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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: the letter-writing guide for Band 7+ — tone, structure, and the errors that silently cap scores.
By the IELTS Training editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-10-04Free account to read
The three letter types (and how to spot which one you need)
The prompt always tells you who to write to and gives 3 bullet points to cover. Identify the register from the recipient and situation:
| Type | Write to | Open with | Sign off |
|---|
| Formal | A company, manager, authority, unknown person | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know professionally — a landlord, a colleague | Dear Mr./Mrs. [Name], | Yours sincerely, |
| Informal | A friend or family member | Dear [First name], | Best wishes, |
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