IELTS General Writing Task 1: Informal Letter Samples

The IELTS General Training test is for those who want to migrate to an English-speaking country (such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the UK) or who need to complete a language proficiency test as part of the requirements for their work or study. The test is designed to assess the language skills of candidates who need to use English in a practical, everyday context.

The IELTS General Training test consists of four parts:

1. Reading: This section consists of 40 questions and tests the candidate's ability to understand written English in a variety of contexts, including everyday materials, such as letters and advertisements.
   
   
2. Writing: This section consists of two tasks and tests the candidate's ability to write in a clear, concise, and logical way in a variety of formats, including letters, reports, and essays.
   
   
3. Listening: This section consists of 40 questions and tests the candidate's ability to understand spoken English in a variety of contexts, including everyday conversations and announcements.
   
   
4. Speaking: This section consists of a face-to-face interview with an examiner and tests the candidate's ability to speak and communicate effectively in English.

The IELTS General Training test is graded on a 9-band scale, with each band corresponding to a range of language proficiency.

Also read: Eligibility for IELTS

IELTS General Training Writing test : Task 1 and Task 2

Task 1: In this task, you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter should be at least 150 words and should be written in a formal or semi-formal style.

Task 2: In this task, you will be presented with an opinion, argument, or problem and asked to write an essay in response. You should provide your opinion on the topic and support it with relevant examples and reasons. Your essay must have a minimum of 250 words.

For both tasks, you should aim to organize your writing clearly and coherently, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and demonstrate your ability to write in a style appropriate for the purpose and audience of the letter or essay.

It is important to allocate your time wisely and manage your writing effectively. You should spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. It is also a good idea to spend a few minutes reviewing and editing your work before you submit it.

Also read: Exam pattern for IELTS test

IELTS General Training Writing test : Types of letters

1. An informal letter: This is a personal and informal form of communication written to a friend, relative, or someone you know personally. It is usually less formal than other types of letters and includes personal details and anecdotes.
   
   

2. A formal letter: This is a more formal and business-like type of letter written to a person or organization with whom you have a professional relationship. It follows a more formal structure and tone and is typically used for business or official purposes.
   
   

3. A semi-formal letter: 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.

In the IELTS General Training Writing test, you will be asked to write a letter as part of Task 1. You should use the appropriate tone and style of writing for the type of letter you are asked to write. It is important to use proper grammar and spelling and to organize your ideas clearly and coherently.

Also read: IELTS test fee

An informal letter is a type of letter that is written to a friend, relative, or someone you know personally. It is a personal and informal form of communication, and the tone and style of writing are typically more relaxed and friendly than formal letters.

In the IELTS General Training Writing test, you may be asked to write an informal letter as part of Task 1. In this task, you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter should be at least 150 words and should be written in a semi-formal style.

In an informal letter, you can use contractions and colloquial language, and you can include personal details and anecdotes. However, it is still important to use proper grammar and spelling and to organize your ideas clearly and coherently.

The letter begins with a greeting, such as "Dear [Name]," and ends with a closing, such as "Best regards," followed by the sender's signature.

IELTS Informal Letter Sample

NOTE: You will be given the question in the form of one main sentence which will contain a situation and some bullet points to let you know what is to be added to the letter. Always address each part of the question and link your ideas with the given information so that they seamlessly explain the situation.

General Training Writing

Task 1

You borrowed something from your friend, later it got damaged. Write a letter to your friend.

In your letter, you should:

• Apologize for it
• Tell how it got damaged
• Say how you are going to fix the issue.

Dear Jan,

Hope you’re doing well. So, before I start the letter, please know that I am extremely sorry for this. Well, I broke the peach vase. You will be mad about this but please read further to know what happened.

As you know that I borrowed the vase for my party with my colleagues, it was just the perfect centerpiece, and it worked great for the day. However, the next day I noticed that something was not right with the vase.

So, I removed the flowers and when I held the vase, I could see a big crack. I feel that something was banged against the vase and that’s how it happened.

I feel horrible for ruining it mostly because it is expensive and you had warned me about the care it needed. Please accept my apology. I want to do something to fix it. Do you remember a friend of mine who is learning pottery?

I think I mentioned it to you. Well, he has assured me that some glazing procedure can hide the crack and I think we can do that. Let me know what you think about this.

Regards
May

Also read: IELTS test types