ielts letter

7/17/2019 Ielts Letter

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IELTS Letter

An IELTS Letter is the Task 1 for General Training.

On the following pages you can view some letter writing samples.

Included below each letter are comments so you can understand what is good about the

example and therefore know how to best write your own letters for I!"T#.

These are all written by an I!"T# instructor so they are examples of letters that would

achieve a high band score.

The pages have the main types of I!"T# letter topics for you to view.

#ample "etter 1 $ %ersonal& Informal

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Example IELTS Letter 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You want to sell your television. You think a riend o yours might like to

buy it rom you.

!rite a letter to your riend. In your letter explain

1. !hy you are selling the television

". #escribe the television

$. Suggest a date when your riend can come and see it

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

%odel &nswer

(ear Gary

)ope you are doing well.

I*m doing fine though my life is +uite hectic at the moment because as you know I am

moving abroad and there is so much to do,

There are a few things that I can*t take with me because they are too big so I am seeing if any

of my friends would be interested in buying them. One of the things I do not want to take withme is my television and I thought you might like to buy it off me for a cheap price.



It*s a -/ flat screen T0 and it*s a %hillips model. It has a #2 port so you can 3ust plug in a

thumb drive to watch movies or listen to music. It has great stereo surround sound.

As you know I*m leaving the country at the end of the month which is only two weeks away.

#o if you want to see it it would be best to come on 4th or 1st. That will give me time to

sell it elsewhere if you are not interested.

Ok I look forward to seeing you. "et me know if you can*t make it.

All the best

5ohn.

(202 Words)

IELTS Sample Letters

These I!"T# sample letters illustrate the different types you may come across in the test.

This is an example where you need to make a re'uest.

It is a letter to a landlord re+uesting that rent be paid late.

It is semi(ormal because it is someone that the letter writer knows.

2elow the model answer are comments.

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IELTS Sample Letters ( "


You are expriencing inancial problems and want to ask your landlord i

you can pay your rent late.

!rite a letter to your landlord. In your letter explain

1. !hy you are writing to him

". !hy you cannot pay the rent

$. !hen you will pay the rent.




%odel &nswer

(ear 6r #trickland

I am writing to you to re+uest that you allow me to pay my rent late this month.

I*ve been a tenant with you for a number of years now and as you know I have always paid

my rent on time. )owever I am having a few financial problems at the moment. "ast month I

was made redundant from my 3ob because the company I work for is closing down. 2ecause I

have not worked at the company for long I have not received a redundancy payment

therefore leaving me short of money this month.

I can assure you that I will be able to pay the rent on the 17th of next month. I have now

found another 3ob and they have kindly agreed to give me an advance on my wages but they

are unable to arrange this until next week.

I hope this will be acceptable to you but please contact me if it is a problem.

8ours sincerely

5ohn #treetham.

IELTS Sample Letters - Comments

The letter is well-structured as the writer makes it clear in the irst sentence why the letter is

bein! written" !i#es urther details o the problem in the irst body para!raph" and then in the

inal para!raph sets out when payment will be made.

The tone o the letter is appropriate as it is polite ( I am writing to you to request..., I can

assure you...., I apologise for this problem..., please contact me if it is a problem... ).

The openin! and closin! o the letter are correct or a semi-ormal letter to someone i you

know their name ( Dear r Stric!lan"..., #ours sincerely... ).

There are !ood e$amples o correct use o tenses" demonstratin! that the writer has a #ery !ood workin! use o !rammar%

1. present continuous for what is happening now$ & am ha#in! a ew inancial problems

at the moment

. past simple passi%e for e%ents in the past an" when the sub&ect is not "oing the %erb$

& was made redundant

-. 'uture$ & can assure you that & will be able to pay

9. (resent perfect$ & ha#e now ound

IELTS )ormal Letter Sample



This is an IELTS ormal letter example.

It is formal as it is to an insurance company and is not to someone that you know. It is an

example of how to write a letter of complaint.

#ee comments on the letter at the bottom of the page.

IELTS )ormal Letter ( Example $


Your car insurance company has told you that they are going to increasethe amount you have to pay in insurance or your car each month. You

are not happy about this.

!rite a letter to your insurance company. In your letter explain

1. !hy you are writing to them

". !hy you think the insurance should not be increased

$. !hat you want them to do


IELTS )ormal Letter ( %odel &nswer

(ear #ir : 6adam

I am writing to you as I recently received a letter from you informing me that the insurance

premium for my car is going to increase from next month.

As you will be aware if you check my records I have held my insurance with your companyfor nearly seven years now. (uring this time I have never had an accident and never had any

reason to make a claim on my insurance.

I understand that at times prices need to be increased. )owever this increase you are

suggesting will result in a 4; increase in the amount I pay each month a rate I feel is too

much.

I would therefore like you to write back to me and explain why such an increase has been

proposed. If you are unable to 3ustify it to my satisfaction then I am afraid that I will have no

other option but to move my insurance to another company.



I look forward to hearing from you

8ours faithfully

6r 6ahmoud <han

(Words ')

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Comments

The answer clearly addresses all the bullet points rom the *uestion. The writer !i#es reasons

why the letter is bein! written and why the increase is considered unair" and then !oes on to

e$plain what he wants the company to do to resol#e the situation.

The writer e$pands on his ideas by !i#in! e$tra details. +or e$ample" he e$plains that he has

had insurance or se#en years and ne#er had an accident" and he also e$plains how the

increase will aect him i.e. result in a 20, rise in his payments. &t is important when writin!

a letter to !i#e e$tra inormation to support the letter whilst remainin! on topic.

The tone o the &T/ ormal letter is well-controlled" with appropriate openin! ( Dear Sir )

a"am ) and closin! ( #ours faithfully ) phrases" and urther phrases that ensure the ormal

letter still remains polite ( I un"erstan" that..., I*m afrai"..., I loo! forwar" to hearing from

you... ) despite the act that it is a letter o complaint.

There are some other !ood e$amples o phrases appropriate to a semi-ormal or ormal letter

( +s you will be aware..., I woul" therefore li!e you to... ).

Idioms

Idioms used in I!"T# can help to increase your score in the test. )owever there are importantthings you should know about them.

If you are not using them properly or trying to use them for the sake of it it could actually

make your speaking sound worse.

On this page we*ll look at what you should know some examples and how and when they can

be used in I!"T#.

!hat are idioms*

They are phrases words or expressions that do not have the same meaning as the actual words

used in the phrase.



In other words their meaning cannot be taken literally.

=or example we can say&

&1m o%er the moon that & !ot a band .3 in &T/.

Obviously you can*t take the words >o#er the moon* literally. It does not mean the person is

standing over the moon,

The phrase is used when someone wants to express that they are incredibly happy about

something that has happened.

They are also expressions that are grammatically unusual. =or example&

So far, so goo".

This means that up until this point in time things are going well.

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+ow are they related to IELTS*

This is one of the criteria for achieving a band ? in I!"T# speaking for lexical resource

@vocabulary&

4ses some less common and idiomatic #ocabulary

This means that the examiner will be trained to spot if you use this type of vocabulary. They

are much less common in formal or academic writing so they are not mentioned in the

writing band descriptors.

#o forget about them for your writing @though they could be used in an informal letter for

General Training.

________________________________________________

Should I learn idioms or the IELTS speaking test*

They should really be +uite low down in your priorities when you are preparing for the

I!"T# test.

5ust because they are mentioned at a band ? does not mean you will not get a ? for lexical

resource if you don*t use them, And if you do use some this does not automatically mean you

will get a ? for lexical resource,

=or example if your general use of lexis throughout the test tends to be at a band B level the

examiner will not give you a ? 3ust because you fit >o#er the moon* in somewhere,



sing idioms at the right time and in the right context is also +uite difficult to learn. Cative

speakers use them very naturally and in exactly the right context because they have obviously

been brought up with the language and they don*t have to think about it.

Imagine you learn the phrase Do#er the moonD for the test. 8ou now have to hope the examiner

asks you a +uestion where you can fit it in, That could be unlikely and if you are nervous it isnot something you want to worry about.

If you use them unnaturally because you are trying to fit them in the test it will probably be

noticeable. 8ou need to be at a level where you can use them fairly naturally. Those that can

use them well in the test have not usually studied a book and learned them but have picked

them up through experience maybe from some time abroad or 3ust from being +uite a good

speaker of !nglish.

)owever that is not to say you should not study them but it depends on your situation.

If you are around a band ,., level or lower I would say orget about them or now or atleast make them a lower priority. 8ou have much more important things to worry about.

8ou need to work on improving your general vocabulary @for example try practicing the

academic word list and collocations and improving your fluency and grammar.

If you are at a higher level and you have time you may want to start thinking about what you

can do to make yourself 3ust that bit better and gradually improving you knowledge of these

types of expressions and phrases can help with this.

In the following pages we*ll take a look at them further and there will be practice exercises as

well.

#o to begin check out some of these common idioms.

-ommon Idioms

"earning common idioms first is the best way to begin building up your knowledge of these

types of words and expressions.

This page has been divided up into 7 tables of 14 words so you have , o the most common

phrases and you can learn them as a set at a time.

#oon some exercises will be added so you can practice each set of words so keep an eye on

this page.

6ake sure that you have checked that you know exactly what idioms are and when to use

them before you start practicing them.

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http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/academic-word-list.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/collocation.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/common-idioms.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms.html


http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/academic-word-list.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/collocation.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/common-idioms.html





-ommon Idioms List

Set 1

-ommon Idioms #einitions

It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to

Australia.

5ery e$pensi#e

I was over the moon when he asked me to marry

him.

$tremely pleased or happy

8ou are taking your I!"T# test next weekEE Aren*t

you /umping the gun. 8ou*ve only 3ust started

studying.

6oin! or startin! somethin! too early

)e comes round to see me once in a blue moon. 7appenin! #ery rarely

)e*s got a chip on his shoulder. +eelin! inerior or ha#in! a !rie#ance

about somethin!

I reckon getting a band ? in I!"T# will be a piece

o cake, I*m very good at !nglish.

5ery easy

The money sent by comic relief to help poverty in

Africa is 3ust a drop in the ocean. They need far

more than this.

8 #ery small part o somethin! much

bi!!er

Getting a low score the first time I took I!"T# was

a blessing in disguise. It forced me to study

extremely hard so I got a much better score the next

time.

/omethin! positi#e that isn1t reco!ni9ed

until later

Fe have to actually do something about global

warming. &ctions speak louder than words.

&t1s better to actually do somethin! rather

than :ust talkin! about it

I bumped into 5enny in town the other day. It0s a

small world.

;eetin! someone you would not ha#e

e$pected to

Idioms Practice - Test yourself on these rst 10 phrases

Set "

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms-practice.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms-practice.html




Oh well I got 7.7 in I!"T# again. ack to the

drawing board,

When an attempt to do somethin! ails

and it<s time to start all o#er a!ain usin!

dierent methods

I hate my 3ob so much I can*t bare going to work

but if I +uit I don*t think I can get another 3ob. I*m

really stuck 2 caught between a rock and a hard

place.

7a#in! two #ery bad choices.

@note& stuck:caught can be omitted

I have to bite my tongue so I don*t say what I

really think of him,

Wantin! to say somethin! but stoppin!

yoursel.

ome on cut to the chase. Fe haven*t got all day, ea#e out all the unnecessary details and :ust !et to the point

Are you putting all of your savings into that

companyE (on*t put all your eggs in one basket.

=uttin! all o ones resources into one

possibility

Try not to worry about it. Every cloud has a silver

lining.

>elie#in! that e#ery bad situation has a

positi#e side ? e#entually leads to

somethin! !ood

It was difficult when I moved to another country but I eventually ound my eet.

To become comortable in what you aredoin!

6y parents are very ixed in their ways. They

won*t start using the internet.

Not wantin! to chan!e rom the normal

ways o doin! thin!s

I think he got up on the wrong side o the bed this

morning. )e is in a terrible mood.

To reer to someone who is ha#in! a bad

day

6y mother will always go the extra mile to help

people.

6oin! much more than is re*uired when

doin! somethin! Go to the Idiom practice exercise for these 10 words

Set $


I think you*ve hit the nail on the head. That*s the

reason he didn*t get the 3ob.

/ay e$actly the ri!ht thin!

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idiom-practice-exercise.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idiom-practice-exercise.html



Today*s going so badly. I it3s not one thing4 it3s

the other.

When e#erythin! seems to be !oin!

wron!

I 3ust said it in the heat o the moment. I was

angry. I know I shouldn*t have.

/ayin! or doin! somethin! suddenly

without thinkin! about it

5eep an eye on him. I think he may cheat in the

exam.

Watch someone or somethin! careully

)ave you heardE 5ohn down the road has kicked

the bucket.

6ied

I don*t want to argue with him again. It*s better to

let sleeping dogs lie.

8#oid a conlict

I told him what gift you have bought him for his

birthday. #orry I didn*t mean to let the cat out o

the bag.

Tell someone somethin! that you were

not supposed to

(on*t tell her what you really think of her if she*s

helping you with your !nglish, (on*t bite the hand

that eeds you.

7urt or upset someone who is helpin!

you

I*m not sure which party he is going to vote for.

)e*s sitting on the ence.

Not makin! a irm decision between

dierent choices

!verything she does is very over the top. #he can*t

3ust have a few drinks H se has to get really drunk.

$cessi#e

View these 10 idioms in use and practice them

Set 6


"et*s keep studying for I!"T#. 7ractice makes

perect.

@ontinuously doin! somethin! to

impro#e

(on*t get upset about what he said. )e*s 3ust

pulling your leg.

Aokin! around

#orry but I think I*ll take a rain check on that. To decline an oer that you will take up

later

As a rule o thumb I don*t study at weekends. I =rincipal that is strictly adhered ? kept to

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms-in-use.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms-in-use.html



spend the time with my family.

I can smell a rat. )e said he has a %h( but he can*t

even remember which university he studied at.

To sense that somethin! is not ri!ht

#he*s the spitting image of her mother. To look e$actly like someone else

The ball0s in your court now. Fhat are you going

to doE

Tellin! someone it<s now their turn to

make a decision

nfortunately I think he*ll be studying for I!"T#

until the cows come home. )is !nglish is very

poor.

+or a #ery lon! time

It was all tongue(in(cheek . )e didn*t really mean

what he said.

/omethin! said in humour rather than

seriously

#he*s feeling under the weather today so she

won*t be going to work.

4nwell

Go to idioms exercises for Set words

Set ,


FeDve had some big disagreements over the years

but it*s all water under the bridge now. Fe get on

fine.

Thin!s rom the past that are not

important anymore

You are what you eat so it*s better to have a healthy

diet.

& you eat bad ood" you1ll be unhealthy"

i you eat !ood ood" you1ll be healthy

You can3t /udge a book by its cover. I need to get to

know him before I decide what he is like.

The belie that outside appearances do

not re#eal what someone or somethin!

is really like

FeDre really working against the clock now. Fe

must hurry.

Not ha#in! enou!h time to do somethin!

Fhy are we botheringE FeDre logging a dead horse.

Our online business is making no money so we

should move on and do something else.

8ttemptin! to continue with somethin!

that is inished ? o#er

I bent over backwards to help him. I hope he 6oin! all you can to help someone

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms-exercises.html

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idioms-exercises.html



appreciates it.

#o you have the I!"T# test todayEE reak a leg. Bood luck

Ok IDm playing devil0s advocate here but if

mari3uana is legalied isnDt it more likely young

people will smoke itE

To put orward a side in an ar!ument

that may not be your own in order to

show the counter-ar!ument ? ensure all

sides are discussed

+old your horses, Fe havenDt won anything yet. Tellin! someone who is !ettin! ahead o

themsel#es to wait ? be patient

#he is driving me up the wall. #he wonDt stop

talking.

Annoying or irritating somebody

Go to idiom practice exercises for Set ! words

Cow that you know some common idioms you can start to practice with them. #ome practice

exercises for the words in the sets above will be added to the site soon.

%usical idioms

6usical Idioms from Grammar.net.

Take a look at this list of !nglish idioms created by Grammar.net that are all music related.

To help you learn these knew phrases I am going to define all of these idioms below @using alittle more information than what is in the definitions in the picture aboveJ keep in mind both

definitions H mine and those in the picture H are correct. 2y the end of this post all of these

phrases should be music to your ears.

or a song H very cheaply

!xample& I bought my new desk or a son! at the furniture sale. 8ou will never believe how

little I paid for it.

to set something to music H to write a piece of music to accompany a set of words

!xample& olin asked his musician friend to set his poem to music so he could sing it to hisgirlfriend.

music to my ears H good newsJ something good to hear

!xample& )earing that you will be coming to visit for weeks is music to my ears. I can*t

wait until you get here.

elevator music H music that is calm:relaxingJ music that is usually played in public places

like on the elevator at the doctor*s office etc.

!xample& There is always ele#ator music playing in the lobby of the hotel although the

patrons like it the employees get tired of it.

http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idiom-practice-exercises.html

http://blogs.transparent.com/english/musical-idioms/

http://www.grammar.net/hi-res


http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/idiom-practice-exercises.html

http://blogs.transparent.com/english/musical-idioms/




to ace the music H to receive punishmentJ to accept the unpleasant results of one*s actions

!xample& After robbing 14 banks the thief finally had to ace the music and receive his

punishment of 7 years in prison.

to play it by ear H to decide how to deal with a situation as it happens rather than planning

out what you will do ahead of time!xample& I*m not sure if I am going to go to the party tonight I think I*ll 3ust play it by ear

and see how I am feeling later.

/am session H when musicians play improvised musicJ playing music with others without

preparation or a specific arrangement

!xample& !very Tuesday night there is a :am session at my house with my closest friends

sometimes the music can get really loud.

to ring a bell H something that seems:sounds familiar

!xample& I thought that your name ran! a bell when I heard the teacher call roll you were in

my !nglish class two years ago weren*t youE

to change your tune H to change ones mindJ to have a change of heartJ to change one*s

manner of interacting

!xample& The employee was acting very rude to the customers until the manager came over

then she chan!ed her tune and was very nice to everyone.

chin music H meaningless talk or conversation

!xample& Fhenever those two old friends get together you can be sure there will be plenty of

chin music.

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