Structure and tone
How to write an IELTS arrangement letter
The tone comes from the reader, not the purpose. In this set: 8 formal, 3 semi-formal, 14 informal.
The outline every sample here follows
- 1.Salutation: Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
- 2.Opening: State the purpose of the letter in the first one or two sentences.
- 3.Body: One paragraph per bullet point, in the order given, each with a specific detail (a date, a name, a reason).
- 4.Closing line: Close with the action you want: I would appreciate a reply by Friday, or Let me know when you are free.
- 5.Sign-off: A sign-off that matches the salutation, then your name.
25 letters
All IELTS arrangement letter samples
- Booking inquiry for a family weekend seaside stayYou and your family are planning to spend a weekend at a seaside hotel.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to a close friend congratulating a newbornA friend had a newborn baby, and you have picked up a present for the baby and want to visit to give it to him/her.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a college friend proposing a reunionIt is ten years since you left college. You'd like to organise an event to celebrate this anniversary with all your friends and classmates from college.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a cousin regarding their upcoming arrivalA family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won't be home until the evening.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend about airport pickup arrangementsYou have invited a friend to come to your house next holiday. He/she has asked you how to get to your house from the airport. However, you are going to the airport to receive him/her.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend cancelling theatre plans (making arrangements)You and your friend have booked tickets to go to the theatre. You are now unable to go but have found another friend to accompany him/her instead.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend proposing a sports adventureYou are going to visit a friend who loves sports.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend regarding changing holiday plansYou have decided to go on holiday with your friend. However, you must change your plans.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend regarding house sitting arrangementsYou are going away to travel for the summer. A friend will be looking after your house while you are away.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend rescheduling a Canadian visitYou arranged to visit a friend in Canada but an important event at home now means that you must change the dates of the visit.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a friend rescheduling an Australian visitYou arranged to visit a friend in Australia, but an important event at home now means that you must change the dates of the visit.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to a pen pal about airport arrivalOne of your pen pals will shortly be visiting your city. For some reasons, you can not manage to meet him at the airport on time.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to an Admissions Tutor Rescheduling an InterviewYou have been invited to attend an interview for a place to study a course at a college. Unfortunately, because of a previous appointment, you cannot come at the time they wish.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to an Australian friend about birthday visitAn Australian friend is coming to visit you, and it will be his/her birthday during the visit.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to an old friend regarding holiday plansYou are planning a holiday abroad and will be visiting a town where an old friend lives. You haven't spoken to this friend in a few years.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to business partner rescheduling an upcoming meetingYou have arranged a meeting with a business partner. Unfortunately, you have to change the arrangements.semi-formal · making arrangements
- Letter to friends confirming our upcoming holiday arrangementsYou have arranged a plan for travel and accommodation for your friends.informal · making arrangements
- Letter to Hotel Manager Booking Family Holiday AccommodationYou want to book a hotel that one of your friends recommended to you for a family holiday at the seaside.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to hotel manager regarding business training accommodationYou are planning a 2-day work training outside your city next month.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to Landlord Explaining Apartment Move-in DelayYou are due to move into a rented apartment next month but you will not be able to because you have some problems.semi-formal · making arrangements
- Letter to Manager Suggesting Farewell Party ArrangementsOne of your colleagues is leaving for a new job, and your manager has asked you to arrange a farewell party for him/her.semi-formal · making arrangements
- Letter to Museum Manager Requesting Educational School VisitYou are a teacher at a secondary school (high school). You have been asked to arrange a visit to a local museum or tourist attraction for some of your students.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to new manager requesting a start date changeYou successfully passed a job interview. You are expected to start on November 15, but you will not be available on that date.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to restaurant manager booking a celebrationYou want to celebrate a special occasion at a local restaurant.formal · making arrangements
- Letter to Restaurant Manager Booking a Graduation PartyYou are organising a graduation party for your class and you want to book a restaurant.formal · making arrangements
Frequently asked questions
Should an IELTS arrangement letter be formal or informal?+
It depends on who you are writing to, not on the purpose. Of the 25 arrangement letters here, 8 formal, 3 semi-formal, 14 informal. From the reader named in the prompt. An unnamed organisation or official is formal; a named person you deal with professionally is semi-formal; a friend or family member is informal.
How should I structure an IELTS arrangement letter?+
Open with the purpose in one sentence, then one paragraph per bullet point in the order given. Close with the action you want: I would appreciate a reply by Friday, or Let me know when you are free.
How many words and how long for the letter?+
At least 150 words in about 20 minutes; 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Leave 40 minutes for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.
How is the letter scored?+
Scored on task achievement (purpose clear, all bullets covered, tone consistent), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Task 1 is worth half of Task 2.
Keep going
Other IELTS letter types
- Formal letters · 266
- Semi-Formal letters · 88
- Informal letters · 129
- Complaint letters · 118
- Request letters · 103
- Information letters · 67
- Application letters · 42
- Apology letters · 31
- Advice letters · 28
- Invitation letters · 19
- Thank-You letters · 15
- Landlord letters · 20
- All IELTS letter samples
- IELTS General Training writing practice
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