The IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 assesses your ability to communicate effectively through letter writing. It requires you to write a letter to a person, company, or institution, and it measures your ability to communicate about practical issues. To succeed in this task, it's important to understand the different types of letters, their structures, and their purposes. In this blog, we will provide you with tips and guidelines on how to write an outstanding letter that meets the requirements of the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1.
Help me with the IELTS Registration
What are the things examiners look for in a letter?
To effectively prepare for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, it is important to understand the key elements that examiners evaluate in a letter.
Achieving the desired IELTS score will become simpler if you will put in the effort and follow these tips. Here are compiled crucial aspects to keep in mind when composing a letter for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1.
In the assessment criteria of IELTS, particularly task achievement, the examiner checks whether your letter includes the following components:
Clearly presents the purpose of the letter
Demonstrates an appropriate tone throughout
Includes well-organised and elaborated bullet points
Adheres to the appropriate format for a letter
While this provides a brief overview, let's get deeper into each of these aspects and explore how you should approach writing your letter for IELTS Writing Task 1.
Tips to write a perfect letter in your IELTS General Training Writing task 1
If you are planning or preparing for an IELTS General Training test then these tips will help you achieve your desired score:
1. Start with the purpose
Begin your letter by explicitly stating the purpose behind your communication. The opening paragraph should clearly convey why you are writing. It is crucial that the purpose of your letter directly addresses the scenario provided in the question.
Here are some examples of opening paragraphs that effectively present a clear purpose:
Formal letter | Informal letter |
|---|---|
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with a product I have purchased recently and to request a full refund. | Dear John, I was so pleased to hear that you are planning on visiting my country, so I'm writing to give you some travel tips and advice before you book your trip. |
Here are the common IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 situations:
Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
Letter of complaint (e.g. personal, business, recent, experience, product) | Letter of invitation (e.g. party, dinner, celebration) |
Letter of request (e.g. refund, repair, advice, reservation) | Letter of request (e.g. asking questions, asking for advice, asking for help) |
Letter of enquiry (e.g. information request, booking) | Letter of thanks or appreciation |
Letter of recommendation (e.g. job, colleague) | Letter of suggestion (e.g. suggesting ideas, plans, solutions) |
Letter of suggestion (e.g. suggesting ideas, plans, solutions) |
2. Use the correct tone
Now, let's proceed to discuss the next aspect that examiners consider in your letter: the appropriate tone. The tone of your letter refers to the manner in which you express yourself, whether it should adopt a formal or informal style. To determine the suitable tone, refer to the instructions provided in the question.
To write your letter, consider the following:
For a formal tone | "Dear Sir/Madam," or "To whom it may concern," |
For a semi-formal tone | "Dear [Name]," (if you know the recipient's name) or "Hello," |
For an informal tone | "Hi [Name]," or "Dear [Name]," |
Select the appropriate salutation based on the required tone and the relationship you have with the recipient. Remember to maintain consistency throughout the letter in terms of the tone you choose.
In a formal letter, you will usually find the following characteristics:
Longer sentences having passive language (be + past participle)
Usage of modals (E.g. "The broken light needs to be fixed to ensure that the customers who use this facility have adequate visibility of their surroundings.")
On the other hand, an informal letter possesses the following attributes:
Conversational tone ("Can you fix the light in the kitchen, so I don't have an accident?")
Inclusion of contractions (E.g. "Can't you fix the light in the kitchen, so I don't have an accident?")
More direct speech (E.g. "Can you fix the light in the kitchen, so I don't have an accident?")
To assist you further, the table below illustrates examples of formal and informal vocabulary and structures that can be used in your IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 response:
Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
Commence | Start |
Regarding | About |
Utilise | Use |
Acquire | Get |
Convey | Tell |
Nevertheless | However |
Additionally | Also |
I am writing to inform you | I'm writing to let you know |
It is imperative that | It's really important that |
Lastly, it is important for you to know that the greeting and closing salutation in your IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 letter should align with the chosen style. Here are a few examples:
Formal Style
Greetings: Dear Sir/Madam Closing
Salutation: Yours faithfully
Informal Style
Greetings: Dear John Closing
Salutation: Best wishes
When selecting the appropriate greeting and closing salutation, consider the level of formality required for your letter. Maintain consistency throughout by using a greeting and closing salutation that match the chosen style.
3. Ensure that you include the bullet points
When composing a letter for the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, it is important for you to provide the bullet points given in the question. The IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 question will typically include the following details:
A given situation
The intended recipient of the letter
Specific points or elements to be included (presented as bullet points)
It is important to address all three bullet points and carefully consider any instances where a bullet point contains multiple elements or is connected by "and." Additionally, be mindful of plurals within the bullet points.
Now, let's analyse the given question in detail:
Your task is to write a letter to your overseas friend who intends to visit your country for a holiday. In your letter, please include the following:
Advise the most suitable time of year to visit and explain the reasons behind your recommendation
Describe the various types of accommodation options available for your friend to consider
Share what specific places or attractions you would like to show your friend during their visit to your country
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.Begin your letter as follows:Dear…
The best time of the year to visit
Why it is the best time to visit
Look at the second bullet point and you will see you will that you have to describe ‘types’ of accommodation. So, remember to watch for plurals.
First type of accommodation
Second type of accommodation
Example for the first bullet point, covering both elements (when and why):Most people visit Brisbane in the summer months, but I think it’s far too hot then. The best time to visit is between April and June, our autumn season. It’s still sunny, but much cooler and not as humid as the summer.
Choose the correct structure for your letter
Now let's consider the final aspect of IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, which is the structure of your letter. It is essential to hold on to the proper format when writing your letter, including the following elements:
Greeting: Begin your letter with an appropriate greeting, such as "Dear sir/madam," "Dear John," or "Dear Mr. Smith."
Main body: The main body of your letter should consist of paragraphs, each addressing a different part or topic of the letter.
Closing: Conclude your letter with a suitable closing, such as "Yours sincerely," "Yours faithfully," "Best wishes," "Kind regards," or "Love," depending on the level of formality and your relationship with the recipient.
Important note: In the given instructions, it states that you do not need to include any addresses in your letter. Therefore, avoid including any addresses within the letter.
Here is an example of an informal letter that follows this structure:
Dear Andrew, | Opening salutations or greetings must be included in appropriate letter format. |
I was pleased to hear that you're going to visit Brisbane, so I'm writing to give you some information to think about before you come. | State the purpose of the letter in the opening paragraph. |
Most people travel to Brisbane in the summer months, but I think it's uncomfortably hot at that time of the year. Autumn is the best season, between April and June. It's still sunny, but much cooler than in summer. | The first bullet point is presented and highlighted in a separate paragraph. |
At the moment, all our bedrooms are full, so unfortunately, we can't put you up. However, there are some cheap places to stay, like Airbnb's, in our suburb. You could also stay in a serviced apartment in the city centre or on the Gold Coast. There are lots of specials online, so I'm sure you'll find somewhere affordable. | The second bullet point is presented and highlighted in a separate paragraph. |
When you get here, let me be your tourist guide. I'll take you to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where you can feed kangaroos and koalas. I can also drive you to the Gold Coast for a swim. To add excitement, we can visit the theme parks there too. | Third bullet point is presented and highlighted in a separate paragraph. |
Looking forward to catching up | Concluding letter (rounding off statement). |
Best wishes | Closing salutation must be included for appropriate letter format. |
Laurel | Your name, to make the letter look realistic. |
To achieve a higher band score in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, it is crucial to include the following elements in your letter:
Clear objective: Make sure to establish a clear and concise purpose for your letter
Suitable tone: Use an appropriate tone that aligns with the context and relationship between the sender and recipient
Comprehensive coverage: Ensure that all the bullet points provided in the task are addressed and highlighted in your letter
Proper format: Hold on to the appropriate letter-writing format, including salutation, introduction, body paragraphs, and closing
If you want to know more about the IELTS General Training test or anything about the IELTS test, in that case, you can visit to your nearest IDP IELTS test centres.