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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 asks you to write a letter of at least 150 words, in about 20 minutes, in response to a situation, covering the three points the task gives you. Whether the letter should be formal, semi-formal or informal depends on who you’re writing to, and the examiner checks that your tone fits.
This guide explains the format, the three letter types, a structure that works for all of them, and three full sample letters (formal, semi-formal and informal) with notes on why each one works. The samples are written for study; they’re not official IELTS answers.
Write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes that covers all three points in the task. The reader decides the tone: formal for a company or official you don’t know, semi-formal for someone you know a little (such as a landlord), informal for a friend. You don’t need to write any addresses.
What Is IELTS General Training Writing Task 1?
You’re given a situation and asked to write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. Write the whole letter in connected sentences, not notes or bullet points, and answer the task you’re given: a memorised letter that doesn’t fit the situation leaves the task unanswered. On computer, you type the letter on screen. See the official General Training Writing format.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | A letter responding to a given situation |
| Minimum length | 150 words |
| Time | About 20 minutes |
| Weighting | About a third of your Writing band |
| Written as | A full letter, never notes or bullet points |
The task always gives you three points to cover. Cover all three, fully.
The Three Letter Types
The person you’re writing to, and why, decide the tone. Read the task carefully: it always makes the relationship clear.
| Type | Who you’re writing to | Example situations |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Someone you don’t know personally, in an official role | A company, a local council, an unnamed manager or official |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know, but not closely | A landlord, a named manager, a neighbour, a colleague |
| Informal | Someone you know well | A friend, a family member |
Choose the tone first, then keep it all the way through.
In British letter writing, “Dear Sir or Madam” goes with “Yours faithfully”, and a named greeting such as “Dear Mr Ahmed” goes with “Yours sincerely” (or “Best regards” for a semi-formal letter). For a friend, “Dear Bilal” or “Hi Bilal” with “Best wishes” or “Take care” fits. Whatever you choose, keep the greeting, the sign-off and the tone consistent.
The IELTS instructions say you don’t need to write any addresses, so start straight with the greeting.
A Letter Structure That Works
This structure fits all three letter types. Adapt it to the task, but keep each of the three points easy for the reader to find.
Spend 2–3 minutes planning before you write: decide the tone, then note one specific detail for each of the three points. Specific details (a date, a reference number, a place) make a letter convincing and easy to develop past 150 words.
Sample Letter: Formal
Task
You recently ordered a product online that arrived damaged. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: describe what you ordered and when, explain the problem with the item, and say what you would like the company to do.
Sample Answer Formal Register
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to raise a concern regarding an order I placed with your company on 3 September. The item in question was a ceramic table lamp, ordered under reference number OD-48213.
Upon delivery, I discovered that the base of the lamp was cracked and the wiring appeared to have come loose during transit, making the item unusable and unsafe to plug in. The outer box was also badly torn, which suggests that the parcel was not handled with sufficient care. I have attached photographs showing the damage clearly.
I would be grateful if you could arrange a full refund or send a replacement item at your earliest convenience, along with confirmation of how the damaged product should be returned. If you send a replacement, I would ask that it be packed more securely. Given that this was a gift intended for a family occasion, I would appreciate a prompt response.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
Sample Letter: Semi-Formal
Task
You rent an apartment and there has been a persistent problem with the heating. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: describe the problem, explain how it has affected you, and say what action you would like the landlord to take.
Sample Answer Semi-Formal Register
Dear Mr Ahmed,
I hope you are keeping well. I am writing to let you know about an ongoing issue with the heating system in the apartment, which I believe needs your attention.
For the past two weeks, the heating has been switching off intermittently, particularly in the evenings, and it now takes considerably longer than usual to warm the flat. On several occasions it has not come on at all until the following morning. I have tried resetting the thermostat, as described in the instructions, but this has made no difference.
This has made the evenings quite uncomfortable, especially given how cold it has been recently, and I am concerned it may get worse as winter continues. I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a technician to inspect the system as soon as possible.
Please let me know a convenient time for someone to visit. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Why This Works
- Semi-formal tone strikes the middle ground — polite and respectful, “I hope you are keeping well”, but without the stiffness of a stranger-to-company letter.
- The problem is described with specific, credible detail — “the past two weeks”, “particularly in the evenings” — rather than a vague complaint.
- At about 160 words, it’s safely over the 150-word minimum.
- The impact bullet point is addressed directly: “made the evenings quite uncomfortable” connects the problem to a real effect, which many candidates skip.
- “Best regards” is an appropriate semi-formal sign-off — less rigid than “Yours faithfully” but still respectful for a landlord relationship.
Sample Letter: Informal
Task
You have recently started a new job in a different city. Write a letter to a friend. In your letter: explain why you moved, describe what the new job is like, and invite your friend to visit you.
Sample Answer Informal Register
Hey Bilal,
I know it’s been way too long since we last caught up — sorry about that! Things have been a bit hectic lately because I actually moved to Lahore last month for a new job. I’d been wanting a change from Karachi for a while, and this opportunity came up at the right time, so I just went for it.
The job itself has been great so far. I’m working as a UX designer for a fintech startup, and the pace is honestly a lot faster than my old job, but in a good way — I feel like I’m learning something new every single day. The team is really friendly too, which has made settling in so much easier.
Anyway, I’ve got a spare room now and I’d love for you to come visit whenever you get the chance. We could check out some of the food streets here — you know how much I’ve been going on about the karahi at this one place near my flat!
Let me know if you’re free sometime next month. Miss you, take care!
[Your Name]
Why This Works
- Genuinely informal register throughout — contractions (“it’s”, “I’d”, “I’m”), casual phrasing (“went for it”, “a bit hectic”), and no stiff formal vocabulary anywhere.
- All three bullet points covered naturally within a conversational flow, rather than feeling like a checklist.
- Specific, personal detail — the job title, the city, the karahi reference — makes the letter sound like a real message to a real friend.
- The sign-off “Miss you, take care!” matches the warmth appropriate to a close friendship — a formal sign-off here would feel completely wrong for the register.
How IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 Is Scored
Task 1 is marked on the same four criteria as every IELTS Writing task, each worth a quarter of the task score. See the official Writing band descriptors.
| Criterion | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement | Are all three points covered? Is the tone consistent and right for the reader? Is the letter at least 150 words? |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Is the letter organised into clear paragraphs, with ideas linked logically? |
| Lexical Resource | Is the vocabulary varied, accurate and right for the register? |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Is there a mix of simple and complex sentences, mostly without errors? |
What the examiner checks in a General Training letter.
Common Mistakes with Tone and Register
A formal greeting followed by chatty sentences, or a friendly letter full of stiff phrases, makes the tone inconsistent. Decide the register before you start, and check every paragraph against it.
“Yours faithfully” after “Dear Mr Ahmed” breaks the usual British convention. Match them: “Dear Sir or Madam” with “Yours faithfully”, and a name with “Yours sincerely”.
The task needs a real letter in connected sentences. Notes or bullet points don’t show the writing the examiner is marking, so explain each point in full sentences.
A familiar opening or closing phrase is useful, but a memorised letter that doesn’t answer this situation leaves the task’s points uncovered. Build your letter around the three points you’re actually given.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why This Works