IELTS Writing Task 1 - General
Writing Formal and Informal Letters
Explanation of Task 1➧ Writing a 150-word letter in response to a given situation
➧ formal, semi-formal, or informal
Time allocation
➧ 20 minutes for Task 1
Assessment criteria
➧ Task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range, and accuracy
Types of Letters
Formal letters➧ Writing to someone you don’t know well
➧ a company, government agency
Informal letters
➧ Writing to someone you know well
➧ a friend, family member
Semi-formal letters
➧ Writing to someone you know but with a degree of formality
➧ a landlord, a colleague
Structure of a Letter
Opening➧ Addressing the recipient appropriately based on formality
Introduction
➧ Stating the purpose of the letter
Body
➧ Developing the main points | usually 2-3 paragraphs
Closing
➧ Polite sign-off and closing statement
Language and Tone
Formal language➧ Polite, professional, and clear
➧ I am writing to inform you...
Informal language
➧ Friendly, casual, and warm
➧ Hey, it’s been a while since we last talked...
Tailoring tone to the recipient
➧ Formal for business, informal for friends and family
Writing Practice
Formal letter task➧ Complaining about a service
Task
➧ You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently purchased an item from an online store, but when it arrived, it was damaged.
Write a letter to the customer service department of the online store. In your letter
➧ Describe the item you bought and the problem
➧ Explain what you want the company to do about it
➧ State how you would like to resolve this issue if there is no satisfactory response
➧ Write at least 150 words.
Instructions for Students
Introduction➧ Start by introducing yourself and the reason for writing the letter.
➧ Mention when you purchased the item and briefly describe it.
Body
➧ Detail the problem with the item when it arrived
➧ damaged packaging, broken parts, etc.
➧ Specify what action you would like the company to take
➧ replacement, refund, etc.
Conclusion
➧ Politely state how you would like the issue to be resolved if the company does not respond satisfactorily
➧ escalate the complaint, take legal action, etc.
➧ Close the letter with an appropriate sign-off.
Writing Practice
Informal Letter Task➧ Inviting your friend
Task
➧ You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have recently moved to a new city and your friend wants to visit you.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
➧ Tell your friend about your new city and what you like about it
➧ Suggest some activities you can do together during their visit
➧ Invite your friend to stay with you
➧ Write at least 150 words.
Instructions for Students
Introduction➧ Start with a friendly greeting and express your excitement about your friend’s upcoming visit.
➧ Mention that you’ve recently moved and briefly describe your new city.
Body
➧ Share some of the things you enjoy about the new city
➧ great restaurants, beautiful parks, vibrant nightlife.
➧ Suggest specific activities you can do together when your friend visits
➧ sightseeing, trying local cuisine, visiting museums.
Conclusion
➧ Invite your friend to stay with you and mention any arrangements you've made.
➧ Close the letter with a warm, friendly sign-off.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
➧ Using incorrect tone for the type of letter➧ Neglecting to include all required information
➧ date, address, etc.
➧ Overcomplicating the language or making grammatical errors
➧ Writing Task 2 - Essay structure and planning.