IELTS General Training Writing Task 1

You write a letter responding to an everyday situation. The prompt identifies the reader and gives three bullet points to cover. Your letter needs a clear purpose, relevant details and a style appropriate to the relationship. It may be formal, semi-formal or informal.

Write at least 150 words. Develop all three bullet points sufficiently to achieve the letter’s purpose. A longer letter is not automatically better: avoid unrelated background and repetition. Leave enough time to check that the reader can understand the situation and any action you want them to take.

Allow about 20 minutes to read, plan, write and check. The full Writing test lasts 60 minutes, and Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1. Practise managing the letter as a complete task within its share of the time.

Yes. Read each bullet carefully because one point may contain more than one requirement. Make a brief plan so every requested detail has a place. Develop the points in connected paragraphs; the bullet format in the question does not mean you should submit a bulleted answer.

Use the recipient and situation to decide. A letter to a friend can sound personal, while a letter to an unfamiliar organisation needs a more formal style. A familiar person in a professional context may call for a semi-formal tone. Keep that relationship consistent throughout the letter.

Use an appropriate greeting, then make the reason for writing clear. The reader should quickly understand whether you are asking for information, explaining a problem, making arrangements or responding to another situation. Match the opening to the relationship rather than using the same memorised sentence for every letter.

Finish in a way that fits the purpose and tone. You might confirm an arrangement, request a response or express thanks, followed by a suitable sign-off. Check that the ending follows naturally from the body and does not introduce an unrelated request.

No. You do not need to put addresses at the top of your IELTS letter. Spend the available time on the greeting, clear purpose, complete coverage of the three bullet points and an appropriate closing. Use paragraphs to make the letter easy to follow.

One paragraph per bullet can be a useful planning approach, but it is not a fixed rule. Group the information so the letter progresses logically and each request is easy to locate. Some points need more development than others; a rigid layout should not cause incomplete coverage.

You can supply plausible details that help you fulfil the prompt, such as a date, a problem or an arrangement. Keep them consistent with the situation and reader. You do not need an elaborate story, and extra details should not crowd out information specifically requested in the bullet points.

Explain the relevant situation, identify the problem or need, and make the desired action clear. Use a tone suitable for the reader. Specific details can help the recipient understand what happened and what would resolve it; repeated expressions of dissatisfaction alone do not achieve that purpose.

A flexible structure can help you plan, and useful greetings and sign-offs are worth practising. However, fixed passages may be inappropriate for a new recipient or situation. Build the letter around the actual purpose and bullet points, with language you can use accurately.

The four criteria are Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. They cover how well the letter fulfils its purpose, how clearly it is organised, and the range and control of vocabulary and grammar. Appropriate tone and complete bullet-point coverage are central to the task.

Check the recipient, purpose and all three bullet points. Make sure requests are clear and that names, dates and other details agree throughout the letter. Review the greeting and sign-off for tone, then check paragraphing, grammar and spelling. Confirm that the response meets the minimum word requirement.

Rotate between formal, semi-formal and informal situations. Practise an opening or a single developed bullet point, then write a full timed letter. After reviewing a response, rewrite one passage to make its purpose clearer or its tone more appropriate before trying another prompt.

Select Task 1 General, type or paste the situation and all three bullet points, then write your letter. The word counter and timer help you practise under timed conditions. Submitting for estimated feedback requires scoring access on your account; the result is practice guidance rather than an official IELTS score.