If you are taking the IELTS General Training exam, you will encounter two different types of letters in IELTS Writing Task 1: formal and informal letters. Identifying the question type is crucial, as it will determine the tone and style of your letter. When writing a formal letter, you should adopt a professional tone, especially if you are addressing a manager, employer, or any professional acquaintance. On the other hand, an informal letter is appropriate when writing to a friend or someone with whom you have a personal relationship.

The writing prompt can ask you to do one of the following:

a) Request information

b) Explain a situation

In this article, we will focus on how to request information in a formal letter.

Formal Letter – Requesting Information

Question:

You have decided to set up a business and require a bank loan. Write a letter to the bank manager requesting information about the loan. In your letter, include the following:

1. The purpose of the letter

2. The amount of bank loan you need

3. The timeframe for loan repayment

Sample Answer:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to request information about availing a loan from your esteemed bank to support the establishment of my business in the coming month.

After conducting market research, I am confident that opening a restaurant in the proposed location would be a lucrative venture. As the area is home to a regional university, there is a potential customer base of approximately 2000 students, making it an ideal business opportunity.

To set up the restaurant, I will require a loan of Rs 50 lakh, and I kindly request you to provide me with all the necessary information, including the eligibility criteria and required documentation for the loan application.

Moreover, I would like to inform you that there are no existing restaurants in the vicinity, which increases the potential for business growth. As such, I am optimistic about repaying the loan within a period of 3 years or even earlier.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could furnish the requested information at the earliest to expedite the loan application process.

Yours faithfully,

Ramesh Varma

(189 words)

To enhance the quality of your letter, consider incorporating the following useful vocabulary:

1. I would like to request

2. I would like to suggest if you can

3. I would be grateful if you can

4. I would like you to kindly

5. I am entitled to request that

6. I was wondering if it would be possible for you to

Now, let’s see an example of how to write an informal letter requesting information.

Informal Letter – Requesting Information

Question:

You are planning to apply for a work permit in a foreign city where you have never been. You want to seek information about the city from a friend who currently resides there. Write a letter to your friend requesting information about the city. In your letter, include the following:

1. When and where you intend to work

2. The type of job you will be doing

3. The duration of your intended stay

Sample Answer:

Dear Suresh,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying life.

It has been quite a while since I last wrote to you, as I have been busy planning my visit to your city, London. I am thrilled to share that my company has selected me for a project in London, and I will be arriving there next month.

My project in London is a wonderful opportunity for me to engage with clients, present business proposals, and finalize deals. The job is full-time, with the possibility of occasional night shifts. As I am new to the city, I would greatly appreciate your help in providing information about the cost of living, public transportation options, availability of banking facilities, and any other practical details. Your knowledge and insights will be invaluable in helping me adjust to life in London.

I will be staying in London for two years, as the project duration extends. I am looking forward to spending quality time with you and exploring the vibrant city together.

Take care and keep in touch!

Yours truly,

Pratham

(186 words)

To improve the quality of your informal letter, you can include the following useful vocabulary:

1. Well, you know

2. As you know,

3. It would be great to see you

4. I have got a

5. A lovely view

6. On the bright side

7. It would be nice

8. Prices are crazy

9. It was quite good

10. Hope to see you soon!

11. All the best!

12. Goodbye!

13. Take care!

14. Keep in touch!

Exercise:

1. You plan to study a distance course online from an international university. Write a letter to the university officer requesting information about the course. Include the following:

– The purpose of the letter

– The course you want to study and when you plan to start

– Your reason for choosing this course

2. You want to spend your holidays in a foreign country where your friend resides. Write a letter to your friend requesting information about the city you plan to visit. Include the following:

– When and where you want to spend your holidays

– Why you want to visit that city

– The timeframe for your visit

3. You recently purchased a product from an online store and are unsatisfied with its quality. Now, you want to request a refund but are unaware of the company’s return and refund policy. Write a letter to the customer relationship officer requesting information about the refund policy. Include the following:

– The purpose of the letter

– Why you are seeking a refund

– When you would like to receive the refund