What Informal Letters Test
The examiner wants to see that you can write naturally, warmly, and like a real person — not like a textbook. Informal letters are worth 33% of your Task 1 mark in General Training.
The Five-Paragraph Structure
Salutation: Always use "Hi [Name]," or "Dear [Name]," — never "Dear Sir/Madam" which is far too formal. The comma after the name is essential.
Opening Line: Never start with "I am writing to..." — this is far too formal. Instead use something warm and natural: "How are you? It feels like ages since we last caught up!" or "I hope you're doing well — I've been meaning to write for weeks!"
Paragraph 1 — Address the first bullet point. Give it two to three sentences minimum. Do not answer all three bullet points in one paragraph.
Paragraph 2 — Address the second bullet point. Same length. Use natural transitions like "Anyway," or "Oh, and another thing —"
Paragraph 3 — Address the third bullet point. End this paragraph with a forward-looking comment: "I really hope we can sort this out soon" or "Can't wait to hear what you think!"
Sign-off: Use "Lots of love," for close family. "Take care," or "All the best," for friends. Never use "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully" — these are formal and will cost you marks.
Band Comparison — The Same Idea at Three Levels
Band 5: "I want to tell you about my new job. It is good. The people are nice."
Band 7: "I'm absolutely loving my new job! The team is brilliant and I've already made some great friends."
Band 9: "You won't believe it — I've finally landed the job I've been dreaming about! The team is fantastic and honestly, I already feel completely at home there."
The Three Rules Examiners Look For
Contractions are not optional. Writing "I do not" instead of "I don't" makes you sound like a robot. Contractions are a marker of natural informal register. Use them throughout.
Show emotion through adjectives. Do not say "It was good." Say "It was absolutely brilliant" or "I was completely devastated." IELTS examiners reward emotional language in informal writing.
Use phrasal verbs naturally. "Catch up", "hang out", "drop by", "look forward to", "sort out" — these signal authentic informal register and directly boost your Lexical Resource score.
Common Mistakes That Cost Marks
Closing with "Yours sincerely" — this is a Band 5 error. Always use an informal sign-off.
Answering all three bullet points in one paragraph — each point deserves its own paragraph.
Forgetting to write enough words — minimum 150 words, but 170-180 is ideal.
Using "Furthermore" or "Moreover" — these are academic connectors. In informal letters use "Also", "And", or "Oh, and".
Starting every sentence the same way — vary your sentence openings.
Examiner Tip
Examiners read hundreds of letters every day. The ones that score Band 8 and 9 feel genuinely human — like reading a letter from a real person. Read your letter out loud when you practice. If it sounds robotic or stiff, rewrite it until it flows naturally.
Practice Question
Your English-speaking friend recently helped you move to a new city. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: thank them for their help, describe how you are settling into your new home, and invite them to visit you soon.
Write at least 150 words. Then submit it using the Writing Evaluator for instant AI feedback.