For General Training IELTS Task 1 letter you need to:
- write a formal or informal letter/email of 150 words in 20 minutes
- choose an appropriate tone (formal, informal or semi-informal)
- ensure your message is clear
- choose an appropriate opening/closing
- address all of the bullet points
- use language for a variety of functions e.g. requests, complaints, apologies, inquiries
Example
Your friend would like to visit you but unfortunately you are not free when they want to come. Write a letter to your friend.
- Apologise
- Explain why you are busy
- Suggest another time
1. Choose the right TONE
This is the first big decision you have to make, and it is VERY important to get the right tone, depending on who you are writing to. Generally:
Formal Letters – to people you don’t know or are senior to you (job applications, letters of complaint, letter of request to your manager, or requesting information)
Informal Letters – to people you know well (invitations to friends, giving advice, news or congratulations)
Semi-Formal – to people you might know well, but it’s a delicate issue (complaining to a neighbour, asking your friend for the bag you lent him/her, OR writing to colleagues/your boss about an informal topic e.g. planning a staff party).
There is often a grey area e.g. depending on how well you know your boss (Do you use first names with your boss? How often do you talk to him/her? How long have you known him/her? Do you feel comfortable addressing them informally?).
2. Use a consistent tone
If you are unsure about which tone to choose, the most important thing is to stay consistent – use the same tone throughout.
DON’T start with an informal ‘Hi John, How’s it going?’ and then end with a very formal ‘I would like to request….’ and then ‘Lots of love xxx’
If you’re not sure about which tone to use, it is always better to ‘play safe’ with a semi-formal tone:
Informal: ‘Hi John!’ ‘Can I ask you a favour?’ ‘Cheers!’
Semi-formal: ‘Dear John’ ‘I’m writing to ask …’ ‘All the best’
Formal: ‘Dear Mr Jones’ ‘I would like to ask…”Best regards’
Very formal: ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ ‘I am writing in order to request…’ ‘Yours faithfully’
3. Use ‘natural’ English
The easiest way to lose points is to use language that is TOO formal for the person you’re writing to. This is the main reason why strong writers get a lower score than they expect in General Training Task 1.
When you’re writing an informal letter, you have to switch on your informal brain. Write as if you were talking. Many people feel uncomfortable doing this in an exam, but it is the key to a higher score.
Informal versus Formal Language
Compare these two answers. Which one gets the higher score?
Model A
Dear friend,
I was pleased to receive a letter from you, informing me of your upcoming visit to my hometown.
I sincerely apologise but I will be unable to accommodate you during the week you requested, as I will not be available. I am sorry to inform you that I have been requested to complete a training course at my company. However, I will be happy to rearrange a mutually convenient date in the near future.
What is your opinion on the matter? Please let me know your availability. I propose next week if that is suitable for you. Please accept my unreserved apologies.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
Fiona
Model B
Hi Sam!
Great to hear from you, and I’m glad everything’s going well for you. I can’t believe you’ve finally got some time to come and visit!
Unfortunately, next week’s not great timing – I’ve got loads of stuff to do at work and I’m on that training course I’ve been wanting to do for ages. It’s a bit tricky to rearrange because they only run the course once a year – you know what these things are like.
How about the week after though? The training will be over by then and I’ll have much more time to show you around. I could get a couple of days leave.
Let me know what day’s best for you and I’ll come and pick you up at the station. Can’t wait!
All for now,
Fi x
Model B would get a higher IELTS Writing Band Score.
Model A is beautifully written, but it’s much too formal and this will seriously lose you marks if Task 1 asks you to write to a friend.
Stay as informal as you possibly can, like Model B.
Checklist: 10 features of an informal letter
- Choose an informal way of starting and finishing the letter (Hi! How’s it going? See you later! Lots of love)
- Use exclamation marks!
- Use direct commands (Let me know!)
- Ask direct questions – (you know what I mean?)
- Use phrasal verbs and even a slang word and/or idiom if you’re confident it’s the right one (I’ll pick you up, loads of stuff)
- Use contractions (I’m, I’d, I can’t etc)
- Don’t be too polite – remember you’re talking to a friend
- Choose INFORMAL vocabulary options e.g. select = choose, attend = go to, participate in = take part in
- Adopt a ‘spoken’ style by dropping unnecessary words (
That’sall for now = All for now) (It wasgreat to hear from you = Great to hear from you) (Ican’t wait!) - Make informal suggestions How about? Why don’t we… Let’s..?
Remember to always check who you’re writing to – don’t use this style if you’re writing a Letter of Complaint or Job Application!
What can you do to improve your letter-writing skills?
Read plenty of ‘informal’ letters to get more familiar and comfortable writing this style of letter.
Start my General Training 28-Day Letter-Writing Course with videos, worksheets and a Model Answer booklet to help you write Task 1 letters.
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