WRITING

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 Tips for Writing Task 1 - Letter
4 Types of letters
• Complaint / Request (of information) letter
• Job application letter
• Personal letter
• Formal business letter

1) Complaint
This is a letter you write to complain about something. It could be
something you have purchased or a bad service that you have received, or
an accident that happened to you. You must describe it and demand
appropriate actions from relevant people.
There are 4 paragraphs in this type of letter. They should look like this:
1. Start with “Dear Sir/Madam,“ (or write person‟s name if it was given
in task
instructions )
Explain shortly (in one or two sentences) what you are complaining
about.
“I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the tape recorder that I
purchased in your store.”
2. Explain in more details
a) What happened, what the problem is.
“I purchased a tape recorder in your store on 12/3/2005, just 3 days
ago. After a few times that I used it, the “Play” button broke off”.

b) What are you unhappy about.

“I was very surprised to see the new improved model with 2 years of
warranty breaking so soon and for no reason at all.”

c) What did you do to resolve the situation.

“I contacted your store immediately in order to return the tape recorder
and spoke to the shift manager. He refused to replace the tape recorder
and suggested that I had it repaired.”

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 d) How do you feel about the problem.
“You can imagine how receiving this offer upset me.”

This paragraph should be the longest in the whole letter. You can even
divide it into several parts.
3. Write what you would like them to do, and what will you do if they
don‟t give
you what you want.
“I insist that you replace the damaged tape recorder and send me a new
one.
Otherwise I will be forced to stop my payments to your store”.
4. Write formal ending for the letter, your name and sign.
“I look forward to hearing from you.”
If you know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours sincerely,
Mr. Smith”
If you don‟t know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours faithfully,
Mr. Smith”

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Useful phrases
The following phrases will make your letter look good. In case it is hard for
you to remember all of them, choose just one for each paragraph, memorize it
and use for all the letters of this type.
For Paragraph 1
• “I am writing to complain about…”
• “I am writing in regard to…”
• “The reason I am writing to you is (a problem with…)”
• “I am writing to express my concern about/dissatisfaction with…”
• “I would like to bring the matter of … to your attention.”
• “I would like to draw your attention to …”
For paragraph 2
• “I was supposed to receive … Unfortunately, that never happened.”
• “You can imagine how unhappy I was to discover …”
• “I regret to inform you that your service was below my expectations.”
• “When I tried to contact you by phone, no one could offer me any sensible
answer.”
• “I contacted your representative in …. Unfortunately, he denied me the
service
that I requested.”
For paragraph 3
• “The ideal solution would be … “
• “I hope you can settle this matter by …(doing something)”
• “I insist on getting a refund of …”
• “Please look into this matter as soon as possible.”
• “I believe this matter deserves your urgent attention.”

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Example of Complaint

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Request of information letter
This is a letter you write to ask a person for information. For example, you
may need to receive the trains‟ timetable, or list of books on certain topic
from a library or an itinerary for a trip you have booked to Africa.
There are 3 paragraphs in this type of letter. They should look like this:

1. Start with “Dear Sir/Madam,“ (or write person‟s name if it was given in
task instructions). Explain shortly (in one or two sentences) what kind of
information you are interested in.
“I am writing to ask for information about membership in the Shape
sports club.”
2. Explain in more details who you are, exactly what information you need,
why,when and in what form do you need it – a letter, a fax, an e-mail, a
phone-call,
etc. This should be the biggest paragraph of the whole letter.
3. Write formal ending for the letter, your name and sign.
“I look forward to hearing from you.”
If you know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours sincerely,
Mr. Smith”
If you don‟t know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours faithfully,
Mr. Smith”

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Example of Request letter

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2) Job application letter
This is a letter you write to apply for a certain position that is vacant. In the
real life you would attach your resume to it.
There are 4 paragraphs in this type of letter. They should look like this:

1. Start with “Dear Sir/Madam,“ (or write person‟s name if it was given in
task instructions) Write what position are you applying to, and where it
was advertised.
“I would like to apply for the position of secretary advertised in „Herald
Tribune‟ of April 15th 2005.”
2. Write about your skills, diplomas and experience.
“I am a Software Engineer with more then ten years of experience in …”
“I graduated in Some Study Course from Famous University, 1996”
“At present I am employed as a … by company …”
“I am familiar with…”
“My skills include working with …, performing …, managing…”
“In course of my present job I have been responsible for the planning
and organization of …”
“I am used to working at a fast pace to meet deadlines”.
As in previous types of letters, this paragraph should be the “fattest” in
the whole letter.
3. Explain, why you are interested in this job, express your motivation to
contribute. Ask to schedule an interview as soon as possible.
“I would like to apply my skills in your company.”
“I believe the position you offer will give me opportunity to...”
“If you find my skills and experience suitable, please contact me to
schedule an interview.”
“I am looking forward to discussing my credentials with you
personally.”
4. Thank the person.
“Thank you for your time and consideration.”
If you know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours sincerely,
Mr. Smith”
If you don‟t know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours faithfully,
Mr. Smith”

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Example of Job Application

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3) Personal Letter
Personal letter is usually written to a friend or a relative. It doesn’t have
many strict rules. I have a couple of suggestions that will make your life
easier:

1. Start with something like “Dear Linda,” or “My dearest Charlie,”

Then apologize that you forgot to write.
“I am sorry I haven‟t written for so long.”
Next, write the purpose of your letter
“I am writing to thank/tell/ask/apologize/wish…”
2. Start writing on a topic from paragraph 1. Once again, this paragraph
must be the biggest one. If possible, try to write 2 paragraphs (2a and
2b).
3. Sign : “With best wishes, Kathy”
“Yours, Louse”
“With love and many thanks from me, Diana”

Example of Personal Letter

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4) Formal Business letter
Any letter other than Complaint, Request, Job application, or Personal is a
Business letter. It could be an explanation you write to a library about the
books that were never returned, or a letter to Car Rental Company,
describing the road accident you were involved in.
There are 4 paragraphs in this type of letter. They should look like this:
1. Start with “Dear Sir/Madam,“ (or write person‟s name if it was given in
task instructions). Explain shortly (in one or two sentences) who you are
and/or what are you writing about.
“I am writing in regard to books I borrowed from the library on March
15, 2005 and never returned”.
2. Explain in more details the purpose of your letter. Consider the idea that
task instructions give you, write according to it. Make up interesting
details in addition to the original idea. This should be the biggest
paragraph of the whole letter.
3. Say what kind of answer you expect or what suggestions do you have
for the situation. It is also a good place to apologize, if applicable.
4. Write formal ending for the letter, your name and sign.
“I look forward to hearing from you.”
If you know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours sincerely,
Mr. Smith”
If you don‟t know the name of person you are writing to, sign
“Yours faithfully,
Mr. Smith”

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Example of Formal Business letter

Practice, practice, practice!

Complaint letters tasks
Topic 1
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You have bought a mobile phone in a tax-free shop just a few days
ago,and it doesn‟t work properly.
Task: Write a letter to the manager to complain about it and ask him to
solve the problem.

You do not need to write your address.

Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Topic 2
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You rented a car from Car Rental Company. The air conditioner has
stopped working. You phoned the company a week ago but it has still not
been repaired.
Write a letter to the company. In your letter
• introduce yourself
• explain the situation
• say what action you would like the company to take
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Request of Information letter tasks
Topic 1
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You are a student who wants to apply to Green Pines College. You are
experiencing financial problems at the moment.
Task: Write a letter to the Principal of the College, explaining your
situation and ask for information on scholarships or other means of
financial help available.

You do not need to write your address.

Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Topic 2
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another

country.
Task: Write a letter to the person in charge of the seminar and ask for
detailed information regarding the dates, program, accommodations and
cost.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

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Job Application letter task
Topic 1
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You want to apply for the following job. Write a letter to Mrs. Keller
describing your previous experience and explaining why you would be
suitable for the job.
Advertisement: Housekeeper required for private home. Experience is
necessary. Contact Mrs. D. Keller.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Personal letters tasks

Topic 1
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You stayed at your friends‟ house when you participated in a business

seminar in Australia. You left a file with important documents in your
room.
Task: Write a letter to your friend, describing the file and ask him/her to
return it to you by post.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Topic 2
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You migrated to another country.

Task: Write a letter to your friend to describe your present life and tell
him/her why you choose this country.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

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Business Letter tasks
Topic 1
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You successfully passed a job interview. You are expected to start

on November 15, but you will not be available on that date.
Task: Write a letter to your new boss, explaining your situation,
expressing your concern and suggesting solution.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Topic 2
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You are a gift shop keeper.

Task: Write a letter to your supplier, to let him know that you
won‟t need the merchandise you have ordered. Explain your
situation and suggest solution.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

Topic 3
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task and write at least 150 words.

You are a secretary, planning a corporate event.

Task: Write a letter to Entertainment Company explaining what
kind of party you would like it to be, indicate date and time of
event and your special requests.
You do not need to write your address.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam,

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Tips for Writing Task 2 - Essay
You don‟t have to be a writer to write a good essay. This task may look
even harder than the letter, but it is only a first impression. Just follow the
rules, keep the right structure, use some “smart” words and practice a little.
This way you can easily reach a level, where no matter what topic they give
you, after 40 minutes you turn a beautiful 2 pages long essay and walk out
of the room with a huge smile on your face.
Structure of essay
Every essay should have this exact structure: introduction, body and
conclusion. It is very important because your grade is affected by it.
Introduction usually takes one paragraph, body – two or three paragraphs
and conclusion – one paragraph.
Essay topics – 3 different kinds
There are only 3 kinds of essay topics in IELTS, let‟s call them A, H, S.
Topics “A” present an Argument and you need to explore pros and cons,
reasons for and against, while you support only one side.
Topics “H” present a Hidden argument. These topics usually ask “To what
extent…?”, “In what way…?”, “How has something change…?”.
Topics “S” present a Situation and you need to explore reasons why it is
what it is, assume what will happen in the future and suggest solutions to
problems, if required.
The following examples demonstrate the difference between topics of A, H
or S kind:
A: “Modern society benefits greatly from computer technology. However,
becoming more dependent on computer has its disadvantages. Discuss
threats of computers.” Here the 2 sides of argument are the advantages and
disadvantages of computers.
H: “To what extent should television participate in our children‟s
education?” What they really ask here is whether the television should
educate the children or not.
S: “Due to change of women‟s role in modern society, men are now the
ones suffering
from sexual discrimination. Do you agree?” Here you can see the
description of situation and you have to write what you think
about it.

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Essay of A(rgument) kind
1. Introduction paragraph must clearly state the argument, both sides of it.
Do not simply copy the topic from instruction, write it in other words.
Don‟t give your opinion, save it for later.
2. Body paragraphs (at least 2) must refer to each side of the argument.
Write first paragraph about the side you disagree with. The side you do
agree with should be in the last body paragraph, because this way it
naturally leads to conclusion.
3. Conclusion paragraph should contain summary of the points you were
making. Never mind if the paragraph turns out to be short, the important
thing is that you kept the structure of the essay.

Essay of H(idden Argument ) kind

1. Introduction paragraph must define the question. You need to reveal the
hidden argument. Rewrite the topic, so it will say what it really means:
from “to what extent something affects…?” to “Does something affect…?”
from “in what way something contributes?” to “does something contribute?”
from “how does something influence…?” to ”does something influence …?
Now it became an argument with two sides, and you write essay of kind “A”.

Essay of S(ituation) kind

1. Introduction paragraph must state the situation and explain it. Don‟t
give your opinion here.
2. Body paragraphs (at least 2) should describe reasons that lead to the
situation, making it like it is now. Each paragraph should talk about one
reason.
3. Conclusion paragraph should summarize the points of the essay. If the
task requires suggesting solution to problems, recommendations, advice
- this is the place for it. If your opinion is required – you should also
give it in conclusion paragraph.

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General suggestions
• Write on given topic directly, don‟t slide to another theme.
• Write in general, not about your personal experiences, but what is going
on in the world.
• Read task instructions and write about every little thing that is requested.
If the task requires suggesting solution – do it.
Don‟t forget to give recommendations or advice, if requested.
Baby Steps through essay
After you have read all that, you still have no idea how to start writing.
So let‟s do it together:

First
Read and classify the question. You need to decide what kind of topic you
have got, an A, H or S. It will affect the way you plan an essay.
Example:

“Home schooling belongs to the past and is unacceptable in the modern

society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Use your own knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence”

We can clearly see a hidden argument here. By revealing the real meaning
of the topic we get “Is home schooling acceptable in modern society?”.
This way it becomes an “A” topic, an argument with 2 sides – for and
against home education.

Second
Here you need to come up with ideas, thoughts and opinions on the given
topic. The best way to do it is to think of some main ideas and then to write
everything you can think of regarding those ideas. In case you are working
on essay of “A” or “H” kind, these ideas are opposite sides of the argument

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.If you are working on essay of kind “S” – it is the reasons for the situation
to be what it is.

Example:
Let‟s say that after some thinking you came up with the following ideas,
and your opinion is against the education at home.
For: Against:
parents know their children no scientific approach (like associative
learning)
learning is more enjoyable not every parent is capable
children feel safe parents forgot the material
Now you should think what goes where in your essay. On the same draft
paper you have written the ideas, group them and decide which paragraph
will describe which idea. If the topic is an argument (type A), remember to
put side you don‟t agree with first and the side you do agree with second.
Think how you move from one paragraph to another. There should be a
connective logical sentence that drives you towards next paragraph‟s topic.

Third
It is time to write the answer. According to the plan you have made, start
writing the essay. First sentence of introduction gives main idea of the
essay, either presenting sides of the argument or describing a situation. The
last sentence of introduction should naturally lead into first paragraph of the

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body. Remember to keep the paragraph structure and to connect paragraphs
so one will lead to another. Important! Try to start body paragraphs with a
linking word (like However,Therefore, Moreover, Nevertheless, etc.). It
raises your score.

And finally - read the essay carefully from the beginning and check it for
errors.

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Helpful phrases
Usually people who don‟t read and write in English every day have trouble
expressing themselves in essay. So I enclose here a list of phrases to help
you write more elegant sentences.

Phrases to show two sides of argument

• “Some people prefer …. Those who disagree point out that…”
• “We must acknowledge … Nevertheless, …”
• “No one can deny … However, …”
• “Many people hold the opinion… Others, however, disagree…”
• “Although it is hard to compete with …, some people still prefer …”
Phrases to add
• “Not only…, but…”
• “Also
• “Furthermore,”
• “In addition,”
• “Moreover,”
Phrases to deny what was said before
• “Although…”
• “However,”
• “Nevertheless,”
• “Even if…”
• “In spite of”
• “On the other hand”
Phrases for examples
• “For example,”
• “For instance,”
• “In particular,”
• “…, such as”
• “To illustrate …”
Phrases for results
• “As a result”
• “Therefore”
• “Thus”

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• “So”
• “Eventually”

Phrases for conclusion

• “Lastly,”
• “Finally,”
• “To conclude with,”
• “In short,”
• “In conclusion,”
Practice, practice, practice!

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