IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 – FAQ

This FAQ answers the most common questions about IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 (Letters). It is written in clear, practical English for learners, teachers, and test-takers who want reliable guidance they can apply immediately.

1) What exactly do I need to do in Task 1?

You will write a letter of at least 150 words based on a situation. The prompt gives a recipient and three bullet points. Your job is to address all three points, use an appropriate tone (formal, semi-formal, or informal), and organize the letter logically with a greeting, short introduction, two or three body paragraphs, and a closing and sign‑off. Aim to finish in about 20 minutes so you have enough time for Task 2.

2) How do I decide the right tone?

Identify the relationship with the recipient. If you do not know the person or it is an official role (manager, landlord, HR), use a formal tone with polite, precise language and no contractions. For acquaintances such as neighbors or teachers you know, a semi-formal tone works—polite but slightly warmer. For friends or family, use an informal tone with natural, conversational expressions and contractions. Matching tone to audience is essential for higher band scores.

3) What greeting and sign-off should I use?

For formal letters when you do not know the person’s name, use “Dear Sir/Madam,” and close with “Yours faithfully,” followed by your name. If you know the name (e.g., “Dear Mr. Smith,”), close with “Yours sincerely,” or “Sincerely,”. In semi-formal letters, “Dear Ms. Chen,” and “Best regards,” are safe. For informal letters, “Hi Anna,” and “Best,” or “Take care,” are natural choices.

4) How many paragraphs should my letter have?

Use four to five parts: (1) greeting, (2) a short opening sentence stating purpose, (3) one or two body paragraphs that develop the bullet points with specific details, and (4) a closing sentence plus sign-off. Many candidates write three body paragraphs (one per bullet) to keep the structure clean and ensure full coverage.

5) How can I make sure I cover all three bullet points?

Underline or number the bullets. Plan one to two sentences for each before you start. As you draft, mirror key words from the bullet in your topic sentence so you do not drift away. Finally, do a quick check at the end: if one bullet is underdeveloped, add a clarifying sentence or example.

6) What word count is ideal?

The minimum is 150 words. Writing 170–200 words is a safe range: long enough to fully address the bullets but short enough to manage time and accuracy. Going far beyond 220 words can create grammar mistakes and reduce time for proofreading.

7) What grammar and vocabulary help me reach Band 7 or higher?

Use a mix of simple and complex sentences (because, although, which, who, if, so that). Include polite modals in formal letters (could, would, might) and accurate conditionals when making requests or explaining consequences. Vary your vocabulary with precise nouns and verbs (refund, accommodation, itinerary, allocate, reschedule) and avoid repeating the same words from the prompt. Keep collocations natural (“raise a concern,” “request additional information,” “extend an invitation”). Accuracy matters as much as range.

8) Should I use contractions?

Use contractions in informal letters (I’m, can’t, don’t) to sound natural. Avoid them in formal contexts. In semi-formal letters, contractions are optional; many candidates prefer to avoid them to stay safely neutral.

9) How do I show a clear purpose at the start?

Open with one sentence that states why you are writing and gently signals your tone. Examples: formal—“I am writing to express concern regarding the maintenance issue in my apartment.” Semi-formal—“I’m writing to ask whether the community hall is available next Saturday.” Informal—“I just wanted to tell you about my new job and ask your advice.” This helps the examiner see task awareness immediately.

10) What kind of details should I include?

Add realistic, concise details that directly support each bullet: dates, times, locations, short examples, brief descriptions, or simple data (room 412, 10 May, two-hour delay). Avoid long stories or invented statistics. Your details should make the letter credible without drifting off-topic.

11) How can I manage time effectively?

Spend up to 3 minutes planning: decide tone, list one or two points per bullet, and note your greeting/closing. Write for about 14 minutes. Reserve 2–3 minutes to check word count, fix obvious grammar or spelling errors, and confirm that you addressed all bullets. A small proofreading pass often prevents losing easy points.

12) What are the most common mistakes?

The big ones are: mismatched tone (too casual to a manager), forgetting one bullet, weak or missing purpose statement, overlong paragraphs without topic sentences, and incorrect sign-offs (e.g., “Yours faithfully” when you used a name). Other frequent issues are repetition, vague language, and excessive wordiness that hides the main message.

13) Do I need addresses, dates, or subject lines?

No, IELTS does not require postal addresses or subject lines. A clear greeting and sign-off are enough. Do, however, mention dates or times in the body when they are part of your explanation or request, because such details improve realism and task achievement.

14) How should I handle requests, complaints, and explanations?

For requests, be polite and specific: state exactly what you want, by when, and why. For complaints, be factual and calm: describe the issue, its impact, what you already tried, and your preferred resolution. For explanations, give a short reason with a relevant example, then propose a next step or offer to provide more information. This structure keeps your letter solution-focused.

15) What vocabulary is useful for each tone?

Formal: “I would appreciate it if…,” “I am writing to request…,” “I regret to inform you…,” “I would be grateful for…,” “I look forward to your response.” Semi-formal: “I’m writing to ask whether…,” “Would it be possible to…?,” “Please let me know if…”. Informal: “Just a quick note to…,” “I’m so excited to tell you…,” “Could you do me a favor and…?” Keep collocations natural and avoid slang in formal letters.

16) How is the letter scored?

Examiners use four criteria: Task Achievement (covering all bullets and purpose), Coherence and Cohesion (clear organization and linking), Lexical Resource (range and precision of vocabulary), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (varied structures with few errors). Each criterion is equally weighted. Balance range with accuracy: it is better to write slightly simpler but correct sentences than complex ones with frequent mistakes.

17) Can I reuse memorized templates?

Memorized openings like “I am writing to…” are fine. However, entire memorized paragraphs are risky: they often fail to fit the bullets and sound unnatural. Use flexible frames (purpose sentence, per‑bullet topic sentences, polite closing) and adapt language to the prompt so the content feels specific and authentic.

18) What does a strong closing include?

Summarize the desired outcome, suggest a next step, and end politely. Examples: formal—“I would appreciate your confirmation by 12 June so I can finalize my travel plans.” Semi-formal—“Please let me know if Saturday afternoon works, and I’ll arrange the booking.” Informal—“Text me when you’ve got time this weekend so we can plan.” Then add the appropriate sign‑off and your name.

19) How can I practice effectively?

Keep a rotation of scenarios: complaints, requests, invitations, explanations, apologies, and updates. Time yourself for 20 minutes. After writing, check: tone match, all bullets covered, clear topic sentences, and one specific detail per bullet. Build a personal bank of useful phrases for each tone. Review with a friend or teacher and rewrite weak paragraphs until they are concise and direct.

20) Any quick checklist before I finish?

• Greeting and sign-off match the tone.
• Purpose stated in the first two sentences.
• Each bullet addressed with specific, relevant detail.
• Logical paragraphs with clear topic sentences.
• Consistent tone (contractions only if informal).
• Polite, solution-focused closing line.
• 150+ words, minimal spelling and grammar errors.

If you apply this FAQ as a pre-writing and post-writing guide, you will reliably meet the task requirements, control tone, and present a letter that is easy to follow—key ingredients for a higher band score.