jones,
I am writing to inform you ... / I am writing in connection with...

4. Open an informal letter with a general, friendly paragraph. With friends whom we
know, we care about the whole person. We have a broader relationship in the context of
which this communication is taking place. So it is best to acknowledge that friendship first,
before getting down to the reason for your letter. In fact, the first paragraph could be purely
friendly small talk, unrelated to the reason for your writing. Look at the example below:

Dear Jane,
I hope you and your family are well. It was such a pleasure to see you again last summer.
We sure had a great time catching up with each other after so many years. You have always
been a cherished friend, no matter how much of a gap there has been since we met.

Anyways, the reason I'm writing is that I have some good news - I am getting married this
summer...
5. Identify the main purpose of the letter. Are you asking for help, apologizing, inviting
someone, complaining or thanking someone? Learn appropriate and polite expressions that
will support what you need to say.

6. Learn and use standard written phrases. Students sometimes struggle to finish their
writing in time. This happens when you are trying to write every sentence from scratch. The
fact is, in conventional letter writing in English, we use a number of standard expressions
and phrases and add on to them the specific information we wish to communicate. By
learning how to use these expressions, you will find the letter writing task much easier and
will never have to fight for time.

IELTS Letter Writing - Useful Words & Expressions

Apologizing

I'm sorry about...

I am sorry that...
I'm very sorry about...
I'm very sorry for...
Please forgive me for...
I'd like to apologize for...
Please accept my apologies.
Please accept my sincere apologies. (very formal)

Asking for Help

I would be grateful if you could...

I would appreciate it if you could...
Could you please...
I was wondering if you could help me.(informal)
I would like to know...

Asking for Information

I am writing to enquire about...

I am writing to find out about...
What I am looking for is...
I would like to know about/if...

Closing
I look forward to see you / seeing.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I look forward to meeting you.

British (with ing... American without)

Complaining / expressing dissatisfaction
I'm writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
I'm writing to express my annoyance with...
I am not happy about...
...was very disappointing.

Conveying regards
Please give my regards to your family.
Please pass on my wishes to your wife and children.
Please give my regards to your parents.

Expressing satisfaction
I was delighted to hear that...
I was very happy to learn that...
I was thrilled to find out that...
I was glad to hear that...
...was very enjoyable.

Expressing concern / sympathy

I was sorry to hear about... (your accident/ illness)
I am writing to express my concern about...

Giving bad news

I regret to inform you that...(semi-formal)
I am sorry to tell you that...(informal)
I regret to advise you that...(formal)
I am afraid I have some bad news.(informal)

Giving good news

I am pleased to inform you that...(semi-formal)
I am delighted to tell you that...(informal)
I am happy to advise you that...(formal)
I thought you might like to know that...

Giving reasons
This is because...
This is because of...
This is due to... (formal)
This is as a result of...(formal)
This is owing to...(formal)

Making suggestions
Would it be a good idea to...
Perhaps it would be a good idea to...

Thanking
I can't thank you enough.
No words can express my gratitude.
I am extremely grateful for...
I very much appreciate your ______ing
7. Make sure you write at least 150 words. Practice writing letters till you know what
150 words feels like and looks like. You will lose marks if you write less. You will not lose
marks if you write more; the only restriction on writing more is in terms of time, not the
number of words.

8. Learn the correct spelling of commonly used words. It is surprising how many IELTS
students make a mistake when spelling words such as "sincerely", "faithfully", "in
connection with" and so on. You can prevent yourself from losing marks by learning the
correct spelling of these words and expressions which you are highly likely to use on your
exam.

9. Stay on topic. In order to complete your letter within 20 minutes or less, practice
writing letters where you stick to the point. The General IELTS Task 1 does require you to
make up a bit of a story to complete your letter, but don't make your story so complicated
that you run out of time.

10. Include all three bulleted points. If you exclude even one of the points given to you
in the question prompt, you will lose valuable marks. Practice writing letters that include the
three points and go back and check that you have included them in each practice exercise
you do.

Informal letter

Write a letter to your English speaking friend

 Explain why you have moved to a different house

 Explain the new house
 Invite your friend to come and visit.

20 minutes

Informal.

Dear Tom,

I am delighted to inform you that we have finally moved to our new house. This Saturday,
we are organizing a house warming party and I would like to invite you with your family.
As discussed with you earlier, I was facing some problems with my old apartment. Firstly, it
was far from my kid's school as well as my office. Secondly, it was too small for a family of
five. My parents found it a little inconvenient to stay with us. Most importantly, I was
looking for investing in my own property for future security. Fortunately, we got a good deal
in a very beautiful apartment near my office. So, we decided to move in.

I am sure you would like our new residence. It is situated in middle of lush-green gardens.
Further, it is loaded with all the modern amenities such as a club-house and a swimming-
pool. The biggest attraction is that it is very near to the metro station. From all perspectives
we found to be an ideal investment and so we bought it.

I would be eagerly waiting to welcome you all. Let's catch up on phone, where I would
discuss the coordinates.

Warm Wishes,

XYZ

Formal Letters

A formal letter can be identified in several ways: tone, use of Dear Sir/Madam,
formal expressions, closing salutation – yours faithfully

 the tone, which is official, business-like and serious

 the use of Dear Sir / Madam
 the absence of contractions
 the use of formal expressions (I am writing in connection with...)
 the closing salutation ( "Yours faithfully" instead of the more informal "Yours sincerely" or
"Best regards")

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You recently stayed in a hotel in a large city. The weather was very unusual for the
time of year and the heating / cooling system in the hotel was quite inadequate.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter:

 give details of what went wrong
 explain what you had to do to overcome the problem at the time
 say what action you would like the manager to take

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address.
Begin your letter as follows:

Dear __________

Dear Sir,

I am writing in connection with my recent stay at the Four Seasons in London, England.
Unfortunately, due to a malfunctioning heater in my room, I spent three miserable
nights at your hotel from April 26 to 29, 2010.

When I arrived in London, there was an unexpected snowstorm. To add to my plight

(pareshani), when I checked into my suit, the room heater had gone out of order. After
complaining, a technician was sent, who informed me that a new heating unit was needed
to be installed. When I asked to be moved to another room, I was told that the hotel was
completely booked. Unfortunately, each night after work I returned to discover that the
problem had not been rectified. Eventually (ant mein / akhir mein), I spent three
horribly uncomfortable nights, wearing my coat to bed, wearing socks around the room and
ending up with a bad cold from the unheated room. I had no time to complain as I had to
catch a flight home right after my conference.

I am shocked (disappointed) by this terrible service. This is not what anyone expects for
$400 a night! To compensate me for this tremendous (ati / too much) inconvenience, I
ask that you offer a free stay in one of your finer suites in future. If not, I am prepared to
take my complaint to a higher authority.

I look forward to hearing from you at the earliest.

Yours faithfully,
John McFee

Sample 2 Formal - Credit Card Missing

You have received a letter from your bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new
bank card. However, the card was missing from the envelope.
Write a letter to the bank's head office. In your letter:
 explain why you are writing
 express concern about the missing card
 ask them what they intend to do

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any address.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________
Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing in connection with a missing or stolen debit card. This is an urgent matter as
the bank card could be potentially dangerous in the hands of the wrong person.

Just yesterday, I received a letter from your bank's head office. It stated that my new bank
card was enclosed and asked me to acknowledge receipt. However, when the envelope
arrived in my mailbox, it was in a tattered state. More importantly, the debit card which was
supposed to be included was missing. I checked and rechecked around the mailbox, but
found nothing. I am concerned that someone has gone through my mail and possibly stolen
the card.

For this reason I request that you cancel the existing debit card immediately. The debit card
in question is related to my account number 64729401 at your Bay and Bloor branch. After
it cancellation, please arrange to send me a new one, as I need to travel overseas next
week and will need to carry the new bank card with me.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,
Ms Brenda Holster

You eat at your college cafeteria at lunch time every day.. However, you think it needs
some improvements. Write a letter to the college magazine. In your letter:
 explain what you like about the cafeteria
 say what is wrong with it
 suggest how it could be improved
Write at least 150 words.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________

Dear Sir / Madam

I am writing in connection with our college cafeteria. Since almost every student spends
some time here every day, I believe it is in everyone's interest to find ways to improve the
quality of this central eatery.

The cafeteria is modern, spacious and attractive. The newly painted murals of the seaside
give the seating area an open, airy, outdoor feeling which makes it very pleasant to eat
meals there. This is further enhanced by the large green plants and water fountains.

The main problem with the cafeteria the food it servs. First of all, there is a very limited
selection available. Each day offers up only standard North American (delicacies / verities)
of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets and French fries. Not only is this selection
unhealthy, but also uninteresting. Day in and day out we have so many international
students on campus; it would be wonderful to have some curries, burritos and falafel ( or
variety of Indian and Chinese delicacies) added to the menu. Secondly, since this is a
student cafeteria, prices need to stay low. We have unfortunately seen two price hikes in
the last two months.
I am sure if we offer a wider range of foods, at better prices, the cafeteria will continue to
run profitably as more students would choose to eat there.

Yours faithfully,
Daniel Bernard
Sample Semi-formal Letters
A semi formal letter can be identified by (tone, use of last-name – Dear Mr. Gupta, no
contractions, formal expressions, Closing salutations

 the tone, which is a mix of politeness and warmth

 the use of the last names (Dear Mrs Sweeney)
 the absence of contractions
 the use of formal expressions (I would appreciate it if...)
 the closing salutation (Yours sincerely)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when
you were at school.

Write a letter to one of your old teachers asking for a reference. In your letter:
 say what job you have applied for

 explain why you want this job

 suggest what information the teacher should include

Write at least 150 words.

Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________

Dear Mrs Sweeney,

How are you? I hope everything is fine at the school and that you have been doing well. I
still remember the dynamic way in which you taught grammar to me and all of the teacher-
trainees in your English class. Thanks again for those important lessons.

I am writing in connection with a letter of reference that I need for a job I have applied for
recently. As I am due to graduate next month, I have applied for a position as an ESL
teacher at a private language school in Tokyo, Japan. You might remember my telling you
how very much I looked forward to teaching and traveling around the world. Now I have a
chance. I am confident that I can make a difference in the lives of students who need to
learn English.

In the letter of reference, I would appreciate if you could include information related to my
trustworthiness, my enthusiasm and my cross-cultural awareness while in teacher training
college. As the job is in Japan, they do not have the chance to interview me and will base
their decision largely on my letters of reference. I would need to have the letter in two
weeks, by July 1st.

Yours sincerely,
Grace Smith
You are going on a short training course at a college in Sydney, Australia. You need
somewhere to live while you are there.

Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In your letter:

 explain your situation
 describe the accommodation you require
 say when you will need it

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any address.
Begin your letter as follows:

Dear __________

Dear Mrs Walker

I am writing in connection with my upcoming training course at your college in Sydney,

Australia. I will be there to attend the Brain- Based Learning program at Victoria College for
a period of three weeks from July 21st to July 22nd, 2010. I am hoping that you will be able
to assist me with my accommodation arrangements.

As I am slightly older than most of the other participants, I would appreciate it if you could
find a private studio apartment for me, close to the college. It would be ideal if I could walk
to school each day, but if not, I would need access to public transportation. I understand
some of the events on campus finish quite late so I would prefer not to walk in an unfamiliar
neighbourhood after dark. In terms of the apartment, all I require is a bed, a desk, a TV, an
Internet connection, a kitchen and a bathroom. My budget is around US $1000 for 3 weeks.

As I will be arriving on July 1st, I would need the apartment to be available from that night
until the day of my departure, which is July 23rd. My last night in the apartment would be
July 22nd.

Please let me know if you are able to find such an apartment and if not, please suggest
other suitable arrangements. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Jane Goodwin

WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have been living in a rental apartment for the past year. Recently a new neighbour
moved in and has been making a lot of noise, which disturbs you.

Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter:

 explain the situation
 describe why it bothers you
 suggest a solution
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any address.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________
Dear Mr Shah,
I hope you and your family are well. I am writing in connection with a problem I have with
the new tenant, Jack, who has moved in downstairs.

Unfortunately, his habits and needs appear to be quite different from mine.
The issue is that Jack is a professional musician who plays his electric guitar late in the
night. I understand he is in a band and needs to practice; however, I think he cannot do so
in a residential building such as ours. As I mentioned to you when I signed the lease to the
apartment, that I am a full-time writer who works from home. For me, it is essential to have
silence so I can concentrate on my work. With Jack playing at all hours, I have been unable
to get any of my writing done, except when he is out. In some cases, I have even been
forced to leave the apartment and work at a nearby coffee shop or library as the guitar
playing was causing such a disturbance.
I would appreciate if you could speak to Jack and ask him to turn down the volume on his
guitar or else to use headphones. I have spoken to him about it, but to no avail. I will let
you know as soon as the situation improves.
Thank you in advance and please convey my best regards to your family,

Yours sincerely,
Meg Snyder
Thanking & Inviting a Friend
Below is a sample letter for Task 1 of the General IELTS Writing Section. It is an
informal letter, which can be identified in several ways:
 the tone, which is warm, easy-going and conversational
 the use of first names (Ajay, Sunita, Carol)
 the use of contractions (I've, don't, can't)
 the use of informal expressions ("Thanks", instead of "Thank you")
 the closing salutation ( "Warm wishes", instead of the more formal "Yours sincerely" or
"Yours faithfully")

WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Last month you had a holiday overseas where you stayed with some friends. They have just
sent you some photos of your holiday.

Write a letter to your friends. In your letter:

 thank them for the photos and for the holiday
 explain why you didn't write earlier
 invite them to come and stay with you

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any address.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________

Dear Ajay and Sunita,

Thanks so much for your kind letter and the lovely photos of my holiday in Mumbai. Sorry
for the delay in acknowledging your mail, but your package arrived just as I was about to
leave town on a business trip. I've just returned to Toronto today.

Looking at the photos brings back so many happy memories of the times we spent together
and the wonderful hospitality you extended to me. I felt completely pampered by both of
you! You surrounded me with warm friends, good food, amazing sights, great shopping,
unforgettable cultural events and laughter-filled evenings. I would have been lost without
you. I can't thank you enough.

These good memories gave me an idea. I know you've always wanted to visit Canada. Why
don't you plan a holiday and stay with me this summer? The weather is great at that time of
year, all tourist sites are open and I could take two weeks off from work. Aside from seeing
Toronto, we could drive to Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec
City. I would be thrilled if you could make it.

Thank you both again for the beautiful holiday and the photos which are already up on my
wall. Now, I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Warm wishes,
Carol
216 words.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have recently started work in a new company.
Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your letter,
 explain why you changed jobs
 describe your new job
 tell him / her your other news
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any address.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________,

Dear Eva,
How are you? I hope you've been well. Sorry for having been out of touch for a short while.
There have been some changes in my life and I wanted to let you know the latest from my
side.

The big news is that I have finally changed my job! Do you remember when you were here
on holidays, I always talked about how I hated my boring bank job? Well, it was clear I
needed a change! So, finally, I took a part-time TESL course and trained to be an ESL
teacher. Now I'm working full-time in a private language school. I teach General English,
Business English and IELTS. Each day, I look forward to going to work. My students come
from all over the world and I love teaching them as well as learning from them.
Aside from that, I also moved to a new apartment near the school where I work. It's small,
but downtown, so I am right in the heart of the city, instead of way out in the suburbs.
Suddenly, there's so many fun things to do, in the evenings too. I am a much happier
person today because of these recent changes.

So, how about you? I hope you'll have a chance to visit Canada again soon. In the
meantime, please write and let me know what's new with you.
Warm wishes
Kim
 An English-speaking friend wants to spend a two-week holiday in your region and has
written asking for information and advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,
 offer to find somewhere to stay
 give advice about what to do
 give information about what clothes to bring
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any address.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________,

Dear Julie
Thanks so much for your latest letter. I'm really excited to hear that you're planning to visit
Toronto. It will give me a chance to take you around, as you did so kindly for me when I
was in Amsterdam last year.
Regarding your visit, I would be happy to help in any way possible. First, unless you really
like freezing weather, I suggest you come in the summer months of July or August. Though
most hotels are expensive at that time, we have some wonderful guest suites available in
our high-rise building, for only about $50 per night. They are fully furnished studio
apartments, with a kitchen, so you can have the option of eating in. Just let me know your
dates and I can make a reservation for you.
Summer is also the time when all the tourist sites are open. We can visit Centre Island,
Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Science
Centre and Thousand Islands. The weather should be warm and comfortable, around 25 –
30 degrees Celsius, so bring your informal summer clothes, a swimsuit and an umbrella too.
We do get summer showers quite often.
I can't wait for you to come! Write soon with more details,
Warm wishes
Irene
(207 words)
Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m writing this letter in response to the vacancy for housekeeper as advertised in the “Daily
News” on 6th of November 2007.

I have worked for the “Care-givers” home for 5 years and thereafter was transferred to the
main branch in Durban. This branch caters for two hundred people. I was appointed the
supervisor, with five staff reporting to me. I have gained much experience in planning,
organizing and leading in this job. I have worked with all types of people and know how to
handle any problems that may arise.

The reason why I would like to apply for this job is because your private home would benefit
from my experience. I would be able to give much more attention to the needs of the home
due to its size. My credentials speaks for itself which is attached for your perusal. Iawait to
an interview to further discuss my experience with you.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours Faithfully,
M Munsamy

This is a good letter. It has the correct structure and covers the task. The sentences are
mostly well structured, although some show use of inappropriate expressions. The
vocabulary is fine.There are a few grammatical errors, see comments. Overall, this looks
like a Band 6.5 – 7 letter.

Corrections;

1. In response to the vacancy for: to apply for the post of

2. speaks for itself: speak for themselves
3. attached for your perusal: please find them attached with this letter.
4. Iawait to: I am looking forward to an interview...
 IELTS Letter, topic: Asking for information on scholarships

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m writing this letter to request more information about a scholarship/financial assistance
offered by your College.

I was waiting in anticipation to enrol next year for the much coveted Diploma in English,
but due to some unfortunate circumstance, I found myself in a financial difficulty.

I would appreciate if you could steer me to the right path for scholarships information or if
the college could provide me assistance.

My certificate in Secondary education shows above average grades. I have worked in a

voluntary position on weekends teaching English to young foreign kids. I do have the means
to pay back if a loan was approved by the college. My employer will vouch for my
employment and provide you with a proof of my earnings. He could also arrange a monthly
deduction from my salary to your bank account.

I believe I have what it takes and I trust you would consider my request, by giving me the
opportunity to continue my study.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours Faithfully,
M Munsamy

This is a good letter. It has the right structure, covers the task, shows a good command of
the English language, the sentences range in complexity, the grammar and spelling are fine.
Some minor corrections were made, see comments. Overall, this looks like a Band 7 letter.