Vocabulary For GT IELTS Writing Task 1 (part 1)

In GT IELTS Writing Task 1, you will be asked to respond to a given problem with a letter requesting information, explaining a situation and so on. You are required to write a letter that has at least 150 words. Depending on the task suggested, your letter writing will be assessed on your ability to:

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 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. 


 

Salutation (Informal Letters):

Personal Letter: Dear Rohan, My dear Rex.
Do not write: Rohan, Hi Rex, Hello Nicole, Rini, is everything fine? 

N.B. Personal letters are also called informal letters where you address a friend or relative. 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). 

Salutation (Formal Letters):

Official Letter: Dear Sir or Madam, Sir or Madam (If you don't know who are you writing to; use only sir or madam)
Do not write - My Dear Sir, My Dear Madam, Dear Mr Alex, Mrs Cathy, Sir Rex.

Business Letter: Dear Sir or Madam, Sir or Madam. (If you don't know who are you writing to; use only sir or madam)
Do not write - My Dear Sir, My Dear Madam, Dear Mr Alex, Mrs Cathy.

Beginnings (Personal/Informal letters)

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.

Beginnings (Formal letters- Describing the Purpose):

Proposed Starting:
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.

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..........

Situation:

Apology: 
I am very sorry but..........
I am terribly sorry, but..........
I must apologise about..........
Please accept my apologies..........
I'd like to apologize for..........
Please accept my sincere apologies.......... (very 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..........
I would be grateful if you could..........
Could you please..........
I was wondering if you could help me.......... (informal)
I would like you to..........

Complaint:  
I feel something should be done about..........
I must complain about..........
I can not resist myself to inform you that..........
I am very much unhappy with..........
I want you to know that..........
I'm writing to express my dissatisfaction about/with..........
I'm writing to express my annoyance with..........
I am not happy about/because..........
•  ..........was very disappointing.
• .......... was utterly disappointing.

Satisfaction:  
I was very happy to learn that..........
I was very happy to hear that..........
I was delighted to hear that..........
I was thrilled to find out that..........
I was glad to hear that..........

Suggestion: 
Perhaps we could...........  
Perhaps you can............ 
I would like to suggest that...........
May I suggest that............ 
Could you please...........    
I would highly appreciate it if you........... 
Would it be a good idea to...........
Perhaps it would be a good idea to...........

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)

Next (part 2) >>

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.83 (38 Votes)

GR Soomro
This is the only website that provides excellent materials in order to prepare for IELTS. Highly recommended.
Rabiul
It is so helpful for me.
Umesha Kumarihamy
The study materials provided on this website are a great support. Thanks.
Umesha Kumarihamy
I have found very useful resources here. Thanks for your great support extended to IELTS students.
Dhwani Choksi
Hello developer,

I am currently employed as an IELTS faculty. I don't have any previous experience in the same field. I am looking forward to the support to provide the best to my students. Thank you.

Bharat V.
"I would be great full if you"... under Request, should be "I would be grateful if you".
Dianathenerd
According to professional writers, it is important to identify the type of letter you are being asked to write. Is it a formal, semi-formal or informal letter? Adjust your style and choice of words according to the type of letter you have been asked to write. The General IELTS Task 1 does require you to make up a bit of a story to complete your letter, but don't make your story so complicated that you run out of time.
Ramesh
Good material.
Omid Shirazi
Hi ladies and gentleman, I'm an English learner. I need to practice but I have no idea and money too. May someone take an exam as me, please? : )It's my email address omidSHirazi@adm in.com. Thanks.
Akshar Patel
Nice...
Xubaer
Thanks a lot.
Disha
Thank you, it's very helpful to use in day to day speaking as well as in IELTS Exam.
Abse
Thank you.
Yeamin
It will be great for me to increase my vocabulary knowledge & I hope I will get a very good score by using these vocabularies.
Dulanjana
Worthy of valuable phrases to earn more marks in IELTS exam.
Raju
Thanks a lot for these valuable tips.