Opening and Closing Lines IELTS General Writing Task 1
The IELTS Writing section is for assessing the abilities of the candidates appearing for the IELTS exam in their writing skills. The IELTS exam focuses on all the skills of the candidates in reading, speaking, writing and listening, analyzing their grammar, vocabulary, style and usage of the English language. IELTS Writing is a crucial section for which candidates need to have developed skills in using the English language. It is divided into two parts IELTS Academic and IELTS General. Each of these sections are further divided into task 1 and task 2. IELTS General Task 1 is based on letter writing of different types including formal, informal and semi-formal letters. Candidates attempting for IELTS General Writing Task 1 need to know about the opening and closing lines they should use for different types of letters. Candidates can consider using IELTS writing practice papers for their preparation for IELTS writing.
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Opening and Closing Salutations for IELTS Letters?
For starting your IELTS Letter Writing candidates would need to use salutations appropriately and needs to be different for each letter type. Based on the type of letter your IELTS General Writing Task 1 has asked you to write, the following are the recommended salutations for each type of IELTS letters:
| Type of Letter | Style of Letter | Opening Salutation | Closing Salutation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | You are writing to a person of higher authority or someone you do not know |
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| Semi-formal | You are writing to a friend, or family but the area of discussion is related to work or official purpose |
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| Informal | You are writing letter to a friend or family with a less serious issue or topic |
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Start and End Sentences for IELTS Letter Writing?
For different types of IELTS Letters, the opening and closing sentences would be different. Accordingly, it is recommended that candidates keep the start and end of the sentences for their IELTS general writing task 1 separate from the main body of the letter. The following tables would help in providing details about the same.
Applying or submitting letters
| Letter Types | Opening Sentence | Closing Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | “I am writing to express my interest in…” | “Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to you reply” |
| Semi-formal | “I am writing this letter to let you know…” | “Thank you for considering me. I hope to hear back from you soon”. |
| Informal | Applications or submissions are generally formal or semi-formal | Applications or submissions are generally formal or semi-formal |
Sample Article for formal letter: Job Application Cover Letter-IELTS General Writing Task 1 Sample Answer
Opening sentence: I am writing this letter to showcase my desire for the designation of Assistant Professor at ABC College posted in the Times Job Portal on 15th February 2019
Closing sentence: Hoping to hear from you real soon with a positive response.
Invitation based IELTS Letters
| Letter Types | Opening Sentence | Closing Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | “I hope that this letter finds you healthy. I am writing to formally invite you to…” | “I look forward to your response and hope you will be able to attend” |
| Semi-formal | “I am writing to invite you to…” | “I look forward to your response and hope you can attend” |
| Informal | “I hope you’re doing good. Would you be interested in…” | “I look forward to your response and hope you can attend!” |
Apologizing or Offering Condolences Letters
| Letter Types | Opening Sentence | Closing Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | “I want to let you know how sorry I am…” | “Again, I apologize for the situation and thank you for understanding” |
| Semi-formal | “I want to let you know that I am sorry…” | “Again, I apologize for the situation and thank you for understanding” |
| Informal | “I am writing you this letter for…” | “Again, I apologize for the situation and thank you for understanding” |
Sample Article for Informal Letter: A Letter to your Foreign Friend Apologizing for your Unavailability IELTS General Writing Task 1
Opening sentence: I am more thrilled and excited to meet you however, with a heavy heart I would like to apologize as I will be out of town next month
Closing Sentence: I once again would like to apologize for this inconvenience. I hope you understand the situation. Looking forward to your response
Requesting Information IELTS Letters
| Letter Types | Opening Sentence | Closing Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | “I apologize for bothering you but I was wondering if you could provide me with the information about…” | “Thank you for your time and interest and I would look forward to your reply” |
| Semi-formal | “Sorry to bother you but I am hoping you could help me with information about…” | “Thank you in advance for giving me any information and hoping to receive your response soon” |
| Informal | “Can you tell me about…” | “Thanks in advance and hoping to hear from you soon”. |
IELTS Letter Writing Samples
Candidates can follow the IELTS Writing tips for ensuring that they are able to ace the test. The following IELTS General Writing Task 1 sample articles could be helpful for students:
Hence, candidates need to be aware about their opening and closing salutations and sentences for different types of letters and ensure practicing for the same before appearing for the IELTS exam effectively.
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