IELTS General Writing: Letter Writing
This tests your ability to write a clear, appropriately toned letter that fully addresses a real-life situation within 20 minutes and at least 150 words.
What this question looks like
In IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you are given a situation (for example, a problem with a neighbour or a request to a company) and three bullet points telling you what to include. You must write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes, choosing a tone: informal, semi-formal or formal, depending on who the letter is addressed to.
Step-by-step approach
- 1Read the situation carefully and identify who you are writing to and why: a friend, a colleague, a company, an official. This decides your tone (informal, semi-formal or formal) and your choice of vocabulary.
- 2Underline the three bullet points in the prompt. Each one must become at least one clear paragraph or idea in your letter; missing a bullet point automatically caps your Task Achievement score.
- 3Choose the correct opening and closing for the tone: informal letters can start 'Dear Sam' and end 'Best wishes'; formal letters need 'Dear Sir or Madam' (if no name given) or 'Dear Mr Patel' (if named), ending 'Yours faithfully' or 'Yours sincerely'.
- 4Plan a short structure: opening line stating your reason for writing, one paragraph per bullet point, a closing line with any request or next step, then sign off. This usually gives 4 to 5 short paragraphs.
- 5Write at least 150 words, aiming for 160-190 so you have room to develop ideas without rambling, and leave 1-2 minutes at the end to check tone consistency and basic grammar.
Worked example
You recently bought a piece of furniture online but it arrived damaged. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: - describe the item and the damage - explain what you would like the company to do - say how you would like them to contact you
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to raise a concern about a wardrobe I ordered from your website last week, order number 4521. When the item arrived yesterday, I noticed that one of the doors was badly scratched and the internal shelf was cracked in two places. Given that the wardrobe was described as brand new, I was very disappointed to find it in this condition. I would appreciate it if you could arrange a replacement as soon as possible, since I no longer have room to store the damaged item while waiting for a decision. Alternatively, if a replacement is not available quickly, I would be happy to receive a full refund instead. Could you please contact me by email at the address used for my order, or by phone after 6pm on weekdays, as I am generally busy with work during the day. I look forward to hearing from you soon and hope this matter can be resolved without further delay. Yours faithfully, A. Rahman
This model works because it opens formally (unnamed recipient, so 'Dear Sir or Madam' and 'Yours faithfully'), and covers all three bullet points in separate paragraphs: describing the item and damage, stating the desired action (replacement or refund), and giving contact preferences. The tone stays consistently polite and formal throughout, with no informal phrases, and the length (around 190 words) comfortably exceeds the 150-word minimum while staying focused and relevant.
Try it yourself
Write a letter of at least 150 words responding to the situation below. Cover all three bullet points, choose an appropriate tone, and use a suitable opening and closing.
You recently attended a training course run by a local college but were unhappy with part of it. Write a letter to the course organiser. In your letter: - explain which course you attended and when - describe what you were unhappy about - suggest what the organiser could do to improve it
Common mistakes
- !Mixing tones, for example using 'Hi there' followed by very formal vocabulary, or using slang in a letter to a company manager
- !Ignoring one of the three bullet points, which limits the Task Achievement score even if the writing itself is fluent
- !Writing under 150 words or padding the letter with irrelevant background information instead of addressing the task directly
- !Using the wrong sign-off, such as 'Yours sincerely' after 'Dear Sir or Madam' (it should be 'Yours faithfully' when you don't know the name)
- !Forgetting the purpose stated in the instructions, for example not actually making the complaint, request or apology the task asks for
Quick quiz
1. In the prompt 'Write a letter to your landlord', if no name is given for the landlord, which opening and closing pair is correct?
2. A task gives three bullet points to cover. You write a fluent, well-organised letter but only address two of them. What is the main consequence?
3. You are writing an informal letter to a close friend about a holiday you are planning together. Which feature would be appropriate?
4. What is the minimum word count for the General Training Letter task, and roughly how long should you spend on it?
Practise this in a real IELTS test
Take a free Writing test with expert evaluation and apply the technique under exam conditions.
Take a free Writing testIELTS General Writing: Letter Writing — FAQ
How do I know whether to write formally, semi-formally or informally?
Look at who the letter is addressed to. A friend or family member usually means informal, a named professional such as a manager or teacher usually means semi-formal, and an unnamed organisation or 'Dear Sir or Madam' situation means fully formal. The relationship stated in the prompt is your main clue.
Can I invent details like names, dates or order numbers in my letter?
Yes, and you should. Realistic invented details, such as an order number or a specific date, make your letter sound genuine and help you develop each bullet point fully, which strengthens Task Achievement. Examiners expect plausible fictional detail, not factual accuracy.
Do I need a subject line or my address at the top like a real letter?
No, IELTS General Task 1 does not require your address, the recipient's address, or a date at the top; just start directly with the greeting. Adding these wastes time and words without earning any extra marks.