Structure and tone
How to write an IELTS information letter
The tone comes from the reader, not the purpose. In this set: 30 formal, 8 semi-formal, 29 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.
1 to 60 of 67
All IELTS information letter samples
- 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 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
- Informal letter to a friend about holidayYou recently went on a fantastic holiday and want to tell your friend about it.informal · giving information
- Inquiry letter to a neighbor regarding English lessonsYou are working in an English-speaking country. Recently, you have learned that a person who lives near your home can offer English lessons.semi-formal · giving information
- 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
- 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 close friend about moving abroadYou have decided to move to another country for work.informal · 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 cousin's friend requesting local travel adviceYou are going to spend your vacation in a city in a foreign country. You have never been there before. Your cousin has a friend who lives there.semi-formal · giving information
- Letter to a Facebook friend about national newsYou have a Facebook friend living in another country and she/he is curious to learn about a major news item in your country.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about a memorable tripYou recently visited a place that had a strong impact on you.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about a museum visitYou have recently visited a museum. Now write a letter to your friend about the museum you have visited.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about career changeYou have decided to leave your current job and look for a new one.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about my new jobYou have recently started work in a new company.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about overseas job offerYou have been offered a job overseas that you applied for.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about starting a businessYou Want to Start Your Own Business.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about staying at my homeYour friend will be staying at your home, but you can't be there.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend about visiting their university townYou are going to visit the town where your friend went to university.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend helping with college projectYour English-speaking friend has asked for your help with a college project he/she is doing about celebrating New Year in different countries.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend offering to sell carYou have a friend who has always liked the car you currently drive. Now you have decided to sell the car. You think your friend might be interested in buying it.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend planning a visit abroadA friend you met last year has invited you to visit them in their country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend recommending a great movieYou recently watched a great movie and think your friend would like it.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend recommending a job opportunityA friend you made while you were studying abroad has written to ask you for help in finding a job in your country. You have heard about a job in a local company that might be suitable for him/her.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend recommending a job vacancyYou Are Leaving Your Job and Would Like to Invite Your Friend to Replace You.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend recommending an elementary schoolA friend wants to get some information about an elementary school where one of your cousins studies.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend regarding my new homeYou have recently moved to a different house, and you want to give the news to an English-speaking friend who lives in another country.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend regarding upcoming visitA friend you met last year has invited you to visit him/her in his/her country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend reminiscing about our tripRecently you visited a foreign country with a friend.informal · giving information
- Letter to a friend sharing recent life updatesYou have just graduated from university and started your first full-time job.informal · giving information
- 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 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 neighbour regarding a small gatheringYou are having a small gathering at your house and there might be some noise.semi-formal · giving information
- Letter to a team member recovering from injuryYou play a team sport with some friends. Last week a member of the team had an accident and wasn't able to play with you at the weekend. You decide to write to him in the hospital, telling him about the match.informal · giving information
- Letter to a teammate explaining temporary absenceYou are a football player, but you have to leave the team for a while,informal · giving information
- 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
- Letter to airline reporting lost hand luggageLast Wednesday you flew from London to Vancouver. When you arrived home, you discovered that you had left your hand luggage on the plane.formal · giving information
- Letter to an agency requesting long-term rental accommodationYou will go to a foreign country to stay there for one year, and you need a place to live in. You have decided to write to an agency for accommodation.formal · giving information
- Letter to an Editor Correcting Inaccurate Article InformationYou are living overseas and you have just come across an article about your country in a magazine where some of the information is incorrect.formal · giving information
- Letter to an elderly neighbour regarding graduation partyYou are having a graduation party next Saturday night. You have invited 50 people to celebrate at an outdoor barbecue evening, which may continue till late night.semi-formal · giving information
- Letter to an electrical store inquiring about stockYou would like to buy some electrical goods at a shop in a nearby town.formal · giving information
- Letter to an old friend sharing career newsYou haven't spoken to an English-speaking friend who lives abroad for a long time. You have recently started a new job.informal · giving information
- Letter to colleague recommending my current rental apartmentYou are moving out of your accommodation. Do you think the place is suitable for your English-speaking colleague who is arriving next month?informal · giving information
- Letter to College Inquiring About Photography CourseYou saw an advertisement for an evening photography course at a local college and would like more details before enrolling.formal · giving information
- Letter to college librarian regarding overdue booksYou borrowed some books from your school or college library. Unfortunately, you have to go away to visit a sick relative and cannot return the books in time.formal · giving information
- Letter to college principal offering career talk (giving information)A local college wants people with a job to come and talk to students about what it is like to work. You would like to come forward and talk to the students about your job.formal · giving information
- Letter to college tutor explaining course enrollment reasonsYou have just started a new course at a college and your tutor has asked you to write him a letter with the reasons for your enrollment in the course.formal · giving information
- Letter to conference manager enquiring about training facilitiesThe company you work for is planning to provide special training for staff. Your duty is to find out if the local conference center has suitable facilities in order to hold the training.formal · giving information
- Letter to course lecturer withdrawing from evening classesYou are employed full-time and also doing a part-time evening course. You are not able to continue the course.formal · giving information
- Letter to Employer Providing Feedback on Training CourseYou recently attended a training course for your work. Your employer has asked you for your feedback on the training course.semi-formal · giving information
- Letter to friends about moving to their cityYour friends recently moved to a new city. You will also be moving to the same city.informal · giving information
- 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 landlord regarding moving out and recommendationYou are going to leave your apartment in an English-speaking country and your landlord is a very good person, who has assisted you a lot during your stay. Meanwhile, your friend wants to rent the flat after you.semi-formal · giving information
- Letter to Library Manager Regarding Unexpected ClosureYou recently visited your local library but found it closed.formal · giving information
- 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 Manager Proposing Improved Workflow ProcessesYou have an idea for a new way of working that would benefit your team.semi-formal · giving information
- Letter to manager proposing new office equipmentYou have been to a business meeting at another company and saw a piece of equipment which can be useful for your company too.semi-formal · giving information
Frequently asked questions
Should an IELTS information letter be formal or informal?+
It depends on who you are writing to, not on the purpose. Of the 67 information letters here, 30 formal, 8 semi-formal, 29 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 information 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
- 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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