IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1: INFORMAL LETTER WRITING TIPS
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1: INFORMAL LETTER WRITING TIPS
Writing an informal letter in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 requires you to adopt a conversational, friendly tone and structure your response clearly. You’ll often be writing to a friend, family member, or acquaintance, which means the letter should sound personal, but also meet certain academic expectations.
This task involves three key elements: understanding the question, organizing your response, and using appropriate language. Let’s explore each of these aspects in detail, providing strategies to help you perform well in the exam.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
1. Understanding the Task Requirements
When you approach Task 1, make sure to carefully read the question to understand who you’re writing to and what the purpose of your letter is. The question will typically provide three bullet points, which you must address in your response.
Key elements to focus on:
– Audience: Recognize the relationship you have with the person you are writing to. Are they a close friend, family member, or relative? This determines the level of formality you should use.
– Purpose of the letter: The task will ask you to do something specific, such as inviting someone to an event, explaining a situation, apologizing, or requesting information. Make sure to address each part of the question clearly.
– Tone and style: Since you’re writing informally, your tone should be warm, friendly, and conversational, without being too casual or overly informal.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
2. Letter Structure and Organization
A well-structured letter will help convey your message clearly and allow you to stay organized. Below is a basic structure for writing an informal letter:
a) Salutation/Greeting
The letter should start with an informal greeting, which is the first indicator of the relationship you have with the recipient. Examples include:
– Dear [Name] (e.g., “Dear Sarah,” “Hi Mike,” or “Hello John,”).
– Avoid formal greetings like “Dear Sir/Madam.”
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
b) Introduction (First Paragraph)
This is where you open your letter with a warm, friendly tone. A common opening might be:
– “I hope you’re doing well!”
– “It’s been a while since we last spoke!”
– “I’ve been thinking about you lately.”
If the task involves apologizing or explaining something, you can use this paragraph to introduce the context:
– “I’m so sorry I couldn’t reply sooner.”
– “I wanted to tell you about what happened last week…”
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
c) Body Paragraphs (Middle Section)
In the body of your letter, you’ll answer all three bullet points from the task. Here’s how you can approach it:
– First Bullet Point: Address the first point directly. If you’re explaining something, use simple past or present perfect for events that have already happened (e.g., “I’ve just returned from a trip” or “I’m planning to host a party”).
– Second Bullet Point: Focus on providing relevant details. Use transition words to keep the flow of your writing smooth (e.g., “Also,” “By the way,” “Speaking of…”).
– Third Bullet Point: Conclude with a specific request, invitation, or suggestion. You may ask your reader to do something or let you know if they’re interested.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
For example, if you’re inviting a friend to a party:
– “The party will be at my house next Saturday at 7 PM. I’m planning to have snacks, drinks, and a fun playlist. You should definitely come!”
– “Let me know if you can make it. I’d love to see you there.”
d) Conclusion (Final Paragraph)
The conclusion of your letter should wrap things up on a friendly note. You can:
– Express excitement or look forward to a response.
– Offer good wishes or further updates.
– Keep it light and positive.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
For example:
– “I can’t wait to catch up with you soon!”
– “Let me know how everything’s going.”
– “Take care and I’ll see you soon!”
e) Sign-off
Since this is an informal letter, sign off with something warm and casual. Examples include:
– “Best wishes,”
– “Lots of love,”
– “Take care,”
– “See you soon!”
3. Tone and Language Use
When writing an informal letter for IELTS, your language should reflect a conversational, yet clear tone. While you’re not expected to be overly formal, be careful not to become too casual.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
Language Features to Use:
– Contractions: Use contractions like “I’m,” “you’re,” “can’t,” “won’t” to sound natural.
– Phrasal Verbs: Informal writing often uses phrasal verbs (e.g., “pick up,” “look forward to,” “catch up”). These are common in spoken language and make your letter sound more authentic.
– Questions: You can ask questions to engage your reader and make the letter feel more interactive (e.g., “How have you been?” or “What have you been up to lately?”).
Common Phrases:
– “I hope you’re doing well.”
– “It would be great to see you soon.”
– “Let me know what you think.”
– “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Avoid:
– Formal language: Avoid using overly polite, formal phrases like “I would like to inform you” or “Please accept my apologies.” Keep it simple and conversational.
– Excessive slang: While some colloquial expressions are fine, avoid slang that might confuse the examiner or sound too informal.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
4. Word Count and Time Management
For IELTS General Writing Task 1, you need to write at least 150 words. While the examiners won’t penalize you for writing too much, aim to keep your letter between 150 and 200 words. Writing too little or too much could affect your score, as it may suggest either a lack of detail or over-elaboration.
Time Management:
– Plan: Spend 2–3 minutes reading and planning your response. Identify the key points you need to address.
– Writing: Aim to write the letter in 12–15 minutes.
– Proofread: Reserve a few minutes at the end to quickly proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
5. Examples of Informal Letter Tasks and Responses
Example Task 1:
Task: You recently moved to a new house. Write a letter to a friend to tell them about your new house. Explain why you moved, describe the new house, and invite your friend to visit.
SAMPLE ANSWER:
Dear Tom,
I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to share some exciting news with you—I’ve just moved to a new house!
We decided to move because the old apartment was getting a bit small, especially with all the stuff we’ve accumulated over the years. The new house is much bigger and in a quieter neighborhood, which is exactly what we wanted.
It has three bedrooms, a lovely backyard, and even a small garden! The living room is huge, and there’s a cozy fireplace, which I know you’ll love. I can’t wait to show you around.
Let me know when you’re free to come over. I’d love to catch up and give you a proper tour.
Take care, and I’ll see you soon!
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
When writing an informal letter for IELTS General Training Task 1, focus on maintaining a friendly, conversational tone, organizing your response clearly, and addressing all parts of the task. Practice these strategies regularly, and you’ll improve your ability to write a letter that meets the exam’s criteria while sounding natural and engaging.
Good luck with your preparation!
IELTS GENERAL TRAINING TASK 1
