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.
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All IELTS formal letter samples
- Letter to Hilton Manager Regarding Lost Personal ItemYou have just spent a weekend staying at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide. When you get home you find that you have left a bag at the hotel.formal · request
- Letter to hostel superintendent requesting a room changeYou live in a room in the college hostel which has severe problems. You would like to move into another room and need your hostel super's permission for that.formal · request
- Letter to Hostel Warden Requesting College AccommodationYou are a college student in an English speaking country. You share a rented apartment with others but want to move to the college accommodation instead.formal · application
- 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 Booking Weekend AccommodationYou are planning a weekend trip and need to book accommodation.formal · request
- 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 Hotel Manager Regarding Poor Lunch ServiceYou recently organized an all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants at the meeting said that they liked the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.formal · complaint
- Letter to hotel manager regarding unresolved compensationYou recently spent a night in a hotel and had to put up with a great deal of noise very early in the morning because of a faulty central heating system. The manager promised to contact you regarding compensation but you still haven't heard from him.formal · complaint
- Letter to HR Manager Declining a Job OfferYou cannot go to a company where you got an offer.formal · other
- Letter to HR Manager declining a job offer to stay on a critical projectYou were offered to join a company but for some reason, you can not join there.formal · other
- Letter to Instructor Resigning from Training CourseYou Are Doing a Three-Month Course at A Training Institute. You Have Recently Been Offered a Full-Time Job at A Company and Can Not Continue the Course.formal · giving information
- Letter to insurance company regarding lost holiday itemOn a recent holiday, you lost a valuable item. Fortunately, you have travel insurance to cover the cost of anything lost.formal · request
- Letter to insurance provider contesting premium increaseYour car insurance company has told you that they are going to increase the insurance amount you have to pay for your car each month. You are not happy about this.formal · complaint
- Letter to Landlord Regarding Urgent Apartment RepairsYou have recently shifted to a rental apartment with your family. However, there are some problems with the apartment.formal · complaint
- Letter to Lecturer Requesting Extension for Course ProjectYou are taking a course at a local college. The deadline for your project was last week but you haven't finished it.formal · request
- Letter to librarian explaining a lost library bookYou are an international student and have borrowed a book from the local public library. You left the book on a bus and when you contacted the bus company, they could not find it.formal · apology
- Letter to Library Manager Regarding Unexpected ClosureYou recently visited your local library but found it closed.formal · giving information
- Letter to Library Manager Suggesting Service ImprovementsYour local library wants to improve its services and facilities.formal · advice
- Letter to local council offering voluntary servicesYou live in an English-speaking country and you want to do some voluntary work.formal · application
- Letter to local council opposing new airport constructionYou recently discovered that there are plans to build a new airport in your area, and you are not happy with it.formal · complaint
- Letter to local council regarding lake pollutionYou have discovered a lot of rubbish in a lake near where you live. In the past, the lake had always been clean.formal · complaint
- Letter to local council regarding new airport projectThe government plans to construct an airport in your locality.formal · complaint
- Letter to local council regarding new shopping centreYou have heard that a developer plans to build a shopping centre near your home.formal · giving information
- Letter to local councillor regarding new parking regulationsYou live in an area where the local council has made some changes to regulations. You believe these changes are not good for the residents.formal · complaint
- Letter to Local Official Requesting Community Center FundingYour local community center is in poor condition and needs funding for repairs.formal · request
- Letter to Lost Property Office Regarding Missing ItemsYou recently traveled by train and think that you left some of your possessions on the train.formal · request
- Letter to manager praising excellent staff supportYou recently visited a tourist attraction and you were very pleased with the help given to you by the staff.formal · thanks
- Letter to movie theatre manager regarding lost jacketYou recently went to a movie theatre to enjoy a movie, but unfortunately, you left your jacket there.formal · request
- Letter to Museum Manager regarding accessibility concernsYou visited a museum recently with an elderly relative. However, he or she had difficulty walking around the museum.formal · complaint
- Letter to Museum Manager Regarding Accessibility IssuesYou took an elderly member of your family, who was not able to walk properly, to a museum and he/she faced a few problems.formal · complaint
- 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 music club requesting course informationYou're interested in a music course that you saw in an advertisement.formal · giving information
- Letter to new employer regarding delayed start dateYou are due to start a new job next week but you will not be able to because you have some problems.formal · apology
- 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 newspaper editor praising local restaurantRecently you went to a local restaurant with your family and you were very satisfied with their food and service.formal · other
- Letter to newspaper editor protesting park saleThere is a public park near where you live. You have heard that the local council wants to sell this park.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor regarding bus service changesThe local government is planning to change the bus timetable. You are not happy about the proposed changes. You have decided to write about it to the editor of a local newspaper.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor regarding television program reviewA reporter complained about a new TV program that you like.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor regarding unreceived competition prizeYou Have Not Received the Prize Which You Have Won at A Newspaper.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor requesting a front-page advertisementYou want to rent out a small apartment to a family, and you have decided to advertise it.formal · request
- Letter to Online Retailer Regarding Incomplete DeliveryYou recently ordered something online. When the delivery came it was not complete.formal · complaint
- Letter to project manager offering environmental project assistanceYour local newspaper had an advertisement asking people to help with environmental projects in your area.formal · application
- Letter to Property Agency Requesting Early Lease TerminationYou are renting a flat from an agency. Your contract was for one year but you need to leave the flat two months early.formal · request
- Letter to Railway Manager Regarding Lost LuggageYou have recently travelled on a train and unfortunately left your luggage.formal · request
- Letter to real estate agency regarding house maintenanceYou have rented a four-bedroom house, which you share with two other students. However, there are several problems with this house that need fixing. You also find it expensive and would like to find another student to share the spare bedroom.formal · complaint
- 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
- Letter to restaurant manager expressing gratitude for serviceYou recently enjoyed a meal at a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and you were very pleased with the food and service.formal · thanks
- Letter to Restaurant Manager Regarding Poor Group Dining ExperienceYou are a member of an organization that meets regularly at a particular restaurant. The most recent meal you had there was not satisfactory.formal · complaint
- Letter to restaurant manager thanking for birthday serviceYou celebrated your birthday with some friends last week in a restaurant. It was a great success and you and your friends enjoyed the evening very much.formal · thanks
- Letter to school principal on a cancelled work placement and summer budgetYou are a student at a language school in New Zealand studying Business English. Part of the course is a summer work placement programme. Unfortunately, you have just learnt from the school that this programme has now been cancelled.formal · complaint
- Letter to School Principal regarding cancelled work placementYou are a student at a language school in New Zealand studying Business English. Part of the course is a summer work placement program. Unfortunately, you have just learned from the school that this program has now been canceled.formal · complaint
- Letter to Secretary Resigning from Committee MembershipYou can no longer serve on the committee of your local club.formal · other
- Letter to seminar organizer requesting event informationYou would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another country.formal · giving information
- Letter to shipping company regarding damaged household goodsYou relocated to an overseas country recently and shipped your furniture and other possessions through a shipping company. When you received them, you found some of them got damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to shop manager regarding faulty kitchen equipmentYou recently bought a piece of equipment for your kitchen but it did not work. You called the shop but no action was taken.formal · complaint
- Letter to shop owner inquiring about electrical goodsYou would like to buy some electrical goods at a shop in a nearby town.formal · giving information
- Letter to Sports Club Manager Requesting Membership InformationYou have recently moved to a new neighbourhood and would like to join a sports centre there. You have found a private sports club.formal · giving information
- Letter to store manager regarding faulty clothing itemYou recently bought an item of clothing from a shop. You discovered that it had a fault and returned it to the shop for replacement or refund. However, the assistant told you that this was against the store's policy.formal · complaint
- Letter to store manager regarding faulty television purchaseYou bought a new television, but it stopped working after a week.formal · complaint
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
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