Here's the thing. Most students mess up formal letters not because they can't write, but because they don't know what examiners are actually looking for. You could write something grammatically perfect and still score a Band 6 instead of a Band 8. That's because formal letter evaluation in IELTS General Training follows four specific criteria, and each one has concrete markers that separate Band 5 work from Band 7 work.
This guide walks you through exactly what an IELTS formal letter checker examines, why those elements matter, and how to spot weaknesses in your own writing before the exam.
IELTS Task 1 letters are graded using four band descriptors. Let me break them down because this is where most students go wrong.
Each band descriptor gets its own score from 0 to 9. Your final Task 1 score is the average of those four marks (rounded). So if you score 7, 8, 6, and 7 across the four criteria, you'll get a Band 7 overall.
Tip: You need at least 150 words for Task 1. Write under 150 words and you'll lose marks in Task Response. Most students aim for 180-220 words to be safe and to give themselves more opportunity to demonstrate range.
Your letter gets marked first on whether you actually answered the question. This is the foundation of formal letter band scores. Read the task carefully. Most formal letter prompts give you 2 or 3 bullet points to cover.
Here's an example task:
You have recently moved to a new city. Write a letter to a local gym asking about membership. In your letter:
If you skip the first bullet point entirely, you've already failed Task Response. You might hit a Band 6 at best because you didn't fully address what was asked.
Weak: "I would like to know the cost of membership and what facilities are available. Do you offer aerobics classes?" (Missing: any mention of why they moved)
Good: "I have recently relocated to this city for work and am keen to maintain an active lifestyle. I would appreciate information on your membership rates and available facilities, particularly whether you offer aerobics classes."
The second version covers all three bullet points naturally. It also sounds more formal and intentional. That's task response done right.
A Band 6 letter reads like separate thoughts. A Band 7 letter reads like one clear argument flowing from start to finish. This is where an IELTS writing evaluator looks for logical development and paragraph structure.
Use linking words correctly. But here's what students get wrong: they overuse connectors and sound robotic. You don't need a fancy connector every sentence. Instead, use structure. Organise your letter into clear sections: opening, body paragraphs for each main idea, closing.
Weak: "I am writing to complain about my water bill. The bill is too high. I did not use much water. I want a refund. Please let me know."
Good: "I am writing to dispute my recent water bill, which appears to be significantly higher than expected. Upon reviewing my usage patterns, I am confident the charges do not reflect my actual consumption. I would therefore appreciate a detailed breakdown of the charges and request that the bill be recalculated."
The strong version uses topic sentences and logical flow. Each sentence builds on the last. That's Band 7-8 territory for Coherence & Cohesion.
Tip: In formal letters, use: "I am writing to + main reason" for your opening. Then use one sentence per main idea in the body. Keep paragraphs to 3-4 sentences. Close with "I look forward to hearing from you" or "I would appreciate your prompt response." This structure alone can push you to Band 7.
Band 5 writers repeat the same words over and over. Band 7 writers show they know different ways to express the same idea. This is what separates average IELTS writing correction feedback from the kind that actually improves your score.
Don't write "I want" three times in one letter. Use: "I would appreciate", "I kindly request", "Could you please provide", "I would be grateful if you could..."
Here's a practical example. Let's say the topic is complaining about a faulty product.
Weak: "The product is broken. It is broken because it broke after one week. I want a new product. Please give me a new product because I want one."
Good: "The product is defective and ceased to function after only one week of use. I would appreciate a replacement or full refund, as the item clearly does not meet the manufacturer's stated durability standards."
The strong version uses: "defective" instead of "broken", "ceased to function" instead of "broke", and "would appreciate" instead of "want". These aren't fancy words. They're just the right register for formal writing. That's Band 7 vocabulary.
You need two things here. First, your grammar has to be accurate. Second, you need to show range by using different sentence types. This is what separates a competent IELTS writing grader's assessment of a Band 6 from a Band 7.
Band 5 writers use mostly simple sentences: "I went. I saw. I did." Band 7 writers use a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences naturally.
Weak: "I received the package. It was damaged. I am unhappy. I want a refund. Please send me money."
Good: "Upon receiving the package, I discovered that the contents were severely damaged. As this renders the item unusable, I am requesting a full refund at your earliest convenience."
The strong version uses dependent clauses ("Upon receiving...", "As this renders..."), varied sentence length, and sophisticated structures. That demonstrates grammatical range.
Tip: Aim for at least one sentence with a dependent clause per paragraph. Use conditionals, gerunds, and passive voice where they fit naturally. Don't force complexity, but show variety in how you construct your ideas.
Let me be blunt. These errors appear in 70% of Band 5-6 letters we see.
1. Not addressing the recipient correctly. You should open with "Dear Sir or Madam" if you don't know the person's name, or "Dear Mr/Ms [Name]" if you do. Close with "Yours faithfully" for Sir/Madam, and "Yours sincerely" for a named person. Get this wrong and you lose Task Response points immediately. If you want to check whether your greeting matches your closing, check out our guide on letter salutations.
2. Mixing formal and informal tone. Don't write "Hi there" in one paragraph and "I would respectfully request" in the next. Pick formal and stay formal throughout. No contractions like "don't" or "I've". Write "do not" and "I have".
3. Making it sound like you're practicing English instead of solving a real problem. Don't write "I am writing this letter to tell you..." Just write "I am writing to request..." Cut the filler. Every word should earn its place.
4. Forgetting paragraph breaks. A solid formal letter has four clear sections: greeting, opening sentence (reason for writing), body (2-3 paragraphs with details), closing. Visual structure matters for Coherence & Cohesion.
Before you submit your letter, go through this checklist in this order. This is exactly what an IELTS writing checker analyzes.
This order matters because Task Response is weighted most heavily. No point perfecting grammar if you didn't answer the question.
Tip: Many students find it helpful to write quickly first (ignoring grammar and vocabulary), then go back through this four-step check. This prevents overthinking and helps you catch structural issues that matter more than perfection in a first draft.
Let's look at how one prompt gets graded at different bands.
Task: Write to your landlord complaining about a leaky ceiling. Say when it started, what damage it has caused, and request urgent repairs.
Band 5 response (Major issues in TR, CC, LR, GRA):
"Dear Sir, I am writing to tell you about my ceiling. The ceiling has a leak. The leak started two weeks ago. It is bad. Water is coming down. My carpet got wet. My furniture is wet too. I need you to fix it. Please send someone to repair the ceiling. I am waiting. Thank you."
Problems: No formal greeting/closing structure, severe repetition (wet, bad, leak), too many simple sentences, doesn't develop ideas, sounds rushed. This scores Band 5 across the board.
Band 7 response (Meets criteria consistently):
"Dear Mr Johnson, I am writing to bring to your attention a serious maintenance issue at the property. A leak in the ceiling of my bedroom first manifested approximately two weeks ago. Since that time, the damage has progressively worsened, resulting in water damage to my carpet and personal belongings. The situation poses a risk of further structural damage if not addressed promptly. I would appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and request that repairs commence at the earliest opportunity. I remain available to facilitate access to the property. Yours sincerely, [Name]"
Why this is Band 7: All bullet points covered (when it started, damage caused, request for repairs). Clear paragraph structure. No repetition (uses "damage", "issue", "situation" for variety). Varied sentence structure with dependent clauses ("Since that time...", "If not addressed..."). Formal tone throughout. Appropriate register.
The gap between Band 6 and Band 7 isn't huge, but it's real. Most students land at Band 6 and don't know how to climb higher.
A Band 6 letter hits all the basic requirements. You've answered the question, your grammar's correct, and it's not confusing. But it's predictable. The vocabulary repeats. The sentences follow the same pattern. It reads like a template you filled in.
A Band 7 letter does everything Band 6 does, but with one key difference: it shows control. Your word choices are deliberate. Your sentences vary in length and structure. You're not overusing connectors, but your ideas clearly connect to each other. Our guide on moving from Band 5 to Band 7 breaks down exactly what examiners watch for when they're scoring at that higher level.
Use our free IELTS writing checker to get instant feedback on exactly where you're losing band points. Get specific suggestions for vocabulary, grammar, and structure so you know what to fix.
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