This IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 post covers three example letters. In this post you will find model answers to task 1 letters; informal, semi-formal and formal. Hopefully these samples can work as guides for your further practice.
In the IELTS General Training Writing Module, candidates are required to write a letter on a given topic.
There are three types of letters:
- informal letter: written to a person very close to you; mostly a family member or a friend
Opening : Dear (name) - semi-formal letter: written to someone you know, but don’t know well, like your professor, neighbour, landlord
Opening : Dear Mr/Ms (Name) - formal letter: written to someone you don’t know, like a company, your boss, restaurant etc.
Opening : Dear Sir/Madam,
Here are three sample letters for you with three model answers.
1. Informal letter:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have a pen friend living in another country and he/she is curious to know about the major news items in your country. In your letter:
- Briefly describe ONE (news story) that has been on TV, on the radio, or in the newspapers in your country,
- explain why people are interested in it.
You should write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write your own address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear . .. . .,
Dear Sabina,
I am so very sorry that it took me a long time to write to you. I know that you are curious to know about the major news items in my country but I would like to share with you a great event that happened recently and people in my country are talking about it everywhere. Two great women of our country have been selected as the final nominees for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
My husband gave me the news in the evening and told me to switch on the TV on 15th of this month. I was utterly surprised and get carried away when I heard the news. One of those women were known to me as we met in a conference on child abuse in Geneva last year and we became friends ever since. She was nominated for her movement against child labour. The other person was nominated for her fight against gender discrimination and female employment. As a social worker I follow these two women so much that I started crying when I heard the news. People of my country are so happy because our country is renowned in the world for the fight against child and female abuse. I thought I should share the news with you as you also work for the development of female education.
What about the news in your country?
See you soon.
With love,
Susan.
Word count- 237
2. Semi-formal letter:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are planning to take a short holiday in Maldives with your family and friends and you want to rent a holiday apartment while you are there. Write to the tourist information office. In your letter:
- explain what you need
- say when you plan to be there
- ask for information about prices
You should write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write your own address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Mr/Ms __________,
Dear Mr. Hussein,
I am writing to inquire about the convenience of a holiday apartment in Maldives for a week’s time. While I was planning to visit Maldives with my family and friends for a vacation I was recommended by my friend to book an apartment instead of a hotel as it would be far more suitable and economical. I would like a three-bedroom apartment with preferably three bathrooms. The apartment should be in the heart of the city with easy access to the bus station.
We plan to be in Maldives from the 13th till the 19th of June and would need the apartment for a total of seven days and six nights. We shall be landing in Male on 13th by 1300 hours and will move into the apartment straight away.
I sincerely request you to share all details of available apartments along with with their per day cost including tax and other overheads, if any. In the quotation, do issue the cost of transportation as we would need someone to arrange for a pick and drop from and to the Airport on the 13th and 19th July.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Najibur Rasul.
Word count- 195
3. Formal letter:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
On a recent holiday you lost a valuable suitcase which had some valuable items. Fortunately, you have travel insurance to cover the cost of anything lost.
Write a letter to the manager of your insurance company. In your letter:
- describe the item you lost
- explain how you lost it
- tell the insurance company what you would like them to do
You should write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write your own address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam __________,
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you that I recently lost my suitcase while on holiday in Thailand.
The suitcase is a brown Samsonite luggage brand and the model number is Fiero HS Spinner 28. It costs around $150 when I bought it new last month. Inside it, I had some extremely important documents regarding my job, two gift packs (engagement rings) and my wife’s passport (PP no. DK 27646892).
I lost it when I was having some snacks and coffee with my wife and friend in the Suvarnabhumi Airport area of Bangkok City. I believe the name of the food shop was Parkview Food House and it was on Khaosuan Street. We had been at the coffee shop for around 30 minutes when I noticed it was missing.
I am authorized to submit an application for the value of the above-mentioned item and request that you send me details on what I need to do in order to proceed.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Yours faithfully,
Najibur Rasul.
Click here for a model answer to a complaint letter
