Hello, I’m Chen Wei, and in this lesson we’ll study Letters & Emails in Reading Contexts — one of the most practical and realistic parts of the IELTS General Training Reading test.
These texts reflect real-life communication at work or in the community. You may read formal, semi-formal, or informal correspondence, such as customer enquiries, workplace updates, or invitation replies. Success depends on understanding the purpose, tone, and specific information in each message.
This question type measures your ability to interpret short written exchanges accurately. You must:
Context | Example Type | Common Focus |
Workplace | HR notices, meeting updates | policies, deadlines, instructions |
Public Service | council letters, utility emails | payments, renewals, warnings |
Personal | invitations, thank-you emails | tone and intent |
Customer Service | complaint or response letters | reason + resolution |
1️⃣ Identify Sender and Recipient
Check who is writing and to whom.
From: Customer Services → official tone
From: Tom (your friend) → informal tone
This determines vocabulary and style clues.
2️⃣ Read the Opening and Closing Lines
First and last sentences usually reveal the purpose:
“I’m writing to request a refund.” = complaint
“Looking forward to seeing you.” = invitation / informal
3️⃣ Scan for Key Facts
Highlight details like times, dates, names, fees, or requirements — they often form the basis of questions.
4️⃣ Analyse Tone and Formality
Look for polite phrases, contractions, or emotional language:
Formal | Informal |
I would like to inform you… | Just letting you know… |
Please find attached… | Here’s the file… |
Yours faithfully | Best wishes |
Tone may affect the correct answer in matching or inference questions.
5️⃣ Distinguish Between Request and Response
Sometimes both appear in one set: an email from a customer and a reply from the company. Identify which contains the relevant information before answering.
Email Extract:
Dear Customer, We apologise for the delay in your order. Your parcel will arrive by Friday, and shipping charges will be refunded automatically.
Question:
What action will the company take?
✅ Answer: Refund the shipping charges.
Function | Typical Phrases | Meaning |
Request | “Could you please…”, “I would appreciate if…” | asking for help or action |
Apology | “We are sorry for…”, “Please accept our apologies.” | admitting a problem |
Information Update | “Please note that…”, “We would like to inform you…” | providing new details |
Offer / Invitation | “You are welcome to join…”, “We are pleased to invite…” | extending an invitation |
Recognising these signals helps you find answers quickly.
Mistake | Reason | Fix |
Ignoring sender | Misreading formality level | Always check “From/To” |
Over-reading tone | Guessing emotion | Focus on explicit facts |
Missing attachments or conditions | Skipping final lines | Read signature block |
Confusing email chain order | Reading bottom up incorrectly | Identify latest reply first |
Technique | Description | Benefit |
Two-column mapping | Divide notes into request vs response | Clarifies who says what |
Tone markers | Highlight polite phrases or emotional words | Aids tone recognition |
Chronological tracking | Note date lines in emails | Avoids timeline errors |
Purpose summary | Write 1-line purpose for each message | Focuses on core idea |
Letter Extract:
Dear Tenant, Your rent is due on 1 June. Payments received after 5 June will incur a late fee of £25.
Question:
When will a late fee apply?
✅ Answer: After 5 June.
Spend 6–7 minutes on a set of letters or emails.
Read openings and closings first, then scan for dates and actions. Do not waste time analysing tone beyond what’s needed to answer questions.
Band 8–9 candidates read letters and emails with purpose — they differentiate between requests and replies, notice formal cues (must, should, please note), and locate factual answers within seconds. They never assume emotion or intention not stated in the text.
Letters & Emails in Reading Contexts teach you to read short correspondence for purpose, tone, and detail. Focus on sender role, action items, and dates to avoid errors.
Next, continue with Workplace and Social Texts to learn how to read public documents and forms efficiently.
Or revisit the IELTS Reading Skills & Exam Strategy page for your full foundation.
For official materials, visit the British Council IELTS Reading Practice Tests resource.
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