Here’s my latest e-book with all the general information you need as a candidate.

 

IELTS-2018-General-Information-by-Ielts-jonathan-compressed

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education

 

A common GT IELTS task can be writing a formal Letter to Inform.

Completing the IELTS General Task 1 might seem easy, but when was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter?

• Who was it to?
• Why did you write?
• What was the purpose and
• what did you write about?

Believe it or not, people still write letters in their daily lives. What do you think most people write letters for?

Writing emails is less demanding in terms of language and structure, and so IELTS General Training questions are there to display to display the language and structuring ability of the test candidate. 

The last time I wrote a complete letter, rather than an email, was last year.

It was a letter of complaint to an insurance company.

I had to say what had happened and why I was dissatisfied with the service. I also asked for a refund.

I remember it took quite a long time to complete.

So don’t worry if you think IELTS General Task 1 is a challenge.

In this post we will learn the structure and vocabulary needed to complete task and answer the question to get the highest score in task achievement. 

IELTS General Training

Exam task – Writing a letter to inform

Exam focus – General Training Writing Task 1

In this post, I am going to give you the skills for to construct a letter to inform;

This will help your approaches to planning a letter and also make sure you’re using the appropriate language and organisation.

Introduction – Recognising types of Letters

Learn how to write an email to your university professor.

Here is the question

Remember you must answer all three prompts in order to get Band 5 or above  – This means at least three paragraphs in your letter.  

Task 1

In order to prepare for you to use the best language, do the exercises I have prepared below.

Preparation task

Match the vocabulary (1–6) with the more formal way of saying the same thing (a–f).

 

Vocabulary	More formal vocabulary
1.      …… at the moment   2.      …… a problem 3.      …… to tell you 4.      …… talk about it more 5.      …… worried 6.      …… to ask for	a.      to inform you   b.      to request c.       an issue d.      concerned e.      currently f.       discuss the matter further

Reading text: An email to your class tutor

Dear Professor Richards,

1) I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I am unable to continue to attend the Spanish as an additional language course this term/semester. I would like to request permission to defer as I understand that this is only possible with your approval.

2) The issue is that I am currently doing an internship with HSCB Corporation. It started in July and will continue until the end of the term/semester. The internship takes up 25 hours per week and I am concerned that it does not leave me with enough time to study. I have already asked if I can reduce my hours at HSCB, but this is not possible.

3) With your approval, I could take Spanish next semester instead. I realise that this would mean a heavier workload than usual next semester, but I assure you that by that time I  would be able to manage my time and keep up with classes.

4) Thank you for considering my request and I would be happy to come in and discuss the matter further.

Regards, Jenny Liu

 

Task 2

Which paragraphs perform which prompt in the question?

 

Paragraph	Prompt
1.      2.       3.       4.	a.    conclude b.    discuss c.     suggest d.     inform e.     request

It’s a good idea to follow the prompts in the question and also think about the audience you are writing to.

1. Use the person’s job title if you don’t know their name (e.g. Dear Admissions Tutor, Dear Marketing Manager, Dear Customer Relations Manager).
2. Start your email by clearly giving your reason for writing and then explain the issue.
3. Working people are busy, so it’s important to be make the letter short and to the point, include only the most important information.
4. If you have a solution to the problem, suggest it and politely ask if it can be If you don’t, politely request for help or a suggestion.
5. Finish by thanking the person for their assistance and offering to discuss the matter further if needed.
6. Regards, (also With regards, Best regards, or Kind regards,) is a more friendly-sounding sign-off than Yours sincerely, but it is still formal enough to be appropriate.

Task 3

Reading text: An email to your class tutor

Dear Professor Richards,

I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I am unable to continue to attend the Spanish as an additional language course this term/semester. I would like to request permission to defer as I understand that this is only possible with your approval.

The issue is that I am currently doing an internship with HSCB Corporation. It started in July and will continue until the end of the term/semester. The internship takes up 25 hours per week and I am concerned that it does not leave me with enough time to study. I have already asked if I can reduce my hours at HSCB, but this is not possible.

With your approval, I could take Spanish next semester instead. I realise that this would mean a heavier workload than usual next semester, but I assure you that by that time I  would be able to manage my time and keep up with classes.

Thank you for considering my request and I would be happy to come in and discuss the matter further.

Regards, Jenny Liu

Are these sentences true or false?

Answer
1. The email follows the structure of introduction, main point, what you want to happen next.	True	False
2. The tone is formal.	True	False
3. The email includes unnecessary details.	True	False
4. The writer suggests a solution to their problem.	True	False
5. The closing phrase means there is an obligation to discuss the subject.	True	False
6. Regards is for use between friends in emails.	True	False

Task 4

Circle the best answer.

 

1.	I am writing to        you of a change of address.
	a. inform	b. warn	c.  instruct
2.	I sent an email last week to        information about the Philosophy course.
	a. demand	b. ask	c. request

 

3.	I         seven classes before I had to take time off for sickness.
	a. assisted	b. attended	c. appeared
4.	I am         about managing the workload of the course at the same time as my other responsibilities.
	a. bothered	b. concerned	c. upset
5.	I think one         has been the difficulty in accessing the library as a distance student.
	a. mess	b. subject	c. issue
6.	, family circumstances mean it is difficult for me to study in the evenings.
	a. Currently	b. Actually	c. Momentarily
7.	I would like to request your        for a change of timetable.
	a. toleration	b. promise	c. approval
8.	I would be happy to come in and        it with you.
	a. discuss	b. argue	c. dispute

Task 5

Write one word in each gap to complete the email.

(1)……………………………… Professor Vazquez,

Many thanks (2)……………………………… your feedback on my assignment.

 

I’m writing (3)……………………………… inform you that, unfortunately, I have had (4)……………………………… postpone my current module until next term. I requested approval (5)……………………………… the English department (6)……………………………… this and I have (7)……………………………… permission, as long (8)……………………………… I am able to catch up with the work.

 

I (9)……………………………… very much enjoyed your module and I hope (10)……………………………… be able to rejoin the course (11)……………………………… January, after (12)……………………………… small operation on my foot. I wanted to explain (13)……………………………… situation and to assure

 

(14)……………………………… that I will use my recovery time to keep (15)……………………………… with the reading for the course.

 

I (16)……………………………… be happy (17)……………………………… come in and discuss the matter further.

 

Kind (18)……………………………… ,

Jenny Lui

Discussion

What are some good and bad reasons for giving up a course? Do you think this was a good reason and response to the prompts below?

 

Remember you can write over the 250 words limit. This is a minimum, not a maximum target.

The Letter below is a Band 9 example because….

1. It answers all three prompts (inform, discuss, suggest) and expands the details sufficiently and appropriately 
2. The tone is appropriate for the task (with your approval, thank you for considering)
3. It structures the letter, paragraphing is focussed sufficiently and appropriately.
4. Topic sentences clearly link paragraphs together ( I am writing to inform, The issue is that , With your approval I could take Spanish next semester ) 
5. It uses the formal language required for the task i.e, writing to a professor (I am writing to inform, I would like to request )
6. It shows an awareness of style and a wide range of vocabulary 
7. The tone of the concluding sentence is clear and appropriate ( Thank you for considering, I would be happy, discuss the matter further )

Dear Professor Richards,

I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I am unable to continue to attend the Spanish as an additional language course this term/semester. I would like to request permission to defer as I understand that this is only possible with your approval.

The issue is that I am currently doing an internship with HSCB Corporation. It started in July and will continue until the end of the term/semester. The internship takes up 25 hours per week and I am concerned that it does not leave me with enough time to study. I have already asked if I can reduce my hours at HSCB, but this is not possible.

With your approval, I could take Spanish next semester instead. I realise that this would mean a heavier workload than usual next semester, but I assure you that by that time I  would be able to manage my time and keep up with classes.

Thank you for considering my request and I would be happy to come in and discuss the matter further.

Regards, Jenny Liu

 

Finally….

You have to write a minimum of 150 words, include relevant details and use appropriate language and style so that the purpose of your letter is clear to the reader.  

There is no choice of questions, you are given the task and you need to answer all the prompts.

 

More IELTS General Posts

 

I’m Jonathan, an online-IELTS preparation specialist.

I have taught IELTS and University English in more than a dozen universities and schools around the world.

I’m a parent, traveller and passionate about language teaching and helping students achieve their dreams.

Whilst living in Austria or working in Asia, I run IELTS courses to help students get to where they want to be.

If you are serious about IELTS, connect with me to see how I can help you.

What’s the ideal number of words in IELTS writing?

How many words should you write in the  20 or 40 minutes of the IELTS exam?

What is the ideal length of essay or a Task 1 report is an interesting question.

While there has always been a minimum word count, unlike other Cambridge Exam tests, there has NEVER been an upper-word limit in the IELTS exam

 The instructions have always been:

Write at least 250 words (for Task 2) OR Write at least 150 words (for Task 1)

So, if 250 and 150 were the minimum number of words, does that make them the ideal word count, or should you be aiming to write more? 

Importantly, will you improve your band score with more words?

And, if you do write more, how much more?

Do more words mean a higher score?

These are just some of the questions I am asked online.

Number of words?

So, what’s the correct answer?

Well, on the one hand, you need to write essays and reports that address the task fully in both Task Achievement and Task Response.

This means you need to fully report the key details or, in the case of an IELTS essay, extend your ideas.

On the other hand, you need to have, as much as possible, “error-free sentences” to stand a chance of scoring IELTS Band 7 or above for Grammatical Response and Accuracy.

Unfortunately, writing more words means more sentences, and more sentences generally means more chances for making errors!

Why are there word count guidelines?

Not meeting the word count used to be penalised and was an simple way for examiners to use the IELTS Band Scores.

It was easy to penalise students in their Task Response or Task Achievement by counting the number of words; any report and essay under the word count was limited to a band score of 5.

Unfortunately, this led to teachers actively encouraging students to count their number of words, as if their life depended on it.

It didn’t matter about how well you explained your ideas in an essay, or reported the details of a chart; a low word count meant a low band score.

The truth is there was always a valid reason for stipulating a word count for an essay or report.

Without the minimum word count a student could never really answer a question fully and an examiner could never really examine an essay in the four band scores fairly.

Just by looking at TA and TR, a report needs and overview and key features and an essay needs an extended answer.

Are the words counted now?

If you write an IELTS test on paper, you will find that it is marked on a computer somewhere in the world. Gone are the days where test papers were marked in house, in the test centre and examiners spent their afternoon counting words and awarding a score. 

A remote examiner will look at papers and be able to gauge whether an task has enough content. 

The computer based test gives you an automatic word count, for a very good reason; to help you consider if you have extended your answer or reported key details. 

So while the words are no longer counted and there are no longer guidelines, it is up to the examiners discretion whether the content is sufficient to cover the TA or TR.

What if I write significantly under the word count?

Remember I’ve said that a remote examiner is able to “gauge the content of a task“.

If you are significantly under the word count, your writing is likely to draw negative attention.

The remote examiner will start look for missing key features – or whether you have justified you ideas in an essay. This can affect and lower your score. 

There examiner will also consider whether enough vocabulary and grammar has been presented and what justification this has on your IELTS writing score.

So you can see there are a number of valid reasons for aiming to be above the minimum number of words.

What happens if I write a very long report or essay?

Sadly, I’ve seen essays which go to the extreme and significantly exceed the word count. 

An examiner never penalises a piece of writing because of it length, but much like an under-length task, it will draw negative attention. 

In this case, the opposite is true:

One issue with extending an essay and providing too much evidence can affect the progression and cohesion of the essay and led to repetition.

Remember, you only have 40 minutes and if the writing is not planned and concise, then coherence can be affected.

An additional problem might be that too much writing leads to too many mistakes and not enough time to check and correct them.

Finally, in my experience, longer reports and essays tend to have a negative backwash on the examiner. 

No one enjoys reading more than they really have to, especially if it needs to be reread again and again because of confused or poorly planned writing.

This can and will lead to a lower band score. 

When I guide students, I offer this advice.

My word count guidelines for an IELTS TASK 2 Essay

In order to write an essay that extends that argument sufficiently for Task Response, my experience tells me that 280 to 300 words is probably high enough a word count.

Anymore than this and you run the risk of being be off topic,  of repeating your ideas or including irrelevant details.

In fact it is always better to try and write concisely. This means writing and saying as much as you can in as few words and sentences. 

When you are thinking about the word count, ignore the essays that you find on-line, including mine.

Those essays were not written within 40 minutes and were not timed either.

I read essays posted on other websites littered with mistakes and lacking coherent ideas or general sense.

If you look on this website, you will find over-length essays. They took look a lot of time and thought to write and then check and proofread.

They are only posted here to provide exemplars of vocabulary, grammar and topic ideas.

My advice is: do not aim to write more than 300 words for an IELTS Task 2 essay.

Word count guidelines for a Task 1 report

The same advice applies to a Task 1 report.

There is absolutely no reason to write extensively in Task 1. 

A maximum of 200 words should be the limit to avoid repetition or avoid including irrelevant details.

Often 150 to 180 words is enough to cover the task in all areas and so when you practice, just aim for this figure.

Word count guidelines for a General Task 1 Letter

For a letter task you are given bullet points.

As a guide, Task achievement requires that all the bullet points in the prompt are dealt with in the letter you write.

Concise is the key word again, but think about who you are writing to, the purpose and the content you include. 

Think about the letters you might have received in the past. How do you feel if you have to read a long letter?

If you are writing over 200 words, maybe you are writing too much?

Writing a180 words should be enough to avoid repetition or avoiding irrelevant points and details.

What about Native speakers taking IELTS?

Writing to these guidelines also allows sufficient time to check your writing for errors at the end if you write at an average speed.

However, stronger students, native speakers or students at C1 or C2 level, could probably write more than this and still have good control of grammar, vocabulary and ideas.

But is it really worth the extra effort?

The rule still applies, the more you write, the more mistakes you will probably make, which is why it is often a good idea to limit the length of your response.

Long responses can often become repetitive or go off-topic, which affects your band score negatively.

I’ve always told my IELTS students that, in IELTS writing, every word counts and should only add value to your essay.

It is my belief that this will only add to your band score. 

The importance of tone in IELTS letter writing

Many IELTS General writers fail to consider the importance of tone in their letter writing. Using tone indicates the important relationship between the writer and reader, and can seriously affect the purpose of the letter. 

So using the wrong tone in a letter can have a negative overall effect of your writing and because it is part of the marking criteria, there is a good chance it will lower the band score. 

IELTS Band Scores

Tone is a feature of Band 5. 6 and 7 of marking criteria.

At band 6, you can have some errors in tone, but to get to Band 7 in Task Achievement, tone needs to be consistent.

Put simply, the appropriate tone should be used throughout the writing. To be appropriate you need to be aware of who you are writing and the purpose.

There are three aspect to consider in the tone of a letter

So consider the structure, vocabulary and the opening and closing sentences, as these affect the impression that your writing gives.

Let’s look at structured sentences, purpose and suitable salutations.

If you remember these tips, they will improve your writing.

Here is a typical IELTS General Task 1 prompt.

You want to sell some household items.

You think a person you know might like to buy them from you.

Write a letter to a colleague or friend.

• Say why you are selling the items
• Describe the item/s
• Suggest a date when the items can be viewed

One of the first things you could do as a writer, is decide on the appropriate tone of the letter

Before you start

First, work out if the letter should be formal, neutral or informal.

In this case, you are writing to someone you know quite well; a colleague or friend. So the tone will either be a neutral or informal.

I would suggest that neutral is suitable for a colleague, but the writing can be more relaxed for a friend.

Make a note of the number of things you need to mention in the letter.

Notice there are three prompts in this task which are; give the reason for the sale, give a description and suggest a viewing date.

This is important.

If you don’t answer a prompt fully, or forget to included it, you can only score Band 5.

Writing a plan

Any letter really must have a clear structure whether formal or informal.

There should be an

• Opening: explaining who you are and your purpose for writing
• Body: providing the necessary information
• Closing: making any action point clear – what do you want the reader to do?

Tone for opening and closing the letter

Remember to open and close the letter appropriately. 

Informal Letters

Informal letters can be more relaxed in their opening and closing salutations and remarks.

For a friend you would probably use the first name, like this;

Hi Sally and end with 

Love, See you soon, Speak soon,

Alice

For a colleague, you would also use a name but precede the name with ‘Dear’

Dear Simon and end your letter with 

Best Wishes, Kind regards, Hope to speak/ See you soon,

Michelle

Formal Letters

If you know the name of the person you are writing to (e.g. John Gray) then begin with 

Dear Mr Gray and end the letter with 

Yours sincerely.

If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, then open the letter with 

Dear Sir/Madam and end the letter with 

Yours faithfully.

So how do you sign the letter?

You do not have to use your real name or information in the answer and you don’t have to write any address.

You are free to choose any personal information you wish, it does have to be true.

Use a common, neutral name, like John Smith, Mohammed Saleh or Chris Wong but don’t use the name of a celebrity though, as it may look odd and spoil the tone. 

The writing used for opening and closing a letter

This really depends on the purpose of the letter and the prompt that needs to be answered

The IELTS test may present any number of letter prompts, for example, you might be asked to write a 

• an invitation 
• a recommendation
• an enquiry
• a suggestion
• a letter of complaint 
• a letter of request
• a letter of application
• or many more

Obviously, the tone for each letter will be different, for example a complaint is very different to a letter of request.

Using Modal Verbs to improve tone

You can also think of tone as how polite, friendly or direct your writing is.

Certain modals can add politeness to a letter.

For example, if you are writing to a someone in authority, like a professor or a colleague, use modal verbs so you don’t appear too direct.

Using modals such as might, may, could, can, and would can also help your writing appear friendly and polite.

It might be a good idea if the company…..

I may be away for when the course begins…..

If I could contact you, then we could arrange a meeting time.

You can send the lost property to this address.

Would you mind if I asked you a favour?

Likewise, avoid using ‘must‘ and ‘have to‘ even in letters of complaint as this may make the tone too strong and therefore too rude and pushy. 

In this example, you want to appear friendly and open, but at the same time persuasive. After all, you would like your friend to buy these items.

The content is your choice

Whatever you plan to write and the content of the letter is your choice.

A feature of letter writing, even some informal letters, is that writing conventions are often followed.

It is very common to use opening and closing sentences depending on the purpose of the letter.

For example, if you are writing to complain, a possible opening sentence could be 

• I am writing to complain about the service I received etc
• l wish to complain about the service I received

and a closing sentence could be

• I hope that you deal with my complaint within a suitable time period
• I trust that you will resolve this matter speedily

It’s always a good idea to look at number of examples and try to remember the basic writing structures, so you can use them in the exam.

Look at these examples you could use in the test, but remember the content is always your own, and in response to the prompt.

1 – IELTS General Training –

Writing Task 1 (Letters of Application)

Dear Sir/Madam,

PARAGRAPH 1: Reason for writing
I am writing with regard to your advertisement..
I am writing to apply for the post/job/position of/ which I saw advertised in…..

PARAGRAPH 2: Qualifications/training/previous experience/skills/qualities
For the past year I have been working as….
I graduated in 2019 with a degree in….
I am organised, a team player, work well under pressure…

FINAL PARAGRAPH: Closing remarks
Please contact me regarding any queries you may have.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
I enclose my CV and would be glad to attend an interview at a time convenient to you.

Yours faithfully,

2 – IELTS General Training –

Writing Task 1 (Letters of Invitation)

Dear Roland,

PARAGRAPH 1: reason for writing (to invite)
I’m writing to invite you to…
I’d love it if you could come to…
We’re organising a surprise party/gathering/birthday party/a meal…. and would love it if you could come.

PARAGRAPH 2: details/directions
In case you don’t know the way, I’ll give you some directions.
Here are a few directions so you don’t get lost.

FINAL PARAGRAPH: closing remarks
Look forward to seeing you then.
I hope you’ll be able to make it.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you are able to come.

Love, Kind Regards,

3 – IELTS General Training –

Writing Task 1 (Letters of Complaint)

Dear Sir/Madam,

PARAGRAPH 1: reason for writing
I am writing to complain about/regarding/because of/on the subject of…..
I am writing to you in connection with……

PARAGRAPH 2: complaints and justification
Although I have only used the air conditioning unit once, it no longer works. I have called your shop twice but you have not taken any action.

FINAL PARAGRAPH: suggested actions to be taken and closing remarks
I assume you will replace the air conditioning unit. I hope the matter will be resolved promptly.

Yours faithfully

Can I be penalised for Formulaic Sentences?

Don’t worry too much about formulaic sentences.

Unlike task 1 Charts and Tables or an essay in Task 2, you are unlikely to get penalised for using a formulaic sentences in a letter.

The reason is that letter writing often follows certain rules and conventions in terms of structure and tone. Often this depends on who you are writing to, and for what reason.

So it common to see structures such as ‘ I am writing to complain‘  or ‘Can you get back to me asap‘ and ‘Looking forward to your response ‘ and more.

Remember the greeting and salutation!

Dear Lottie / Love, Bill

Hi Sally / Speak soon, Jim

Dear Sir/Madam / Yours faithfully, David Mustafa

Dear Mr Jones / Yours sincerely, David Mustafa

Dear Jim / Kind Regards, Jonathan

So lets look at that example question and my response.

You want to sell some household items.

You think a person you know might like to buy them from you.

Write a letter to a colleague or friend.

• Say why you are selling the items
• Describe the item/s
• Suggest a date when the items can be viewed

Sample answer

Hi Luke, 

Guess what? I’ve got some really good news.

Do you remember when I said I completed an application form for a teaching job in Japan. Well, I got an interview, and I’ve been offered a contract for 6 months in a suburb outside of Tokyo.  I’m so pleased because Japan’s always been on my wish list of places to work. I’m hoping I can make this a long-term opportunity, but if even if it doesn’t pan out, I can easily get a job in Asia, after being in Japan, or I could do some travelling with the money I’ve saved.

So, as I am moving abroad and because I’ve not got any long-term storage at my parents, I am going to have to sell some of my things and I thought of you.

Would you be interested in my gaming PC and monitor before I put in on Facebook Marketplace? It’s only 18 months old! You know it’s got a good processor and high-end graphics card, and the monitor is big, isn’t it! I need to get rid of the desk and chair too. There are a few marks to the worktop, but I could throw those into the deal if you want.

To be honest, I haven’t thought about a price as I’m too excited about going away so just come around anytime. You’ve got my number, just let me know when but make it sooner rather than later. If I can get my visa arranged quickly, I’m due to leave on the 29th of January.

Hope to speak soon,

Evan 

(251 words)

I hope this post has been useful. 

Please share and leave any questions or comments below. 

The importance of tone in IELTS letter writing

A very important aspect of writing a letter in the General Writing test is paying attention to tone.

In fact, using the wrong tone in a letter can have a negative overall effect on your writing, and lower the band score.

Marking Criteria

Using tone in an appropriate and consistent manner gives you a chance of achieving Band 7 in Task Achievement.

It’s important to consider the structure and vocabulary and also consider the opening and closing sentences. These will often affect the tone of your writing.

I’m going to look at structured sentences, purpose and suitable salutations. If you can practice and remember these tips, they will improve the tone of your writing.

Here is a typical IELTS General Task 1 prompt.

Write a letter to your college library.

You have borrowed some library books but cannot return them before the return due date.

• Say what these book are
• Say why you cannot return the books before the due date 
• Suggest what you would like the library to do

One of the first things you should do, as a writer, is decide on the appropriate tone of the letter

Before you start

First, work out if the letter should be formal, neutral or informal.

In this case, you are writing to the library so it will be a formal letter because you are dealing with an official.

Make a note of the number of things you need to mention in the letter and decide what you want the library to do.

Notice there are three prompts in this task which are; name the books, give a reason and make a suggestion.

Writing Plan

A formal letter really must have a clear structure.

There should be an

• Opening: explaining who you are and your purpose for writing
• Body: providing the necessary information
• Closing: making any action point clear – what do you want the reader to do?

Tone for opening and closing the letter

Remember to open and close the letter appropriately. 

If you know the name of the person you are writing to (e.g. John Gray) then begin with 

Dear Mr Gray 

and end the letter with 

Yours sincerely

If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, then open the letter with 

Dear Sir/Madam 

and end the letter with 

Yours faithfully

You do not have to use your real name or information in the answer and you don’t have to write any address. You are free to choose any personal information you wish, it does not have to be true.

The writing used for opening and closing a letter

This really depends on the purpose of the letter and the prompt that needs to be answered

The IELTS test may present any number of letter prompts, for example, you might be asked to write a 

• a letter of complaint 
• a letter of request
• a letter of application
• an invitation 
• a recommendation
• an enquiry 

Obviously, the tone for each letter will be different, for example a letter of complaint is very different to an invitation.

Using Model Verbs to improve tone

You can also think of tone as how polite, friendly or direct your writing is.

Certain modals can add politeness to a letter.

For example, if you are writing to someone in authority, like a professor or a colleague, use modal verbs so you don’t appear too direct.

Using modals such as might, may, could, can, and would can also help your writing appear friendly and polite.

Likewise, avoid using ‘must’ and ‘have to’ even in letters of complaint as this may make the tone too strong and therefore too rude and pushy. 

In this example, you should not be too strong in your tone of writing, as you are hoping the library will agree to your suggestions. Modal verbs, such as could, would and might may be appropriate. 

The content is your choice

Whatever you plan to write and the content of the letter is your choice.

A feature of letter writing, especially more formal letters, is that writing conventions are often followed.

It is very common to use opening and closing sentences depending on the purpose of the letter.

For example, if you are writing to complain, a possible opening sentence could be 

• I am writing to complain about the service I received etc
• l wish to complain about the service I received

and a closing sentence could be

• I hope that you deal with my complaint within a suitable time period
• I trust that you will resolve this matter speedily

It’s always a good idea to look at a selection of examples and try to remember the basic writing structures, so you can use them in the exam.

Here are some examples that you can use in the test but remember the content is always your own, and in response to the prompt.

1 – IELTS General Training –

Writing Task 1 (Letters of Application)

Dear Sir/Madam,

PARAGRAPH 1: Reason for writing
I am writing with regard to your advertisement..
I am writing to apply for the post/job/position of/ which I saw advertised in…..

PARAGRAPH 2: Qualifications/training/previous experience/skills/personal qualities
For the past year I have been working as….
I graduated in 2019 with a degree in….
I am organised, a team player, work well under pressure…

FINAL PARAGRAPH: Closing remarks
Please contact me regarding any queries you may have.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
I enclose my CV and would happily attend an interview at a time convenient to you.

Yours faithfully,

2 – IELTS General Training –

Writing Task 1 (Letters of Invitation)

Dear Roland,

PARAGRAPH 1: reason for writing (to invite)
I’m writing to invite you to…
I’d love it if you could come to…
We’re organising a surprise party/gathering/birthday party/a meal…. and would love it if you could come.

PARAGRAPH 2: details/directions
In case you don’t know the way, I’ll give you some directions.
Here are a few directions so you don’t get lost.

FINAL PARAGRAPH: closing remarks
Look forward to seeing you then.
I hope you’ll be able to make it.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you are able to come.

Love, Kind Regards,

3 – IELTS General Training –

Writing Task 1 (Letters of Complaint)

Dear Sir/Madam,

PARAGRAPH 1: reason for writing
I am writing to complain about/regarding/because of/on the subject of…..
I am writing to you in connection with……

PARAGRAPH 2: complaints and justification
Although I have only used the air conditioning unit once, it no longer works. I have called your shop twice but you have not taken any action.

FINAL PARAGRAPH: suggested actions to be taken and closing remarks
I assume you will replace the air conditioning unit. I hope the matter will be resolved promptly.

Yours faithfully

Can I be penalised for Formulaic Sentences?

Don’t worry too much about formulaic sentences.

Unlike task 1 Charts and Tables or an essay in Task 2, you are unlikely to get penalised for using formulaic sentences in a letter.

The reason is that letter writing often follows certain rules and conventions in terms of structure and tone. Often this depends on who you are writing to, and for what reason.

It’s common to see structures such as ‘ I am writing to complain’  or ‘ I wish to request’ and ‘I hope to receive a response as soon as possible’ and more.

Remember the greeting and salutation!

Dear Sir/Madam / Yours faithfully, David Mustafa

Dear Mr Jones / Yours sincerely, David Mustafa

Dear Jim / Kind Regards, Jonathan

Dear Lottie / Love Bill

Write a letter to your college library.

You have borrowed some library books but cannot return them before the return due date.

• Say what these book are
• Say why you cannot return the books before the due date 
• Suggest what you would like the library to do

Sample answer

Dear Sir/Madam, 

My name is Steven James and I am a student at the University of Boston. My student ID is 667898.

I recently borrowed two books from the library, Introduction to Economics and Global and American Economics. I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I will not be able to return them by the due date of 19^th of September.

I have just received an email to say a family member is unwell and I am planning to return home. I will be leaving later this evening and will not return until the 1^st of October.

Since I will not be able to return the books I would like to know if it is possible for the loan to be extended for one week. Can you change the due date to the 7^th of October so I can return the books without receiving a late fine.

 I would appreciate if you could email me your decision using my university email address [email protected]

Thank you in advance.

Yours faithfully,

Steven James

(150 words)