The Closing sentence in an IELTS letter is a 1-2 line paragraph that sums up the key points of the letter. This is the final impression you leave with the examiner so get it right from the word go!
Table of Contents
- What is a Closing Statement
- Types of IELTS Letters
- 2.1 Formal
- 2.2 Informal
- 2.3 Semi-Formal
- Examples of Effective Closing Statements Along with Sign-off
- 3.1 Formal Letter
- 3.2 Semi-Formal Letter
- 3.3 Informal Letter
- Tips to Write an Effective Closing Statement
- Salutations for Formal, Informal, and Semi-formal IELTS Letters
- Mistakes to Avoid
- Conclusion
Note:
This guide on writing an IELTS letter Introduction is part of 3-series guide
- Guide to Writing an Introduction for IELTS General Task 1 Letter
- Guide to Writing Body Paragraphs for an IELTS General Task 1 Letter
- Guide to Writing Conclusion for an IELTS General Task 1 Letter
We recommend that you first read this article on writing an Introductory Statement.
What is a Closing Statement
In the context of the IELTS General Writing Task 1, it is the last line in the letter that appears between the final body paragraph and the closing salutation. Have a look at the red outline in the letter below. That’s your Concluding Statement.
Note: You can read this sample IELTS formal letter here.
- This Concluding Statement succinctly summarises the main purpose of your letter without elaborating on it too much. Paraphrasing is a key skill here to avoid repetition of words which affects your Lexical Resource score. This IELTS Writing Paraphrasing Guide is useful so check it out.
The Role of a Strong Closing Statement:
- It helps you close on a formal or friendly note
- It reinforces the letter’s purpose (request, complaint, thank you, etc.)
- It demonstrates language proficiency through apt vocabulary, grammar,
- and tone
- It shows cohesion and coherence as you tie up your letter neatly before signing off
- It leaves a lasting impact on the examiner, helping you achieve a higher band score
Before we learn to write a closing statement, have a look at common IELTS letter types. The tone of your closing statement will need to reflect the kind of letter you are writing i.e. formal, semi-formal, or informal.
Types of IELTS Letters
| No | Formal | Informal | Semi-Formal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job application | Thanking a Friend for a Favour | Inviting a Colleague to an Event |
| 2 | Complain about service | Inviting a Friend to Visit You | Requesting Time off from Work |
| 3 | Request for information | Sharing Good News with a Friend | Apologizing to a neighbor for noise |
| 4 | Apologize for a mistake at work | Apologizing for Missing a Friend’s Party | Requesting tutor to extend a deadline |
Examples of Effective Closing Statements Along with Sign-off
Before we learn to write Closing Statements, let’s first read some of them. Take note of the following:
- The length of the statements (25-30 words)
- The purpose of the letter which has been restated
- Actionable request restated when applicable
- The tone that matches the question prompt
- Sign-off appropriateness e.g. Best wishes, Love, Kind regards
IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Correction & Grading
Improve Your IELTS Score
- 24-Hour Turnaround
- Open 365 Days
- 1 Year Validity
- Handwritten Essays Accepted
Formal Letter
- Job Application
Question: Write a letter to apply for a job, explaining why you are a suitable candidate and how your experience fits the role.
Conclusion: Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the prospect of joining your team and hope to hear from you soon regarding the next steps.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Hardy - Complain About Service
Question: Write a letter to a company to complain about the poor service you received, explaining the issue and what you expect them to do about it.
Conclusion: I trust you will take the necessary steps to get my air fryer replaced. I hope to hear from you soon with a swift resolution.
Yours faithfully,
Debbie Harry
Semi-Formal Letter
- Inviting a Colleague to an Event
Question: Write a letter inviting a colleague to an event, explaining why it would be enjoyable and why you would like them to attend.
Conclusion: Please let me know if you’re available to attend the car rally. I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time, and it would be great to catch up outside of work.
Best wishes,
Rohit - Requesting Time Off from Work
Question: Write a letter to your employer requesting time off from work, explaining the reason and the dates you would like to take leave.
Conclusion: I hope my request for leave is granted and I look forward to your decision. Please let me know if any further information is needed.
Kind regards,
Adam Smith
Informal Letter
- Thanking a Friend for a Favour
Question: Write a letter to thank a friend for a favour they did for you, explaining how it helped you and your appreciation.
Conclusion: Once again, thank you so much for having my back, Ron. I am truly blessed to have a friend like you. Hope to see you soon!
Love,
Mitch - Apologizing for Missing a Friend’s Party
Question: Write a letter to apologize for not attending a friend’s party, explaining why you couldn’t make it and expressing your regret.
Conclusion: I’m truly sorry I couldn’t make it to your party but hope we can catch up this weekend. Give me a call and let’s plan something.
Love,
Hannah
Tips to Write an Effective Closing Statement
- After writing your final body paragraph, all you need to do now is summarize the main purpose of the letter. E.g., if you were responding to a friend’s marriage invitation, you could close by saying how much you look forward to being there at their wedding.
- Aim to write around 25-30 words. Any more than this is unnecessary. Unlike Writing Task 2 which requires a longer conclusion, your Task 1 letter conclusion can finish on a more succinct note.
- Maintain the tone of formality or informality in your closing statement. If the letter is addressed to your landlord Mrs. Smith, don’t address her as Jennifer suddenly at the end.
- Don’t repeat the same language used in the body paragraphs. Practice the skill of paraphrasing to get a good score in Lexical Resources.
- Write in a grammatically correct way. Here is some useful Grammar for the IELTS Task 1 letter.
- Be careful with the signoff salutation. For e.g. do not sign off saying, Love, Robert in a letter to your boss.
Salutations for Formal, Informal, and Semi-formal IELTS Letters
| Letter Type | Salutation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Yours sincerely | Yours sincerely, Robert Smith |
| Formal | Yours faithfully | Yours faithfully, Robert Smith |
| Semi-Formal | Kind regards | Kind regards, Robert Smith |
| Semi-Formal | Best regards | Best regards, Robert Smith |
| Informal | Love | Love, Robert |
| Informal | Take care | Take care, Robert |
| Informal | Cheers | Cheers, Robert |
IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Correction & Grading
Improve Your IELTS Score
- 24-Hour Turnaround
- Open 365 Days
- 1 Year Validity
- Handwritten Essays Accepted
Mistakes to Avoid
Now we will show you 5 incorrect closing statements for the below question. Each will be accompanied by a reason why it would leave a bad impression on the examiner:
You currently live in a rental apartment, and the noise from your neighbours disturbs you. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter
describe how this situation affects you;
explain what steps you have taken to address the problem;
ask the landlord to take action to resolve the issue.
- “I sure hope you do something soon, Tom!”
Reason: This is too short and also lacks the formal tone required for a letter to a landlord.
- “Please take action, because I can’t stand the noise any longer, and this is getting out of hand, so I need it fixed ASAP, like right now.”
Reason: This Concluding Statement is too informal and forceful, and uses a conversational tone that doesn’t suit the task.
- “Thanks in advance for your help Mr Smith. I’ll be expecting you to fix this at your earliest convenience because as mentioned earlier, I need to wake up early in the morning for my milkman’s duty and if I sleep late, it affects the whole neighbourhood who won’t get the milk on time.
- Reason: While the tone is formal, it’s too long, and detailed and seems to have repeated the points made in the body paragraphs. You will lose marks for restating details in a closing statement. IELTS’ official band descriptors allot Band 5 in Task Achievement if there is a “tendency to focus on details (without referring to the bigger picture).
- “It is my humble request if you could do something. Thanks again for all your help and I remain forever at your disposal.”
Reason: The statement lacks specificity about the problem, and what action is needed. It also puts the writer in a weak and submissive position. “It is my humble request” sounds too deferential. Your tone should be polite yet assertive for such a letter.
- “I will be highly appreciated if u can tackle this matter correctly!”
Reason: Grammar issues (e.g., “I will be highly appreciated “), using short forms like “u,” and awkward phrasing like “tackle this matter correctly!” make it sound unprofessional.
Now that we’ve explored what makes a bad Concluding Statement, let’s examine some effective conclusion statements for this question.
- “Your timely intervention in this matter would be greatly appreciated, as the noise is affecting my daily life. I trust you will take the necessary steps to resolve this issue soon.”
- “I would be grateful if you could address this concern as soon as possible and help restore a peaceful living environment.”
- I would greatly appreciate it if you could look into this matter and address the noise issue. I look forward to your prompt response.”
Conclusion
A well-crafted closing statement will help you make a lasting impression on your examiner. All you need to do is:
- summarise the letter’s purpose
- maintain the right tone
- avoid silly mistakes.
Finish strong and watch your score transform!
