How to Write a Formal Letter

The IELTS General writing task 1 is always letter writing. In this task, you are given a situation or problem, and based on the issue or situation, you are asked to write a formal, informal, or semi-formal letter in at least 150 words. 

The IELTS letter types are as follows:

• Formal 
• Semi-Formal
• Informal 

In this article, we are going to focus on Formal letter writing. 

But, what is a Formal Letter?

A formal letter is a letter written to someone you do not know, such as professional people, officials, firms, stores, hotels etc.. In short, they are written to people whom you do not know personally or professionally. It is written in a polite and courteous manner. 

Samples of formal letter questions asked in the IELTS General exam are:

Formal Letter format

Salutation

The letter’s opening salutation should begin with ‘dear’ and never use the receiving person’s name in formal letters. Instead, use sir or ma’am along with the greeting. 

For example:

Dear Sir/Ma’am

Body Paragraph 1

This is also known as the opening paragraph. It includes the purpose of the letter, as to what you are going to discuss in the letter. You can paraphrase the question and write it in such a manner that it appears to be part of the letter. 

Body Paragraph 2

This paragraph includes the supporting details covering all the bullet points mentioned below the question. Close the paragraph with 1 or 2 concluding lines. 

The complimentary closure

This closure is not mandatory, but you can include a few words or a single line. It will help you enhance your test scores. 

 For example:

Looking forward to hearing from you

Or 

I look forward to a positive response from your end. 

Closing Salutation

The closing salutation of the formal letter includes your best regards and your full name along with it. 

 For example:

Yours Sincerely

Apoorva Dua

A Brief Explanation of the Structure of the Formal Letter

The tone of the letter

The tone of the formal letter should be polite and courteous. Unlike informal letters, you cannot use abbreviations and acronyms. Use of these words will make you look unprofessional in your letter.

Sample Formal Letter Answer

Lastly, the word limit should be over 150 words. You may lose marks if you write less than the instructed word limit. Moreover, avoid making any grammatical or spelling mistakes. 

Practice is the only possible way to ascertain that you have written a letter over 150 words. Practising sample papers every day can help you learn time management skills and enhance your actual test performance. 

Also check :

• Formal
• Semi Formal
• Informal