Band Score Checker

IELTS General Writing Task 1 Letter

In General Training Writing Task 1 you write a letter of at least 150 words about an everyday situation, covering three bullet points in the right tone for the reader. Below are three practice tasks, one formal, one semi-formal and one informal, each with a model letter. Tap a task, write your own letter, and the checker gives it a band on all four criteria.

Formal, semi-formal and informal IELTS letters

Every task tells you who the letter is for, and that decides everything else. Read the reader first.

TypeWho it goes toOpening and sign-offTone
FormalSomeone you don't know, often a company, manager or officialDear Sir or Madam, ... Yours faithfully,Full forms, no contractions, polite and direct
Semi-formalSomeone you know by surname: a neighbour, landlord, teacher or bossDear Mr Patel, ... Yours sincerely,Polite and friendly, a few contractions
InformalA friend or a relativeDear Sam, ... Best wishes, or Lots of love,Contractions, everyday phrases, personal news

How to write an IELTS General Training letter

  1. Decide the tone first. The reader in the task tells you whether the letter is formal, semi-formal or informal, and that fixes the opening, the closing and the words in between.
  2. State the purpose straight away. The first sentence or two after "Dear ..." should tell the reader why you are writing.
  3. Give each bullet point its own paragraph and add a specific detail to each one: a date, a number, a place, a reason.
  4. Close in the same tone. One closing line, then a sign-off that matches your opening, then your name.
  5. Spend about 20 minutes and write 160 to 190 words. Keep two minutes to check that all three bullet points are there.

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IELTS letter samples with model answers

Original practice tasks, not real test questions. Try each one before reading the model letter.

Formal letter: a complaint about a late, damaged delivery

You recently ordered a washing machine online. It arrived much later than promised, and it was damaged. Write a letter to the company's customer service manager.

In your letter:

  • describe what happened
  • explain the problems this has caused you
  • say what you would like the company to do

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ...

Model letter, 185 words:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to complain about a washing machine I ordered from your website on 3 October (order number 58214), which arrived late and in poor condition.

When I placed the order, I was promised delivery within five working days. However, the machine did not arrive until 24 October, nearly three weeks later, and only after I had called your helpline four times. When the driver unpacked it, I found that the door was cracked and one of the feet was missing.

This has caused me considerable inconvenience. Because my old machine had already been taken away, my family has been without one for almost a month, and I have spent around £40 at a local launderette. I also had to take two afternoons off work to wait for deliveries that never came.

I would therefore like you to collect the damaged machine and replace it within the next week. I would also appreciate a refund of the delivery charge and the launderette costs, for which I can send receipts.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Daniel Rossi

Why it works

  • The purpose is in the first sentence, together with the order date and number the company needs.
  • One paragraph for each bullet point, in the same order as the task, so the examiner can tick them off.
  • Specific details: dates, the number of calls, the £40 and the two afternoons make the complaint believable.
  • "Dear Sir or Madam" goes with "Yours faithfully", because the writer doesn't know the reader's name.
  • Firm but polite: "I would like you to" and "I would appreciate" ask clearly without being rude.

Semi-formal letter: to a neighbour about late-night noise

Your neighbour, whom you have not met yet, has started playing loud music late at night. Write a letter to your neighbour.

In your letter:

  • introduce yourself
  • explain the problem
  • suggest a solution

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ...

Model letter, 175 words:

Dear Mr Patel,

My name is Anna Kowalska, and I moved into flat 4B, directly below yours, at the beginning of last month. I hope you don't mind me writing to you about something that has been affecting me recently.

For the past two weeks, I have been able to hear loud music from your flat late in the evening, often until after midnight. I work early shifts at the hospital and have to leave home at six, so I have found it very hard to get enough sleep, and I am worried that tiredness will affect my work.

I wonder whether we could find a solution that suits us both. Would it be possible to turn the volume down after 10 p.m. on weekdays? At weekends it would not bother me nearly as much. Alternatively, I would be happy to come up and talk about it in person if that would be easier.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am sure we can sort it out.

Yours sincerely,

Anna Kowalska

Why it works

  • The reader's name with "Yours sincerely": the writer knows who lives upstairs but hasn't met him.
  • A friendly opening before the complaint keeps the relationship good, which matters to a neighbour.
  • The problem has a reason attached (early shifts at the hospital), so it doesn't sound like a general complaint.
  • Suggestions as questions: "Would it be possible to...?" and "I wonder whether..." are polite without being stiff.
  • A few contractions ("don't") are fine in a semi-formal letter; slang is not.

Informal letter: to a friend, turning down an invitation

A friend has invited you to stay with them for a week next month, but you cannot go. Write a letter to your friend.

In your letter:

  • thank them for the invitation
  • explain why you cannot come
  • suggest another time to visit

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ...

Model letter, 175 words:

Dear Sam,

Thanks so much for inviting me to stay with you next month. It was lovely to hear from you, and I got really excited reading about all the places you want to show me in your new city.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I won't be able to make it. My company has just asked me to lead a new project, and the deadline falls in exactly the same week, so there's no way I can take time off. I'm really disappointed, especially as it's been nearly two years since we last saw each other.

How about coming to see me instead? Or, if you'd still rather I came to you, the project should be finished by the end of November, so early December would be perfect. I've already asked my manager for a few days off after it ends, so I'll definitely be free then. We could even go to that Christmas market you told me about.

Let me know what you think, and say hello to Jess for me.

Lots of love,

Maria

Why it works

  • A first name and a warm sign-off, because the reader is a close friend.
  • Contractions and everyday phrases ("there's no way", "make it") give the natural tone this task needs.
  • The reason is real and specific, not just "I'm busy", which develops the second bullet point properly.
  • Two suggestions, one of them with a month, so the third bullet point is fully covered.
  • Still organised: informal doesn't mean one long paragraph; each bullet point has its own.

Useful phrases for IELTS letters

To do thisFormal or semi-formalInformal
Saying why you are writingI am writing to complain about / enquire about ...I just wanted to let you know ...
Asking for somethingI would be grateful if you could ...Could you possibly ...?
SuggestingWould it be possible to ...?How about ...? / Why don't we ...?
ApologisingI apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.Sorry I couldn't ...
ThankingThank you for taking the time to ...Thanks so much for ...
Closing lineI look forward to hearing from you.Let me know what you think. / Can't wait to see you.

Use these as a starting point, not a script. Examiners notice sentences that were learned by heart and don't fit the situation.

IELTS letter mistakes that cost marks

  • A bullet point missing or answered in half a sentence. This limits Task Achievement however good the English is.
  • The tone changes halfway. Starting with "Dear Sir or Madam" and ending with "Hope you're doing great!" tells the examiner you haven't chosen a tone.
  • The wrong sign-off. "Yours faithfully" after "Dear Mr Patel", or "Yours sincerely" to a friend.
  • Writing addresses and a date. The task says you don't need them; they cost time and aren't counted.
  • Hiding the purpose. If the reader only finds out why you're writing in the third paragraph, the letter isn't doing its job.
  • Memorised lines that don't fit. "I hope this letter finds you in the pink of health" in a complaint to a company sounds learned, not written.

What each band needs, in plain English: Task Achievement for letters. Taking the Academic test instead? Practise a line graph, pie chart or map. For Task 2, pick from the Task 2 questions and topics.

Questions

How do you write a letter in IELTS General Writing Task 1?
Work out the tone from the reader, say why you are writing in the first lines, give each of the three bullet points its own paragraph with a specific detail, and finish with a closing line and a sign-off that match your opening. Write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
What is the difference between formal, semi-formal and informal letters?
It depends on the reader. Formal letters go to people you don't know, such as a company. Semi-formal letters go to people you know by surname, such as a neighbour or a manager. Informal letters go to friends and family and can use contractions and everyday phrases.
Should I write "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely"?
"Yours faithfully" when you don't know the reader's name ("Dear Sir or Madam"), "Yours sincerely" when you do ("Dear Mr Patel"). For a friend, use "Best wishes", "Take care" or "Lots of love".
Do I need to write addresses or a date?
No. The task tells you that you don't need to write any addresses. Start with "Dear ..." and go straight into the letter.
How much is the letter worth?
Task 1 is about a third of your Writing band; Task 2 counts for twice as much. That is why about 20 of your 60 minutes should go on the letter.
Are these real IELTS questions?
No. They are original practice tasks written in the style of General Training Writing Task 1. Real test questions aren't published in advance.
Can the checker mark my letter?
Yes. Tap a task above to put it into the checker, or paste your own task and letter on the IELTS Writing Task 1 checker with Task 1 letter selected. It checks the bullet points, the tone and all four criteria.