In IELTS General Task 1, you can get three main types of letters: formal, semi-formal and informal.
The instructions for the formal will always tell you to start your letter Dear Sir/Madam. Informal letters will be to a friend. All other letters can be regarded as semi-formal.
Below you will find a model answer to a semi-formal IELTS Task 1 letter question.
Our model answer follows the following template…
Salutation – this can either be the first name or the family name
1st paragraph – answering the first bullet point
2nd paragraph – answering the second and third bullet point
Sign-off – a semi-formal sign-off (Best regards)
The Mock IELTS General Task 1 Question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.
You are planning an event to raise money for a charity. You would like your friend to help you.
Write a letter to this friend.
In your letter
give information about the charity you will help
describe how you are planning to raise money
say why you would like your friend to join you
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear …………… ,
Mock Semi-formal Answer
Dear Jim,
How’s it going? I’m writing in the hope that you’ll join me in a big fundraising effort for Emmaus Leeds, a charity doing vital work in helping homeless people to get back on their feet. Emmaus does a sterling job in providing a stable home and gainful employment for people who desperately need it, but there’s one thing they’re falling short of this year: the funds for a new van.
I plan to break a Guinness World Record (yes!) by hosting the largest ever bake sale. If all goes to plan – it’ll be a Herculean task, mind you – there’ll be upwards of a thousand bakers purveying sweet goods, all of which will directly fund the charity’s good cause. So I need all hands on deck! I know you’ve had experience organising large events in the past; your input would be invaluable. If you’re free, I’d be very grateful if you could help me in organising the event logistics.
Do let me know what you think.
Best regards,
Lawrence Cutting
How to Continue Your IELTS Study
If you would like to get some IELTS practice, answer the same question and purchase one of our Writing Correction Packages to get feedback.
If you would like to watch a video about how to write IELTS General Task 1 letters, visit this page.