You're sitting down for your IELTS exam. Task 1 comes up: it's a letter. You know the topic, you've practiced it, and you start writing. But 20 minutes in, you realize your format looks nothing like what the examiner expects. Your paragraph breaks are messy. Your address is in the wrong spot. Your greeting doesn't match your closing. Sound familiar?
Here's what matters: format mistakes cost you real points. Not just a tiny deduction. The IELTS Task 1 band descriptors specifically measure coherence and cohesion, and your letter's layout directly affects both. If the examiner can't follow your structure on the page, they can't focus on your ideas.
This guide shows you the exact layout errors that hold students back—and more importantly, how to fix them before exam day. Use this IELTS writing checker as a reference, or run your own letters through one to catch mistakes instantly.
You might think format is minor. It's not. The band descriptors for IELTS Writing Task 1 evaluate "Task Response" and "Coherence and Cohesion" together. Format directly impacts both.
When your letter is properly structured, the examiner sees:
A messy letter signals carelessness. It suggests you don't know the rules. Even if your vocabulary is strong, weak formatting can drop you from Band 7 to Band 6 or lower. That's the difference between a competitive score and one that holds you back.
Your address goes top-left. Not top-right. Not centered. Not at the bottom. Top-left corner, period.
Wrong:
Sender: 42 Oak Street, London, UK
(Then your letter starts immediately)
Right:
42 Oak Street
London
UK
2nd October 2026
Notice: each line of your address stands alone. The date sits below it with a blank line between them and the recipient's address.
The date comes after your address, not before. Format it like this: "2nd October 2026" or "October 2nd, 2026" for American style. Don't write "2/10/26" or "10-02-2026." That's too casual.
Pro tip: Always put a blank line between your address and the date, then another blank line before the recipient's address. This creates visual breathing room and looks professional.
After the date, you need the recipient's address. That's the person you're writing to. It goes on the left side, with at least one blank line separating it from your date.
This is where most students stumble. They skip it entirely, or they shove it below the greeting. Wrong on both counts. The recipient address must come before the greeting.
Wrong:
2nd October 2026
Dear Sir/Madam,
(Letter body starts)
Right:
2nd October 2026
The Manager
123 High Street
Manchester
UK
Dear Sir/Madam,
(Letter body starts)
If you open with "Dear Sir/Madam," you must close with "Yours faithfully," not "Best regards" or "Sincerely yours." The rule is simple: formal greeting equals formal closing.
| If You Write | End With |
|---|---|
| Dear Sir/Madam | Yours faithfully |
| Dear Mr. Smith | Yours sincerely |
| Dear John | Best wishes / Warm regards |
Most IELTS Task 1 letters are formal (complaints, requests, job applications). So most of the time, you'll use "Dear Sir/Madam" paired with "Yours faithfully."
Your letter body isn't one solid chunk of text. Each main idea gets its own paragraph. In Task 1, you typically have 3 to 4 body paragraphs before your closing.
Wrong:
I am writing to complain about the poor service at your restaurant last week. The waiter was rude and the food was cold. I waited 45 minutes for my main course and the dessert never arrived. I would like a refund for this experience. This is unacceptable for a restaurant of your reputation.
Right:
I am writing to complain about the poor service at your restaurant last week.
The waiter was rude and dismissive throughout our visit. He ignored our questions and seemed frustrated with our presence. This behaviour was completely unprofessional.
Additionally, the food quality was far below standard. I waited 45 minutes for my main course, and it arrived cold. The dessert never arrived at all.
I would like a full refund for this experience. I expect better from a restaurant of your reputation.
The second version is easy to scan. Your examiner can see where each thought starts and stops. That's coherence working for you.
Here's the structure you need to follow every single time:
Your Address
Street Number and Name
City
Country
Postcode (if applicable)
Date
1st November 2026
Recipient Address
Title (e.g., The Manager)
Organization Name
Street Address
City
Country
Greeting
Dear Sir/Madam,
Opening Paragraph
State the purpose of your letter. Be direct.
Body Paragraphs (2-3)
Develop your ideas with specific details and examples.
Closing Paragraph
Summarize what you want the reader to do next.
Sign-off
Yours faithfully,
Your Name
(Print it clearly)
The Task: You stayed at a hotel last month. You left a valuable item in your room, but the hotel hasn't returned it. Write a letter to the hotel manager asking for help.
Properly formatted response:
17 Maple Avenue
Bristol
UK
1st November 2026
The Manager
Grand Hotel Bristol
42 Park Street
Bristol
UK
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to bring to your attention a lost item that I left in your hotel during my stay last month from 10th to 12th October. I would appreciate your help in locating this valuable possession.
While staying in Room 305, I accidentally left a silver watch on the bedside table. It is a Rolex Submariner with significant sentimental value, as it was a gift from my grandfather. I didn't realize I'd forgotten it until I arrived home the following day.
I've attempted to contact the hotel by telephone twice, but neither call was answered. I'm requesting that you check lost and found or any unclaimed items from Room 305. If the watch has been found, please let me know the procedure for its return. I'm willing to cover any postage costs.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible. Please contact me on 07700 123456 or by email at john.smith@email.com.
Yours faithfully,
John Smith
Look at the structure: sender's address, date, recipient address, greeting, four body paragraphs that flow logically, closing, sign-off, name. That's exactly what the examiner expects to see. When you're working on your own formal letter tone, use this as your model. Run it through an IELTS writing correction tool to catch any language errors.
No. Keep your address block clean: just street, city, country, postcode. Your phone number and email belong in the body of the letter if you want to include them (like in the example above).
Yes, but be consistent. If you write "The Manager, Grand Hotel Ltd.", stick with that abbreviation style throughout. Don't flip between "Ltd" and "Limited."
Use "The Manager," "The Director," or "The Hiring Manager" depending on context. Then use "Dear Sir/Madam," as your greeting. This is standard and totally acceptable.
One. Between your address and date, one blank line. Between date and recipient address, one blank line. Between recipient address and greeting, one blank line. Between closing and your name, one blank line. Not two, not three. One.
That's fine. IELTS Task 1 requires a minimum of 150 words, and your letter can be longer. If you naturally need a second page, continue writing. Just ensure the second page picks up where the first left off without awkward breaks, and always include your name at the end.
Before you hand in your exam, run through this list:
If you answer "yes" to all seven, your format is solid. The examiner will focus on your content, vocabulary, and grammar instead of getting distracted by layout problems.
Task 1 is worth 33% of your total writing score. Getting the format wrong is like showing up to a job interview with wrinkled clothes. Your qualifications might be strong, but the first impression is already damaged.
The Band Descriptors explicitly state that coherence and cohesion contribute significantly to your score. A properly formatted letter demonstrates both automatically. An improperly formatted letter signals that you don't understand English conventions, which examiners interpret as a gap in your language knowledge.
Spend 2 minutes checking your format. It could mean the difference between a 6.5 and a 7.0. Once you've mastered the layout, use a free IELTS writing checker to catch grammar and vocabulary mistakes. If you want to strengthen other areas too, check out our guide on formal letter openings—it covers how to nail your greeting from the start.
Once you've nailed the format, use an IELTS essay checker to get instant feedback on your grammar, vocabulary, and task response. Catch layout errors and language mistakes before exam day.
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