IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training: Letter Writing Guide
Master IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: Your Ultimate Letter Writing Guide (2026)
Hey there, aspiring IELTS test-takers! If you’re taking IELTS General Training, then Writing Task 1 is all about one thing: writing the right letter in the right tone — quickly, clearly, and accurately.
Many students can write English… but lose marks because they:
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choose the wrong level of formality
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miss a bullet point from the prompt
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write an unclear structure
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use “essay language” instead of “letter language”
This guide will fix that. Let’s break down exactly how Task 1 letters work, what examiners want, and how to write any letter confidently.
What is IELTS General Training Writing Task 1?
You will:
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get a situation + 3 bullet points (things you must include)
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write a letter to a person or organisation
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write at least 150 words
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finish in about 20 minutes
Examiners score you on:
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Task Achievement (did you answer ALL bullet points clearly?)
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Coherence & Cohesion (is it organised and easy to follow?)
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Lexical Resource (appropriate vocabulary; not repetitive)
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Grammar Range & Accuracy (clear sentences; controlled errors)
Top rule: Task 1 is not about fancy English. It’s about appropriate, effective communication.
The Trifecta of Tone
Your tone depends on your relationship with the reader.
1) Formal Letters (Professional, polite, no slang)
Use when: you don’t know the person OR they are an authority Examples: complaints, requests, banks, managers, landlords, HR, government.
Language rules:
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avoid slang and “chatty” phrases
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avoid contractions (safer): I am / I would / I cannot
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be direct but polite
Safe openings:
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“I am writing to enquire about…”
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“I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with…”
Safe closings:
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“I look forward to your response.”
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“Thank you for your time and assistance.”
Sign-off:
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Dear Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully
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Dear Mr/Ms + surname → Yours sincerely
2) Semi-Formal Letters (Polite + slightly warm)
Use when: you know the person, but not closely Examples: neighbour, colleague, tutor, landlord you’ve met, service provider you know.
Language rules:
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contractions are okay (but don’t overdo it)
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friendly but respectful tone
Openings:
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“I hope you’re well. I’m writing about…”
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“I’m writing to ask if you could…”
Closings:
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“Thanks in advance for your help.”
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“I’d really appreciate your advice.”
Sign-off:
- •Kind regards / Best regards
3) Informal Letters (Friendly, natural)
Use when: friends, family, close acquaintances
Language rules:
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contractions are normal
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light, personal tone is fine
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simple vocabulary is okay (don’t force “academic” words)
Openings:
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“Hi Sam,” / “Hey Maria,”
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“Hope you’re doing well!”
Closings:
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“Write back soon!”
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“Hope to see you soon.”
Sign-off:
- •Best / Cheers / Take care / Lots of love
The 3 Core Letter Purposes IELTS Loves
Most Task 1 prompts are one of these:
1) Request / Enquiry
You ask for information or help.
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ask clear questions
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give context (“I recently…”, “I am planning to…”)
2) Complaint
You report a problem and request a solution.
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what happened + when/where
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what went wrong
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what you want (refund, replacement, apology, action)
3) Explanation / Apology / Arrangement
You explain a situation, apologise, or organise plans.
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explain briefly
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offer a solution / next step
Perfect Letter Structure (Works for 90% of Tasks)
Paragraph 1: Purpose (1–2 sentences)
- •why you are writing
Paragraph 2: Bullet point 1
- •develop it with detail
Paragraph 3: Bullet point 2
- •develop it with detail
Paragraph 4: Bullet point 3 + polite close
- •final request / next step / thanks
That’s it. Simple structure = higher coherence.
The 20-Minute Game Plan
0–2 minutes: Identify
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who are you writing to? (tone)
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what are the 3 bullet points?
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what is the purpose?
2–4 minutes: Plan quickly
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4 paragraphs
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1 bullet point per body paragraph
4–17 minutes: Write
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stay on-task
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be specific (dates, times, costs, locations)
17–20 minutes: Check
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did you cover ALL bullet points?
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word count 150+?
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spelling of names/numbers?
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tone consistent?
High-Scoring Language Templates
Formal request phrases
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“I would be grateful if you could…”
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“Could you please confirm whether…”
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“I would appreciate it if you could…”
Complaint phrases
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“I am writing to complain about…”
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“Unfortunately, …”
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“I would like to request a refund / replacement / immediate action.”
Semi-formal / informal softeners
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“Would you mind…?”
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“If possible, could you…?”
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“I was wondering if…”
Common Mistakes That Kill Scores
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Wrong tone (formal letter starts with “Hey!”)
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Missing a bullet point (automatic task achievement drop)
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No clear paragraphs
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Overly long sentences → grammar errors
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Copying prompt words too much (low lexical range)
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Going off-topic (stories, opinions, unrelated details)
Quick Tone Comparison Cheat Sheet
Your Next Step
To master Task 1 quickly, do this routine:
- •Collect 10 prompts
- •For each prompt, write:
- •tone (formal / semi / informal)
- •4-paragraph plan (1 bullet point per paragraph)
- •Write one full letter per day (20 minutes max)
Next best action
Move from strategy to score gains with a targeted practice step.