Vocabulary For GT IELTS Writing Task 1 (part 1)
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In IELTS GT Writing Task 1, you will be asked to respond to a given situation to write a letter. It could be to request some information, request to take an action, invite someone, apologise, explain a situation and so on. Depending on the task suggested, your letter writing will be assessed on your ability to:
• Respond properly to the question.
• Engage in personal correspondence.
• Elicit and provide general factual information.
• Express needs, wants, likes and dislikes.
• Express opinions (views, complaints etc.)
You will also be judged on your ability to:
• Answer the question without straying from the topic.
• Write in a way which allows your reader to follow your ideas.
• Use English grammar and syntax accurately.
• Use proper vocabulary.
• Use proper structure.
• Use appropriate language in terms of register, style and content.
GT IELTS Writing Task 1 - Vocabulary Index
Part 1: [Task requirement + Salutation + Situation]
Part 2: [To End the letter + Vocabulary Quiz]
Part 3: [Vocabulary for Application Writing]
To write the letter efficiently you need to learn some vocabulary. The following article tries to help you grasp the vocabulary you need to know.
Useful Vocabulary for IELTS Letter Writing:
Salutation:
Informal/ Personal Letter: Dear Rohan, / My dear Rex,
Do not write: Rohan, Hi Rex, Hello Nicole, Rini, Dear Buddy,
Note: Personal letters are also called informal letters where you address a friend or a close relative like your cousin. You might have built a habit of writing a short email or a message using styles like "Hi Elizabeth, Rohan, Hi Rex, Hello Nicole, Rini, is everything fine?, You would not believe what happened today", but these are not recommended styles while writing a letter (even not in a personal or informal letter).
Semi-formal Letter: Dear Mr Alfred, / Dear Mr & Mrs Jones, / Dear Miss Emma,
Do not write: Mr Rohan, Hello Mr Rex, Hello Nicole, Mr Alfred,
Note: Semi-formal letters are written to someone you personally know but not as close as you would be with a friend or a close cousin. The tone in a semi-formal letter is less formal than a formal letter but more formal than a personal letter. You write a semi-formal letter to your landlord/landlady/ manager, neighbour, professor and relatives like your uncle or aunt.
Formal Letter: Dear Sir or Madam, / Sir or Madam (If you do not know who are you writing to, you may use only 'Sir or Madam'. However, if the question asks you to write Dear Sir or Madam, stick to the instruction and write 'Dear Sir or Madam,')
Do not write - My Dear Sir, My Dear Madam, Dear Mr Alex, Mrs Cathy, Sir Rex.
Beginning:
(Informal/ Personal letters):
How are you?
Hope you are doing great.
It's so nice to hear from you.
Thank you for your (recent/last) letter.
Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter
It was nice to hear from you recently/lately.
I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch for such a long time.
I’m sorry I haven’t written to you for such a long time.
It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you’re/you and your family are well.
(Formal/ Semi-formal letters)
I am writing this letter to you ...
I am writing to you ...
I am David Moore and writing to you to ...
I am writing to…
I am writing with regard to…
I am writing on behalf of…
Example:
1) I am writing to you to inform the problem with the library of our University...
2) I am writing to you for informing you about the problem with our new debate team...
3) I am David Moore, a local resident in the Canterberry area, and writing to you to explain the reason I'm against the decision to establish a new supermall in our locality.
Note: In a semi-formal letter, you may include phrases like "I hope you are doing excellent" when you are writing to a neighbour whom you often see or meet and then outline why you are writing.
Describing the Purpose with Reference:
Proposed Starting: (formal and semi-formal letters)
In response to your letter/ invitation/proposal/ complaint/ advertisement/ written claim ......
In reply to your letter /invitation/ proposal/ complaint/ advertisement/ written claim ......
With the reference of your letter/invitation/proposal/ complaint/ advertisement/written claim ......
Example:
1) I am writing you in response to your invitation..........
2) With the reference to your proposal..........
Vocabulary to use in different situations:
Apology:
• I am very sorry but.......... (informal)
• I am terribly sorry, but.......... (semi-formal)
• I must apologise about.......... (formal)
• Please accept my apologies.......... (formal)
• I would like to apologize for.......... (formal)
• Please accept my sincere apologies.......... (formal)
Request:
• Could you please..........
• Could you possibly..........
• I would be grateful if you..........
• I would highly glad if you..........
• Would it be possible to..........
• I wonder if you could..........
• Would you be kind enough to..........
• would you mind doing..........
Seeking Help:
• I would appreciate it if you could.......... (formal)
• I would be grateful if you could.......... (formal)
• Could you please.......... (informal)
• I was wondering if you could help me.......... (informal)
• I'd like you to.......... (informal)
• I would request you to.......... (semi-formal)
Complaint:
• I feel something should be done about.......... (informal)
• I must complain about.......... (semi-formal)
• I can not resist myself to let you know that.......... (informal)
• I am very much unhappy with.......... (semi-formal)
• I want you to know that.......... (informal)
• I am writing to express my dissatisfaction about/with.......... (formal)
• I am writing to express my annoyance with.......... (semi-formal)
• I am not happy about/because.......... (informal)
• ..........was very disappointing..... (semi-formal)
• .......... was utterly disappointing..... (semi-formal)
Satisfaction:
• I was very happy to learn that.......... (informal)
• I was very happy to hear that.......... (informal)
• I was delighted to hear that.......... (formal)
• I was thrilled to find out that.......... (informal)
• I was glad to hear that.......... (semi-formal)
Suggestion:
• Perhaps we could........... (formal/ semi-formal, informal)
• Perhaps you can............
• I would like to suggest that........... (semi-formal/ fomral)
• May I suggest that............
• Could you please...........
• I would highly appreciate it if you........... (formal)
• Would it be a good idea to........... (semi-formal)
• Perhaps it would be a good idea to........... (formal)
Asking for Information:
• I would like to know about/if...........
• I am writing to inquire about...........
• I am writing to find out about...........
• What I am looking for is...........
• I would like you to inform me...........
• I would appreciate it if you could provide me...........
Providing Information:
• I would like to inform you that...........
• Perhaps you should be informed that............
• I guess you would be glad to know that...........
• Please be informed that............
• For your kind notification...........
• I should let you know that...........
Giving good news:
• I am happy to advise you that... (formal)
• I am pleased to inform you that... (semi-formal)
• I am delighted to tell you that... (informal)
• I thought you might like to know that... (informal)
• I am happy to inform you that... (semi-formal)
Giving bad news:
• I regret to advise you that... (formal)
• I regret to inform you that... (semi-formal)
• I am sorry to tell you that... (informal)
• I am afraid I have some bad news... (informal)
Conveying regards:
• Please convey my greeting and best wished to your parents.
• Please pass on my best wishes to your wife and children.
• Please give my best regards to your family.
• Please give my regards to your parents.
• My best wishes to your parents.
Concern/sympathy:
• I am/was sorry to hear about...
• I am writing to express my concern about...
• It breaks my heart to hear that... (informal)
• I wish I could revert it in any way... (informal)
Letter Writing Vocabulary (part 2) »
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