Structure and tone
How to write an IELTS formal letter
- →Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
- →If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
- →No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.
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.
- 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.
1 to 60 of 266
All IELTS formal letter samples
- Accommodation Request Letter to UK College Admissions OfficeYou are going to study at a college in the UK next year. You would like to stay in a college Hall of Residence.formal · request
- Application for a language tutor position in AustraliaYou have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year.formal · application
- Application for a Part-Time Position at United Football ClubYou are looking for a part-time job at a football club.formal · application
- Application for a Student Loan for Part-time StudyYou have learned that a financial organization in your city gives money as a loan to students who like to take a part-time course. You are interested in doing the course and have decided to take a loan.formal · application
- Application for Academic Excellence Scholarship at UniversityYou have read about a scholarship offered by a university and wish to apply.formal · application
- Application for home assistance position with Mrs BarrettMrs Barrett, an English-speaking woman who lives in your town, has advertised for someone to help her in her home for a few hours a day next summer.formal · application
- Application for Quality Assurance Manager position at UniversityYou are a current student of Loren Brusque University, studying Business Administration. You want to apply for the post of Quality Assurance Manager you have recently seen on the university's notice board.formal · application
- Application for School Science Trip Volunteer PositionYour children go to a local school that requires volunteers to accompany school science trips.formal · application
- Application for the Sales Manager positionYou have seen an advertisement in this week's magazine that invites suitable candidates to apply for the sales manager position in a company.formal · application
- Application letter for a part-time positionYou learned the news from your friend regarding a part-time job at a new international company near your house.formal · application
- Application letter for an apartment property management positionYou have seen an advertisement in a newspaper for a property management position at an apartment complex. You want to apply for the job.formal · application
- Application Letter for Summer Hotel Staff PositionYou have seen an advertisement for part-time work in a hotel for three months over the summer.formal · application
- Application letter to Mr Moore for waiter positionA restaurant has advertised in a newspaper that a waiter/waitress is required for evening work. It has also been mentioned that the prospective candidate should have some experience.formal · application
- Application letter to museum director for volunteer roleA museum near your home is looking for people to do part-time voluntary! unpaid work. You would like to do some voluntary unpaid work at the museum.formal · application
- Application to Join the City Chamber OrchestraYou would like to join the local orchestraformal · application
- Application to volunteer at the local city hospitalYour local hospital has advertised people to do unpaid work helping at the hospital. You would like to do some work at the hospital in your free time.formal · application
- Application to volunteer for the upcoming charity eventYou saw an advert in the newspaper asking for volunteers to help run a charity event.formal · application
- Booking inquiry for a family weekend seaside stayYou and your family are planning to spend a weekend at a seaside hotel.formal · making arrangements
- Booking Request for Local Community Hall EventYou are planning to hold a community event and need to book a local hall.formal · request
- Feedback letter to the Cookery School DirectorYou recently did a short cookery course. The cookery school has asked for your feedback on this course.formal · giving information
- Feedback regarding furniture removal services to your companyYou recently used a company to help you move your furniture and possessions to your new apartment. The removal company has now asked for your feedback about the service they provided.formal · giving information
- Formal Application for Local Newspaper Job AdvertisementYou saw a job advertisement in the local newspaper and want to apply.formal · application
- Formal complaint letter regarding a faulty camera repairYou have bought a new camera but when you got it home you found it had some problems. You returned the camera and spoke to the company representative a week ago but the camera has still not been repaired.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding a faulty television purchaseYou bought a new HD television last week. At first, it seemed to work perfectly but after a few hours a line appeared across the TV and the sound seemed a little strange. You cannot take the TV back to the shop so you have decided to write to them.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding damaged household goodsYou recently moved house and you used a removal company to help you move your belongings. However, some of your things were damaged in the move.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding faulty office equipmentYou work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding poor hotel serviceYou stayed at a hotel recently and were unhappy with the service.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to head office regarding faulty laptopYou recently bought a laptop computer. A few days later the laptop stopped working. When you took it back to the shop, they refused to deal with the problem.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to internet service providerYour internet connection has been slow and intermittent for the last couple of days, and it affects your work.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to internet service provider (request a reduction in your bill)Your internet connection has been slow and intermittent.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to manager regarding poor serviceYou are not happy about a service you received a couple of days ago from a company and you have decided to complain about it.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to restaurant manager regarding poor mealYou took your family to a nearby restaurant. You were disappointed with the meal and wish to complain to the manager.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to school director regarding courseYou are attending a course at an evening school.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to supermarket manager regarding accidentYou were hurt in a minor accident inside a supermarket, and you wish to complain to the supermarket.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to travel agency regarding poor accommodationYou have just returned from a holiday. You are unhappy with the quality of the hotel you stayed in and want to complain to the travel agency that arranged the holiday.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding a delayed radio repair serviceTwo weeks ago you bought a radio from a local branch of a well-known chain shop. It did not work properly. The shop took it back and said they would repair it. You have waited a week and still, it is not ready.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding emergency department waiting timesYou went to the local hospital's Emergency Department with your young child who had severe stomach pains. You had to wait for almost four hours before your daughter was treated by a doctor.formal · complaint
- Formal Complaint Regarding Incorrect Billing Address DeliveryYour telephone company made a mistake in sending your bill to the wrong address.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding invalid train tickets and staffYou recently bought some train tickets for a journey a week in advance. When you went to the station to catch the train, you were told you could not use the tickets and the staff were very unhelpful to you.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding unprofessional taxi service and silenceYou recently took a trip with a taxi company. The driver behaved in an unacceptable way and you had a lot of problems. You complained to the company but no-one has replied to your complaint.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding unresolved car rental AC issueYou rented a car from a car rental company. The air conditioner has stopped working. You phoned the company a week ago but it still has not been repaired.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to airline regarding lost luggageYou traveled by plane last week and your suitcase was lost. You have still heard nothing from the airline company.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to building manager regarding noiseYou live in an apartment building and for the past few weeks, your new neighbors have been making a lot of noise late at night, preventing you from sleeping.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to cruise provider regarding holiday disappointmentYou have taken a cruise on a holiday and have been disappointed with the experience.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to local council regarding construction noiseSome construction work is being done on the street where you live for the last couple of days. The noise from the work is loud and it disturbs you.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to local council regarding dangerous dogsYou live in a house opposite a park. Every day a man brings large dogs to the park and lets them run free.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to mobile company regarding faulty deviceYou have bought a new mobile phone and in a few days of purchase, it has stopped working. You spoke to the company representative a week ago but it has still not been repaired.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to the British Council regarding testingYou recently took an IELTS test and there were some problems that you believe affected your score.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter Complaining to Transport Manager about ServiceThere have been some problems with the public transport you use to commute daily.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter Declining a Job Offer to HRYou recently applied for two separate jobs. Both of them have chosen to hire you, but you must write a letter to one of them explaining why you are unable to take the position.formal · apology
- Formal letter of complaint regarding damaged luggageYou recently traveled by a long-distance bus, and during this journey, your suitcase was damaged.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint Regarding Defective Online PurchaseYou have bought some clothing online and are not satisfied with your purchase.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint Regarding Hotel Stay ExperienceYou recently stayed at a hotel and were unhappy with the service.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint regarding reduced train serviceTrain service in your area is reduced.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint regarding substandard hospital careYou were recently treated at a hospital but the care was substandard.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint to bus company about lost property serviceYou have lost something on a bus and called customer service to get help. You weren't happy with their response.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint to bus company managerThere have been some problems with the bus service, especially its reliability, in your area over the last two weeks.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint to Local Council Regarding NoiseWork is being done on the street where you live. The noise is disturbing you.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint to Tourist Information ManagerYou recently visited a foreign country and got some information at the Tourist Information Centre. The information given to you was wrong.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Resignation to Current ManagerYou work for a company and have recently decided to leave your current employment.formal · other
Frequently asked questions
When do I write a formal letter?+
Formal letters go to an organisation, an official or someone you do not know. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
How should I structure an IELTS formal 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
- 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
- Arrangement letters · 25
- Invitation letters · 19
- Thank-You letters · 15
- Landlord letters · 20
- All IELTS letter samples
- IELTS General Training writing practice
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy