- Choose the tone of a letter from its reader and purpose
- Build a letter with one paragraph for each bullet point
- Keep formal and informal phrases apart
Imagine the heating in your new flat has broken and the landlord isn't answering the phone. How do you write to him — “Hi mate!” or “Dear Mr Hassan”? General Training Task 1 tests exactly this skill: writing a clear, complete letter in the right tone for a real situation.
What the task looks like
You get a situation and three bullet points that your letter must cover. Write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The tone can be personal, semi-formal or formal. You don't need to write any addresses. Typical topics: accommodation problems, workplace issues, local community concerns, orders, thanks and invitations. Write in connected paragraphs — don't copy the bullet points as a list.
| Tone | Who you write to | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | A person or company whose name you don't know | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, + full name |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know by name but not a friend: a landlord, a manager | Dear Mr Hassan, / Dear Ms Green, | Yours sincerely, / Kind regards, + full name |
| Informal | A friend or relative | Dear Sam, / Hi Sam, | Best wishes, / Take care, / Love, + first name |
- 1Identify the reader and the purpose
Who are you writing to, and why: to complain, request, apologise, thank or invite? This decides the tone and the opening.
- 2One paragraph per bullet
Plan in 2 minutes: an opening sentence + 3 paragraphs (one per bullet) + a closing sentence. Think of 2–3 concrete details for each bullet: a date, a number, a name.
- 3State the purpose at once
Your first sentence should tell the reader why you are writing: I am writing to complain about… / I'm writing to tell you some great news!
- 4Finish and check
A closing sentence, a sign-off and your name. Then check: are all three bullets covered? Is the tone the same from start to finish? 150+ words?
Same idea, two tones
| Function | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | I am writing to enquire about… | I just wanted to ask you about… |
| Request | I would be grateful if you could… | Could you…? |
| Apology | Please accept my apologies for… | I'm really sorry about… |
| Thanks | I would like to thank you for… | Thanks so much for… |
| Suggestion | I would suggest that… | Why don't we…? |
| Final line | I look forward to hearing from you. | Can't wait to hear from you! |
Write in 20 minutes:
You recently ordered a bookshelf from an online shop, but it arrived damaged. Write a letter to the company. In your letter:
– give details of your order
– describe the damage
– say what you would like the company to do.
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear Sir or Madam,
Show solutionHide solution
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to complain about a bookshelf that I ordered from your website and which arrived in poor condition.
I placed the order (number 48213) on 3 March for the Linden five-shelf bookcase in white. Delivery was promised within five working days, and the parcel arrived on time on 8 March. However, when I opened the box, I found that the item was badly damaged.
Two of the wooden shelves were cracked down the middle, and one of the side panels had a deep scratch along its entire length. In addition, several of the screws needed for assembly were missing, so it is impossible to put the bookshelf together safely. I have kept all the packaging and taken photographs of the damage, which I can send you if necessary.
I would be grateful if you could arrange for the damaged bookshelf to be collected and replaced as soon as possible. If a replacement is not available, I would like a full refund, including the delivery charge.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Nigar Mammadova
Why it works: one paragraph per bullet; concrete details (number, date, model); a formal tone from start to finish; the correct pair Dear Sir or Madam → Yours faithfully.
Key points
- GT Task 1: a situation + three bullet points, at least 150 words, ≈ 20 minutes, no addresses.
- The tone depends on the reader: formal, semi-formal or informal.
- Dear Sir or Madam → Yours faithfully; Dear Mr/Ms + surname → Yours sincerely.
- Give each bullet point its own paragraph and concrete details.
- Keep the tone the same throughout; use contractions only in informal letters.
Check yourself
10 questions. Every correct answer earns XP.