Your letter hasn't even started yet. And you've already lost marks.
This is the moment most students mess up. The greeting line in an IELTS formal letter carries way more weight than you'd think. It's not just about being polite. It's your first chance to show grammatical accuracy, register control, and that you actually pay attention to detail. Get it wrong, and examiners clock it immediately. Get it right, and you're building credibility before you've even written anything substantial.
The difference between a Band 6 and Band 7 in Writing Task 1 often boils down to consistency in formality. Your salutation sets the tone for everything that comes after. The IELTS band descriptors for Grammatical Range and Accuracy make this clear: Band 7 needs "generally well-controlled use of grammar and punctuation" with only "occasional errors." Band 6 allows "frequent errors in grammar and punctuation" that don't completely muddy the meaning. Your greeting is where an examiner first tests which band you're actually aiming for. With an IELTS writing checker, you can catch these formal greeting band 7 mistakes before submission.
Let's fix your letter openings right now.
Here's the reality: Task 1 letters are semi-formal or formal. There are no Band 7 letters that start with "Hi there" or "Hey." Full stop. This isn't subjective. The rubric demands it.
In the IELTS Writing Task 1 band descriptors, register appropriateness falls under Task Response. At Band 7, examiners expect you to "use register appropriately." At Band 6, you might "usually use register appropriately" but slip up occasionally. Your greeting is literally the first signal that tells them which band you belong in. Examiners often make snap judgments in the first 10 seconds. Your salutation is a huge part of that initial impression.
Beyond the scoring, a proper greeting also tells the examiner that you know how formal letters actually work. That matters because Task 1 tests whether you can follow instructions and adapt your writing to different contexts. It's a sign you understand professional communication.
Weak: "Hi Mr. Johnson, I am writing to you regarding the issue with my booking."
"Hi" is conversational. It's fine for emails to classmates, but not for IELTS formal letters. This fails the register test immediately and drops you below Band 7.
Weak: "Hello, I hope you're having a great day. I wanted to reach out about..."
That phrase "I hope you're having a great day" is warm and personal. In IELTS formal writing, you're not trying to be warm. You're trying to sound professional. This screams Band 6.
Weak: "Dear Mr Smith"
No comma after "Mr Smith." Band 7 demands consistent punctuation accuracy. This error might seem small, but it's part of a larger pattern that keeps you at Band 6.
Weak: "Dear Sir or Madam;"
A semicolon instead of a comma. Wrong mark entirely. Examiners notice this, and it signals carelessness.
Weak: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to you because I have a problem with my hotel booking that I need help with ASAP."
See what just happened? The greeting is formal. Then "I have a problem" is neutral. Then "need help with ASAP" drops into urgent, casual tone. This tonal whiplash signals Band 6. Band 7 requires consistency throughout.
Good: "Dear Mr. Thompson,"
Four words. Proper title. Correct comma. Formal and straightforward. This works because it's appropriate, accurate, and confident.
Good: "Dear Sir or Madam,"
When you don't know the recipient's name, this is standard. Formal, clear, correctly punctuated. That's Band 7 territory.
Good: "Dear Ms. Chen, I am writing to inquire about the status of my visa application."
You know the name. The greeting is formal. The sentence that follows keeps that same register. No jarring tone shifts. Band 7 because it's controlled and consistent from word one.
British English (the IELTS standard) has two accepted patterns for formal letter greetings.
Pattern 1: Comma after the salutation.
Good: "Dear Mr. Harrison,"
This is the most common format today. You add a comma after the name or salutation phrase. Your first sentence starts on a new line.
Pattern 2: No punctuation (open punctuation style).
Good: "Dear Mr. Harrison"
Some modern business letters skip the comma entirely. IELTS accepts this as long as you're consistent about it. But here's the key: most IELTS test takers default to Pattern 1 (with the comma). Stick with that unless you have a specific reason to switch.
Tip: Pick one pattern and use it in every practice letter you write. Don't flip back and forth between comma and no comma. Consistency is part of what examiners look for in Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
The IELTS question tells you whether you know the recipient's name.
If the question gives you a name:
Good: "Dear Ms. Patel," or "Dear Mr. Rodriguez,"
Use their name with the right title. Double-check the question for spelling. If it says "Dr. Sarah Khan," use the title they've given you.
If the question doesn't give you a name (very common):
Good: "Dear Sir or Madam,"
This is your standard choice. It's formal, appropriate, and shows you understand professional norms. Don't try to guess a gender or make up a name. "Sir or Madam" is the safe, professional play.
Tip: Skip "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam" alone in modern IELTS. The combined form "Sir or Madam" is now the standard because it's more inclusive and feels genuinely professional.
Your greeting and opening sentence work as one unit. They either work together or against each other. This is where register consistency becomes crucial for Band 7 scoring.
Weak: "Dear Mr. Williams, I'm writing to complain about the terrible service I got."
The greeting is formal. Then the next sentence uses a contraction ("I'm") and vague emotional language ("terrible"). That's Band 6 inconsistency.
Good: "Dear Mr. Williams, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the service I received during my recent stay at your hotel."
The greeting and the opening are matched. Both are formal. No contractions. The language is controlled and professional. That's Band 7 consistency.
Never let your opening sentence shock the reader with a tonal shift. Think of it as part of your greeting, not a separate thing. Both contribute to your register control band score. If you're unsure about tone across your entire letter, try an essay checker to catch tonal inconsistencies before you submit.
When writing to a department you don't have a name for:
Good: "Dear Sir or Madam," or "To Whom It May Concern,"
"To Whom It May Concern" has fallen out of fashion, but IELTS still accepts it. Both work. Most test takers use "Dear Sir or Madam" because it feels warmer while staying formal.
When writing to a company, not a specific person:
Weak: "Dear Booking.com,"
Don't address a company name as if it's a person. That's awkward and grammatically off.
Good: "Dear Sir or Madam," (then mention the company in your opening sentence if you need to)
Use the standard greeting, then clarify the department or company name in your first sentence if necessary.
Before you finish your letter, run through this checklist for salutation mistakes in IELTS writing.
All five: yes? Your greeting is likely Band 7. If you marked no on any, fix it now.
One more thing: when you're working on the rest of your letter, make sure your tone stays consistent throughout. If you're struggling with tone in a complaint or request, check out our guide on letter complaint tone or our resource on request letters. The same register principles apply to your entire letter, not just the greeting. You can also use our band score calculator to estimate where your letter stands after corrections.
Use our free IELTS writing checker to spot salutation mistakes and other grammar issues in your formal letters. Get instant feedback and band score estimates on every letter you write.
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