Here's the thing: most students mess up their letter endings. You'll write a solid complaint letter or formal request, nail the opening, structure it well, and then... you sign off with something like "Thanks for reading my letter" or "Hope to hear from you soon." Both are too casual. Both cost you points.
The closing phrase matters far more than you think. It's not fluff. It's your final impression, and examiners specifically mark coherence and cohesion, which includes how smoothly your letter ends. Get this wrong, and you'll hover at Band 6. Get it right, and you've got another opportunity to demonstrate control and formality.
This guide walks you through exactly what Band 7 closings look like, what fails, and how to pick the right phrase for each letter type. Whether you're using an IELTS writing checker or reviewing your work manually, understanding these principles is fundamental to hitting higher bands.
IELTS Task 1 is marked on four criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Your closing phrase contributes to three of these.
It shows you understand register and tone. It proves you can transition smoothly from your main message to a polite conclusion. It demonstrates you know the conventions of formal written English.
Bands 6 and below often have closings that are either too informal or awkwardly forced. Band 7 and above have closings that feel natural, appropriate, and properly connected to what came before. Examiners notice this difference.
You've got about 150 words minimum for Task 1. Your closing phrase might be just 10–15 words, but that's 10% of your total response. Make it count.
Let's look at what actually goes wrong and how Band 7 responses fix it.
Weak: "I hope you get back to me soon. Thanks for reading this! Cheers, James"
"Cheers" is British slang. "Thanks for reading" sounds like a YouTube comment. This scores around Band 5–6 for register.
Strong: "I would appreciate your prompt response to this matter. Yours faithfully, James Smith"
"Yours faithfully" is formal and traditional. "I would appreciate" is polite and specific. This scores Band 7 for Coherence and Cohesion because the ending matches the formal tone throughout.
Weak: "I have complained about the broken window in my flat. Best wishes, John"
This doesn't flow. The closing has zero connection to what came before. It feels tacked on.
Strong: "I trust that you will resolve this issue promptly and look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, John"
This restates what you're asking for and uses a transitional phrase. It feels complete. Examiners see coherence.
Weak: "I am writing to thank you for the university acceptance letter. I cannot wait to start in September. Yours faithfully, Alex"
"Yours faithfully" is for formal complaints or requests to unknown recipients. In a thank-you letter, this sign-off feels cold and out of place.
Strong: "Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to beginning my studies with you in September. Yours sincerely, Alex"
"Yours sincerely" works better when you know the recipient's name, and it feels warmer while staying professional. The closing reinforces gratitude and excitement.
IELTS General Training letter tasks fall into a few categories. Each one calls for a slightly different formal letter sign-off approach.
You're writing to a company or organization you don't know. Something's wrong, and you're upset. Your closing must be firm, professional, and action-focused.
Strong options:
Notice the pattern: you restate what you want (response, resolution, attention), then sign with "Yours faithfully" because you don't know the recipient's name.
You're asking for something: information, a place in a course, time off work, permission. Your closing should express confidence and thank them for considering your request.
Strong options:
Use "Yours sincerely" if you know the person's name, or "Yours faithfully" if you don't. The key is combining a thank-you with a forward-looking statement.
You're expressing gratitude. The closing should reinforce this warm, appreciative tone without losing formality.
Strong options:
"Warm regards" works well here because it's formal but shows genuine emotion. "Yours sincerely" is always safe when you know the name. When reviewing task 1 letter tone, make sure this warmth comes through without becoming unprofessional. Our detailed guide on maintaining formal register breaks down how examiners score tone consistency.
You're providing information or explaining a situation. Your task 1 letter ending phrases should finalize the communication without overselling.
Strong options:
Quick tip: "Yours sincerely" goes with a named recipient ("Dear Mr. Smith"). "Yours faithfully" goes with "Dear Sir or Madam." Flip these, and examiners dock you for Coherence and Cohesion.
A strong closing isn't just one sentence thrown in at the end. It's a mini-paragraph that does specific work.
Here's what Band 7 responses typically look like:
Here's this in action:
Good: "I would be grateful if you could look into this issue and provide a refund for the faulty product. I look forward to your prompt response. Yours faithfully, Rachel"
Breaking this down: (1) "I would be grateful if you could look into this issue" restates the request. (2) "I look forward to your prompt response" shows anticipation and sets a timeline. (3) "Yours faithfully, Rachel" signs off formally. That's three sentences, zero wasted words, and Band 7 tone.
Let me be direct about what doesn't work.
Never use:
Weak: "As mentioned in my letter, I need a refund. Hope you can help. Thanks, David"
This is Band 5. The tone drops immediately. "Hope you can help" is conversational. There's no formal closing. Use an IELTS writing checker or have someone review whether your opening and closing stay consistent in formality. Our page on formal salutations explains how to keep consistency from start to finish.
In IELTS Task 1, you won't see instructions to handwrite anything. You just type or write your name below the closing phrase.
Use this format:
Yours sincerely,
David Brown
Or:
Yours faithfully,
D. Brown
Both work fine. Full name or initials plus surname—it doesn't matter as long as it matches what the prompt asks for.
Pro tip: Some Task 1 prompts tell you exactly how to sign ("Write your name as David Brown" or "Sign as John"). Follow that to the letter. Task Response scoring includes whether you've followed instructions, so consistency matters.
Mistake 1: Using the wrong formal closing. You write "Yours truly" or "Best wishes" when the letter is a formal complaint. These are either too American or too casual for UK/Australian English conventions. Result: Coherence and Cohesion drops to Band 6.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to include a closing sentence at all. You end with your main paragraph and sign your name. This feels abrupt and incomplete. Examiners mark this as a Coherence and Cohesion weakness, your response lacks smooth transitions and proper letter structure.
Mistake 3: Making the closing too long. You write three or four sentences repeating the same request over and over. This eats your word count and bores the reader. Band 7 closings are tight: one to three sentences, maximum.
Mistake 4: Changing tone in the closing. Your letter is formal and professional. Then your closing becomes casual or overly emotional. This inconsistency signals you can't control register. Band 7 requires consistent tone throughout.
Before you submit your letter, run through this:
Check every box, and you're in Band 7 territory for this component.
Your closing is one part of the picture. Get instant feedback on your entire Task 1 letter with band scores and line-by-line corrections from our free IELTS writing checker.
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