Formal Letters: Complaints, Requests & Applications

Formal letters appear in roughly half of all GT Writing Task 1 prompts. They require a specific tone, precise vocabulary, and a structured approach. This lesson provides templates, vocabulary banks, and worked examples for the three most common formal letter types.

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General Rules for Formal Letters

Before examining specific types, here are the universal rules:

1. No contractions. Write "I am", "I would", "I have", "do not" — never "I'm", "I'd", "I've", "don't".
2. No slang or colloquialisms. Replace "a lot of" with "a considerable number of" or "numerous". Replace "get back to me" with "respond at your earliest convenience".
3. Use passive voice where appropriate. "I was informed that..." is more formal than "Someone told me that..."
4. Be direct but polite. State what you want clearly without being aggressive.
5. Use formal connectors. "Furthermore", "In addition", "Moreover", "Nevertheless", "Consequently".

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Formal Letter Template

Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr/Mrs [Surname],

[Opening paragraph: state purpose]
I am writing to [purpose] regarding [topic/situation].
[Brief context: 1–2 sentences]

[Body paragraph 1: address bullet point 1]
[3–4 sentences with specific details]