Still struggling to
compose formal, semi-formal, and personal letters despite weeks of IELTS review online sessions? Worried that this may
cost you your band score goals? If so, don’t be. Supercharge your performance
in the first task of the IELTS General Training’s writing exam with the
following tips.
1.
Learn
the difference between the three letter types.
Formal,
semi-formal, and personal letters don’t just differ in tone and language. They
also vary when it comes to structure. Here’s what you need to know about each
letter type’s format.
·
Formal letters are addressed to people you don’t know,
like the company or university you’re planning to apply to after you take the
IELTS exam. They start with a “Dear Sir/Madam” and end with a “Yours
faithfully” followed by your complete name.
·
Semi-formal letters are addressed to people you know but
are not close to, like your professor or work manager. They start with a “Dear
Mr./Mrs./Ms.” followed by the last name of the recipient. They end with a “Your
sincerely” followed by your complete name.
·
Personal letters are addressed to people you personally
know, like your friends and family. They start with “Dear” followed by the
first name of the recipient. They end with a “Warm/Best regards” followed by
your first name.
Keep
these in mind when you answer letter-writing mock exams during your IELTS review Philippines classes.
2.
Consider
the purpose of the letter.
If
the receiver is someone who doesn’t fall neatly under a specific type (e.g., a
professor that also happens to be your aunt), consider the letter’s purpose.
It’ll help you identify which format to use. Check out the guide below.
·
Application
letters are always formal.
·
Resignation
letters are always formal.
·
Complaint
letters are usually formal.
·
Invitations
can be semi-formal or personal.
·
Explanatory
letters can be semi-formal or personal.
·
Informative
letters can be semi-formal or personal.
Instances
when the recipient is hard to categorize are extremely rare in the IELTS exam.
Still, it pays to know what to do if you encounter one.
3.
Review
your final work.
Your
letter will be scored based on the variety and appropriateness of its word
choice (Lexical Resource), its structure and content consistency (Coherence and
Cohesion), its adherence to language rules (Grammar Range and Accuracy), and how
well it addressed the tasks requirements (Task Achievement). Keep these
criteria in mind when you proofread your final work.
Check
for inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and transitions.
Remove redundant passages and fix run-on sentences. Make sure your letter
contains all the details listed in the task’s bullet points. Practice your
proofreading skills during your IELTS review online.
Want to learn more ways to
enhance your exam performance? Find the best provider of IELTS review in the Philippines and enroll in one of
their courses!
References:
Kuangyan. “Tips
for Writing Letters in IELTS General Training.” Magoosh. September 2, 2016.
Accessed September 7, 2018. https://magoosh.com/ielts/tips-writing-letters-ielts-general-training/
Liz. “IELTS
Letter Writing: 10 Essential Tips.” IELTS Liz. December 24, 2014. Accessed
September 7, 2018. http://ieltsliz.com/ielts-letter-writing-essential-tips/
Pell,
Christopher. “IELTS General Writing: Your General Training Guide.” IELTS
Advantage. Accessed September 7, 2018. https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/2017/08/09/ielts-general-writing/
“Test Format in
Detail.” IELTS. Accessed September 7, 2018. https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format-in-detail
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