In IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1 is a letter. You have about 20 minutes to write at least 150 words. The task gives you a situation and three bullet points, and the examiner checks that you cover all three, in the right tone, in a proper letter format.
Step 1: decide the tone (in 10 seconds)
| Who are you writing to? | Tone | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Someone you don't know (a company, a landlord's agent, a council) | Formal | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| Someone you know in a work or official role (your manager, a teacher) | Semi-formal | Dear Mr Lee, | Yours sincerely, / Kind regards, |
| A friend or family member | Informal | Dear Sam, / Hi Sam, | Best wishes, / See you soon, |
The task usually tells you how to begin (for example "Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,"). Follow it exactly. Do not write your address or the date; they are not needed.
Step 2: plan one paragraph per bullet point
- Opening (1–2 sentences): say why you are writing.
- Bullet 1, bullet 2, bullet 3: one short paragraph each, with one or two details. Invent sensible details; nobody checks if they are true.
- Closing (1 sentence): what you want to happen next, then the sign-off and your name.
The most common mistake: missing or rushing one bullet point. If a bullet asks you to explain, describe or suggest, do exactly that, with a reason.
Sample question
You recently bought a coffee machine from an online store, but it stopped working after a week.
Write a letter to the store. In your letter:
- give details of what you bought
- explain what the problem is
- say what you would like the store to do
Write at least 150 words. Begin your letter: Dear Sir or Madam,
Sample formal letter (about 160 words)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to complain about a coffee machine I bought from your website and to ask you to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
On 3 March I ordered a Barista Pro coffee machine, order number 48213, for $249. It was delivered two days later and, at first, it worked well.
Unfortunately, after only one week the machine stopped heating the water. It now makes a loud noise when I switch it on, but the coffee comes out cold. I have followed every step in the instruction manual, including cleaning the water tank, but the problem has not improved.
As the machine is clearly faulty, I would be grateful if you could arrange for it to be collected and send me a replacement. If a replacement is not available, I would like a full refund to my original payment card.
I look forward to hearing from you within the next few days.
Yours faithfully,
Maria Santos
Written by BandIQ as a teaching example. Notice the opening purpose, one paragraph per bullet point, specific details (date, order number, price) and a polite, firm request.
Useful phrases by tone
| Purpose | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | I am writing to enquire about / complain about… | Thanks so much for your message. I'm writing to tell you… |
| Asking | I would be grateful if you could… | Could you…? / Would you mind…? |
| Apologising | I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. | Sorry I couldn't make it on Saturday. |
| Suggesting | I would suggest that… | Why don't we…? / How about…? |
| Closing | I look forward to hearing from you. | Can't wait to see you. / Write back soon! |
How the letter is marked
Task 1 is marked on four criteria: Task Achievement (all three bullets covered, clear purpose, right tone), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, so keep to about 20 minutes and leave 40 for the essay. You can check your Task 2 essay with the free BandIQ Band Check.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?
At least 150 words. Around 160 to 190 is a good target; much longer letters take time away from Task 2.
Do I need to write an address or date in the IELTS letter?
No. Start with the greeting (for example 'Dear Sir or Madam,') and end with a sign-off and your name.
What if I don't know the person's name in a formal letter?
Use 'Dear Sir or Madam,' and finish with 'Yours faithfully,'. If you use a name, finish with 'Yours sincerely,'.
Is the letter in IELTS Academic too?
No. Academic Writing Task 1 is a description of a chart, table, map or process. The letter is only in General Training.