General training (task 1)

General training (task 1) Letter writing Useful tips:

Hello guys! Today we are going to learn letter writing format with some tips and tricks.I will also provide a PDF file of general training (task 1) for reading section in the end of this article.So let's start:

1. First, Identify the type of letter:

Read the letter and identify whether it is formal, semi formal or informal. The style of writing is different for all. 2. Identify the main purpose of the letter:

Are you asking for help, apologizing, inviting someone, complaining or thanking someone? Write appropriate and polite expressions that will support what you need to say. Make your letter realistic so that it looks like a real situation.

Example : You have some library books that you are unable to return to the library as a member of your family in another city had fallen sick and you had to go and look after them. Write a letter to the library incharge explaining the situation. Apologize for the inconvenience caused and what you are going to do.

In your letter:Introduce yourself as a member of library by writing library card number, title of the book borrowed, name of the authors, library reference number, borrowing date and due date. 3. Opening greetings of the letter: An informal letter to a friend or a semi formal letter. A friendly letter will open with a ‘Dear’ Followed by the name and coma(,) e.g. 'Dear John', or 'dear sir/madam' [if name is not known.] 4. The opening paragraph:

In semi formal letter write the reason immediately.

I am writing to ask/tell/inform you that – – – –
I am writing to ask/inquire – –
I am writing with regard to – – – – –
I am writing with reference to as – – – –
I am writing in connection with – – – – –
I am writing in response to – – – – In reply to your letter, I am writing to – – – [if question Indicates that you have had a letter]

Examples: Dear sir/madam, I am writing to inquire about/I am writing in connection with…

Dear Mr James, I am writing to inform you…/I am writing in connection with… Open an informal letter with the general, friendly paragraph. With friends, We care about the relation. So, the first paragraph could be purely friendly small talk, unrelated to the reason for here writing. Example: Dear Maria, I hope you and your family is all well. It was such a pleasure to see you again last summer. We had a great time catching up with each other after so many years. You have always been a cherished friend, no matter how much gap there has been since we met. Anyway, the reason I am writing is that I have some good news – I’m getting married this summer – – – Or Dear John, Hi there!It’s been so long since I’ve heard from you. I hope you are doing well and I hope all your family is doing fine. I’m pretty good in spite of working hard. Anyway, the reason I’m writing is– – –

5. Asking for help:

I would like to – – –

I would be grateful if you could – – –

I need to ask your advice about – – –

I’d like to ask for information about – – –

What I am looking for is – – –. * Complain: I am writing to express my dissatisfaction/annoyance/about – – – I am writing to express my anger at – – – I’m not happy about – – – – – – –

Is not what I expected/was expecting I want to know what you are going to do about this situation. Note: Don’t be too angry and frustrated while expressing. THANKING: I’m very grateful for – – – I’d like to thank you very much for – – – I would like to appreciate – – – APOLOGIZING: I’m very sorry that/about – – – Please forgive me for – – – I’d like to apologize for – – – Please accept my apologies . ENDING THE LETTER: For a formal letter: If you require any further information, please do contact me. Thanking you in advance for your help. I’m looking forward to hear from you soon. For a more informal letter: If you need to know anything else, just get in touch with me as soon as you can. Thanks a lot for your help and I hope to hear from you soon. 7. Finally in the end: Different letters have different types of endings. For formal letters: yours faithfully, yours sincerely, For informal letters: regards, yours, best wishes. Use standard words and phrases: Plan the letter before writing, use standard words and phrases. Be specific about the information. It will become easy to cope up with the time. 9. Make sure you write at least 150 words: Practice writing letters till you know what 150 words feel like and look like. You will lose marks if you write less, you will not lose marks if you write more; the only restriction on writing more is in terms of time, not the number of words but don’t make it topic-2 by writing 250 words in the letter. 10. Learn The correct spellings of commonly used words: Many students make a mistake when spelling words such as ‘sincerely’, ‘Faithfully’, ‘in connection with’ and so on. Prevent yourself from losing marks by learning the correct spellings of these words. 11. Stay on topic: The general IELTS task-1 does require to make a story to complete your letter, but don’t make your story so complicated and long that you run out of time and out of concept. 12. Includes all three bulleted points: If you exclude even one of the points given to you in the question, you will lose valuable bands. Practice writing letters that into the three points and go back and check that you have included them in each practice exercise you do.