How to Write a Formal Letter
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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:
You recently bought a children’s toy online and you noticed that it was not working properly. Write a letter to the manager of the toy company to complain about it.
In your letter, you should:
|
You enjoyed a holiday organized by a tour company. Write a letter to the manager and praise the tour guide who accompanied you on the journey.
In your letter, you should:
|
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
Dear Sir/Ma’am, (OPENING SALUTATION)
I am writing this letter to ________________ (BODY PARAGRAPH 1) ____________________________ (BODY PARAGRAPH 2) I look forward to a positive response from your end. (COMPLIMENTARY CLOSURE) Yours Sincerely Garima Verma (CLOSING SALUTATION) |
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
You recently bought a children’s toy online and you noticed that it was not working properly. Write a letter to the manager of the toy company to complain about it.
In your letter, you should:
Answer Dear Sir/Ma’am I am writing this letter to draw your attention on the recent purchase from your online store. I purchased a complete set of power ranger action figures from your website last week for my nephew. The order id is 4069D133. I sent this as a gift to my nephew, but he was really disappointed when he received the package. The set of toys was damaged and appeared refurbished. I am a frequent purchaser from your store located in D mall. I have never expected such negligence from your store. Please look into this matter at the earliest. I request you to refund my purchase or replace the power ranger set with a brand new functioning model. I have attached the receipt of my purchase along with this letter. I hope you will take immediate action. I look forward to a positive response from your end. Yours Sincerely Nikita Thakur |
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 :
Frequently Asked Questions
Define a formal letter
What is the structure of formal letters?
What is the format of a formal letter?
How to draft a formal letter?
What should be included in the body of the letter?
Practice IELTS General Writing Task 1
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