You will write a letter per the prompt in the IELTS GT Task 1. However, based on the topic, the letter may be formal, semi-formal, or informal. For many students, writing a formal letter may be complex. However, strategic practice and deep knowledge of the pattern as per the IELTS exam syllabus are helpful. It will assist you in making a well-organized response. In this guide, you will see beneficial tips and the pattern to excel in writing a formal letter. Let's first know when you have to write this letter!

When to Write a Formal Letter?

Generally, when you are reaching out to someone in a professional or official role, you must write a formal letter in the IELTS GT Task 1. However, it may be a firm, a higher authority, or a stranger could be the receiver of this letter. The letter must have a kind and courteous tone. For example, a formal letter task may include:

• It may be making a complaint to a business on a product or service.
• If you are requesting details from a company.
• While you are applying for a job.
• Submitting a formal request or advice to a higher-up.

Moreover, understanding the need to keep a formal tone is crucial. It is because by using informal language, your score will get lower. You must follow a pattern while writing a formal letter based on the IELTS exam syllabus. Do you know this pattern? If not, then learn it in the next section!

Pattern of a Formal Letter

A well-structured letter keeps clarity and coherence. The primary parts of the formal letter are given in detail in the following points:

1. Greetings

You can make a proper greeting, like:

• If you have no idea of the person name whom you want to send, then Dear Sir/Madam.
• Dear Mr. [Last Name] or Dear Ms. [Last Name] if that is the name of the receiver.

Also, in the formal letter of the IELTS GT task 1, you cannot write your first name or informal greetings such as "Hi" or "Hello."

2. Opening Line

The purpose of the letter should be given at the outset in a clear and concise phrase. For example:

• I am writing to inform you of how dissatisfied I am with.
• I am writing to request details about.

Moreover, this gives a tone and clearly defines what your letter means for the reader to grasp from the start.

3. Body Paragraphs

Two to three paragraphs on diverse topics or details should make the body of your letter. For an efficient body part, follow the rules given below:

• Be brief and explicit: You have to state each topic in a separate paragraph coherently.
• Provide supporting details: If you want to give more support to your statement, give specific instances or details for each phrase.
• Use formal words: You can try to ignore using informal words or apostrophes such as don't and won't.

4. Closing Line

You may close your demand or ask for something at the letter end and close with a good closing line. The following are among them:

• I will wait to hear back from you soon.
• Thank you for taking the time to discuss this matter.

5. Sign-Off

You have to use a correct closing to keep the formal tone of the letter. The most common options are:

• If you start with Dear Sir/Madam, then use Yours faithfully.
• If you reach the receiver by name, use Yours sincerely.

Lastly, on the line below, you must write your full name. The above is the pattern of writing the formal letter as per the IELTS exam syllabus. There are some tips for writing an effective formal letter in the General Training Task 1 of the IELTS exam. In the next section, you will get to see these tips!

Tips to Write an Effective Formal Letter

Organizing your formal letter gives you a chance to make an coherent and polished answer. This section outlines how this can be done:

• Plan Before Writing: Arrange your thoughts and decide which crucial topics to include. Before you write, give some time to outline your structure.
• Formal & Polite Speaking: You can keep your tone polite. Also, you will ignore abbreviations and informal expressions and use proper language.
• Remain Clear & Focused: One point in each paragraph, logically show your views, and when necessary, include supporting details.
• Look for Errors: You must proofread your letter for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors after you write it. These mistakes need to be corrected because they will lower your score.
• Do not Overwrite: In your letter, a minimum of 150 words should be written. If you want to make sure you fulfil the criteria without writing too much, aim for 150–180 words.

Conclusion

To sum up, mastering the art of writing a formal letter in IELTS GT Task 1 is vital for high scores. However, by knowing the pattern, using the correct tone and words, and showing your ideas, you can approach this task effectively. If you practice with expert instructors like Gradding, you will learn to write different types of formal letters. In this way, they will build your skills and ensure you are ready for the GT Task 1 formal letter in the IELTS exam. Also, an efficient letter fulfills the task needs and shows your expertise in the writing section.