Tech Notes

Topic & Why It Matters

In IELTS General Training Task 1, an informal letter is written to someone you know well, usually a close friend or family member. The task still requires at least 150 words in 20 minutes, but the tone should sound personal rather than official.

Candidates lose marks when they confuse informal with careless. A strong informal letter uses first names, contractions, and natural phrasal verbs, while still answering every bullet point clearly and keeping grammar accurate.

Knowledge Points

Informal means close and natural

An informal IELTS GT letter is written to someone you know well: a close friend, relative, or sometimes a very familiar classmate. The language should sound warm and personal, but it still needs clear organisation, accurate grammar, and complete answers to the three bullet points.

First names are expected

Use a first-name greeting such as 'Dear Liam,' or 'Hi Sophie,'. Do not use 'Dear Sir or Madam' or surname-based greetings when the prompt clearly says the recipient is a close friend.

Contractions are natural, not decorative

Forms such as 'I'm', 'can't', 'don't', and 'I've' help an informal letter sound natural. Use them where they fit the sentence, but do not force contractions into every line.

Phrasal verbs can raise naturalness

Informal letters can use controlled phrasal verbs such as 'catch up', 'come over', 'pick up', 'help out', and 'make up for'. These sound more friend-like than formal alternatives, as long as they remain clear.

Warmth does not replace task coverage

A friendly tone is useful, but Task Achievement still depends on answering every bullet point. If the prompt asks you to apologise, explain, and suggest a new arrangement, all three must be visible.

The closing should feel personal

Use closings such as 'Speak soon', 'Take care', 'Best', or 'Lots of love' depending on the relationship. A warm closing is better than a formal formula like 'Yours faithfully'.

Structure Template

Four short paragraphs, about 155-175 words total. Choose a friendly opening, answer the bullets directly, then close warmly.

Paragraph	Target	What to Write
Opening + Paragraph 1	35-45 words	Use the friend's first name, add a warm opening, then state the purpose naturally. If the letter involves bad news, apologise early.
Paragraph 2	45-55 words	Explain the situation or background with specific details. Keep the tone personal, but do not let the story become long or unfocused.
Paragraph 3	45-55 words	Suggest the next step, alternative plan, invitation, or favour. Use friendly phrasal verbs and one clear arrangement.
Closing	15-25 words	End warmly, invite a quick reply if needed, and sign off with a first name.

Tone rule: Informal IELTS writing should sound like a clear letter to a real friend, not a text message and not a business email.

Vocabulary & Grammar Toolkit

Expression	Usage Note
Dear Liam,	Safe informal greeting for a close friend
Hi Sophie,	More relaxed greeting; suitable only when the prompt clearly says friend
Thanks so much for...	Warm opening for invitations, help, or gifts
It was great to hear from you.	Natural opening after receiving a message or invitation
I was really looking forward to...	Friendly way to show disappointment before changing a plan
I'm afraid I can't make it...	Soft informal way to give bad news
Something has come up.	Useful when an unexpected problem changes a plan
catch up	Phrasal verb for spending time talking with a friend
come over / come up	Natural alternatives to 'visit' in informal arrangements
help someone out	Friendly phrase for giving practical help
pick up the keys	Practical phrasal verb; more natural than 'collect the keys'
move plans around	Informal phrase for changing arrangements
mess you about	Informal apology phrase; use only with close friends
Could we do [time] instead?	Clear, friendly alternative suggestion
the weekend after	Natural informal time reference; specify dates if clarity is needed
take you out for dinner	Friendly offer to compensate or celebrate
make up for the change	Useful when apologising and offering something positive
If that doesn't work,...	Conditional clause for offering flexibility
fit in with whatever suits you	Warm way to let the friend choose
Let me know what works for you.	Natural closing request for a reply
I'll sort my train ticket	Informal future arrangement using 'sort'
Sorry again	Simple warm apology before the close
Speak soon,	Reliable informal closing for a friend
Take care,	Warm informal closing; slightly calmer than 'Speak soon'

Common Pitfalls

Mistake	Correction
Writing too formally	Do not write 'I am writing to inform you' to a close friend. Use natural phrasing such as 'I'm afraid I can't make it on Friday after all.'
Using texting style	Informal does not mean careless. Avoid abbreviations like 'u', emojis, and sentence fragments. IELTS still assesses grammar and clarity.
Forgetting one bullet point	A friendly letter can still lose marks if it misses the apology, reason, invitation, request, or suggested plan required by the prompt.
Adding no contractions at all	A letter to a close friend with no contractions can sound stiff. Use a few natural forms: 'I'm', 'can't', 'don't', 'I'll'.
Overusing slang	Use controlled informal language, not language that is too regional, vague, or risky. 'Catch up' is safe; heavy slang may not be.

Practice Prompt

Set a 20-minute timer. Write your response before reading the model answer.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

A close friend has invited you to visit for a weekend, but you need to change the plan because of an unexpected problem.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter, apologise for changing the plan, explain what has happened, and suggest another arrangement.

Write at least 150 words.

Planning reminder: Before writing, choose the friend's name, the exact problem, the new date, and one friendly detail that makes the letter sound personal.

My Response

0 / 150 words

150 more words needed

Model AnswerBand 7.5+ · 161 words

Dear Liam,

Thanks so much for inviting me to stay this weekend. I was really looking forward to catching up properly, but I'm afraid I can't make it on Friday after all.

My sister called yesterday to say she's moving flats earlier than expected, and she's asked me to help her pack and pick up the keys. I know this is lousy timing, especially after you moved your plans around for me, and I'm really sorry for messing you about.

Could we do the weekend after instead? I can come up on Saturday morning, bring that coffee you like, and take you out for dinner to make up for the change. If that doesn't work, I'm happy to fit in with whatever suits you.

Sorry again, and thanks for being understanding. I really don't want to miss seeing you. Let me know what your calendar looks like, and I'll sort my train ticket as soon as we pick a date.

Speak soon,
Maya

Annotated Commentary

Each section is quoted, then broken down by examiner criteria. Notice how the model sounds friendly through contractions and phrasal verbs, but still covers the apology, explanation, and new arrangement in a controlled structure.

[ Thesis ]Opening + Paragraph 1 — Purpose

Dear Liam, Thanks so much for inviting me to stay this weekend. I was really looking forward to catching up properly, but I'm afraid I can't make it on Friday after all.

Thesis (purpose)'I'm afraid I can't make it...' gives the reason for writing immediately

Cohesive device'but' introduces the change of plan after the warm opening

Lexical upgrade'catching up properly' sounds more natural than 'meeting and talking'

Contractions'I'm' and 'can't' keep the tone informal without becoming careless

[ Topic sentence ]Paragraph 2 — Explanation and Apology

Topic sentence'My sister called yesterday...' introduces the unexpected problem clearly

Cohesive device'and' links the sister's move with the practical help required

Complex grammar'especially after you moved your plans around for me' adds a reason for the stronger apology

Lexical upgrade'pick up the keys' and 'moved your plans around' are natural phrasal verbs

[ Support ]Paragraph 3 — Alternative Plan

Topic sentence'Could we do the weekend after instead?' answers the new-arrangement bullet directly

Cohesive device'instead' links the new weekend to the cancelled plan

Complex grammar'If that doesn't work...' is a conditional clause that shows flexibility

Lexical upgrade'make up for the change' is a concise informal compensation phrase

Task completionThe paragraph gives a specific time, activity, and fallback option

[ Closing ]Closing — Warm Finish

Sorry again, and thanks for being understanding. I really don't want to miss seeing you. Let me know what your calendar looks like, and I'll sort my train ticket as soon as we pick a date. Speak soon, Maya

Cohesive device'again' refers back to the earlier apology without repeating the whole problem

Complex grammar'as soon as we pick a date' is a time clause for the next action

Task completionThe letter ends with a clear reply request and no new issue

Self-Check

Answer these from memory before looking back. If you cannot answer all, re-read the relevant section.

Why is 'I am writing to inform you' usually too formal in a letter to a close friend?
Rewrite this formal sentence informally: 'I regret to inform you that I am unable to attend.'
Name two safe informal closings for a friend.

Answers: (1) It sounds like a business letter, not a message to a close friend. (2) Sample: 'I'm really sorry, but I can't make it.' (3) 'Speak soon' and 'Take care' are both safe informal closings.

Task 1 GT — Informal Letter