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  • IELTS Letter Writing Tips - 10 Ways to Get Higher Marks

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    Xdoradox Dorado
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    This document provides 10 tips for achieving higher marks on the IELTS letter writing task: 1) Identify the type of letter (formal, semi-formal, informal) and adjust the tone accordingly. 2) Open and close the letter correctly according to its formality. 3) Open formal/semi-formal letters with a formal reason for writing. 4) Open informal letters with a friendly paragraph before stating the reason. 5) Identify the letter's main purpose. 6) Use standard phrases to write more efficiently. 7) Write at least 150 words. 8) Learn correct spellings. 9) Stay on topic. 10) Include all points given in the question.

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    This document provides 10 tips for achieving higher marks on the IELTS letter writing task: 1) Identify the type of letter (formal, semi-formal, informal) and adjust the tone accordingly. 2) Open and close the letter correctly according to its formality. 3) Open formal/semi-formal letters with a formal reason for writing. 4) Open informal letters with a friendly paragraph before stating the reason. 5) Identify the letter's main purpose. 6) Use standard phrases to write more efficiently. 7) Write at least 150 words. 8) Learn correct spellings. 9) Stay on topic. 10) Include all points given in the question.

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    337 views3 pages

    IELTS Letter Writing Tips - 10 Ways to Get Higher Marks

    Uploaded by

    Xdoradox Dorado
    This document provides 10 tips for achieving higher marks on the IELTS letter writing task: 1) Identify the type of letter (formal, semi-formal, informal) and adjust the tone accordingly. 2) Open and close the letter correctly according to its formality. 3) Open formal/semi-formal letters with a formal reason for writing. 4) Open informal letters with a friendly paragraph before stating the reason. 5) Identify the letter's main purpose. 6) Use standard phrases to write more efficiently. 7) Write at least 150 words. 8) Learn correct spellings. 9) Stay on topic. 10) Include all points given in the question.

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    of 3

    IELTS Letter Writing Tips -

    10 Ways to Get Higher Marks on the IELTS Letter Writing Task

    1. Identify the type of letter you are being asked to write. Is it a formal, semi-formal or
    informal letter? The entire tone of your letter is based on your answer to this question. Adjust
    your style and choice of words according to the type of letter you have been asked to write.

    2. Open and close the letter correctly. Remember that each type of letter requires a different
    opening and closing. The chart below will help you remember this:

    Style Characteristics Opening Ending


    To someone you have not
    Formal met, whose name you don't Dear Sir / Madam Yours faithfully
    know
    To someone you may or
    Semi- Dear Mr Brown,
    may not have met, whose Yours sincerely
    formal Dear Ms Stone
    last name you know & use
    To someone you know well,
    Dear John Best regards
    Informal whose first name you know
    Dear Anita Warm wishes
    and use

    3. Open a formal and semi-formal letter with a formal sentence. Don't try to be friendly, as
    you do not know the person you are writing to. Get right down to business and indicate the
    reason you are writing, as shown below:

    Dear Sir / Madam,


    I am writing to inquire about / I am writing in connection with...

    Dear Mr Jones,
    I am writing to inform you ... / I am writing in connection with...

    4. Open an informal letter with a general, friendly paragraph. With friends whom we know,
    we care about the whole person. We have a broader relationship in the context of which this
    communication is taking place. So it is best to acknowledge that friendship first, before getting
    down to the reason for your letter. In fact, the first paragraph could be purely friendly small talk,
    unrelated to the reason for your writing. Look at the example below:

    Dear Jane

    I hope you and your family are all well. It was such a pleasure to see you again last summer. We
    sure had a great time catching up with each other after so many years. You have always been a
    cherished friend, no matter how much of a gap there has been since we met.

    Anyway, the reason I'm writing is that I have some good news - I am getting married this
    summer...
    5. Identify the main purpose of the letter. Are you asking for help, apologizing, inviting
    someone, complaining or thanking someone? Learn appropriate and polite expressions that will
    support what you need to say.

    6. Learn and use standard written phrases. Students sometimes struggle to finish their writing
    in time. This happens when you are trying to write every sentence from scratch. The fact is, in
    conventional letter writing in English, we use a number of standard expressions and phrases and
    add on to them the specific information we wish to communicate. By learning how to use these
    expressions, you will find the letter writing task much easier and will never have to fight for
    time.

    7. Make sure you write at least 150 words. Practice writing letters till you know what 150
    words feels like and looks like. You will lose marks if you write less. You will not lose marks if
    you write more; the only restriction on writing more is in terms of time, not the number of words.

    8. Learn the correct spelling of commonly used words. It is surprising how many IELTS
    students make a mistake when spelling words such as "sincerely", "faithfully", "in connection
    with" and so on. You can prevent yourself from losing marks by learning the correct spelling of
    these words and expressions which you are highly likely to use on your exam.

    9. Stay on topic. In order to complete your letter within 20 minutes or less, practice writing
    letters where you stick to the point. The General IELTS Task 1 does require you to make up a bit
    of a story to complete your letter, but don't make your story so complicated that you run out of
    time.

    10. Include all three bulleted points. If you exclude even one of the points given to you in the
    question prompt, you will lose valuable marks. Practice writing letters that include the three
    points and go back and check that you have included them in each practice exercise you do.
    To complete your IELTS letter writing task within 20 minutes, it is helpful to know some common
    phrases and set expressions. Being able to use these will allow you to express your ideas quickly
    and effectively, without thinking about each and every word. While you're learning their meaning,
    also make sure you can spell them perfectly. Finally, try the quiz at the bottom of the page to see
    how well you know these important expression.

    Apologizing Asking forHelp Asking forInformation


    I'm sorry about... I'd be grateful if you could... I am writing to enquire about...
    I am sorry that... I would be grateful if you could... I am writing to find out about...
    I'm very sorry about... I would appreciate it if you What I am looking for is...
    I'm very sorry for... could... I would like to know about/if...
    Please forgive me for... Could you please...
    I'd like to apologize for... I was wondering of you could
    Please accept my apologies. help me.(informal)
    Please accept my sincere I would like to know...
    apologies. (very formal)
    Closing Complaining / expressing Conveying regards
    dissatisfaction
    I look forward to seeing you. I'm writing to express my Please give my best regards to your
    I look forward to hearing from you. dissatisfaction with... family.
    I look forward to meeting you. I'm writing to express my Please pass on my best wishes to
    annoyance with... your wife and children.
    I am not happy about... Please give my regards to your
    ...was very disappointing. parents.
    Expressing satisfaction Expressing concern/ sympathy Givingbad news
    I was delighted to hear that... I was sorry to hear about... (your I regret to inform you that...(semi-
    I was very happy to learn that... accident/ illness) formal)
    I was thrilled to find out that... I am writing to express my I am sorry to tell you that...
    I was glad to hear that... concern about... (informal)
    ...was very enjoyable. I regret to advise you that...(formal)
    I am afraid I have some bad news.
    (informal)
    Giving good news Givingreasons Making suggestions
    I am pleased to inform you that...(semi- This is because... Would it be a good idea to...
    formal) This is because of... Perhaps it would be a good idea to...
    I am delighted to tell you that...(informal) This is due to... (formal)
    I am happy to advise you that...(formal) This is as a result of...(formal)
    I thought you might like to know that... This is owing to...(formal)
    Thanking
    Thanks.
    Thank youThank you very much.
    Thank you kindly.
    I can't thank you enough.
    No words can express my gratitude.
    I am extremely grateful for...
    I very much appreciate your______ing

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