writing a letter giving advice

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Letter of Advice [IELTS Writing]

Posted by David S. Wills | Mar 1, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

In the IELTS writing test, you may be asked to produce a letter of advice. This will require you to give advice to someone – typically a friend or family member. In this article, I will explain everything you need to know and give some sample letters.

What is a Letter of Advice?

As the name suggests, a letter of advice is a letter written to someone with the purpose of giving them advice about something. This may be a problem they face or a dilemma. You might have to help them make a difficult choice, such as whether to get a job or go on to further education.

The prompt may or may not say “give advice.” Sometimes it is strong implied or just stated through other words. It might say that the other person has “asked for advice” or it might tell you to “give them advice.” It totally depends on the situation.

How to Write a Letter of Advice

When writing a letter of advice, you need to consider the tone of the essay. In other words, is it formal or informal ? To be honest, for IELTS this sort of letter is going to be informal in 90% of situations. However, sometimes you might want to be a little cautious and go with semi-formal , particularly if the advice is on a serious matter.

You will also need to think about structure. There is no single formula for a letter structure but generally you should consider the following:

• An appropriate greeting.
• A short paragraph stating the purpose of the letter and why you are writing.
• Logical body paragraphs that address the bullet points.
• An appropriate sign-off.

You can read all about this in my book, A Complete Guide to IELTS Letters .

Next, we need to pick the right language for this situation.

Language for Giving Advice

When it comes to giving people advice, the most obvious phrase to use is “you should…” This is perfectly fine to use in IELTS, but we shouldn’t over-use it. You might also find that certain situations call for slightly more delicate language. In other words, you might not want to be too direct and so you soften your language when giving advice.

Here is an example:

• I think you should speak to your boss and tell him you are unhappy with your current duties.

This is perfectly fine, but we might soften it slightly by saying:

• Why don’t you speak to your boss and tell him you are unhappy with your current duties?

By making this a question, it is a little less forceful.

You can also use the word “could” to soften it even further:

• You could speak to your boss and tell him you are unhappy with your current duties.

This could be made even more delicate with “perhaps”:

• Perhaps you could speak to your boss and tell him you are unhappy with your current duties.

In very casual situations, you might use a question with “how about”:

• How about speaking with your boss and telling him you are unhappy with your current duties?

All of these are acceptable and there are only slight differences between them. Your choice will depend on the situation and your intended meaning.

Here are two example letters that answer prompts requiring advice.

You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think they should get a job.

Write a letter to this friend. In your letter

• say they would not enjoy going to college
• explain why getting a job is a good idea for them
• suggest types of jobs that would be suitable for them

Dear Sandy,

Thanks for your recent letter. I’m glad to hear that you are doing well, and I think that it’s great that you have so many options for your future. You’re really lucky to have such a choice to make, but let me tell you why I think you should get a job rather than go to college.

Nowadays, everyone seems to be going to college. It’s become such a common thing that degrees and diplomas are actually being devalued and it’s the people who go out into the world and get a job that are succeeding. Aside from that, I know that you really hated school and could never seem to sit still long enough to get much value from a class. I just don’t see you really getting much out of college and so maybe you’d function better in a regular job.

You were great in all of our practical classes like woodwork, so why don’t you look into getting an apprenticeship as a carpenter or something like that? These people are making a lot of money nowadays and so it’s a useful skill to have. By the time everyone graduates from college and are fighting over the same jobs, you’ll be an experienced professional earning a great salary.

Think about it and let me know. I’ll support you whatever you choose to do.

This letter is written to a friend, so it is possible to use an informal tone, but because it is dealing with a serious matter it is probably better to use a semi-formal tone. Here, I have used some elements of informal language but overall there is a lot of neutral language. It is discursive and informative, giving advice in a careful way. Being too informal here might be inappropriate because it could potentially offend the recipient to hear that they are not right for higher education.  

The main piece of advice is presented here, with a question:

• why don’t you look into getting an apprenticeship as a carpenter or something like that?

The show of support at the end is quite important after giving advice and would mean a lot as a kind gesture between friends.

A friend has written to you asking for advice about a problem at work. You have had a similar problem in the past.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• tell your friend you understand the problem
• explain what happened to you in the past
• suggest possible solutions to the problem

I was sorry to hear that you aren’t getting along in your new job. I understand what you’re going through. Back when I started at my job, I experienced the same thing. Let me tell you a little about it.

When I first started working at the hotel, I really struggled to get along with my co-workers. They all seemed to gather in little cliques and it was hard to communicate with them because they didn’t seem interested in talking to me. I wouldn’t have minded, but it was affecting my work and, as the new guy, I was afraid I’d get fired.

In the end, I made sure that my work ethic was impeccable and so no one could complain about me. Then, I made greater efforts to reach out to my co-workers. I asked them questions to make them feel appreciated and spent some time with one or two of them outside of work to build a social connection.

Perhaps these things can help you, too. I really hope so.

Let me know how it goes.

This letter is addressed to a friend and so it should be written in a somewhat informal tone. It is about work, so perhaps semi-formal would also be acceptable, but you can see that I have chosen to use mostly informal language here. I have structured my letter casually but logically to fit the requirements of the task, giving a story about my own experiences. I have avoided the obvious language of “You should…” because it is a little direct. That is fine, but in this case I have given my advice more subtly by explaining my story and then saying “Perhaps these things can help you, too.”

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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How to write a letter to ask for/give advice ?

Published in 01 mar 2016 by @marwen, viewed 149883 times, share this article with your friends.

Letters asking for or giving advice can be formal , informal or semi-formal depending on the situation. A letter asking for advice can be sent to a friend, a consultant or an advice column in a magazine. Details of the problem should be mentioned. A letter giving advice should contain suggestions introduced with appropriate language.

Asking for Advice Introduction Paragraph 1 - reason(s) for writing Main Body Paragraphs 2-3 - description of problem(s) Conclusion Final Paragraph - closing remarks Full name Useful Language for Letters Asking for Advice Opening Remarks: Formal - I am writing to ask if you could help me with - I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice about - I am writing to ask for your advice - I would be grateful if you could offer your advice - Could you possibly offer your advice - I wonder if you could help me with a problem

Informal - I'm writing to ask for your advice - Can you give me your advice - I've got a problem and I need your advice Closing Remarks: Formal - I would appreciate it if you could give me your advice as soon as possible - I look forward to receiving your advice - It would be of great help if you could advise me Informal - What do you think I should do? - Please let me know what you think I should do - Please tell me what to do

Giving Advice Introduction Paragraph 1 - thanks for letter/express understanding of problem Main Body Paragraphs 2-3 - suggestion(s) + reason(s) Conclusion Final Paragraph - closing remarks Full name

Useful Language for Letters Giving Advice Opening Remarks: Formal - Thank you for your letter requesting - I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about - I hope the following advice will be of some help to you Informal - I just got your letters and I think I can help you - I was sorry to hear about your problem. Here's what I think you should do Suggestions can be introduced with expressions such as:

Formal - I strongly recommend that - I would suggest that - I believe the best course of action is - I would advise you to - You should/You ought to/If I were you I would Informal - Why don't you - It would be a good idea to - What you should do is - How about.../I thin you should - The best advice I can give you is

Closing Remarks: Formal - I trust you will accept this advice - I hope this will be of help - I would very much like to know if this was helpful Informal - Hope this has helped - Let me know what happens

You can find further letters here: Letters in English, examples

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​Letters Giving Advice

Opening remarks.

Thank you for your letter requesting ...

I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about ...

I hope the following advice will be of some help to you ...

I was sorry to hear about your problem ...

I just got your letter and I think I can help you ...

Here is what I think you should do, etc.

Expressions to advise

I strongly recommend that ...

I believe the best course of an action is ...

If I were you I would ...

I would suggest that ...

Why don’t you ...

It would be a good idea to ...

The best advice I can give you is ...

What you should do is ...

I think ...

I really think you need to/must/should ...

How about …?

It is usually a good idea to ...

My suggestion/advice is (to) ...

Why don’t you …?

You could try …

You probably/definitely/really should …

Have you tried …?

I would (strongly) suggest/advise that …

If I were you, I’d …

In my experience, … works really well ...

It’s generally best/a good idea to …

One idea is to …

One thing you could/should/have to do is …

The best/most important thing (to do) is to … /… might work / … would probably work /… (always) works for me ...

If I was/were in your place, I’d …

If that happened to me ...

In that case ...

If I had that problem, I’d …

My (main/personal) recommendation is/would be …

You’d better …

In this (kind of) situation ...

I (would) always recommend/advise …

If I were in that (that kind of) situation, I’d …

Have you thought about …?

If it were me, I’d …

Make sure you (don’t) …

The sooner you … the better.

Whatever you do, …

Your only option is to …

You have no choice but to … 

… is worth a try/trying ...

A (self-help) book I read recommends …

A piece of advice from … that I’d like to pass on is to …

A wise man once said …

As the proverb says, …

I can’t recommend … strongly enough.

You should …, no doubt about it.

It might be an old wives’ tale, but …

Closing remarks

I trust you will accept this advice...

I hope this will be of help to you...

I would very much like to know if this was helpful...

Hope this has helped...

Let me know what happens, etc.

Give advice on

• what laptop to buy
• what present from abroad to buy
• how to improve the foreign language skills
• how to spend the money won in the competition
• about your first travel abroad
• what to do if you are bullied at school
• on the first day at the university
• on organizing an event(a prom, an anniversary, etc)
• on living with a host family

Writing a letter of advice to a friend

Your friend wrote to you asking for advice on

• how to manage his/her time efficiently while preparing for exams
• how to cope with both study and doing household chores at home
• what to do to relieve the anxiety before exams

Hi. How are you? I’m like you very busy preparing for my examinations at school. I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling anxious and unhappy. But I am grateful that you have shared your problems and fears with me. I guess I can give you some advice.

To begin with, you told me you didn’t have enough time to prepare for so many tests. If I were in your shoes I would try to talk to your teachers who I am sure will understand you very well and may really help you . Also, I reckon you should make up a schedule to spend your time more efficiently. I am pretty sure it will work. So don’t worry! You’ll be fine.

Then, you told me you needed to help your mother do all the house chores because she was very tired after work and you also had to take some tutorial classes after-school every week. I know it is tiresome. Why don’t you ask your mother to find a housemate to help her? This way, you would devote more time to study. And another thing, why not reduce your time for tutorial classes and study hard at home on your own. I am sure you can do it.

And then, I know you are worried about your examinations and you are very tired. No matter how hard you have to work I would advise you to relax sometime. For example, you can listen to quiet music or do some exercise, walk or play some board games. These are likely to relieve your anxiety.

Besides, I’m sad to know that your parents think you are lazy and irresponsible. Talk to them. You should let your parents know about your problems and then they will understand you very well and support you.

So, don’t worry! There should always be a way out!

I hope this advice will be useful. Please write to me again to tell how things are going on or if you need any more help.

Regards, Jacky

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Letters Asking and Giving Advice

Have practice in writing letters of advice

Advice is a recommendation, guidance, an opinion, a proposition, a suggestion or the wise words.

Letters asking and giving advice can be:

• formal  – sent to an official person;
• informal  – sent to a friend;
• semi-formal  – sent to an advice column in a magazine.

Useful Phrases

Opening remarks.

I am writing to ask if you could help me

You would do me a favor if you could advise what to do

I would appreciate if you could give me some advice about

I would be most grateful to you if you could help me in the dilemma

I am writing to ask for your advice

I would be grateful if you could offer your advice

Could you possibly offer your advice?

I wonder if you could help me with a problem

You are the only person I could ask for advice on my problem

I come to you seeking advice on a personal matter

You are the person who seems to know right from wrong

Thank you for your letter requesting …

I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about …

I hope the following advice will be of some help to you …

I was sorry to hear about your problem …

I just got your letter and I think I can help you …

Here is what I think you should do …

I’m writing to ask for advice

Can you give me your advice?

I’ve got a problem and I need your advice

I don’t want to be a nuisance, but I need your advice

Closing remarks

I would appreciate it if you could give me your advice as soon as possible;

I look forward to receiving your advice;

It would be of great help if you could advise me;

What do you suggest / recommend?

I trust you will accept this advice…

I would very much like to know if this was helpful…

What do you think I should do?

Please let me know what you think I should do;

Please tell me what to do;

What would you do in this situation?

What ought /should I (to) do?

If you were me what would you do?

I hope this will be of help to you…

Hope this has helped…

Let me know what happens.

Dear Eliza,

First of all, I want to thank you for your previous letter, in which you shared the latest news with me. I am happy to hear that you are doing well and the problems you wrote about before were solved.

Unfortunately, I have come across with a range of troubles and badly need your advice. You are the only person I fully trust and I rely on your experience a lot.

Maybe you can give me some advice and things will get better soon.

My first problem is about my weight. I have never been on a diet, and I do not know which to choose and which will not do any harm to my health. I have tried to do some healthy exercises, such as playing ball games and swimming but they are not very interesting to me and I get bored very soon. Can you advise any other good ways to keep fit and healthy?

Besides I should mention I am not satisfied with my appearance a lot. I understand that everyone has different looks but I feel uneasy when my class mates talk about me behind my back.

Another problem is about my English at school. I think I am very bad at learning English so I get low marks in English tests. I know how well you speak English and I thought you could give me some tips on this matter. I tried to listen to and learn English by watching TV programmes in English, but I hardly understand them and it drives me crazy.

And finally, the problem about my relationship with my parents. I do not share their way of spending our weekends and holidays. I can not reveal my thoughts and feelings to them and it even makes me feel worse. Hope your advice will change the things. Write to me soon as you can. Thanks a lot in advance for your patience and understanding.

Yours truly,

Dear Joanna,

First of all, thank you for writing me this letter. I’m sorry to hear about your problems. Maybe I can give you some advice and things will get better soon.

Your first problem is about you weight. Besides having a healthy diet, I suggest that you could try to do some healthy exercises, such as playing ball games and swimming. It is a good way to keep fit and healthy. If you keep on doing these, I’m sure you will become slimmer and healthier.  What is more you should not mind your own appearance a lot. Everyone has different appearances and should tell your friends about this. I’m absolutely sure they will be friendly to you again.

Your next problem is about your English school work. I think you are afraid of learning English so you get bad marks in English tests. Why don’t you listen to English songs and watch TV programs in English? It is not a problem if you don’t know the meaning of the words.  If you keep on watching them, you will have great improvement in English.

Your last problem is about your relationships with your parents. It would be great to enjoy your holiday together or having lunch on Sunday. These kinds of activities can fix your relationships with your mum and dad. I also suggest that you should share your feelings and worries with your parents; maybe they can give you some good ideas.

Hope my advice works. Let me know what happens.

Best wishes,

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68 Example Advice Letters, Guides and Samples

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How to Write a Letter Asking for Advice

Last Updated: May 19, 2023 References Approved

This article was co-authored by Kirsten Thompson, MD . Dr. Kirsten Thompson is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Clinical Instructor at UCLA, and the Founder of Remedy Psychiatry. She specializes in helping patients with mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum depression. Dr. Thompson holds a BS in Operations Research Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MD from The State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 502,310 times.

The need to ask for advice arises periodically throughout life. Looking for a job, navigating the world of relationships, dealing with bullies, or figuring out what to do about your first crush are just a few of the life circumstances that may lead you to ask others for advice. Asking for advice in writing is different from a face-to-face conversation because it means that you need to think things through carefully in advance, provide all necessary information and ask appropriate questions.

Sample Template

Composing the Letter

For example, if you're asking for parenting advice, you can say, “My name is Anna Smith and I'm a 36 year old mother of two daughters.” In this case, you don’t need to say what you do for a living unless you're asking how to raise children while also working full time.

If you're writing to someone you don’t know, briefly let them know how you found them. For example, “I was referred to you by [insert name of person], who thinks you might be able to help me.”

• ”I am writing to ask if you could help me with…”
• ”I would appreciate if you could give me some advice about…”
• ”I am writing to ask for your advice.”
• ”I wonder if you could help me with a problem.”

• This can help the advice giver know that you really need their help and that you’re not being lazy. It can also save time and effort because they won’t suggest something you’ve already tried.
• For example, if you'd like advice on how to deal with bullying at school, you could say, “There's a big problem with bullies at my school. How can I deal with them? How can I help stand up for someone who's being bullied? What can I do to make bullying happen less often?”

• Try to keep your letter between 300 and 400 words. This length will give you enough words to introduce yourself and your questions without over doing it.

• Remember: this person does not have to help you, and if they take time to read your letter, you owe them a thank you.
• For example, you could say, “Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I understand that you're a busy person, and any advice you offer would be greatly appreciated. If it's helpful, I'd be more than happy to discuss my questions over the phone or coffee. My contact details can be found at the end of this letter.”

Formatting Your Letter

• When writing to someone you don’t know, you should say: “Dear Mr./Ms. [the last name of the person your are writing to].”
• In a less formal letter, you could say, “Dear [the first name of the person].”
• Regardless of whom you're writing to, always begin with “Dear.”

• If you're handwriting the letter, print your name carefully a few lines below the valediction, then sign your name in between these spaces.
• If you're typing the letter, enter a few spaces between the valediction and your name, then print the letter out. Sign it by hand before sending it out.

• If you're hoping for a written response through the mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your letter. This way, the advice giver will only have to write their response and place it in the envelope provided before sending it back to you.

Choosing Who To Write To

• If you want to work as a nonfiction writer, write the names of accomplished writers, agents, or publishers that you could write to.
• Include the names of people you know personally and the names of people you don’t know as well, such as past teachers, former bosses or colleagues, well-known people from the area in which you are seeking advice, or even advice columnists.
• Don’t forget family members. People, such as your grandparents, have had many experiences in life. This makes them well-qualified to give advice. If you’re having trouble thinking of someone, go through your family members.
• You can write to famous people, but your chances of getting a response are small. If you get a response, it might be written by an intern or PR employee. The response may be generic and not address your needs specifically.

• For example, an advice giver may be able to connect you with specific resources or people, teach you how to do something, or provide a written response.
• Some people may have more connections and ways of getting you started on something than others. If you just want advice and nothing else, write to someone you know personally or to an advice column.

• For example, if you're looking for relationship advice, see if the person you want to write to has had education or experience working with couples before.
• Research can save you from wasting time. For example, different columnists often specialize in certain topics. Some focus on relationship advice while others might focus on practical life advice.

• For example, if you know the person you could say, “I know it's not your job to answer requests for advice; however, I believe you're the best person to help me. I'd be happy to offer you a home cooked meal in return for your time.”
• If you don’t know the person, you might offer to compensate them for their time, if you can afford to do so.

Community Q&A

• If you are sending your letter through snail mail, make sure to write the name and address of the recipient neatly on the envelope. You can also include your own name and address on the envelope in case it needs to be returned to you. Be sure to include adequate postage. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you are handwriting the letter, make sure that you do so in your neatest handwriting. A sloppy letter is unlikely to receive a reply. Consider typing the letter in a word processing program after you’ve written it to ensure that it looks as neat as possible. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you plan to send your letter via email, you can follow the same instructions as you would if you were sending it through the post. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Understand that in many cases you might not receive a reply, especially if you are writing to a very well-known person or an advice columnist who might receive hundreds of letters and emails every day asking for advice. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/letter-of-introduction
• ↑ https://www.letters.org/miscellaneous-letter/sample-letter-asking-for-an-advice.html
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-ask-for-career-advice-in-email/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-ask-for-career-advice-in-email
• ↑ https://nmu.edu/writingcenter/parts-business-letter
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-end-a-letter/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-ask-for-a-favor-in-a-formal-email
• ↑ https://today.duke.edu/2020/02/art-asking-favor

About This Article

To write a letter asking for advice, start by introducing yourself and the reason for your letter. Briefly describe the problem you’re having, as well as how you have attempted to solve it and why you are having trouble accomplishing the goal on your own. You should also write out 3-5 specific questions that the person can answer to help you solve your issue. Try to keep your letter between 300 and 400 words to increase your chances of getting a reply. Keep reading to learn how to format your letter. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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