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While formal letters receive the most attention in IELTS preparation, semi-formal and informal letters appear regularly in the exam and have their own specific requirements. Many candidates struggle with these because they either write too formally (sounding stiff and unnatural) or too casually (losing marks on vocabulary range and grammatical accuracy).
Semi-formal letters are written to someone you know in a professional or respectful context:
The prompt will typically:
| Feature | Semi-Formal |
|---|---|
| Contractions | Occasional ("I'd", "It's") but not excessive |
| Vocabulary | Polite but not stiff — "I'd be grateful" rather than "I hereby request" |
| Tone | Respectful, direct, and clear |
| Personal details | Included where relevant |
| Idioms | Avoid most idioms, but common expressions are fine |
| Opening | "Dear Mr/Mrs [Surname]," or "Dear [First name]," |
| Closing | "Yours sincerely," / "Best regards," / "Kind regards," |
Opening:
Expressing a problem:
Making a request:
Offering help:
Closing:
Prompt: You are moving to a new city for work. Write a letter to a colleague who lives there. In your letter:
Dear Sarah,
I hope you're doing well. I'm writing to let you know that
I'll be relocating to Manchester next month, as I've been
offered a position at the company's northern office.
I was hoping you might be able to give me some advice about
finding accommodation in the area. I'm looking for a
one-bedroom flat within reasonable commuting distance of the
city centre. Do you know which neighbourhoods offer good
value, and would you recommend any particular letting agents
or websites? Any guidance would be much appreciated.
I'd also love to meet up once I've settled in. Perhaps we
could grab a coffee after work one evening during my first
week? It would be great to catch up in person and hear your
tips for adjusting to life in Manchester.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Tom
Word count: 155 — concise and natural.
Analysis:
Informal letters are written to close friends or family members:
The prompt will typically:
| Feature | Informal |
|---|---|
| Contractions | Used naturally throughout ("I've", "we're", "didn't", "can't") |
| Vocabulary | Conversational ("great", "awesome", "a bit", "loads of") |
| Tone | Warm, enthusiastic, personal |
| Personal details | Extensive — anecdotes, feelings, opinions |
| Idioms and expressions | Welcome ("it's been ages", "I can't wait", "you won't believe") |
| Exclamations | Used sparingly ("What a surprise!", "That's fantastic!") |
| Rhetorical questions | Natural ("Can you believe it?", "Isn't that amazing?") |
| Opening | "Dear [first name]," |
| Closing | "Take care," / "All the best," / "See you soon," / "Write back soon!" |
Reacting to news:
Sharing news:
Making suggestions:
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