The IELTS general training is an exam that checks English competence. A person who wants to live or study below degree level in an English-speaking country can attempt this test. It further comprises four different modules for each of the skills. However, students preparing for this often get stuck at the GT task 1 informal letter writing. That is why, through this article, the mentors from various IELTS coaching are discussing the ways in which students can attempt this task successfully.

Overview of The IELTS General Writing Tasks

Firstly, it is crucial to understand the tasks that are a part of the writing section. This part of the test consists of two different tasks, namely a letter and an essay. The type of letter that students can get is further of two types: formal and informal. In these, you will get a situation for which you will request more details or explain it via letter writing. The second IELTS general task further requires students to write an essay on a problem or a point of view. In the next segment, the article will discuss the task of informal letters from the writing module.

Structure of an Informal Letter

Let’s understand the letter structure that you need to follow in this writing task. An informal letter varies from a formal one. The following is the format that you need to follow in this letter type:

• Salutation: Use terms like hi, hey etc., in GT task 1 informal letter along with the receiver’s name.
• Paragraphs: The first one will talk about the reason for writing the letter. The next one will give further details to support the pointers that are given in the question.
• Complementary closure: You can write lines like See you soon, etc.
• Closing salutation: Add your name and best wishes for the receiver.

Now, let’s discuss the ways in which you can enhance your letter-writing skills.

Strategies for Writing an Informal Letter

This IELTS general task assesses your skills for writing and communicating using a letter in English. In this, you will get a situation in the form of a question. In addition to that, you will also get three-pointers with details that you need to cover in your letter. To get a good band score in this task, you need to know how to draft the letter with all the details. The following are some methods that will help you do so:

Understand Tone

Since an informal letter is addressed to a friend or a known person, it is crucial to use a tone which is friendly and cheerful.

Colloquial Expressions

Make use of phrases like “let’s catch up”, “looking forward to it”, etc. to sound more personal and natural.

Personal Pronouns

To give your GT task 1 informal letter a more conversational and casual flow, make use of the first-person pronoun.

Contractions

You can also use acceptable contractions for various terms as it is an informal letter. For example, don’t for do not and more.

Organise Thoughts

Follow the correct structure for the letter. In addition, the various ideas should not feel abrupt.

Now, let’s take a look at the mistakes that you should avoid.

Mistakes to Avoid in Informal Letter

Students make mistakes when they are attempting the informal letter task. These common errors made by them result in a deduction of marks. Thus affecting the score for the entire writing module. That is why you need to be mindful of the common errors when practising with an IELTS writing mock test and try to avoid them. The following are some of these mistakes:

Task Requirements

When you draft the letter, ensure that you have included all the details that the question requires. So do not miss out on any part of the task.

Too Formal

Refrain from using a formal tone as it is an informal letter. Therefore, use phrases that will keep the tone of the letter casual.

Inconsistent Tone

When you are writing the IELTS general informal letter, keep the same tone throughout. Since changing the tones will affect the flow of the letter.

Spelling and Grammar

Pay attention to the grammar and spelling of the terms that you use. For example, punctuation, verb agreement and more.

Conclusion

To conclude, hope the above methods will help you when you practice solving the letter task. Further, apply these methods to different types of informal letters that you can easily get in an IELTS writing mock test available online. If you want other resources to help prepare for the general training test, then connect with Gradding.com. This IELTs coaching will help you with the test preparation. In addition, they offer free mock tests and coaching to the test takers.