IELTSGeneral Writingtask1lesson1howtowriteasemiformalletter

In this lesson, we will explore tips and tricks for writing a semi-formal letter for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1.

As we learned in the previous lesson, the outline for all types of letters is as follows:

I. Greeting

II. Reason for writing

III. Paragraph 1 – First point with detail

IV. Paragraph 2 – Second point with detail

V. Paragraph 3 – Third point with detail

VI. Closing sentence

VII. Farewell + Name

Now let’s look at an example question and model letter using this outline.

Band 9 Model Letter

Topic vocabulary is in blue.

Advanced grammar structures are in green.

Transition words are in red.

Greeting

Dear Ms Franklin,

Reason for writing

I am writing to inform you that I will not be able to continue with your computer science course at the community college.

Paragraph 1

In August, I was promoted from Warehouse Technician to Staff Manager. As such, I have been working increasingly long hours in my full-time job. The extra responsibilities have given me excellent career experience while also allowing me to realise my true passions in the technology field.

Paragraph 2

This promotion, however, has unfortunately left me with hardly any time to pursue other interests and hobbies. For this reason, I must regrettably drop out of the computer science course. Your sessions have been extremely rewarding, and I know they will be useful in the future.

Paragraph 3

I am aware that this course will be offered again in the spring semester. Would it be possible to join the cohort next semester? I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to take part in your course again.

Closing sentence

Thank you for your understanding.

Farewell + Name

Sincerely,

Frank Hudson

Total word count: 166 words

Scoring

In short, this is a Band 9 letter. Let’s look at how it would rate in the scoring areas:

Task Achievement/Response – The letter describes the writer’s current situation and schedule, explains why he cannot continue the course, and clearly states the action he would like to take. The response is appropriately semi-formal.

Coherence and Cohesion – The letter is clearly organised, uses distinct paragraphs as per the outline, and includes spacing after each paragraph. Each idea flows naturally into the next; more transition words could be added.

Lexical Resource: The table below showcases the lexical resource. In general, the letter contains useful vocabulary and phrasal verbs. Phrases such as “left me with” show authentic, natural usage. Additionally, “cohort”, a specific term related to education, demonstrates range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The table below showcases the grammatical structures. In general, the letter uses the present perfect and present perfect continuous accurately; a wider range could also be demonstrated. The conditional is used appropriately when enquiring about next semester’s course.

Potential Areas for Improvement: The candidate could use more transition phrases. The grammatical range is somewhat limited to the present perfect and present perfect continuous; adding some past perfect structures could strengthen the letter.

Using the same question prompt, let’s look at a low-scoring essay. This will give you a good idea of what not to do during the exam:

Band 4/5 Model Essay

Hello Ms. Franklin,

Unfortunately, I will need to quit the Computer Science course for reasons beyond my control. I’m writing to inform you that I won’t be able to continue because of work-related reasons.

In August, I was promoted from Warehouse Technician to Staff Manager, so I’ve been working very long hours in my full-time job. The extra responsibilities have given me excellent career experience and helped me realize my passion for the technology field.

However, this new promotion doesn’t give me much time to pursue other interests and hobbies. Therefore, I am forced to quit the course. I’m sad about it because you’re a great teacher.

I remember reading that the course will be offered in the spring semester. Could I join then? I think it would be really useful, and I want to take part in the course again.

Thank you for your understanding.

Thanks,

Frank Hudson

Word Count: 150

Scoring
In short, this is a Band 4/5 essay. Let’s look at how it would rate in the scoring areas:

Task Achievement/Response: The essay covers the three main points in the task, but not as clearly as it could. The first sentence, for example, feels misplaced and does not provide a natural or authentic opening. The first paragraph seems repetitive and does not follow a logical outline. Nevertheless, the task points are addressed. The tone is a bit too informal for a semi-formal letter, and conditional forms should be used more often.

Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the introductory sentence appears misplaced. Aside from that, paragraphing is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: The word choice is basic and sometimes inaccurate. Stronger phrasal verbs could replace weaker options (“quit” → “drop out”). The adjective “sad” is too simple and should be replaced with a more expressive alternative. The writer uses “can” instead of “could,” showing limited lexical flexibility. The repetition of “Thanks” also suggests a narrow vocabulary range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: This is perhaps the weakest part of the letter. The writer confuses past simple and past perfect forms. Errors include “In August, I had been promoted…” (incorrect for a completed past action), and “The extra responsibilities gave me…” (should use the present perfect to show relevance). The double negative “doesn’t give me hardly any time” is also incorrect. These errors make it difficult for the essay to achieve a high band score.

Potential Areas for Improvement: The writer should review the use of formal tone, past tenses (especially past perfect), and conditional structures. Expanding vocabulary and using more precise expressions will also help improve the score.

Now, it’s your turn to try out this outline and paragraph planning model for yourself. Take a look at the question below:

Follow our guide, and then read the example essay with notes. Good luck!

Model Essay

Dear Mr. Boyden,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to leave Millstone Industries at the end of the month.

Establishing my career as an Administrative Assistant at Millstone Industries has been both an honor and a pleasure. However, I believe that now is the time for me to explore other options in advancing my career in the Human Resources sector. Furthermore, I would like the opportunity to travel more and network with other industry leaders.

It goes without saying that working under your guidance has given me an incredible amount of experience and new skills. Over the course of my two years with the company, I have gained public speaking skills, experience working with teams, and opportunities to present new ideas. I am extremely thankful for having had the opportunity to work with you.

I would be tremendously grateful if you would be willing to write a letter of reference for future employers.

Thank you for your guidance, help, and support over the last two years.

Yours sincerely,

Greg Smith

Scoring
In short, this is a Band 9 essay. Let’s look at how it would rate in the scoring areas:

Task Achievement/Response – The essay covers the three main points in the task: it informs the reader of the decision and reasoning, describes what was gained from the role, and requests a reference letter.

Coherence and Cohesion – The essay is clearly organized, with distinct paragraphs that follow the outline. Each idea flows smoothly and the tone is appropriately semi-formal. Transitions are used well.

Lexical Resource – The letter uses task-appropriate vocabulary (e.g., sector, letter of reference, future employers). More variety when describing the skill set could further enhance depth, but the range is solid.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy – Advanced forms are used accurately (e.g., “I am extremely thankful for having had the opportunity…”). Present perfect is used appropriately to summarize experience over two years. The polite request uses a suitable conditional structure.

Potential Areas for Improvement – While structure and cohesion are excellent, the writer could add a touch more varied vocabulary or phrasal verbs. Nonetheless, grammar and connective devices are well-suited to the semi-formal style.

Now that we’ve gone over the structure of this type of writing task, let’s recap the Do’s and Don’ts of the Semi-Formal Letter in the IELTS General Writing Task:

What To Do:

DO read the question carefully and understand how it should be answered. Separate the question into three main areas: background information, instruction words, and accompanying details.

DO take time to plan your outline and notes. Spending a few minutes organizing your ideas will make your response more coherent and logical.

DO use proper and formal language, keeping the relationship with the recipient in mind. Although you’re writing to someone you know, your tone should remain respectful and polished. Include a range of grammatical structures, especially passive voice and conditional sentences.

DO check your grammar and spelling carefully after writing. Accuracy plays a big role in scoring high for Task Achievement and Grammar Range.

DO make a single line through any mistakes and rewrite the correction beside it. For example: bacround → background.

What Not To Do:

DON’T start writing immediately without planning. A few minutes of preparation ensures better structure and content flow.

DON’T write too much or too little. Make sure your letter is clearly divided into paragraphs, skipping a line after each one. You should write at least 150 words.

DON’T use informal language, slang, or contractions. For example, avoid “I’m” or “can’t” — instead write “I am” or “cannot.” Maintain a semi-formal tone throughout.