Your letter salutation takes up maybe five words. Yet examiners notice it immediately. A clumsy greeting can cost you points in Task Response and Coherence & Cohesion before you've even started your body paragraphs. Most students don't realize that the difference between "Dear Sir or Madam" and "Hi there" isn't just about politeness—it's about understanding your audience, the context, and what the prompt is actually asking you to do.
This guide walks you through exactly how to start an IELTS General Training letter correctly. You'll see real examples, weak vs. strong comparisons, and a practical checklist so you never second-guess your opening line again. Whether you're preparing for an exam or want to refine your letter-writing skills, our IELTS writing checker can give you instant feedback on salutation appropriateness and register consistency.
The IELTS Writing Task 1 band descriptors explicitly assess Task Response. That means examiners check whether you've understood the tone and register the prompt requires. A formal letter that opens with "Hey mate" signals you've missed the task entirely. That's not a small error. It affects your entire score.
Think about it this way: if you received a complaint letter from a government agency signed off casually, you'd question whether they take you seriously. Same thing happens here. Examiners expect you to match your register to the context. Your salutation is your first proof that you can do this.
Tip: The salutation appears in the opening 10 seconds of reading. If it's wrong, the examiner expects problems throughout. Get it right, and you've already earned credibility.
Use formal salutations when writing to someone you don't know, in an official capacity, or addressing someone in authority. Think: complaints to companies, applications to institutions, requests to government bodies. Your salutation must match the formal tone of the entire letter.
Your standard formal options are:
Notice the pattern: "Dear" followed by a title or name, then a comma. British English (which IELTS follows) uses a comma, not a period. Don't skip this punctuation. It matters more than you'd think.
Good: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to lodge a formal complaint regarding my recent stay at your hotel."
Weak: "Dear Sir or Madam. I am writing to lodge a formal complaint regarding my recent stay at your hotel." (A period here breaks British convention and reads like American English.)
When should you choose "Dear Sir or Madam" vs. a specific name? Use "Dear Sir or Madam" when the prompt doesn't provide a name. If the prompt says "Write to the manager," use that title. If it says "Write to John Smith, the manager," definitely use "Dear Mr. Smith." Matching the prompt exactly proves you've read it carefully.
Informal salutations show up less often in IELTS Task 1, but they do happen. You might get a prompt asking you to write to a friend, a colleague you know well, or a family member. When that happens, your whole register shifts.
Common informal options:
Here's what matters: informal doesn't mean careless. "Hi Sarah," with a comma shows you understand punctuation even in casual writing. "Hi Sarah" without punctuation looks like you don't know the rule, not that you're choosing informality on purpose.
Good: "Hi James, I hope you're well. I wanted to ask if you could help me with the project next week."
Weak: "Hi James I hope you're well. I wanted to ask if you could help me with the project next week." (Missing punctuation after the name signals you're being sloppy, not casual.)
Real IELTS example: "You recently attended a wedding. Write a thank-you letter to the hosts. You know them well." In this case, you'd use "Hi" or "Hello" with the person's name. The phrase "you know them well" is your signal that formality isn't required. But you still punctuate correctly.
What if you're writing to someone in a professional context, but you've already interacted with them? That's the semi-formal zone, and it trips up more students than it should.
You might use:
Here's where students overthink it: your prompt will signal which register to use. If it says "your manager, whom you know," you could use "Dear Sarah" or "Hello Sarah." If it says "the manager of a hotel you've never visited," stick to "Dear Sir or Madam." Don't invent a grey area where none exists.
Good: "Dear Robert, I hope this letter finds you well. Following our conversation last week, I wanted to provide you with the additional information you requested."
Weak: "Dear Sir, I hope this letter finds you well. Following our conversation last week, I wanted to provide you with the additional information you requested." (If you know Robert's name, using "Dear Sir" is both overly formal and signals you didn't read the prompt.)
The IELTS Writing Task 1 band descriptors evaluate Coherence & Cohesion, and register consistency is built into that. Your salutation is the first test of register control. If your greeting matches the task but your closing doesn't, examiners spot the inconsistency immediately.
For bands 7-8, the descriptor states: "Uses language and register appropriate for the intended reader with very good consistency." Your opening must set this tone from the start. A Band 7 response won't start with "Dear Sir or Madam," then slip into slang two paragraphs later.
For bands 5-6, the descriptor says: "Uses some language appropriate for the intended reader but with inconsistencies." This is where salutation errors pile up. You might use "Dear Sir or Madam," correctly, but then your tone waffles throughout the letter. That inconsistency costs you.
Your salutation is a measurable signal to examiners that you're aiming for control. Get it right, and you're already on your way to solid Coherence & Cohesion marks. When you're working on the broader tone of your letter, make sure you're also maintaining tone consistency in your closing so your opener and closer work together.
Let's look at how prompts actually direct your choice:
Prompt 1: "You recently purchased an item from an online shop. Write a letter to the shop complaining about the quality of the product. Include details of the problem, how it has affected you, and what action you'd like the shop to take."
No name provided. Formal context (complaint to a business). Salutation: "Dear Sir or Madam,". You don't know who'll read it, and your tone must be professional.
Prompt 2: "You have a friend who is planning to visit your country. Write a letter to your friend describing a city you think they should visit. Include information about what there is to see and do, where to stay, and what the best time to visit would be."
Friend. Casual context. Salutation: "Hi [name]," or "Hello [name],". The word "friend" signals informality. Match it.
Prompt 3: "You have just completed a course at a college. Write a letter to the college director. Thank them for the opportunities the course provided, describe what you enjoyed most, and say how it will help your career."
Director. Unknown personally (unless stated otherwise). Formal context. Salutation: "Dear Sir or Madam," or "Dear [Director's Name]," if you have one. If the prompt provides a name, use it. If not, use the formal generic option.
Tip: Underline or highlight the context clues in the prompt: "friend," "manager you know," "official complaint." These words determine register instantly. Your salutation must match them.
Mistake 1: Period instead of comma. Using a period after "Sir" or "Madam" in formal letters is an American convention. British English (IELTS) uses a comma. This small punctuation choice signals whether you understand international writing norms.
Mistake 2: "To Whom It May Concern." This phrase is outdated and overly stiff for modern IELTS. It marks you as following old textbook rules rather than understanding how communication actually works today. Avoid it. "Dear Sir or Madam," is the professional, modern standard.
Mistake 3: Switching register mid-letter. You start with "Dear Sir or Madam," then write "Cheers, mate" in your closing. This inconsistency costs you Coherence & Cohesion points. Lock in your register at the salutation and hold it through your sign-off.
Mistake 4: Forgetting punctuation after the name. "Hi Sarah" reads sloppy. "Hi Sarah," reads intentional. Always punctuate.
Mistake 5: Capitalization errors. If you start a sentence right after your salutation, capitalize normally. "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing..." is correct. Don't overcomplicate it.
Run through this five-point check before your essay leaves your hands:
Five checks. They protect you from avoidable errors that pull down your score. For a complete review of your Task 1 letter, try our free IELTS writing checker to get instant feedback on salutations, register consistency, and overall structure.
Our IELTS essay checker analyzes your Task 1 letters for register consistency, salutation appropriateness, and overall coherence. Spot errors before exam day and improve your writing correction skills.
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