TASK – 1

Three points are provided in the task for you to add to your letter. You need to write 150 words in 20
minutes. The main purpose of IELTS general writing task 1 is to evaluate your functional writing skills.
It is to check whether you can write several types of letters such as apologize, complain, suggest, or
ask for information. Now in our next section, we will look at the key factors for task achievement in
IELTS letter writing.

Step 1 : Check if it’s formal or informal letter?

Note : Remove Semi-formal completely.

Explanation:

Now let’s understand each point in detail.

State the Purpose:

Start writing your letter by clearly stating the purpose or expressing why you are writing this letter. In
the general IELTS writing task 1, your letter needs to be presented in the opening paragraph. Further,
you should ensure that the purpose of the letter is linked to the situation or question.

Use the Right Tone:

In the next paragraph, the examiner will look for the tone of your letter. The tone refers to how you
write the letter, formal or informal style. However, you can find out the style of your letter by reading
the instructions in a question.

Mention Bullet Points:

When writing a letter for the IELTS general writing task 1 you must include the bullet points given in
the question. With the help of these points, you can frame your letter in a well-structured or logical
way.

Structure Your Letter:

The final feature that an examiner will look at in your letter is how well you structure it. Your score
will be judged on the format and will check whether you have mentioned all the things or not.
Further, this point is the deciding element for your letter.

Overall, these are the factors which will help the examiner decide how your letter is written. In the
next section, you will find in detail about the types of letters in general IELTS writing task 1.

Types of Letters in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1

In the IELTS general writing task 1, you will be asked to write a letter requesting information or
explaining a situation. You must write down 150 words in the timeframe of 20 minutes. However, the
letter will be one of the following types as mentioned in the table:

Informal letters : (e.g. to a friend or family member)

Informal letters are almost always to friends, family, or someone else you know very well (like a work
colleague).

An informal letter is a personal letter written to a friend, relative or someone you know closely. It is
generally less formal than other types of letters and includes personal details and narratives. Further,
it is written in a casual and friendly tone that does not need any specific format but ensures cohesion
and coherence. See below the format of writing an informal letter in IELTS general writing task 1.

1. Format of IELTS informal letter

Dear ____________ (First name of your friend)

Paragraph 1- Write an introduction (I’m writing to let you know that...)

Paragraph 2- Bullet point 1 with relevant details

Paragraph 3- Bullet point 2 with relevant details

Paragraph 4- Bullet point 3 with relevant details

Looking forward to hear from you

Warm regards,

(Your first name)

This is the format for writing an informal letter in IELTS general writing task 1. The next section will
talk about the types or categories in which you write the informal letter.

2. Types of Informal Letters You Can Encounter

This section will cover some of the types of informal letters which can be asked in your exam. Look
below for a better understanding.
Letter of Invitation

Letter of Advice

Letter of Apology

Letter of Requesting

Letter of Thanking

3. Informal Letter Sample

The following section will provide you with IELTS general writing task 1 informal letter sample with its
answer. To score well in the exam, you must practice each type of letter so that you get prepared.
Further, see the question below and then read the solution in brief.

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Now take a look below at the IELTS General Writing Task 1 informal letter sample question and
answer.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Robin

I am glad to hear that you have finally decided to learn to drive. The idea of learning to drive will
change your life.

But firstly, you must have your driving license which is a way to remove all the restrictions to drive
anywhere with freedom. You will be independent in handling routine tasks for example office,
shopping etc. Moreover, it is a social and legal responsibility to be an ideal citizen.

Secondly, you must search for a good driving school with supportive and experienced instructors. I
would like to recommend Hall Driving School downtown. I, myself, have learnt from this well-known
driving school. All the instructors are well-educated and experienced professionals. They will make
you learn in both theoretical as well as practical aspects. Moreover, you will also learn the traffic
rules that are the most important in today’s life.

To become perfect in all aspects you need to appear for an exam to test your knowledge of driving
before obtaining a license. I think a two-week course will be enough for you to be perfect and clear
the driving trust.

I hope my advice will serve the purpose. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Love,

Robert

Formal letters: (e.g. to the manager of a company)

Formal letters are usually to someone you don't personally know, and IELTS will usually tell you this
when the question says 'Begin your letter with 'Dear Sir or Madam'. In general this is very easy to
identify in the test.

Formal Letter in IELTS General Writing Task 1

The formal letter is written to those people whom we don’t know or have never met. Thus, it is
important to plan the structure of the letter. See below to know the format for the IELTS formal letter
in the general training test.

1. Format of IELTS formal letter

Dear Sir/Madam

Paragraph 1- Write why you are writing this letter. (I am writing this letter to inform you)

Paragraph 2- Give supporting details

Paragraph 3- Add more supporting details if any

I hope to hear from you

Yours faithfully

(Your Full Name)

You can use this IELTS formal letter format to frame your answer before you start answering the
question. Now the next section will let you know about the categories you can get to write the
formal letter.

2. Types of Formal Letters You Can Encounter

In this section, we have compiled a collection of the types of formal letters you can get in general
IELTS writing task 1. Have a look below:

Letter of Reference

Letter of Complaint

Letter of Application

Letter of Request

Letter of Suggestions

3. Formal Letter Sample

This section presents IELTS general writing task 1 formal letter sample with its answer. If you want to
excel in IELTS writing task 1, then you must practice the sample question. Thus, look for the question
below and then read the answer in detail.

Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Now take a look below at the IELTS General Writing Task 1 formal letter sample question and answer.

Begin your letter as follows:

Respected Sir or Ma’am,

I am writing this letter regarding an international flight that I missed due to reasons beyond my
control.

For the past two weeks, I have been travelling for business purposes and speaking at international
conferences. Unfortunately, I arrived at the Tokyo airport over three hours delayed yesterday
afternoon, due to the technical difficulties experienced by one of your company’s air crafts. As a
result, I missed my connecting flight from Tokyo to Madrid, and could not attend the conference.

As a result of the delay, my company had to send another executive to speak at the conference in
Madrid. This is not only a major inconvenience from our end, but it is a costly expenditure as well.
Further, I have had to pay out of pocket for my lodgings in Madrid.

Since the delay that was caused by your aircraft, I hope that you will repay me for the cost of my
lodgings in Madrid as well as my additional flight home to Toronto, Canada.

I will look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Samar Tanwar

Semi-Formal: (e.g. to your landlord or employer, who you know)

This is a letter that is written to someone you know personally but is not a close friend or relative. It
is less formal than a formal letter but more formal than an informal letter. Further, look below at the
format for semi-formal letters in IELTS general writing task 1.

1. Format of IELTS Semi-Formal Letter

Dear (Mr/Mrs and Name)

Paragraph 1- State the purpose or introduce the letter

Paragraph 2- Give details

Paragraph 3- Add supporting details if required

I hope to hear from you

Yours faithfully

(Your full name)

This is the format for the semi-formal letter in IELTS writing task 1. The next section will cover the
types or categories in which you need to write the semi-formal letter.

2. Types of Semi-Formal Letters You Can Encounter

This part will talk about the types of semi-formal letters that can appear in your exam. Take a look for
a better understanding.

Letter of Resignation

Letter of Apology

Letter of Acceptance

Letter of Request

Letter of Suggestions

3. Semi-Formal Letter Sample

The following section will let you know about IELTS general writing task 1 semi-formal letter sample
with the answer. To excel in the IELTS letter writing task you must practice the samples for each letter.
Thus, look for the question below and then read the solution in detail.

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Now take a look below at the IELTS General Writing Task 1 semi-formal letter sample question and
answer.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mr. Ashish,

I am writing regarding my absence from the annual company business meeting held last week.

Firstly, I would like to formally apologize for not being able to attend the business meeting. I
recognize the importance of the event, mainly in terms of networking and growing as a team.
However, my mother had an intrusive heart surgery last weekend, and I spent the last week taking
care of her at home.

While the surgery was not dangerous, it was not a routine procedure either. My mother needed
constant support and faced a long road to recovery. Since I am an only child of my mother, she relied
on me during this difficult period. Also, my presence was an important part of her well-being.

To catch up on what was covered during the event, I have scheduled a meeting with Mr. Andrew
from the Finance department. After meeting with Mr. Andrew, I am confident enough that I will be
brought up to speed with the rest of the team and ready to start working.

Thank you for understanding.

Sincerely,

Rishabh Malik

Overall, these are the IELTS general writing task 1 samples with their required answers. In the final
section, we will look over some tips to excel in the IELTS writing task 1.

Tips to Ace in IELTS General Writing Task 1

To increase your performance in IELTS general writing task 1, you should be well aware of the
techniques and strategies. Thus, learn about IELTS general writing task 1 tips for effective scores.

Identify the type of letter and its purpose after reading the question.

 Pay attention to who you are writing and the relationship you have with that person.
 Understand the IELTS exam format for the General Training before appearing for the exam.
 Use all three bullet points to structure your letter properly.
 Use your imagination to fill in details like names of the people in your letter.
 Manage your time effectively.

For formal letter:

Step 2: Read and understand the question.
Do not waste time in between try to take a minute and read the question properly instead of
getting lost in between. Your answer should make sense.
Step 3: Start planning out your letter
Now you know what to write about.

Step 4: Start your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam”.

Step 5: Write each paragraph based on your plan.

Think of the reader, what information do he need in order to help you.

Don’t assume what reader knows just explain in such a way that you are talking to a person who
knows nothing about it.
Step 7: End the letter with “Kind Regards”.
Step 8: Put in your name
Step 9: Now check for any grammar mistakes
Step 10: See if you can improve the vocabulary you used
Tips:
Formal VS Informal Language:
Why is this important?
To get one of the higher bands you should use an appropriate tone consistently
throughout your response.
Not just knowing the difference but also using efficiently during writing.
What not to do?
Learn words or phrases that you think are formal/informal and insert these into
your response.
Informal response Formal response

Write a letter to a friend telling them Write a letter to a Boss telling them
you lost your bag. you lost your bag.

Tell them: Tell them:

 Where you lost it?  Where you lost it?

 What was in it?  What was in it?
 Why it is important?  Why it is important?

Response: Response:

Dear Tom, Dear Tom,

I’m writing you this letter to let you I am writing to inform you that I lost
know that I lost my bag. my bag.

I lost it on my way to work and I I lost it while travelling to work and

reckon I may have left it on the train. believe that I may have left it on the
train.
My laptop was in there and I am
100% sure the memory stick was also The most significant item contained
in the USB. in the bag was my office computer I
am also quite sure my memory stick
You’ll never believe this but the file was plugged into it.
for the product launch were on there
and I’m screwed. I regret to tell you that all the files for
the upcoming product launch were
 on the memory stick.

Building a complex structure in IELTS, particularly in the Writing and Speaking

sections, involves constructing sentences and responses that demonstrate a
wide range of grammar, vocabulary, and logical progression. Here are some
steps to help you improve your use of complex structures in both IELTS Writing
and Speaking:
1. Understand Complex Sentence Structures
A complex sentence has one independent clause (which can stand alone as a
sentence) and one or more dependent clauses (which cannot stand alone).
Here’s how to build them:
 Subordination: Use subordinating conjunctions like "although,"
"because," "since," "unless," etc., to connect dependent clauses to the
main clause.
o Example: Although the economy has improved, many people still
struggle to find employment.
 Relative Clauses: Add extra information by using relative pronouns like
"who," "which," "that," etc.
o Example: The book that I bought last week was very insightful.
 Conditionals: Use conditional sentences for hypothetical situations.
o Example: If I had more time, I would complete the project.
2. Use Various Sentence Types
 Simple Sentences: Direct, concise sentences. They add variety to your
writing.
o Example: I went to the market.
 Compound Sentences: Combine two independent clauses with a
conjunction like "and," "but," or "so."
o Example: I went to the market, and I bought some fresh fruit.
 Complex Sentences: Combine independent and dependent clauses (as
mentioned above).
3. Linking Devices for Coherence and Cohesion
 Cohesive Devices: Use linking words to make your writing flow logically.
Words like “furthermore,” “in addition,” “however,” and “on the other
hand” show relationships between ideas.
 Conjunctions: Connect ideas to show contrast, cause-effect, or time
relationships.
o Example: Despite the rain, we decided to go on the trip.
4. Embedding Clauses
 Embed information within sentences to show depth and variety.
o Example: The man, who had been living in the neighbourhood for
over ten years, was known by everyone.
5. Use of Modals and Conditionals
 Modal verbs like "can," "could," "might," "should," etc., are useful for
creating complex statements, especially for recommendations or
hypothetical situations.
o Example: Governments should take action to reduce pollution,
which might otherwise lead to long-term environmental damage.
6. Passive Voice
 Using the passive voice adds complexity and can change the focus of the
sentence.
o Example: The solution was implemented by the company to
increase efficiency.
7. Use of Advanced Vocabulary
 Incorporate a wider range of academic and topic-specific vocabulary.
However, make sure it’s used appropriately and naturally.
o Example: The rapid urbanization of cities has exacerbated
environmental degradation.
8. Examples of Complex Sentences for IELTS Writing
 Problem-Solution Essay:
 o Complex Sentence: Although many efforts have been made to
reduce pollution, it remains a significant issue in many urban areas
because governments and businesses often prioritize economic
growth over environmental protection.
 Opinion Essay:
o Complex Sentence: While some people believe that technology
has made communication impersonal, I would argue that it has, in
fact, made it more efficient and convenient.
9. Complex Structures in IELTS Speaking
 In speaking, it’s essential to sound natural and not overly rehearsed, but
incorporating complex grammar can still help. Here are ways to do that:
o Conditional Sentences: If I had more free time, I would definitely
take up painting again.
o Comparisons: The transportation system in my country is much
better than it was a decade ago, although it still needs
improvement in rural areas.
o Hypotheticals: If I were to visit any country, I think I would choose
Japan because of its rich cultural heritage and advanced
technology.
10. Practice Regularly
 Regularly practice writing essays and speaking aloud using complex
structures.
 Record yourself during speaking practice and review the use of complex
sentences.
Example Writing Task:
Question: Some people believe that the internet has made life easier, while
others argue it has complicated life. Discuss both views and give your
opinion.
Sample Complex Response:
"Although the internet has indeed revolutionized communication, some argue
that it has also introduced complexities. For instance, despite its convenience,
the internet has increased our exposure to an overwhelming amount of
information, making it difficult to discern credible sources. On the other hand,
supporters claim that it has made daily tasks more efficient, allowing people to
work remotely and stay connected globally. In my opinion, while the internet
may have its drawbacks, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, as it
has fundamentally changed how we live and work."
Summary of Key Complex Structures:
 Use subordinating conjunctions and relative clauses.
 Include passive voice and modal verbs.
 Use varied sentence types: simple, compound, and complex.
 Incorporate linking words and advanced vocabulary.
Practicing these strategies in writing and speaking will help you achieve the
complexity expected for higher IELTS band scores. Let me know if you'd like to
practice with specific examples!