How do you write an IELTS General Training Task 1 letter?
The short answer
General Training Task 1 gives you a situation, tells you who to write to, and lists three bullet points that all must be covered, in at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The recipient decides the tone: formal to someone you do not know (a manager, a company, an official), semi-formal to someone you know in a professional role (a landlord, a teacher), informal to a friend or relative. A good letter opens with a greeting that matches the tone, states its purpose in the first sentence, gives one short paragraph per bullet with a specific detail in each, and closes with a matching sign-off. The two errors that cap the score are a bullet covered in one line, and a tone that switches halfway, which is common when a candidate writes a formal complaint and ends "lots of love".
How do you read the prompt?
Every prompt has three parts: the situation (what happened and who you are), the recipient (who the letter is to), and three bullets beginning "In your letter". Underline the recipient first, because it sets the tone, then number the bullets, because each one is a paragraph and each one is marked.
All three bullets, developed
The Task Achievement descriptor for band 7 requires all bullet points covered and highlighted. A bullet covered in a single sentence, or one that is missing because it seemed less important, is the most common cause of a 6. Each bullet needs a specific detail: a date, a name, an amount, a reason.
How do you choose the tone?
| Tone | Recipient | Opening | Closing | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | A company, an official, a manager you have not met, "the editor" | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr Khan, | Yours faithfully, (no name) / Yours sincerely, (named) | No contractions, no slang, full sentences, polite requests ("I would be grateful if"). |
| Semi-formal | A landlord, a teacher, a colleague, a neighbour you know by name | Dear Mrs Ahmed, | Kind regards, / Best wishes, | Polite but warmer. Contractions acceptable. Some personal detail. |
| Informal | A friend, a relative | Dear Sana, / Hi Ali, | Love, / Take care, / See you soon, | Contractions, idioms, exclamation where natural, personal news. Still organised into paragraphs. |
- Yours faithfully after Dear Sir or Madam; Yours sincerely after a name. The pair is a marker examiners notice.
- Do not mix. A formal letter with "I'm writing to" and "Cheers" has switched register, which is a Lexical Resource error as well as a Task Achievement one.
- Informal does not mean careless. Grammar and paragraphing are marked the same way in every tone.
What is the structure of a good letter?
Greeting
Matched to the tone. One line.
Purpose, in the first sentence
"I am writing to complain about the washing machine I bought from your store on 4 May." or "It's been ages since we spoke, and I wanted to tell you about the new job." The examiner should know why the letter exists before the second sentence.
Bullet 1, one paragraph
Answer it with a specific detail. If the bullet says "describe the problem", describe one problem precisely, with when and what.
Bullet 2, one paragraph
The same. If it says "explain what you have done", say what, when and with what result.
Bullet 3, one paragraph
Often the request or the outcome you want. Be exact: a refund of the amount, a repair by a date, a reply by phone.
Closing line and sign-off
One sentence that suits the tone ("I look forward to your reply" / "Write back soon"), then the closing and your name. First name only for informal; full name for formal.
A complete formal complaint with every bullet developed and each criterion annotated is at letter of complaint about a faulty product.
What language fits each purpose?
| Purpose | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Stating purpose | I am writing to request / complain about / enquire about | I'm writing to tell you / Just a quick note to |
| Explaining a problem | Unfortunately, on arrival I found that | You won't believe what happened |
| Requesting | I would be grateful if you could / I would appreciate it if | Could you do me a favour and / Any chance you could |
| Apologising | Please accept my apologies for | I'm really sorry about |
| Inviting | I would be delighted if you could attend | It'd be great if you could come |
| Closing | I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. | Write back soon and let me know. |
What caps a letter at band 6?
- A bullet missing or covered in one line. Each is a part of the task.
- Wrong or mixed tone: formal request, informal sign-off.
- No purpose sentence, so the letter opens with background and the reader has to infer why it was written.
- Under 150 words, or over 220 because a bullet grew into an essay.
- Addresses and dates at the top. Not needed and not marked; they use words and time.
- Inventing an elaborate story. Detail should be specific and brief, not a narrative.
Task 2 on the General Training paper is the same essay as on Academic and worth twice as much; the five types are in IELTS Task 2 essay types.