Formal or informal in IELTS Writing?

• Formal or informal ?

In your IELTs writing, if you are appearing for academic module both the tasks( graph and essay) should be written in formal language, but for general module student task 2 (essay) should be in formal and task 1 (letter) can be in formal or informal.

Task 1 for GT module is a letter, and if the topic asks you to write to someone you know,and to someone who is very close relative or friend you can use informal language for that letter and that is an informal letter – as opposed to writing to someone you don’t know, ( like any authority, or boss or any one whom you do not know closely) is formal.


The difference between formal and informal styles is mainly in the vocabulary. Informal words are the ones used in everyday conversations, slang, phrasal verbs etc  and formal are used in books, contracts, business letters and essays.  If the task requires formal writing – avoid using informal vocabulary. If the task requires informal writing, such as a letter to a friend, avoid using formal words.


Use of informal when it is required to use formal seems quite rude or impolite, whereas use of too much formal in place of informal seems quite silly and foolish. So take care well.

Formal	Informal		Formal	Informal		Formal	Informal
appear	seem		finally	in the end		amiable	friendly
ascend	climb		immediately	at once		complete	whole
assist	help		initially	at first		energetic	lively
cease	stop		intermittently	on and off		fortunate	lucky
commence	begin		principally	mainly		immature	childish
consume	use		repeatedly	Again & again		incorrect	wrong
decrease	shorten		subsequently	next		inferior	worse
demonstrate	show		therefore	so		inexpensive	cheap
depart	go		comprehension	understanding		indistinct	dim
desire	want		deficiency	lack		insane	mad
enquire	ask		opportunity	chance		relaxed	laid back
finish	end		perspiration	sweat		responsible	in charge
inform	tell		residence	house		sufficient	enough
obtain	get		vision	sight		superior	better
preserve	keep		And	&		transparent	clear
reject	say no		Can not	Can’t		vacant	empty
release	free		Is not	Isn’t
repair	mend		Hello	Hi
require	need		Gratitude	Thanks
reside	live
retain	keep