In Part 1, we discussed what are formal and informal letters in Writing Task 1 of the IELTS General Training Test and some of the key differences. In Part 2, let’s how to write the opening and closing sentences in both formal and informal letters.

Before we head into the main topic, here is a summary of what formal and informal letters are.

One of the most important tasks of IELTS letter writing is to decide on the tone of your letter. There are two options:

– Formal
– Informal

If you get this wrong, you will get a low score for Task Achievement which makes up 25% of your total mark. The tone is determined by the person you are writing to.

• Formal – to someone you don’t know or don’t know well.
• Informal – to a friend or a close family member.

Now that you know what are formal and informal letters, read on to know how to score well in your IELTS writing test by building a strong command in the opening and closing sentences for each type of letter in different situations.

The opening and closing sentences should be ‘stand-alone’ sentences.

Usually, an Opening Sentence can be the first sentence of your first body paragraph, while your Closing Sentence can be the last sentence of your last body paragraph. But always keep them as a stand-alone sentence.

Recommended Opening & Closing Sentences in Letters in Different Situations

1. In Generic Letters

2. “Apologizing” letters 

3. “Complaining” Letters

4. “Invitation” letters

5. “Giving Information” letters 

Bonus Tip: IELTS candidates often get confused when they are asked to write a letter to a friend but of a serious nature such as informing them about an unfortunate event or sad event. You should use an informal tone in such cases but choose appropriate language to fit the situation. The tone of a letter is never determined by the topic of the letter, it is only determined by “who it is written to”.

Some Mock Sample Questions For You

Check out the below sample questions and try practicing writing informal and formal letters.

Question 1. You are moving to a city in Toronto for work and have just realized that an old friend lives in the city.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

a) Ask them for advice in finding accommodation
b) Tell them where you would like to live
c) Tell them the type of place you are looking for

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Question 2. You have recently started working in a new company.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

a) Explain why you changed jobs
b) Describe your new job
c) Tell him/her your other news

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Question 3. You missed an international flight due to a problem at the airport.

Write a letter to the airline. In your letter:

a) Describe what happened that caused you to miss your flight.
b) Explain how missing your flight impacted you.
c) Clearly state what you would like the airline to do.

Question 4. Your car insurance company has told you that they are going to increase the amount you have to pay in insurance for your car each month. You are not happy about this.

Write a letter to your insurance company. In your letter explain

a) Why you are writing to them
b) Why you think insurance should not be increased
c) What you want them to do

Conclusion

These are some differences between formal and informal letters. To have a firm grip on writing a letter in the IELTS General Training Test, you must practice writing different types of letters on different topics. Once you’re ready to take the writing test, book your test date at our website. 

At ILETS AOLCC, we have IELTS Test Centres available in Mississauga, Kingston, London, and Brampton. All our test centres are equipped with Wireless Headsets and other necessary amenities. 

If you have any other queries, do reach out to us at (905) 306-0666 or send an email to ielts@aolccollege.ca.