Write a Letter
In Task 1 of the IELTS GeneralWriting module, you will have to write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The examiner wants to see how well you can respond to everyday situations using your English.
There are many different kinds of letters, depending on why you are writing and who you are writing to. However, they all share a basic structure: the greeting; the introduction; the body; and the closing or sign-off.
The greeting
The greeting depends on who the letter is being written to. The most common greetings are:
- Dear [John]: this is used to begin a casual letter, such as to a friend or relative.You should use only the person's first name.
- Dear [Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith]: this is used to begin a formal letter, such as to a client or customer. You should use only the person's family name, plus their title.
- Dear Sir or Madam: this is used to begin a formal letter when you don't know the name of the person you are writing to.
TIP In the IELTS exam, you will be told whether or not you are writing to someone
you know.
The introduction
The introduction is where you introduce yourself (if necessary), say why you are writing, and
explain your situation.You might, for example, be trying to find out some information about
a school or complaining about a poor-quality product. If you're writing to a friend or family
member, you might just be writing to tell them what you've been doing.
TIPS Introduce yourself by saying 'My name is ...', not ·1 am ...'
The most common way to begin a letter is with the sentence ·1 am
writing to ...
The body
The body is the main section of the letter, where you give further details.Your letter should be
divided into paragraphs and, as in an essay, each paragraph should have one main point.
The closing/sign-off
The closing or sign-off is where you finish your letter and request a response, if appropriate.
Like the greeting, the sign-off you choose depends on who you are writing to.
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