Hi, I’m Sarah Thompson, IELTS Writing tutor and examiner.
One of the most common mistakes I see in IELTS General Training letters is poor organisation. Many test-takers write long, unstructured paragraphs or forget key parts like an appropriate greeting or closing.
In this lesson, I’ll guide you through the ideal Structure of a Letter, show you how to divide ideas into logical paragraphs, and share Band 9 samples for Formal, Semi-Formal and Informal letters.
Examiners assess Coherence and Cohesion, which means they look for:
A well-structured letter shows you can organise information clearly and communicate professionally. Even if your grammar is strong, a disorganised layout can bring your score down to Band 6.
All IELTS General Training letters follow a clear pattern of five parts:
Section | Purpose | Example (Phrases & Tips) |
1. Greeting (Salutation) | Set the tone and address the recipient appropriately | Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Mr Smith, Hi Anna, |
2. Opening Statement | Explain why you’re writing | I am writing to inform you that… I wanted to let you know about… |
3. Body Paragraph 1 | Address first bullet point in detail | Provide specific examples or background information |
4. Body Paragraph 2 | Cover remaining bullet points or requests | Use linkers (furthermore, in addition, also) |
5. Closing & Sign-off | End politely and appropriately | I look forward to your reply. Best regards, / Yours faithfully, |
✅ Band 8 Tip: Every IELTS Task 1 letter should have three short paragraphs plus opening and closing lines — never one block of text.
Situation: You are writing to a hotel manager to complain about a recent stay.
Model Answer:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with my recent stay at your hotel from the 12th to 15th of June.
Unfortunately, the air-conditioning in my room was not working, and despite repeated requests, no staff attended to it. As a result, I had difficulty sleeping and had to cut my trip short.
I would appreciate a partial refund or voucher for a future stay as compensation. I hope you will look into this matter promptly.
Yours faithfully,
Sarah Thompson
✅ Why Band 9: Tone is polite, paragraphs are logical, and the complaint is clear and resolved politely.
Situation: Write to your landlord about a problem with the heating system.
Dear Mr Carter,
I hope you’re well. I’m writing to let you know that the heating system in the flat has stopped working since last week.
I’ve already checked the main switch and tried resetting it, but there has been no improvement. Could you please arrange for a technician to inspect it this week?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Best regards,
Sarah Thompson
✅ Why Band 8 +: Tone is respectful, not too formal; paragraphing is tight and clear.
Situation: Write to a friend about your recent holiday.
Hi Lucy,
Hope you’re doing great! I just got back from Italy and wanted to tell you all about it.
The trip was amazing — we visited Rome, Florence, and Venice. The food was incredible and the weather perfect. You’d love the architecture there!
Let’s catch up soon so I can show you some photos. Maybe we can plan our next trip together!
Lots of love,
Sarah
✅ Why Band 9: Natural tone, use of contractions (I’ve, you’d), and friendly closing.
Bad Example: One long block of text with no spacing → difficult to read and score lower for Coherence.
Purpose | Useful Connectors |
Adding ideas | furthermore, in addition, moreover |
Explaining reason | because, as, since |
Contrasting | however, on the other hand |
Ending / Summarising | in conclusion, to sum up |
✅ Band 8 Tip: In letters, use connectors naturally — one per paragraph is enough.
Arrange the following sentences into a logical letter structure:
1️⃣ I’m writing to inform you about a change in my travel plans.
2️⃣ Best regards,
3️⃣ Dear Mr Thompson,
4️⃣ I will now arrive on the 10th instead of the 8th.
5️⃣ Sarah Thompson
✅ Correct Order: 3 → 1 → 4 → 2 → 5
Before submitting your letter:
If yes, you’ve achieved a professional, Band 7 + layout.
Mastering the Structure of a Letter is essential for a clear, coherent response in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1. A good structure shows control, awareness of tone, and organised communication.
Next, move to Polite Requests & Apologies to learn how to write with the right level of formality and empathy.
Or revisit the IELTS Writing Overview: Format, Scoring & Key Skills for the complete foundation.
You can also explore official examples on IELTS.org.
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