📌 Introduction
In Task 1 of the IELTS General Writing test, you are required to write a letter. This letter may be formal, semi-formal, or informal; however, in many cases, you will need to write a formal letter (Business Letter). Therefore, being familiar with the structure and language of a formal letter is absolutely essential to achieve a high score.
🧱 Standard Structure of a Formal Letter
A formal letter in IELTS should contain 4 main parts:
- Salutation
• If you know the recipient:
Dear Mr. Smith or Dear Ms. Johnson
⛔ Avoid using titles like Miss or Mrs., as they may be considered personal or outdated.
• If you do not know the recipient:
Dear Sir or Madam is the general and formal form.
- Opening / Introduction
In this part, you explain why you are writing the letter. For example:
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received at your store on June 5th.
- Body
Here, you describe the details of the issue. Depending on the topic, you may write one or two paragraphs. This can include:
• What the problem or request is
• When it happened
• What you expect to be done
- Closing / Final Remark
A polite sentence to close the letter, such as:
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
- Complementary Close
• If you know the recipient:
Yours sincerely
• If you do not know the recipient:
Yours faithfully
On the next line: your full name
Between these two, leave space for a signature (in real life).
✅ Dos and Don’ts in Writing IELTS General Task 1:
| Dos | Don’ts |
| Use a formal and polite tone | Avoid slang like wanna, gonna, cool |
| Get straight to the point | Do not go off-topic or tell stories |
| Follow a clear structure (intro, body, closing) | Don’t write paragraphs without order |
| Write simple and direct sentences | Avoid very long or complex sentences |
| Keep your word count at least 150 words | Writing less than 150 words lowers your score |
📄 Sample Question + Answer for Practice:
✉️ Sample Topic:
You recently bought a product from an online store, but when it arrived, it was damaged. Write a letter to the store manager to complain about the issue.
In your letter, you should:
• Explain what you bought and what was wrong with it.
• Say you are dissatisfied with the service.
• State what you expect to be done.
📬 Sample Answer (Formal Letter):
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with a product I ordered from your online store last week.
On June 5th, I purchased a Bluetooth speaker (Model X202) from your website. Unfortunately, when it arrived, I found that the device was not working properly. The sound was distorted, and the charging port seemed to be broken.
I am quite disappointed with the quality of the product and the inconvenience it has caused. I expected better service from your store.
I would like to request a full refund or a replacement product at the earliest convenience. I have attached the invoice and photos of the damaged item for your reference.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
Reza Mohammadi
🟢 Summary
IELTS General Task 1 assesses your ability to write a practical and effective letter. By following the formal structure, using polite language, and clearly expressing your request or complaint, you can easily achieve a high score. Remember:
A good letter means: Clear purpose + Proper structure + Formal tone