Master IELTS Writing Task 1: General Training Letters

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 asks you to write a letter of at least 150 words in 20 minutes. You are given a situation and three bullet points that you must address. The examiner assesses your ability to adapt tone to purpose, cover all points fully, and write with clarity and accuracy.

These 5 tips focus on the decisions that matter most: identifying the correct tone, matching your vocabulary, and developing each bullet point evenly.

Determine the tone immediately.
Before writing a single word, identify the required tone from the situation. Formal tone is used for letters addressed to managers, companies, officials, or anyone you do not know personally. Semi-formal tone is for neighbours, colleagues, landlords, or people you know in a professional context. Informal tone is for close friends and family. The prompt will make the relationship clear — read it carefully. Using the wrong tone throughout your letter will significantly cap your Task Response score.
Match the vocabulary to the tone.
Formal letters do not allow contractions, require precise language and professional expressions ("I am writing to inform you", "I would appreciate it if", "Please do not hesitate to contact me"). Informal letters allow contractions ("I'm", "don't", "we've"), first names, colloquial expressions ("Just wanted to let you know", "Drop me a line", "Can't wait to see you"), and exclamation marks. Semi-formal tone sits between the two: polite but not stiff, with some formality but not overdone. Consistent tone throughout the letter is essential.
Develop all three bullet points evenly.
Dedicate one paragraph to each bullet point and develop them to approximately equal length. A common mistake is writing extensively about the first point and rushing through the second and third. The examiner checks that all three points are fully addressed with relevant details. You are expected to invent realistic details — names, dates, specific situations — to support your points. The content does not need to be true; it needs to be relevant and well developed.
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Paraphrase with confidence.
Do not change words you are unsure about. If the prompt says "complain about noise" and you are not confident in a synonym for "noise", keep the original word. It is always better to repeat a word from the prompt than to use an incorrect or forced replacement. Forced paraphrasing with wrong vocabulary hurts your Lexical Resource score more than simple repetition. Paraphrase only when you are confident the alternative word conveys the same meaning.
Proofread continuously — not just at the end.
Proofread three times during your writing: once after each sentence (quick scan for obvious errors), once after each paragraph (check flow and completeness), and once after the full letter (final scan for spelling, punctuation, and article errors). This layered approach catches mistakes at every stage rather than relying on a single rushed review at the end. Common errors that cost marks include missing articles (a/an/the), incorrect prepositions, and inconsistent tense usage.

Master IELTS Writing Task 1: General Training Letters

Determine the tone immediately.

Match the vocabulary to the tone.

Develop all three bullet points evenly.

Paraphrase with confidence.

Proofread continuously — not just at the end.

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