IELTS General Task 1
How to write an IELTS semi-formal letter
A semi-formal letter goes to someone you know by name but not closely, such as your landlord, manager, or a neighbour. You name them with a title, stay polite, allow a little warmth, and avoid slang and contractions. This guide shows the exact greeting, structure, and sign-off examiners expect across all four marking criteria.
In short
- Open with the name: Dear Mr Smith or Dear Mrs Patel, never Dear Sir or Madam.
- Stay polite with mild warmth, but use no slang, no contractions, and no over-familiar phrasing.
- Because you know the name, close with Yours sincerely and your full name.
When the letter is semi-formal
IELTS General Task 1 gives you a situation and three bullet points, then asks for a letter of at least 150 words. The first decision is register: formal, semi-formal, or informal. Register depends entirely on who you are writing to and how well you know them.
A letter is semi-formal when you know the person by name and have an ongoing, practical relationship, but you are not close friends. Typical recipients are a landlord, an apartment manager, a course tutor, a colleague you do not know well, or a neighbour. You respect the person, so you keep the language clean and polite, but a small amount of warmth is natural and acceptable.
A practical test: if the prompt names the reader or implies you have met them, lean semi-formal. If it sends you to an unknown official or a company, write a fully formal letter. If it is a close friend or family member, write an informal letter.
Greeting, tone, and sign-off
The greeting signals your register immediately. Because you have the reader's name, open with their title and surname: Dear Mr Smith, Dear Mrs Patel, or Dear Dr Lopez. Do not switch to a first name alone, and do not use Dear Sir or Madam, which belongs to formal letters where you do not know the name.
The matching sign-off is Yours sincerely, followed by your full name on the next line. The rule is consistent: a named greeting takes Yours sincerely, while an unnamed greeting takes Yours faithfully. Mixing them is a common slip that examiners notice.
For tone, write full forms such as I am writing and I would be grateful rather than I'm and I'd. Keep contractions out, keep slang out, and avoid casual openers like Hi or Hey. At the same time, you do not need the stiffest formal phrasing. A semi-formal letter can say I hope you are well or Thank you for your help, which would feel slightly too warm in a fully formal complaint to an authority.
Useful semi-formal phrases include: I am writing regarding, I would appreciate it if you could, Please let me know, I look forward to hearing from you, and Thank you for your time. These keep Lexical Resource controlled and polite without sounding cold.
A clear four-paragraph structure
Map the three prompt bullets onto a simple body so every point is covered. This protects your Task Achievement mark and gives Coherence & Cohesion a clean shape. Aim for at least 150 words, with roughly 160 to 190 working well.
| Part | Purpose | Example phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Name the reader politely | Dear Mr Smith, |
| Opening | State your reason for writing | I am writing regarding the heating in my flat. |
| Body 1 (bullet 1) | Explain the situation | The radiators have not worked for two weeks. |
| Body 2 (bullets 2 and 3) | Add detail and your request | I would appreciate it if you could arrange a repair. |
| Closing line | Invite a reply politely | I look forward to hearing from you. |
| Sign-off | Match the named greeting | Yours sincerely, then your full name |
The four IELTS Writing criteria reward exactly this control: Task Achievement for covering all three bullets, Coherence & Cohesion for the logical paragraphs and linkers, Lexical Resource for accurate polite phrasing, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy for correct full forms and varied sentences. Ready-made openings and sign-offs sit in our IELTS letter templates.
Semi-formal letter FAQs
What is a semi-formal letter in IELTS General Task 1?+
It is a letter to someone you know by name but not closely, such as a landlord, manager, or neighbour. You use their title and surname, stay polite, and keep a respectful but slightly warmer tone than a fully formal letter.
How do I open and close a semi-formal IELTS letter?+
Open with the named recipient, for example Dear Mr Smith or Dear Mrs Patel. Because you know the name, close with Yours sincerely, then your full name on the next line. Avoid Dear Sir or Madam and Yours faithfully here.
Can I use contractions in a semi-formal letter?+
No. Avoid contractions such as I'm or don't, and avoid slang. Write I am and do not in full. A semi-formal register stays clear and polite, so contractions and casual idioms can lower your Lexical Resource and Task Achievement marks.
How long should an IELTS General Task 1 letter be?+
Write at least 150 words and aim for roughly 160 to 190. Cover all three bullet points in the prompt fully. Going well under 150 words is penalised, while padding with repetition weakens Coherence and Cohesion and Lexical Resource.
How do I know if a letter is semi-formal or formal?+
Check the relationship. If you have a name and an ongoing practical link, such as your landlord or manager, write semi-formal. If you write to an unknown official or company, write formal. If it is a close friend or family member, write informal.