IELTS Writing Task 1 Letter Greeting Checker: How Your Salutation Affects Your Band Score

Most students think their letter greeting doesn't matter. They open the Task 1 prompt, see "Write a letter to a friend" or "Write to the company manager," and just wing it. Dear Sir or Madam. Hi there. Whatever feels right in the moment.

Then the results come back. Band 6.5 instead of 7.5. They read the feedback and see the same note over and over: "Inappropriate register" or "Salutation doesn't match context."

That's where points disappear. Not from bad grammar. Not from weak ideas. But because your greeting sent the wrong signal about who you are and who you're talking to.

In IELTS Writing Task 1, your salutation does three things at once: it sets the tone for everything that follows, it shows the examiner you understand formality levels, and it affects your Coherence and Cohesion score directly. Get it wrong, and the examiner reads your letter with doubt from line one. Get it right, and you've already proven you understand register. That's Band 7 material.

When you're ready to test your complete letter, try our free IELTS writing checker to get instant feedback on whether your greeting matches the rest of your response.

Let's fix this now.

Why Your Opening Line Matters More Than You Think

IELTS examiners don't grade your greeting in isolation. They use it as your first signal—your very first one—that you understand formal versus informal English. The IELTS Writing Band Descriptors say that Coherence and Cohesion includes how well you use "paragraphing and linking signals" and how appropriate your register stays throughout the whole letter.

Your salutation is the opening signal.

Think about what the examiner is looking for. They want evidence that you can shift your English based on who you're writing to. A Band 8 test taker doesn't write the same way to everyone. They adapt. They shift their tone and language. That shift starts before the first full sentence, in those two or three words at the very top of the page.

Task 1 might ask you to write to a friend, a hotel manager, a university registrar, or a landlord. Each one needs a different greeting. Miss that, and you're telling the examiner you didn't understand the task at all. That costs you points in Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion both.

Formal Letters: The Safe Zone (But Still Easy to Get Wrong)

Formal letters are your bread and butter in IELTS writing correction scenarios. You're writing to someone you don't know, someone in a position of authority, or someone in a professional context.

The classic opening is straightforward: "Dear [Title + Name]" or "Dear Sir/Madam."

Notice the comma at the end. That matters. In British English (the style IELTS uses), you put a comma after the salutation. American English sometimes uses a colon, but for IELTS, stick with the comma. It's one of those small details that examiners catch immediately.

Here's where most students stumble: they overthink it and add words that don't belong.

The first one is just awkward. The second one? It's technically correct, but it sounds robotic. In 2024, examiners see "To Whom It May Concern" and think form letter, mass email. Only use it if the prompt explicitly says you don't know anyone's name. Even then, "Dear Sir or Madam" sounds more natural.

Semi-Formal Letter Salutations: Navigating the Middle Ground

What makes a letter semi-formal? You're writing to someone you might know a bit, or to someone in a professional role where you've had contact before. Think: a teacher you've emailed, a shop manager you've dealt with, or an HR person at a company where you're applying.

Your greeting needs to land somewhere between "Dear Sir" and "Hey mate."

Both work for semi-formal. The first keeps professional distance. The second suggests you've interacted before and know each other a bit. Both are Band 7 appropriate.

But mix them together and your score suffers.

Here's the problem: you paired "Dear" (formal) with a first name (informal). That mismatch tells the examiner you're confused about register. Pick one direction. Either "Dear Mr. Chen" or "Hello David." Don't combine them.

Same issue here:

"Hi" is too casual for "Ms. Johnson." Your letter then reads like you're trying to be warm toward someone you're keeping at distance. Awkward for the reader, confusing for the examiner.

Informal Letters: Where Students Veer Off Track

Informal letters go to friends, family, or people you know well. You can be warm and genuine, but remember: you're still writing an exam letter, not a text to your mate.

All three work. They still use proper names and still have punctuation. You're informal, not careless.

This kills your band score:

This isn't social media. Even if you're writing to your best friend, your IELTS examiner is reading a formal exam. Show you can write with control and awareness. Informal doesn't mean sloppy.

Five Greeting Mistakes That Cost You Points

These errors show up constantly in IELTS letter writing. Here's what examiners think when they see them.

1. "Dear Friend" or "Dear Stranger": The prompt tells you who you're writing to. Use their name or title. "Dear Friend" signals that you didn't read the prompt carefully. That's Band 5 performance. The examiner questions your task understanding immediately.
2. No punctuation after the salutation: "Dear Mr. Chen" with no comma looks incomplete. Small details pile up. Examiners notice. It suggests carelessness with writing conventions.
3. Register mismatch (like "Hi Ms. Johnson"): You're sending mixed signals. The examiner wonders if you actually understand formality. Your Coherence and Cohesion score drops because your writing doesn't keep consistent register throughout.
4. Making up a name when the prompt doesn't give one: If the prompt says "Write to a hotel manager" but gives no name, use "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Dear Manager." Don't invent "Mr. Johnson." It looks like you weren't paying attention to what you were asked to do.
5. Being too formal to a friend: "Dear Robert," when you're writing to a childhood friend feels stiff and wrong. The examiner sees someone who doesn't know when to ease up. You lose points for being inappropriate, even though you were technically "correct."

What Your Greeting Should Be: Real Task 1 Examples

Prompt 1: "You have been doing a part-time job at a supermarket for two years. You would like to apply for a full-time position. Write to your manager requesting to change your position to full-time."

Your greeting: "Dear [Manager's Name]," or "Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]," or if you know them well, "Hello [First Name]," This is semi-formal. You know this person. You work for them. Let your greeting show that.

Prompt 2: "An international airline has invited you to write a formal complaint about a recent flight. Write a letter of complaint to the airline."

Your greeting: "Dear Sir or Madam," or "Dear Manager," This is fully formal. You don't know who'll read it. Keep distance. Show you're serious about your complaint.

Prompt 3: "Write a letter to an English-speaking friend you met on holiday. Tell them about a local festival in your country and invite them to visit."

Your greeting: "Hi [Name]," or "Dear [Name]," or "Hello [Name]," All work. This is informal. You're reconnecting with someone. Still use their real name. Still add punctuation.

Once you understand the context, your greeting becomes automatic. You won't second-guess yourself. When you're building your overall letter structure, our IELTS letter structure guide covers how to match your greeting to everything that follows.

How to Check If Your Salutation Matches Your Task

Use this three-question checklist to verify your formal salutation matches the recipient and context of your IELTS letter greeting. You have 20 minutes for Task 1, so ask yourself these quickly:

1. Do I know this person's name? If yes, use it. If no, use "Sir/Madam" or their title. Don't make up a name.
2. Does my greeting match the relationship in the prompt? Friend = informal. Manager or stranger = formal. The prompt language tells you what to do.
3. Does my greeting sound like the rest of my letter? If you open with "Dear Ms. Chen," don't write the next paragraph like a text message. If you open with "Hi Alex," don't suddenly sound like a legal document. Keep consistency throughout.

Three questions. 30 seconds. If all three answers are yes, your salutation is Band 7 material.

The same principle applies to your closing. If your opening is too casual for a formal letter, your closing will be too. Our guide on letter closing mistakes shows you how to match your sign-off to your greeting so the whole letter feels balanced.

Practice Method: Build Confidence Fast

The best way to nail your greeting is to practice recognizing the register demand in different prompts without overthinking.

Take five different Task 1 letter prompts. Before you write the full letter, just write your salutation. Spend 30 seconds thinking about the context. Write it down. Ask yourself: would this greeting make sense to the person receiving it? Would the examiner see that I understood the task?

Do that 10 times and it becomes automatic. You won't hesitate. You won't second-guess yourself. You'll open your letter with confidence.

Your opening line sets up everything that follows. It tells the reader who you are, what you understand about them, and how you're going to communicate. Get it right and your letter reads like it was written by someone who controls English, not someone guessing. When you're ready to check your complete letter for salutation appropriacy, tone consistency, and overall band score, use our IELTS writing checker to get detailed feedback across all criteria.