IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 - How to write a letter?

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.

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:

Here are the common IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 situations:

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:

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:

1. Longer sentences having passive language (be + past participle)

2. 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:

1. Conversational tone ("Can you fix the light in the kitchen, so I don't have an accident?")

2. Inclusion of contractions (E.g. "Can't you fix the light in the kitchen, so I don't have an accident?")

3. 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:

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.

Read more: How to prepare for General IELTS General Training Writing Task 2

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:

1. Greeting: Begin your letter with an appropriate greeting, such as "Dear sir/madam," "Dear John," or "Dear Mr. Smith."

2. Main body: The main body of your letter should consist of paragraphs, each addressing a different part or topic of the letter.

3. 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:

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.

Read more insightful articles:

• General training practice tests

• Tips for IELTS Writing

• Similarities and differences for IELTS Writing task 1 and task 2

• Prepare for IELTS Academic Writing task 2

• Know how to paraphrase in IELTS Writing

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