IELTS Writing

Writing Task 1 — General Training

In General Training Task 1 you are given a situation and asked to write a letter. The letter can be formal, semi-formal or informal — the tone depends on who you are writing to. You have 20 minutes and must write at least 150 words. The three bullet points in the prompt tell you exactly what to cover.

How to write a Band 7+ letter

  1. 1 · Match the toneDecide formal, semi-formal or informal from who you're writing to. A stranger or company = formal; someone you know by name = semi-formal; a friend or family = informal. Keep that tone all the way through.
  2. 2 · Open correctlyUse the right greeting — Dear Sir/Madam (formal), Dear Mr Brown (semi-formal) or Dear Tom (informal) — then state your purpose for writing in the first line.
  3. 3 · Cover all three pointsGive each bullet point its own paragraph and develop it with a detail or example. Missing a bullet caps your score — answer every one fully.
  4. 4 · Close to matchEnd with the matching sign-off — Yours faithfully (no name), Yours sincerely (named) or Best wishes (informal). Tone of the closing must match the opening.

General Training letters are being added. Please check back soon.

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