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.
61 to 120 of 266
All IELTS formal letter samples
- Formal Letter Regarding Excessive Noise from RestaurantYou are living in an English-speaking country and the restaurant near you is making a lot of noise.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter Requesting an Office TransferYou would like to work in a different city to be closer to your family.formal · request
- Formal letter to airline regarding lost luggageYou lost a piece of luggage during a recent flight.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Bank Manager Regarding Fraudulent ChargesYou have just received a credit card statement from your bank. The statement lists a number of expensive purchases that you are sure you did not make.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Bank Manager Requesting Emergency LoanAs an international student in Sweden, you have an account with a local bank. The monthly bank transfer you receive from your parents has been delayed this month due to an error at your parents' bank.formal · request
- Formal Letter to Building Manager Regarding Noise ComplaintYour next-door neighbour likes to listen to music late at night. Because of the loud music, you often lose sleep.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to College Principal Regarding Application StatusYou have planned to study in Australia. You have sent a letter to a college, but you have not received a reply from the college.formal · giving information
- Formal Letter to Council Opposing Historic Building DemolitionThe Local Council in the area where you live has decided to demolish an old historical building to build a shopping centre.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to council opposing sports center closureYour local council is considering closing a sports and leisure center that it runs, in order to save money.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to hotel manager regarding positive staff feedbackYou had a problem while staying at a hotel, and the receptionist was very helpful.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to HR Regarding Employee Conduct IssuesYou Have a Problem with A Recently Hired Employee in Your Workplace.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to landlord regarding heating and waterYou are a student at an English language school in Brighton and are living in private accommodation with other flatmates. You have not had hot water or heating for some time. The landlord's workmen have tried to fix the problem but without success.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to local council regarding rubbish collectionThere is a problem with the rubbish collection in your neighborhood.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Local Council Regarding Waste ManagementThe system used for rubbish/garbage collection in your local area is not working properly. This is causing problems for you and your neighbors.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Manager Regarding Changing Room IssuesYou visit a sports centre regularly, and there is a problem with the changing rooms in it. You have complained about it several times but with no success.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Manager Regarding Incorrect Online OrderYou ordered two items through the internet and you received two different items.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Manager Regarding Parking DifficultiesYour workplace does not have a parking area for cars, and it is causing some problems.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Post Office Manager Regarding Missing MailYou recently sent some documents by post, but they did not arrive at the destination.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Store Manager Regarding Defective ElectronicsYou recently bought an expensive electronic product from a store and found that the product does not work properly.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to University Committee Regarding Missed ExamYou have received a letter from your university of Albion demanding a reason for your absence from an exam. You were ill that day but failed to submit the evidence.formal · apology
- Formal Letter to University Governor Regarding Campus NoiseYou are living in a University residence, and you have a problem with the high levels of noise from a new campus restaurant which is open until midnight.formal · complaint
- Formal request for room relocation to Accommodation OfficerYou live in a room in a college where you share it with another student. You find it very difficult to study and work there because your roommate always has friends visiting. He/she has parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking you.formal · request
- Formal request to Human Resources for remote workYour employer has recently allowed some employees to work remotely from home. You would also like to work from home.formal · request
- Formal Request to the Head of Department for Course TransferYou are not happy with the course you are doing at college and would like to change to a different course.formal · request
- Formal Resignation Letter to a Company ManagerYou have decided to leave your current job.formal · other
- Inquiry letter to an overseas English language schoolYou are planning to go and study English at a school overseas. You would like some information about their courses.formal · giving information
- Inquiry letter to university regarding scholarship applicationYou are interested in applying for a scholarship program to study at a foreign university.formal · application
- Inquiry to car hire company regarding accessible vehicleYou are going on holiday and you would like to hire a car. One of your parties is in a wheelchair.formal · request
- Job application for summer camp activity leader positionYou would like a job working in the summer camp which runs sports and outdoor activities for children and young people.formal · application
- Job Application Letter for City Museum Shop PositionYou have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City Museum shop during the holidays. You decide to apply for the job.formal · application
- Job Application Letter for Restaurant Waiter PositionA restaurant has placed an advertisement for waiters and waitresses in your local newspaper.formal · application
- Job application letter to a community collegeYou have seen an advertisement for a community college that needs teachers for night classes.formal · application
- Job Application Letter to a Hotel ManagerYou have seen an advertisement for a 'weekend work' in a hotel in the town where you are staying. You have worked in a hotel before and think that the job would be suitable for you. Now you want to apply for the job.formal · application
- Job Application Letter to Global Tech SolutionsYou are looking for a full-time job, and recently you saw a job opening in an advertisement.formal · application
- Job Application Letter to Mr. Moore for WaiterYou want to apply for the following job. Waiter/waitress required for evening work. Some experience is necessary.formal · application
- Letter of application for an au pair positionYou have seen an advertisement in an Australian magazine for someone to live with a family for six months and look after their six-year-old child.formal · application
- Letter to a Bookstore Manager Requesting a Specific BookYou want to buy a book and you have found the book in a bookshop.formal · request
- Letter to a bus company regarding lost valuablesYou recently travelled by bus from your hometown to a different city and left some valuable items on the bus.formal · giving information
- Letter to a club secretary requesting membership informationYou are interested in joining a local sports club.formal · giving information
- Letter to a college requesting English course informationYou are planning to study English at a college in an English-speaking country. You would like some information about their courses.formal · giving information
- Letter to a famous actor requesting an opening appearanceYou work for an entertainment company which plans to open a new theatre soon. You want to invite a famous actor to open the new theatre.formal · invitation
- Letter to a furniture company regarding damaged goodsYou recently bought a piece of furniture online for your home, but when it arrived, it was damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to a Hall Owner Requesting Rental SpaceYou and some of your friends want to start a weekly dance club, and you have found a hall that would be suitable to hold your meetings.formal · request
- Letter to a Hotel Manager Regarding Lost DocumentsYou recently attended a meeting at a hotel. When you returned home, you found you had left some important papers at the hotel.formal · request
- Letter to a Hotel Manager regarding lost propertyYou have just spent a weekend staying at the Lilo Hotel in Adelaide. When you get home you find that you have left a bag at the hotel.formal · request
- Letter to a Hotel Manager regarding lost property (details of your stay)You Recently Went on A Business Trip and Stayed in A Hotel. On Getting Home, You realize You Left Some Things at the Hotel.formal · request
- Letter to a Hotel Manager Regarding Room TemperatureYou recently stayed in a hotel in a large city. The weather was very unusual for the time of year and the heating/cooling system in the hotel was quite inadequate.formal · complaint
- Letter to a Hotel Manager Requesting Private RoomYou are going to have a family party in a private room in a hotel.formal · request
- Letter to a librarian regarding a damaged bookYou borrowed a book from a public library and the book is now damaged.formal · apology
- Letter to a local bookshop inquiring about a bookYou are looking for a specific book that is hard to find.formal · giving information
- Letter to a local business requesting team sponsorshipYou want a local business to sponsor your sports team.formal · request
- Letter to a local shop requesting specific itemsYou live near a record shop that sells music, movies, and books.formal · request
- Letter to a local tutor requesting language lessonsYou want to learn a language. A teacher who teaches this language lives near the area where you live.formal · request
- Letter to a manager regarding upcoming work experienceYou are soon going to spend three months doing work experience in an organization.formal · giving information
- Letter to a Museum Curator Requesting Exhibition InformationAs part of a student social survey project, you are organizing a group to visit a historical exhibition in a small town.formal · giving information
- Letter to a professional singer expressing admiration and requesting adviceYou recently went to a concert and thought one of the singers was very good. You want to tell him how you feel.formal · other
- Letter to a School Principal Requesting Student AdmissionYour family is going to move to another town.formal · application
- Letter to a teacher withdrawing from evening classesYou have a full-time job and you are also doing a part-time evening course. You now find that you cannot continue the course.formal · other
- Letter to a Tennis Course Director Requesting FlexibilityYou saw an advertisement for a tennis course in England but you have one or two problems and can't stay the whole course.formal · giving information
- Letter to Accommodation Officer offering student room rentalYou have a spare room in your apartment that you want to rent to a student.formal · giving information
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