IELTS Writing Task 1 GT (General Training)

What Is IELTS Writing Task 1 (GT)?

In IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you are required to write a letter based on a given situation.

You will receive:

• A clear situation or problem
• The name or role of the person you must write to
• Three bullet points that must be addressed in your letter

You must write at least 150 words in approximately 20 minutes.

Task 1 accounts for one-third (30%) of your total Writing score, while Task 2 contributes the remaining two-thirds (70%).

Should You Start with Task 1 or Task 2?

Some candidates prefer to start with Task 2 because it carries more weight. However, this approach is not always advisable.

If you begin with Task 2 and struggle to generate ideas, you may waste valuable time. In contrast, Task 1 is generally more structured and predictable, making it an effective starting point.

After completing the receptive skills tests (Listening and Reading), Task 1 can also function as a mental transition into productive writing. It is typically less cognitively demanding than Task 2 and allows you to build writing momentum.

With sufficient practice, many candidates are able to complete Task 1 in fewer than 20 minutes, leaving additional time for Task 2. For this reason, it is recommended that candidates write around 160 words, which is sufficient to cover the task fully without spending unnecessary time on it.

A Strategic Approach (Recommended)

A highly efficient strategy is:

1. When the Writing paper begins, briefly read the Task 2 question (about one minute).
2. Identify the question type and understand the topic and instructions.
3. Then move to Task 1 and complete it within 20 minutes (or less).
4. Return to Task 2 with a clearer mental framework.

While you are completing Task 1, your brain may continue processing ideas for Task 2 in the background. This often leads to more structured and mature responses when you begin writing Task 2.

Standard 8-Part Structure 

A clear, predictable structure is essential in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1. The format below is widely used because it helps you cover the task logically and makes your letter easy to follow.

1. Greeting

2. Paragraph 1 – Purpose (why you are writing)

3. Paragraph 2 – Bullet Point 1

4. Paragraph 3 – Bullet Point 2

5. Paragraph 4 – Bullet Point 3

6. Final comment (optional: polite line to soften tone, if appropriate)

7. Sign-off

8. Name

This layout is examiner-friendly because it matches the task’s bullet-point design and creates clear paragraphing. You must write in “full paragraphs”. Writing in “note form” or “bullet points” will reduce your score.

What you do NOT need

In IELTS GT Task 1, you do not need to include:

• Addresses
• Dates

You are assessed on fulfilling the bullet points, tone, clarity, and organisation — not on formal letter layout conventions like postal formatting.)

What’s next

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to structure each paragraph professionally, including:

* how to write a sharp purpose line,

* how to develop each bullet point without repeating ideas,

* and how to end appropriately based on the tone (informal, semi-formal, formal).

Before learning how to structure each paragraph professionally, you must understand “how your letter is assessed”.

What Do IELTS Examiners Look For?

Many candidates focus only on structure and vocabulary, but examiners mark your writing according to four official criteria. If you understand these four areas clearly, every sentence you write becomes strategic.

Your Task 1 letter is assessed using four band descriptors, (each 25%):

1️⃣ Task Achievement (TA 25%)

2️⃣ Coherence & Cohesion (CC 25%)

3️⃣ Lexical Resource (LR 25%)

4️⃣ Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA 25%)

IELTS writing task 1 marking criteria

1️⃣ Task Achievement (TA)

Examiners check whether you:

• Appropriate tone (informal, semi-formal, formal)
• Fully address all three bullet points

* Respond clearly to the situation given

* Maintain a clear purpose throughout the letter

* Develop your ideas sufficiently —> each bullet must be covered + extended

Common problems:

• Missing one bullet point
• Not covering all elements within a bullet point (e.g., plurals or multiple requirements) 
• Inappropriate tone

* Writing irrelevant information

* Writing fewer than 150 words

* Repeating ideas without development

2️⃣ Coherence & Cohesion (CC)

This refers to organisation and logical flow.

Examiners evaluate:

* Clear paragraphing

* Logical progression of ideas

* Effective use of linking devices

* Clear referencing (e.g., pronouns used correctly)

Common problems:

* Writing the entire letter as one long paragraph

* Overuse of basic linkers (and, but, so)

• Poor logical sequencing of ideas
• Unclear or incorrect referencing

3️⃣ Lexical Resource (LR)

This assesses your vocabulary.

Examiners look for:

• Appropriate vocabulary for the situation 

* Accurate word choice

* Natural collocations

* Spelling accuracy

Common problems:

* Memorised phrases used incorrectly or unnaturally 

• Limited vocabulary range
• Repetitive words or overuse of fancy vocabulary 

* Spelling errors

4️⃣ Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA)

This refers to sentence structure and grammatical control.

Examiners assess:

• A variety of sentence types (simple, compound, complex)
• Accurate use of tenses
• Correct subject–verb agreement
• Correct use of articles and prepositions
• Accurate punctuation

Common problems:

* Frequent small grammar errors

* Repetitive sentence patterns

• Incorrect verb forms
• Punctuation errors

 IELTS Writing Task 1 GT Core Question Types

In IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training), you are required to write a letter based on a given situation.

Although task topics vary, almost all GT letters fall under three core communicative purposes: complaining, requesting, and explaining / informing. Recognising these core purposes helps you respond strategically and maintain control during the exam.

1️⃣ Complaining

You are dissatisfied and expect action to be taken.

Typical subtypes

• Complaint about a product
• Complaint about a service
• Complaint about accommodation problems
• Workplace complaint
• Public service complaint

Your objectives

• Describe the problem clearly
• Provide relevant details
• State what action you expect

Tone: Usually formal or semi-formal

Example situation: 

You recently bought a washing machine from a local store, but it stopped working after only two days.

Write a letter to the store manager. In your letter:

• describe the problem with the washing machine
• explain when and where you bought it
• say what action you would like the store to take

2️⃣ Requesting

You need something from the reader.

Typical subtypes

• Request → asking for help, action, permission, or a refund
• Enquiry → asking for information
• Application (job / course) → asking to be accepted
• Invitation → asking someone to attend an event
• Recommendation → asking someone to consider a person or idea

Your objectives

• Explain your situation clearly
• Ask clear and specific questions
• State your expectations

Tone: Can be formal, semi-formal, or occasionally informal

Example situation: 

You are planning to take a professional course at a training centre.

Write a letter to the course administrator. In your letter:

• ask for information about the course schedule
• enquire about the course fees
• ask whether accommodation is available for students

3️⃣ Explaining / Informing

You need to clarify, justify, apologise, or provide information.

Typical subtypes

• Explanation → clarifying a situation, giving updates, or expressing appreciation
• Arrangement → explaining or changing plans and logistics
• Apology → explaining a mistake and apologising
• Resignation → informing someone that you are leaving a job

Your objectives

• Provide background context
• Explain the situation logically
• Maintain an appropriate tone

Tone: Depends on the recipient.

Example situation: 

You recently missed an important meeting at work.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

• apologise for missing the meeting
• explain why you were unable to attend
• say what you will do to avoid this problem in the future

Strategic Insight

Almost every GT Task 1 question can be reduced to one of three purposes:

• You are unhappy → complain
• You need something → request
• You need to clarify something → explain

If you identify the core communicative purpose first, the tone, structure, and vocabulary become much easier to control.

Types of Letters (Tone Classification)

In IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, letters are classified based on your relationship with the reader.

The letter can be:

• Personal (Informal)
• Semi-formal
• Formal

Identifying the correct tone is essential for TA (Task Achievement) and LR (Lexical Resource).

1️⃣ Personal Letter

You are writing to someone you know well, such as:

• a friend
• a close family member

Tone:

• warm
• conversational
• natural
• contractions are acceptable

Language features:

• first names
• friendly expressions
• light emotional tone

Example situation:

You recently visited a friend in another city and stayed at their home.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

• thank your friend for their hospitality
• say what you enjoyed most about the visit
• invite your friend to visit you in the future

Example greeting:

Hi Sarah, / Dear Sarah

2️⃣ Semi-Formal Letter

You are writing to someone you know, but in a professional or serious context.

Examples:

• a colleague

• a former teacher

• a neighbour

• a manager you have met

Tone:

• polite

• respectful

• neutral

Language features:

• avoid slang

• contractions are better avoided

• balanced and controlled wording

Example situation:

You recently moved to a new neighbourhood and would like to organise a small meeting with your neighbours to discuss parking arrangements.

Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter:

• introduce yourself

• explain the parking issue in the area

• suggest a time to meet and discuss possible solutions

Example greeting:

Dear Ms Robson,

3️⃣ Formal Letter

You are writing to someone you do not know personally, or to an organisation in an official capacity.

Examples:

• a company

• a manager

• a council

• a university admissions office

• a scholarship committee

Tone:

• polite

• direct

• professional

• no contractions

• no informal expressions

Example situation:

You are interested in applying for a scholarship to study at a foreign university.

Write a letter to the scholarship committee. In your letter:

• explain which course you are interested in

• describe your academic background

• explain why you believe you should receive the scholarship

Example greetings:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Dear Hiring Manager,

Dear Ms Robson,

Important Reminder

Tone affects:

• Vocabulary choice
• Sentence structure
• Level of directness
• Sign-off style

If the tone is wrong, your score will drop — even if grammar is strong.

How to approach IELTS writing Task 1

Some candidates start writing their letter immediately after reading the question. This is one of the most common mistakes. To produce a clear and well-organised response, follow these three steps:

1. Plan your letter (2-3 minutes)
2. Write your letter (10-13 minutes)
3. Check your letter (3-4 minutes)

Planning Strategy (3 Simple Steps)

A short planning stage helps you produce a clearer and more relevant response. By planning first, you identify the purpose, tone, and key ideas of the letter before you begin writing. This allows you to organise your thoughts, structure your paragraphs more effectively, and write more smoothly without stopping to think about what to say next. As a result, planning helps you write faster and ensures that you cover all the required points.

Spend about 2–3 minutes planning before you start writing:

Step 1 – Identify the purpose 

• Read and understand the topic: What is happening? 
• Identify the purpose of the letter: Why you’re writing this letter? (to complain, to request, or to explain / inform)

Step 2 – Decide the tone

Identify who you are writing to?

• friend → informal

• colleague / neighbour → semi-formal

• company / manager / organisation → formal

Step 3 – Generate simple ideas

Identify the three bullet points in the question.

Each bullet point usually becomes one body paragraph.

Remember: you need clear ideas, not clever or complicated ideas.

Let’s practise.

Example situation: 

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

One of your colleagues is leaving for a new job, and your manager has asked you to arrange a farewell party for him/her.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter,

• suggest a suitable date and time for the party
• recommend a place
• discuss the food and entertainment options that should be available

Write at least 150 words. 

Have a look at the table below and try to plan your letter.

Now compare your plan with the following example.

Important

Your TA (Task Achievement) score will decrease if you do not cover all aspects of the bullet points.

For example:

• In bullet point 1, if you only mention the date but not the time, you miss part of the required information.
• In bullet point 3, the task asks for options (plural), so you should mention at least two items.

After planning and checking your ideas, you can start writing your letter.

Writing Strategy (8 Steps)

1️⃣ Beginning (Greeting)

Start your letter with a greeting that matches the tone of the letter. Always use a comma (,) after the greeting. 

Informal:

• Hi Sarah,
• Dear Sarah,

Semi-formal:

• Dear Ms Robson,
• Dear Dr Johnson,

Formal:

• Dear Sir or Madam,
• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear Ms Robson,

Common mistakes:

• Using Dear Ms Robson in informal letters.
• Using Dear Sarah in formal letters.
• Using Dear Sarah Robson in letters. This is not incorrect, but it is uncommon in standard English correspondence.

Note that American English usually uses a period (.) after titles, while British English does not.

Compare:

US: Dear Ms. Robson,

UK: Dear Ms Robson,

2️⃣ Opening (Purpose of the Letter)

After the greeting, start your letter by clearly stating the reason you are writing. This helps the reader immediately understand the purpose of the letter.

In IELTS Task 1, the opening sentence usually forms the first paragraph and briefly introduces the situation mentioned in the question. Do NOT start answering the bullet points yet.

Informal opening examples:

• I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay at your place last weekend.
• I’m writing to tell you about something interesting that happened yesterday.
• I’m writing to invite you to visit us next month.

Semi-formal opening examples:

• I am writing to discuss the farewell party for our colleague.
• I am writing to ask for your advice regarding a small issue at work.
• I am writing to inform you about a change in our meeting schedule.

Formal opening examples:

• I am writing to enquire about the training course advertised on your website.
• I am writing to complain about a problem with a product I recently purchased.
• I am writing to request further information about your services.

Tips for a strong opening:

• State the purpose of the letter clearly.
• Keep the sentence simple and direct.
• Do not repeat the entire question.
• Avoid long or complicated sentences.
• Do not start addressing the bullet points yet.

Avoid:

“I am writing this letter with regards to the scholarship programme …”

This expression is wordy and unnatural.

Correct form:

“I am writing regarding the scholarship programme …”

Note:

Avoid contractions such as “I’m”, “don’t”, or “can’t” in semi-formal and formal letters because they make the tone less formal. Use the full forms instead (I am, do not, cannot).

Example paragraph:

3️⃣ Body Paragraph 1 (First Bullet Point)

After the opening paragraph, start addressing the bullet points from the task. Each bullet point usually becomes one body paragraph.

In the second paragraph, focus only on the first bullet point.

Explain your idea clearly and provide enough detail so the reader understands your suggestion.

Example task (first bullet point):

suggest a suitable date and time for the party: 

Date: Friday, 2 weeks from now → no conflict with work commitments 

Time: 18:30 → enough time to wrap up their work 

Example paragraph:

Tips:

• Focus only on the first bullet point in this paragraph.
• Provide clear and relevant details based on your plan.
• Do not mention ideas from the other bullet points yet.
• Two sentences are usually enough.

4️⃣ Body Paragraph 2 (Second Bullet Point)

In the third paragraph, address the second bullet point from the task. Clearly present your suggestion and give a brief reason to support it.

Example task (second bullet point):

recommend a place: 

a nearby restaurant, private room available, relaxed atmosphere, easy for colleagues to reach, i.e Peter’s 

Example paragraph:

Tips:

• Focus only on the second bullet point in this paragraph.

• Provide a clear recommendation based on your plan.

• Add one or two reasons to support your choice.

• Keep the paragraph concise and relevant.

5️⃣ Body Paragraph 3 (Third Bullet Point)

In the fourth paragraph, address the third bullet point from the task. Present your ideas clearly and include enough detail to explain your suggestion.

Example task (third bullet point):

discuss the food and entertainment options that should be available:

Food: buffet-style dinner, variety of dishes

Entertainment: short speeches from colleagues, slideshow of photos or memories

Example paragraph:

Tips:

• Focus only on the third bullet point in this paragraph.

• Mention more than one option if the question uses plural forms (e.g., “options”).

• Provide clear and relevant details.

• Keep the paragraph concise and well organised.

6️⃣ Final Comment (Closing Sentence)

After addressing all three bullet points, end your letter with a short closing sentence. This sentence helps bring the letter to a natural conclusion.

You may use the final comment to:

• ask for confirmation

• express hope for a reply

• offer to take the next step

Example closing sentences:

Informal:

• Let me know what you think.

• I hope to hear from you soon.

• Let me know if that sounds good to you.

Semi-formal / formal:

• Please let me know if these suggestions are suitable.

• I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these arrangements.

• Please let me know if you would like me to proceed with these plans.

Tips:

• Keep the closing sentence short and polite.

• Do not introduce new ideas at this stage.

• The purpose is simply to conclude the letter naturally.

Note:

“I look forward to hearing from you.” is formal. Do not use it in informal letters.

Example paragraph:

7️⃣ Sign-off (Closing)

After the final comment, end your letter with an appropriate sign-off. The sign-off must match the tone of the letter.

Formal:

• Yours faithfully,

• Yours sincerely,

Rule:

Use Yours faithfully when you start with Dear Sir or Madam.

Use Yours sincerely when you know the person’s name.

Examples:

Dear Sir or Madam,                                                                    Dear Ms Robson,

…                                                                                                …

Yours faithfully,                                                                          Yours sincerely,

Note that he first word is capitalised.

Correct:
Yours sincerely,
Yours faithfully,

Not recommended:
yours sincerely,
yours faithfully,

Semi-formal:

• Kind regards,

• Best regards,

Example:

Dear Ms Johnson,

…

Kind regards,

Informal:

• Best wishes,

• Take care,

• See you soon,
• Love

Example:

Dear Sarah,

…

Best wishes,

Tips:

• Always put a comma after the sign-off.

• Write your name on the next line.

• Match the sign-off to the tone of the letter. If you start with:

Dear Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully

Dear Ms Robson → Yours sincerely

Dear Sarah → Best wishes / Kind regards

Never mix formal greeting with informal closing.

Note:

“Best regards,” is commonly used in semi-formal and formal correspondence. Do not use it in informal letters.

Example:

8️⃣ Your Name

After the sign-off, write your name on the next line.

In IELTS Writing Task 1, the name itself is not assessed. However, it is good practice to keep the tone of the letter consistent from beginning to end.

Examples:

Formal:

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Robson

Semi-formal:

Kind regards,

Sarah

Informal:

Best wishes,

Maria

Tips:

• Write your name on a new line after the sign-off.

• Match the name format to the tone of the letter.

• Do not include titles such as Mr, Ms, or Dr before your name.

Example: 

Final Checklist Before Submitting

After finishing this task and before moving to Task 2, read your letter carefully and check the following:

• I clearly stated my purpose in the opening paragraph.
• I covered all bullet points and all their aspects (i.e. plurals).
• The tone is consistent throughout the letter.
• The letter is over 150 words.
• I checked and corrected my language errors (grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word choice).
• I paraphrased or replaced repeated vocabulary.

Look at what we’ve done!

Task:

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

One of your colleagues is leaving for a new job, and your manager has asked you to arrange a farewell party for him/her.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter,

• suggest a suitable date and time for the party
• recommend a place
• discuss the food and entertainment options that should be available

Write at least 150 words. 

Sample Letter (Band 9 Model – 157 words): 

Dear Ms Robson,

I am writing to discuss the arrangements for our colleague’s farewell party as you requested.

I suggest holding the farewell party on Friday evening, two weeks from now. Starting the event at around 6:30 pm would allow everyone enough time to finish their work and join the celebration without rushing.

I recommend holding the party at a nearby restaurant, such as Peter’s, which has a private room available for small events. The relaxed atmosphere and convenient location would make it easy for colleagues to attend and enjoy the evening.

Regarding food and entertainment, I suggest organising a buffet-style dinner with a variety of dishes so that everyone can find something they enjoy. We could also include a short slideshow of memorable moments and a few farewell speeches to make the event more meaningful.

Please let me know if these suggestions are suitable, and I will proceed with the arrangements accordingly.

Best regards,

Alex Smith

Do not forget to practise IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 and get feedback from a professional tutor who can identify your strengths and areas for improvement.

Thank you for studying this lesson. If you have any questions about IELTS Writing Task 1, feel free to leave a comment below.