Most students throw away easy marks right at the start. They know how to write. They just pick the wrong greeting. You lose points for Task Response before you've even finished your opening line. That's the tricky part about letter openings: they're short, they look simple, but examiners catch every mistake.
This guide walks you through exactly which salutations work, which ones bomb, and why it matters. You'll see real examples from actual IELTS prompts. You'll understand the rules that actually count. And you'll stop making the mistakes that drop your band score. If you want to catch these errors automatically, our free IELTS writing checker flags salutation problems instantly.
Here's the thing: IELTS Band Descriptors for Task Response specifically mention formal tone and register accuracy. Your salutation is the first signal to the examiner that you can match your language to what the task asks for. Get it wrong, and the reader is already skeptical.
Picture this scenario. You're asked to write to a university admissions officer. Your letter opens with "Hi there." That's not just casual. It's wrong. It signals to the examiner that you either don't understand formality or you weren't paying attention to the instructions. Either way, marks slip away.
IELTS Task 1 letters follow strict rules. Your salutation sets the tone for everything that comes next. If you nail this opening, you're already ahead of roughly 40% of test takers who mess it up.
This is where most students trip up. The rule is simple and strict.
If you know the person's name: Write "Dear Mr. Smith" or "Dear Ms. Johnson." That's it. Not "Dear Mr. John Smith." Not "Dear Sir/Madam." Just title and surname.
If you don't know the name: Write "Dear Sir or Madam." This is your fallback when the prompt doesn't tell you who you're writing to.
Correct: "Dear Mr. Chen, I am writing to request..." (Name provided in prompt)
Correct: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing regarding..." (Name not provided)
Avoid: "Dear Sir/Madam," (Using a slash instead of "or" looks sloppy)
"Dear Sir or Madam" sounds old-fashioned in real business emails, sure. But IELTS isn't testing real business writing. It's testing whether you can write formal English to a specific standard. IELTS examiners expect this phrase when you don't have a name. Using it shows you know the conventions.
Let's walk through what fails and why the examiner notices.
Avoid: "Hi Sarah," or "Hey Mr. Williams," or "Hello there,"
These read like text messages. IELTS Task 1 demands formal correspondence. The Band 7+ criteria specifically mention "appropriate register." A casual greeting fails that test from word one.
Avoid: "Dear John," (First name when you should use surname)
Avoid: "Dear Dr. James Brown," (First name included when just surname works)
In formal English, you pair titles with surnames only. "Dear Dr. Brown" is right. "Dear Dr. James Brown" feels stiff and awkward. You're not addressing a wedding invitation envelope.
Avoid: "Dear Mr. Smith;" (Semicolon instead of comma)
Avoid: "Dear Mr. Smith." (Period instead of comma)
The salutation always ends with a comma. Not a period. Not a semicolon. A comma. This looks tiny, but it's a grammatical accuracy mark. Examiners grade grammar hard. If you want Band 8, you sweat these details.
Avoid: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the position..." (When the prompt names a hiring manager)
If the prompt tells you the recipient is "Ms. Patricia Nguyen, Recruitment Manager," use her name. Don't fall back on "Dear Sir or Madam." That looks like you weren't paying attention to instructions.
The rule depends entirely on what information the prompt gives you. Here's how to decide.
The prompt names a specific person. Examples you'll actually see:
In each case, use the name you're given. Respond with "Dear Mr. Patterson," "Dear Dr. Hayes," or "Dear Mrs. Rodriguez." This shows you read the task instructions carefully and matched your formal letter opening to what was asked.
Correct: "Dear Mrs. Rodriguez, I am writing to lodge a formal complaint regarding the faulty heating system in my apartment..."
The prompt doesn't name a specific person. You're writing to a general position or organization. Examples:
No name provided? "Dear Sir or Madam" is the standard IELTS choice for formal letters. It's formal, it's safe, and it's the correct convention that examiners expect.
Correct: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inquire about the availability of the two-bedroom flat advertised on your website..."
Use the title the prompt gives you. If it says "Mr. Thompson," use "Mr. Thompson." If it says "Dr. Keisha Williams," use "Dr. Williams." Don't assume. Don't change it. If the prompt is vague and you're stuck, use "Mr." or "Ms." for professional contacts, and "Dear Sir or Madam" if you're completely uncertain.
Tip: In modern English, "Ms." is neutral when you don't know marital status. But if the prompt specifies "Mrs." or "Miss," use that. The prompt is your guide.
Here's something most students overlook: your closing phrase should match your opening formality level. If you opened with "Dear Mr. Chen," close with "Yours faithfully," (British) or "Sincerely," (American). Both work equally well in IELTS Task 1.
Correct: "Dear Mr. Chen, [letter body] Yours faithfully, [Your name]"
Correct: "Dear Sir or Madam, [letter body] Sincerely, [Your name]"
Avoid: "Dear Mr. Chen, [letter body] Best regards, [Your name]" (Too casual for formal letter conventions)
"Best regards" or "Kind regards" are less formal and slightly off for IELTS Task 1 formal letters. Stick with "Yours faithfully" or "Sincerely." When you're working on overall letter structure, our guide on letter format errors covers closing phrases in more depth.
Let's walk through what actual IELTS prompts look like and exactly how you'd respond with the correct formal letter opening.
Prompt: "You have been offered a place at a university. Write a letter to David Morrison, the Admissions Director, accepting the offer and asking about accommodation."
Your opening: "Dear Mr. Morrison,"
You use his surname with the title. Done. You have his name from the prompt. Using it shows you read the instructions carefully. Examiners reward that attention.
Prompt: "You want to apply for a volunteer position at an international charity. Write a letter of application."
Your opening: "Dear Sir or Madam,"
No name given. You can't invent one. "Dear Sir or Madam" is your answer. It's formal, it's appropriate, and it's the safest choice when you're uncertain.
Prompt: "Write to your local council about poor street lighting in your neighbourhood."
Your opening: "Dear Sir or Madam,"
You're writing to a department or organization, not to a named person. Use the general formal phrase. Don't guess a name. Don't get creative. Stay formal and safe.
Tip: If a prompt says "Write to the manager" but doesn't give a name, use "Dear Sir or Madam." Never write "Dear Manager." That's not how formal letters work.
The IELTS Task 1 mark scheme covers Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. Your salutation touches all four categories.
Task Response: The correct salutation proves you understood the task and who you're writing to. A wrong salutation means you missed the brief.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Punctuation, capitalization, and title formatting count as grammatical accuracy. A missing comma or wrong capital letter is an error.
Coherence & Cohesion: Your opening signals formality and tone. A formal salutation sets the reader up to expect a formal letter. A casual one creates confusion and drops your coherence score.
Examiners don't deduct 20 marks for a single wrong salutation, but they notice when something's off. Get it right and it's invisible. That's what you want. Get it wrong and it stands out immediately. Looking at broader tone issues? Our article on letter tone and register digs deeper into how examiners assess formality throughout your entire letter.
Before you submit your IELTS Task 1 letter, run through this checklist:
Spend 10 seconds on this. It's the difference between a clean, professional letter and one that looks careless. Use our IELTS writing checker to catch these errors instantly before submission.
Use our IELTS writing checker to catch salutation errors and other Task 1 issues before submission. Get instant band score feedback and line-by-line corrections on formality, grammar, and structure across your entire letter.
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