IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training: tips and strategy

Write a letter addressing three bullet points. 150 words min.

Writing

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 is a letter written in response to an everyday situation, such as a complaint, request or apology. Examiners check that your purpose is clear, every bullet is covered in enough detail, and your tone suits the reader throughout. This guide gives an original letter task with a model opening, and answers common questions about addresses, length and marking.

What you see on screen

You see a situation with three bullet points and type a letter of at least 150 words into the response box. The on-screen counter tracks your length live.

How it is marked

Worth one third of the writing score; covering all three bullets in a consistent, suitable tone drives task achievement. Register slips cost marks.

How long to spend

You have 60 minutes for the whole Writing test: spend about 20 minutes on this letter and 40 on the Task 2 essay, which is worth twice as much. The letter must be at least 150 words; there is no maximum, but writing under 150 words is penalised.

Strategy

Fix the tone first: formal for officials, semi-formal for acquaintances, informal for close friends, then hold it.
Give each bullet its own paragraph so the examiner can tick all three off at a glance.
Invent plausible details freely; nothing is fact-checked, only coverage and language quality.
Pair openers and closers correctly: 'Dear Sir or Madam' with 'Yours faithfully', never 'Cheers'.

Traps that cost marks

Skipping or skimping one bullet cuts task achievement no matter how polished the English is.
Mixing registers, like slang inside a formal complaint, breaks the consistency examiners mark.

Worked example

A storm has damaged the wooden fence between your garden and your neighbour's garden. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: describe the damage; explain why the fence needs repairing soon; suggest how the cost and work could be shared.

Write a letter of at least 150 words in a suitable semi-formal tone, covering all three bullet points. You do not need to write any addresses.

Answer: Dear Mr Patel, I hope you and your family are well. I'm writing about the fence between our gardens, which was badly damaged in Sunday night's storm. Two of the panels near the shed have blown out completely, and the post beside your apple tree is now leaning quite sharply towards my side. I'd be grateful if we could sort this out fairly quickly. My dog has already slipped through the gap twice this week, and I'm worried that the leaning post could fall onto your greenhouse if we get more strong winds.

The opening line states the purpose immediately, and the first two bullets are each handled in their own paragraph with specific, invented details, which supports Task Achievement. The semi-formal register is consistent: polite forms like 'I'd be grateful if' sit comfortably with friendly contractions for a neighbour. Precise vocabulary such as 'panels', 'blown out' and 'leaning quite sharply' and accurate complex sentences support lexical resource and grammatical range.

An original example written for this guide, not taken from a published test.

Questions candidates ask

Do I need to write addresses or a date in the letter?: No. You are not asked to include your address, the recipient's address or a date, and they earn no marks. Start directly with a suitable greeting, such as 'Dear Mr Patel' or 'Dear Sir or Madam', and finish with an appropriate closing and your name. Adding addresses only uses time that would be better spent developing the three bullet points.
Can I write more than 150 words in General Training Task 1?: Yes. 150 words is a minimum, not a limit, and there is no maximum. Writing under 150 words is penalised, but going over is not. The practical limit is time: a letter that runs far beyond about 200 words usually eats into the 40 minutes you need for Task 2, which carries double the weight.
Is General Training Task 1 marked differently from Academic Task 1?: Both are marked on the same four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The difference lies in what Task Achievement looks for. In General Training, examiners check that the letter's purpose is clear, all three bullets are covered and extended, and the tone suits the reader and situation consistently.

See it done: sample answers at band 6.5, 7.5 and 9, grouped by question type.

Now try it under exam conditions.

Practise Writing Task 1 General Training

Strategy

Fix the tone first: formal for officials, semi-formal for acquaintances, informal for close friends, then hold it.

Give each bullet its own paragraph so the examiner can tick all three off at a glance.

Invent plausible details freely; nothing is fact-checked, only coverage and language quality.

Pair openers and closers correctly: 'Dear Sir or Madam' with 'Yours faithfully', never 'Cheers'.

Worked example

Write a letter of at least 150 words in a suitable semi-formal tone, covering all three bullet points. You do not need to write any addresses.

An original example written for this guide, not taken from a published test.

Questions candidates ask

Do I need to write addresses or a date in the letter?

No. You are not asked to include your address, the recipient's address or a date, and they earn no marks. Start directly with a suitable greeting, such as 'Dear Mr Patel' or 'Dear Sir or Madam', and finish with an appropriate closing and your name. Adding addresses only uses time that would be better spent developing the three bullet points.

Can I write more than 150 words in General Training Task 1?

Yes. 150 words is a minimum, not a limit, and there is no maximum. Writing under 150 words is penalised, but going over is not. The practical limit is time: a letter that runs far beyond about 200 words usually eats into the 40 minutes you need for Task 2, which carries double the weight.

Is General Training Task 1 marked differently from Academic Task 1?

Both are marked on the same four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The difference lies in what Task Achievement looks for. In General Training, examiners check that the letter's purpose is clear, all three bullets are covered and extended, and the tone suits the reader and situation consistently.