IELTS · Guides · October 24, 2026 · 5 min read
IELTS letter writing: formal, semi-formal and informal letters with samples
In IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1 is a letter of at least 150 words, written in about 20 minutes. The task describes a situation and gives three bullet points that your letter must cover. You are marked on the same four criteria as Academic Task 1, but Task Achievement here depends on two things above all: covering every bullet point and using the right tone for the person you are writing to.
What the task looks like
You recently bought a household appliance online, but it stopped working after a week. Write a letter to the company. In your letter
- describe what you bought and when
- explain what is wrong with it
- say what you want the company to do
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ……………,
Step 1: choose the tone
The task tells you who the reader is. That decides everything else.
| Tone | Reader | Opening | Closing | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | someone you do not know: a company, a council, a manager you have never met | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, + full name | no contractions, polite and indirect |
| Semi-formal | someone you know but not closely: a landlord, a neighbour, your manager, a teacher | Dear Mr Patel, / Dear Ms Lee, | Yours sincerely, or Kind regards, + full name | polite, a little warmer, few contractions |
| Informal | a friend or a relative | Dear Sam, / Hi Sam, | Best wishes, / Love, / See you soon, + first name | contractions, phrasal verbs, a personal voice |
A formal letter that sounds like a text message, or an informal letter that sounds like a complaint to a bank, will lose marks even if the English is good.
Step 2: one paragraph per bullet point
| Paragraph | Content |
|---|---|
| Opening line | Why you are writing (formal), or a friendly first line (informal) |
| Body 1 | Bullet point 1 |
| Body 2 | Bullet point 2 |
| Body 3 | Bullet point 3 |
| Closing line | What you expect next, or a friendly sign-off |
Each bullet point should be developed with details: dates, places, reasons. The examiner reads the letter as the person it is addressed to: would they know exactly what you want?
A semi-formal letter
Task: Your neighbour’s tree has grown over the fence and is blocking light to your garden. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: describe the problem, explain how it affects you, suggest what could be done.
Dear Mr Collins,
I hope you are well. I am writing about the large apple tree on your side of our shared fence, which I wanted to mention before the spring.
Over the last two years, the branches have grown well over the fence, and they now cover almost half of my back garden. In the autumn, a lot of fruit and leaves also fell onto my side, and I had to clear them several times a week.
The main issue is the shade. I grow vegetables in that part of the garden, and last summer most of them failed because they did not get enough sunlight. My children also used to play on the lawn there, but it has become quite damp.
Would you be willing to have the overhanging branches cut back? I would be happy to share the cost of a gardener, and early March would be ideal, before the tree comes into leaf.
Kind regards, Daniel Morris
154 words without the greeting and sign-off. Polite and direct, no contractions, and a suggestion phrased as a question.
An informal letter
Task: A friend is going to visit the city where you live for a weekend. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: recommend a place to visit, suggest something to eat, give advice about getting around.
Hi Maya,
I’m so glad you’re finally coming! It’s a shame I’ll be away that weekend, but I’ve put together a few tips so you can make the most of it.
First of all, you can’t leave without going to the old harbour. It’s lovely early in the morning, before the crowds arrive, and there’s a little market on Saturdays where you can pick up some great souvenirs.
As for food, you have to try the fish soup. Most places along the harbour serve it, but my favourite is a tiny family restaurant called Marina’s, just behind the lighthouse. It’s cheap and always packed, so get there before seven.
Getting around is easy. Don’t bother hiring a car, as parking is a nightmare. The trams run every ten minutes, and a weekend pass costs next to nothing. Everything in the centre is within walking distance anyway.
Have a brilliant time, and send me lots of photos!
Love, Ana
154 words without the greeting and sign-off. Contractions, phrasal verbs (pick up, put together) and a chatty voice are exactly what an informal letter needs.
A formal complaint letter is in the Writing Task 1 guide.
Common mistakes
- Missing a bullet point, or covering it in half a sentence. Underline the three points and check each one off.
- Mixing tones: Dear Sir or Madam with Cheers, or Yours faithfully after Dear Mr Collins.
- Writing addresses. The task says you do not need them, and they waste time.
- Copying the task: I am writing to describe the problem and explain how it affects me. Paraphrase or simply start with the content.
- Going far beyond 150 words. Somewhere between 150 and 190 words is plenty; long letters leave less time for Task 2, which is worth twice as much.
Practise in the practice room
Letter tasks with band scores and comments on all four criteria:
- Formal: A faulty product, Applying for a job
- Semi-formal: Repairs in your flat, Asking to attend a course
- Informal: A friend’s wedding, Recommending a place
Not sure which version of the test you need? See Academic vs General Training.
Common questions
Is “Yours sincerely” or “Yours faithfully” right? Yours faithfully when you start with Dear Sir or Madam; Yours sincerely when you use the person’s name. Kind regards works for semi-formal letters too.
Do I need a date or a subject line? No. Start with Dear… and end with your sign-off and name.
Can I invent details? Yes, and you should. Names, dates, places and reasons make the letter convincing and help Task Achievement.
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