Mastering Informal Letters: IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 Tips for 2025

Are you getting ready for the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 and want to master informal letter writing? You're in the right place! Informal letters-written to friends, family, or people you know well-are a common part of the IELTS General Training Writing exam, and they require a special blend of warmth, clarity, and language skill. In this guide, you'll learn step-by-step tips, sample openings and closings, model sentences, common mistakes to avoid, and pro strategies-everything you need to ace the informal letter section in 2025.

---

What Is an IELTS Informal Letter (General Training Task 1)?

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 asks you to write a letter of at least 150 words in response to a given situation. Sometimes you write a formal letter (to someone you don't know), but other times, you must write an informal letter to a friend or family member.

Key features:

• One-third of your Writing exam score
• Write to a friend, family member, or close acquaintance
• Must be friendly, personal, and use informal, conversational English
• Task includes three bullet points to cover in your answer

Common prompts:

• Inviting a friend to visit
• Apologizing for missing an event
• Asking for help or information
• Sharing news or making an arrangement

---

Why Are Informal Letters Important in IELTS Writing?

Informal letters are your chance to show examiners:

• You can communicate naturally in English, just like a native speaker
• You know how to use tone, contractions, and idioms appropriately
• You can organize and present information clearly, even in a friendly/relaxed context

Achieving Band 7 or higher means showing flexible language, accurate grammar, and the right style. Many students lose marks by being too formal, missing a task point, or not giving enough detail.

---

IELTS Informal Letter: The Assessment Criteria

Examiners look at four key areas when marking your letter (IELTS.org, IELTSAdvantage.com):

1. Task Achievement (25%)
   Did you do all the points, develop your response, and achieve the purpose of the letter?
2. Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
   Are ideas logically organized and smoothly linked?
3. Lexical Resource (25%)
   Do you use a range of vocabulary, informal language, and natural phrases?
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)
   Are your sentences accurate, varied, and clear?

---

Step-by-Step Structure: How to Write an IELTS Informal Letter

Let's break it down into 5 easy steps:

1. Salutation ("Hi, Hello, Dear...")

• Use the recipient's first name (e.g., "Hi John," or "Dear Lisa,").
• "Hi" is most common in truly informal letters, but "Dear" is also acceptable.
• Don't use titles (Mr./Mrs.) or last names with friends/family.

Examples:

• Hi Arun,
• Dear Sophie,

2. Warm Opening Statement (Set the Tone!)

• Begin with a friendly, genuine greeting.
• Use an idiom, question, or exclamation to sound personal.

Examples:

• Hope you're doing well!
• How's everything going?
• It's been ages since we last spoke!

3. State the Purpose (Why Are You Writing? Short and Clear)

• Get to the point quickly, but keep it personal and warm.
• Paraphrase the reason from the IELTS prompt.

Examples:

• I'm just writing to tell you about my recent move.
• I've got some exciting news to share!
• I wanted to ask you for a little favor, if you have some time.

4. Cover Each Bullet Point (Expand with Details)

Each bullet point in the IELTS question should become its own paragraph or at least a clear, developed part of your letter.

Tips:

• Write 1-2 sentences for each bullet
• Add feelings, opinions, or anecdotes to make it personal
• Use contractions ("I'm," "you'll," "let's") and informal expressions

Example (task: invite a friend to visit, describe your new home, suggest things to do):

The new apartment is super cozy-there's a balcony where we can watch the city lights at night. You'd love it!
While you're here, we could hit the local food market or even go hiking-remember how much you love being outdoors?

5. Friendly Closing Statement & Sign-Off

• End with a warm sentence, sometimes inviting a reply.
• Use an informal sign-off and your first name only.

Examples:

• Can't wait to hear from you.
• Hope to see you soon!
• Take care,
• Cheers,
• Best,

---

Sample Model Answer (Band 8-9 Level)

Task: You recently moved to a new city for work. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,

• Explain why you moved
• Describe your new home
• Suggest a time for your friend to visit

Hi Sam,

Hope you're doing well! I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you about my latest adventure-I've moved to Bristol for my new job as a graphic designer.

The city's super lively, and my new place is in a great neighborhood, not far from the riverside. The flat's small but really cozy, and my favorite part is the roof terrace-it's perfect for evening chats over coffee.

You have to come visit! How about next month? There's an amazing food festival happening in town, and I know you love street food as much as I do. Let me know what you think, and I'll set everything up.

Looking forward to catching up soon!

Take care,
Alex

---

Common Informal Language: Phrases, Contractions, and Idioms

Useful Informal Openings

• Hope you're doing well!
• How's it going?
• I've been meaning to write to you for ages.
• Just wanted to say hi and catch up.

Friendly Requests & Suggestions

• Let me know what you think!
• Would you mind helping me out?
• How about we meet next weekend?
• Maybe we could try that new café?

Apologies or Explanations

• Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
• I feel bad I missed your party-hope you had fun!
• Just wanted to explain what happened.

Sharing News

• Guess what?!
• I've got great news!
• You won't believe what happened...

Closings

• Take care,
• See you soon,
• Write back when you can!
• All the best,

Note: Use contractions-it's what native speakers do-and avoid abbreviations like "u" for "you," or "gr8" for "great."

(IELTS Jacky: Informal Vocabulary)

---

How to Address All Task Points (and Why Many Students Lose Marks)

In every IELTS General Training letter, the instructions have three bullet points. You MUST address all three, or you will lose marks for Task Achievement-even if your English is perfect.

Strategy:

• Turn each bullet into a mini-paragraph or distinct section
• Don't just mention; develop each point (add details, examples, feelings)

Example:

• "Explain why you moved" → Not just "I had to move for work."
  Instead, write:
  "I recently got a job offer I couldn't refuse, so I decided to take the leap and move to Bristol. It was a big change, but I'm really enjoying it so far."

---

Model Sentences for Different Situations

Here's a collection of natural, informal sentences you can adapt for almost any IELTS letter scenario.

Making an invitation:

• I'd love for you to visit sometime!
• Why don't you come around next weekend?

Offering advice:

• If I were you, I'd definitely give it a shot.
• Trust me, you'll be great!

Apologizing:

• I'm really sorry for missing your call.
• Hope you're not annoyed with me!

Requesting help:

• Do you think you could help me out?
• I'd be really grateful if you could send those notes.

Explaining a problem:

• You know me-I always lose my keys!
• It turned out to be a bit of a disaster, to be honest.

Making arrangements:

• Let's catch up next Friday evening, if you're free!
• Shall we meet at the usual spot?

---

How to Start and End an IELTS Informal Letter

Openings

• Hi [Name],
• Dear [Name],
• Hey [Name], (only for very close friends!)

Examples:

• Hi Riya,
• Dear Steve,
• Hey Tom,

Closings

• Take care,
  [Your Name]
• See you soon,
  [Your Name]
• Lots of love,
  [Your Name]
• All the best,
  [Your Name]

Remember: Never use a surname in informal letters to friends/family.

---

Checklist for High-Scoring Informal Letters

Before exam day (and after you write a practice letter), ask yourself:

• Did I use a warm, friendly tone throughout?
• Did I use informal language, contractions, and idioms?
• Did I cover all three bullet points in detail?
• Is each idea clearly organized and easy to follow?
• Is my letter at least 150 words?
• Did I make any grammar or spelling errors?
• Did I start and end my letter with appropriate openings/closings?

Pro tip: Use a tool like Essay Tutor to check your grammar, get instant feedback, and enhance your wording before you submit your letter for mock marking or in the real test.

---

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

1. Mixing up Formal and Informal Tone

Mistake:
Writing to a friend using "Dear Mr. Smith" or ending with "Yours faithfully."

Fix:
Remember-friends/family = first names, casual greeting, and sign-off.

2. Not Using Contractions

Mistake:
Writing "I am sorry I cannot attend your party" to a friend.

Fix:
Use contractions: "I'm sorry I can't make it to your party."

3. Ignoring Informal Phrases/Idioms

Mistake:
Being stiff or overly academic: "It would be my pleasure to see you."

Fix:
Try: "Can't wait to catch up!" or "Let's hang out soon!"

4. Missing a Bullet Point

Mistake:
Covering only two out of three instructions. You lose Task Achievement marks.

Fix:
Underline or list each point in the question before you write. Check them off as you go.

5. Wrong Word Count

Mistake:
Writing only 120 words. This leads to an automatic penalty.

Fix:
Aim for 160-180 words. More than the minimum, but not so much that you lose time for Task 2.

6. Spelling or Grammar Errors

Mistake:
Simple mistakes due to writing too fast or not proofreading.

Fix:
Save 2 minutes to read over your letter. Or use instant feedback tools like Essay Tutor when you practice.

---

Practice Strategy for Mastering Informal Letters

1. Collect real IELTS questions and practice writing responses.
2. Time yourself (aim for 20 minutes per letter).
3. Swap letters with a friend, or better yet, use Essay Tutor for feedback, grammar fixes, and enhanced phrasing.
4. Reflect on your mistakes and write a second, improved version.
5. Repeat until you feel comfortable with any topic, adapting your style naturally!

---

Latest IELTS Trends and Updates for 2025

• Task types remain consistent: You still see informal letters (to friends/family) and formal/semi-formal (to landlords, employers, strangers).
• Natural tone is more rewarded: Marking continues to favor genuinely conversational, relaxed English rather than forced idioms.
• AI feedback tools are now widely accepted in prep: Platforms like Essay Tutor help you see instantly if your tone/phrasing is really informal and natural.
• Word count is strictly enforced: Examiners still check. Don't aim for the bare minimum.
• Personal detail wins: Adding a personal anecdote or memory makes your letter stand out.

---

Practice Prompts: Try These Yourself!

1. Your friend is coming to visit your city for the first time. Write to your friend and...

• Suggest places to visit
• Describe your favorite local food
• Offer to show them around

2. You changed your phone number recently. Write to your cousin and...

• Tell them your new number
• Explain why you changed it
• Suggest how to keep in touch

3. Your friend helped you prepare for an important interview. Write to thank them and...

• Explain how the interview went
• Say how their support helped you
• Offer to return the favor

When you finish, use Essay Tutor to get feedback and suggestions for improvement!

---

FAQs: IELTS Informal Letter Writing

Q: Can I use exclamation marks in informal letters?
A: Yes, but don't overdo it. Once or twice is natural-every sentence is too much.

Q: Can I use slang or abbreviations ("lol", "btw")?
A: Avoid text abbreviations-write full words ("see you," not "CU"). Mild, authentic slang is okay, but keep it universally understandable.

Q: How do I know if the question requires an informal letter?
A: If you're writing to a friend, family member, or someone close, it's informal. If unsure, check the vocabulary and style of the prompt.

---

Conclusion: Your Next Steps to IELTS Success

Informal letter writing in the IELTS General Training exam is your chance to show you're comfortable, fluent, and natural in English. Remember to:

• Use a warm, personal tone
• Hit all the task points in detail
• Write clear paragraphs, using contractions and informal expressions
• Open and close your letter in a way that sounds friendly and familiar

Practice is key-and so is getting high-quality feedback! Before your test, use a tool like Essay Tutor to instantly check your language, fix mistakes, and get better at writing in a convincing, natural English style.

Ready to get started? Try writing a sample letter today, then let Essay Tutor give you the confidence-boosting feedback you need for a top band score in 2025!

---

Stay positive, keep writing, and remember: Every great English speaker was once a beginner. You've got this! 🚀