IELTS Writing for Chinese speakers: How to Fix The wrong tone in a General Training letter

At a glance

For: Chinese speakers
Problem: The wrong tone in a General Training letter
Scoring criterion: Task Achievement (Task 1 letter)
Task affected: Task 1 (General Training letter)
IELTS test: Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
Typical effort: about one week
First step: Read the prompt to identify who the recipient is and what the relationship is.

Why this happens to Chinese speakers

Letter tone is part of the Task Achievement criterion. Candidates mix formal and informal language, for example 'Dear Sir' followed by contractions and slang, which signals weak control of register.

Why this affects Chinese speakers: Chinese has no articles and no verb tense endings, and sentences are often joined by commas, so these patterns carry into English writing.

Candidates often write a memorised introduction and general ideas, so the answer is not specific to the question.

A strength to build on: Strong exam discipline and wide study vocabulary help with practice routines.

Fix it in four steps

Read the prompt to identify who the recipient is and what the relationship is.
Choose the greeting and sign-off that match (Dear Sir or Madam / Yours faithfully, or Dear Anna / Best wishes).
Keep vocabulary consistent: avoid contractions in formal letters and avoid stiff phrases in informal ones.
Reread the first and last lines to check they match in tone.

Before and after

Before

Dear Sir, Hi, I'm writing because my washing machine is rubbish, thanks.

After

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about a washing machine I purchased from your store last month.

Ten-minute drill: Write the first and last two lines of three letters with different recipients and compare the register.

Questions and answers

What is the fastest way for Chinese speakers to fix the wrong tone in a General Training letter?

Decide on the recipient first: formal for an unknown person or official, semi-formal for a manager or neighbour, informal for a friend. Keep greeting, vocabulary and closing consistent with that choice throughout the letter. Candidates often write a memorised introduction and general ideas, so the answer is not specific to the question.

How long does it take Chinese speakers to fix the wrong tone in a General Training letter?

Most learners need about one week. Consistent short daily practice with feedback works better than long, infrequent sessions.

Do I use the name or Sir or Madam?

Use the name if the prompt gives one, with 'Yours sincerely'. If not, use 'Dear Sir or Madam' with 'Yours faithfully'.

Can I use contractions in a letter?

In informal letters yes. In formal or semi-formal letters, avoid them.

What does a good practice drill look like for Chinese speakers?

Write the first and last two lines of three letters with different recipients and compare the register. Consistent short daily practice with feedback works better than long, infrequent sessions.

How can Chinese speakers tell they have fixed the wrong tone in a General Training letter?

A reader can tell the relationship to the recipient from the first sentence and the tone stays the same to the end.

What should Chinese speakers know about their IELTS Writing target?

Chinese-speaking candidates often have strong reading and vocabulary knowledge and need targeted work on English-specific grammar and organisation.

Should Chinese speakers practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?

This is a Task 1 issue for the General Training letter. Practise it on real letter prompts within about 20 minutes, then move on to Task 2. Strong exam discipline and wide study vocabulary help with practice routines.

Can an AI checker help Chinese speakers with the wrong tone in a General Training letter?

An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.

Check your own essay

See where the wrong tone in a General Training letter appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.

Run a free first check

Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.