IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training: the letter, step by step
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 is a letter. IELTS says you write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes, in reply to a situation, and the task gives you three bullet points to cover. The letter can be personal, semi-formal or formal, and Task 2 counts for twice as much.
This page explains the task as the test owners describe it, then gives you tools of our own: a way to count the jobs hidden in the three bullets, one message written in three tones, a 20-minute plan, eight original prompts and a checklist. It is a study guide, not immigration advice, and the owner's page decides every rule.
What General Training Writing Task 1 is
A letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes, with three bullet points to cover.
Task 1 of the General Training Writing paper is a letter. You are given a situation, told who to write to, and handed three bullet points that say what the letter must cover. The whole Writing paper runs for 60 minutes with two tasks, and Task 1 is the shorter one.
"In Task 1, you have to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, asking for information or explaining a situation. You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes."
| Rule | What IELTS says |
|---|---|
| Length and time | You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. |
| What the task gives you | The task tells you what information to include in the form of three bullet points. |
| Addresses | You do not need to write any addresses at the top of your letter. |
| Notes and bullets | You must not write your answers as notes or bullet points. |
| Weight | Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. |
| Off topic, not connected, copied | You should remember that you will be penalised if what you write is not related to the topic. You will also be penalised if your answer is not written as a whole piece of connected text (i.e. you must not use notes or bullet points). You will be severely penalised if your writing is plagiarised (i.e. copied from another source). |
| If it is too short | If your answer is too short, there may not be enough evidence of the language features needed in order to award higher bands. |
Our reading of those rules: 150 is a floor, not a target to hit exactly. The next quote says why you should not run far past it.
"While candidates will not be penalised for writing more than 150 words, you should remember that a longer Task 1 answer may mean that you have less time to spend on Task 2, which contributes twice as much to your Writing band score."
Both tasks must be done. IELTS also says what Task 1 is testing, and it is a narrow list.
"This task tests if you are able to write a letter which is well organised and appropriate in its register and style."
- ask for and/or provide general factual information.
- express needs, wants, likes and dislikes.
- express opinions (views, complaints, etc.).
That list is what the task is built to test. Ask for or give facts, say what you need or want, and give a view or a complaint, in the right voice for the person reading. The marking criteria also cover vocabulary, grammar and organisation, but nothing in the list asks for clever vocabulary or a dramatic story.
The situations that come up
Complaints, requests, enquiries, invitations, thanks, recommendations and suggestions.
IELTS describes the situations as common and everyday. Its General Training format page says the letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal, and gives four examples.
"In General Training Writing Task 1, you are given a situation and you need to write a response of at least 150 words in the form of a letter. Depending on the task, the letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style. The task tells you what information to include in the form of three bullet points."
"The situations you need to write about are common, everyday situations such as:"
- writing to a college accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation.
- writing to a new employer about problems you are having with managing your time.
- writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport.
- writing to a renting agency to sort out problems with the heating system in your house.
IDP IELTS adds a list of the kinds of letter you may meet, and a second set of examples.
- 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, and, in a second list, 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)
"You will be given a common, everyday situation such as writing to apologise for missing a friend’s party, complaining to a company about bad service, writing to give advice to a friend about where to go on holiday, or writing to express your interest in a new job."
The British Council in Canada shows two sample tasks on its own blog. This is one of them, with the three bullet points as the task gives them.
"You have been volunteering at a local organisation but you can no longer do so. Write a letter to the head of the organisation to explain why you must leave. In your letter:"
- Describe the work you have been doing and what you have learnt.
- Explain why you must leave.
- Suggest someone to replace you.
Look at what the three bullets do. The first is a description, the second is an explanation and the third is a suggestion. Each one needs a different kind of sentence. In this example, each bullet is a different job, not three facts.
What each kind of letter is really asking you to do
The table is ours. It turns each kind of letter into a one-line purpose and the jobs its bullets will probably hand you. Use it to guess the shape of a prompt before you read the bullets.
| Kind of letter | The purpose in one sentence | Jobs the bullets will probably give you |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint | Say what went wrong and what you want done about it. | Describe the problem. Say how it affected you. Say what action you want. |
| Request | Ask for something and make it easy to say yes. | Say what you need. Give the reason. Offer a time, a place or a choice. |
| Enquiry | Ask for information you do not have. | Say who you are and what you are interested in. Ask your questions. Say how to reply. |
| Invitation | Ask someone to an event and give them the details. | Say what the event is. Give when and where. Say what to bring or do. |
| Thanks | Thank the person and say why it mattered. | Say what they did. Say what difference it made. Offer something back. |
| Recommendation | Say why someone or something deserves a yes. | Describe your link to them. Give the strengths. Give one example. |
| Suggestion | Put forward an idea and persuade the reader. | Describe the situation. Give your idea. Say why it would work. |
| Apology or explanation | Say sorry or explain, and fix it. | Say what happened. Say why. Say what you will do now. |
Read the three bullet points before you write
Three bullets can hide five or six jobs. Count them before you write.
The bullet points feed one of the four marking criteria, task achievement. IDP lists what examiners check in a letter.
- Purpose of the letter is presented.
- Tone of the letter is appropriate.
- Bullet points are presented, highlighted and extended.
- Format is appropriate – letter format.
IDP also says that all three bullets must appear, and warns that one bullet can hide more than one job.
"All three bullet points need to be presented. And remember that some bullet points contain more than one element. So, make sure to watch for ‘and’ and plurals."
That is the trick of the whole task. A bullet that says "describe the damage and when it started" is two jobs in one line. A bullet that says "describe the choices" is a plural, so one choice is not enough. Examiners are looking for each of those pieces.
Count the jobs: a worked example
Our own prompt, with the jobs counted. Read the prompt, then the table.
Prompt (ours). A window in your rented flat will not close properly. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: describe the fault and when you noticed it; explain how it is affecting you; say what you want done and by when.
| Bullet | What is hidden in it | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Describe the fault and when you noticed it | The fault itself. The date or time it began. (Watch the word "and".) | 2 |
| Explain how it is affecting you | One effect at least. Two is better, for example cold and noise. | 1 or more |
| Say what you want done and by when | The action you want. A deadline. (Another "and".) | 2 |
So three bullets hide at least five jobs. A letter with three tidy sentences, one per bullet, misses two of them.
Your turn: find the jobs
Do these two before you look at the answers. The prompts are ours.
- You are moving to another city for work. Write to a former colleague who lives there. In your letter: say why you are moving and when; ask for advice about where to live; suggest a time to meet.
- You borrowed a camera from your employer's equipment room and it has been damaged. Write to your manager. In your letter: explain what happened; say what you have already done about it; ask what should happen next.
| Prompt | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bullet one holds two jobs: the reason, and the date. Bullet two is one job, but advice about where to live is stronger when you give a reason for each area you name. Bullet three is one job: a time to meet (add a place if you can). Four jobs. |
| 2 | Bullet one is one job, told as a short sequence. Bullet two must be something you have already done, not something you plan to do. Bullet three is a question or request. Three jobs, so extend each one. |
Pick the tone from the reader
A formal, semi-formal or informal letter. The task says who you are writing to.
Tone is its own marking feature. IELTS says the style depends on who you are writing to and how well you know them.
"The style of writing that you use depends on who you are asked to write to and how well you are supposed to know them. You need to choose a style that is appropriate for your audience and will help you achieve your purpose for writing, e.g. writing to a friend (personal) or writing to a manager (semi-formal or formal)."
IDP gives the simplest test for which style to use, and says the greeting and the closing must match.
- Informal or semi-formal: written to a friend, colleague or someone you know.
- Formal: written to someone you do not know.
"And finally, remember that the greeting and the closing salutation of an IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1 letter needs to match the style. For example:"
"Make sure the tone of your letter is correct. The way we would write a letter to our manager at work and a friend is different. Make sure you have identified the formality of the letter (e.g. formal/semi-formal/informal) and respond appropriately. For example, when we end a formal letter, we can say “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”, but when we end an informal letter to a friend, we would usually write “Best wishes” or “see you soon”."
IDP's example prompt ends by telling you how to begin the letter.
The line after it is Dear and a blank. You choose what goes in the blank, and that choice sets the tone for everything after it.
One message, three tones
The message is the same in all three letters: you need to move an appointment to a later date. Only the reader changes. This is our own example.
| Part of the letter | Formal (a clinic you do not know) | Semi-formal (a manager you know) | Informal (a friend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Dear Sir or Madam, | Dear Ms Dlamini, | Dear Thandi, |
| Purpose | I am writing to ask whether my appointment on 14 March could be moved to a later date. | I wanted to ask if I could move our review meeting from 14 March to the following week. | Can we push our coffee on 14 March back by a week? |
| Reason | Unfortunately, I have a work commitment that I cannot change. | A client visit has been added to my diary that morning. | Something has come up at work and I cannot get out of it. |
| Request | I would be grateful if you could tell me which dates are available. | I am free on any day that week, so please choose whichever suits you. | Tell me which day works for you and I will be there. |
| Close | Thank you for your help. Yours faithfully, | Thank you for considering it. Kind regards, | Thanks for understanding. Best wishes, |
Notice what changes: the length of the sentences, the words (could and would, against can and will), and the close. What does not change: every letter says why it is written in the first sentence.
A shape and a 20-minute plan
Plan, write, review: a plan for the 20 minutes and a shape for the letter.
IDP says what a correctly formatted letter has.
- A greeting (Dear sir/madam, Dear John, Dear Mr. Smith)
- The main body (consisting of paragraphs for each part of the letter)
- A closing (Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully, Best wishes, Kind regards, Love)
The British Council in Canada adds the timing advice.
"Manage your time. Keep an eye on the clock. Spend around 20 minutes on Task 1. It is ok if you go over this time by a few minutes but not much more. Remember, you still have to do Task 2. Spend about 20 minutes on IELTS writing task 1 general, leaving enough time for task 2."
"Plan your ideas before you write. Take a few minutes to plan your work. What grammar tenses and vocabulary do you need to use? What examples or extra details will you include?"
"Take some time to review your work. Make sure you save a few minutes to review your work. Have you covered all the bullet points? Have you made any spelling or grammatical mistakes? If you choose to complete the Writing section on paper, is your handwriting easy to understand?"
That gives three phases: plan, write, review. Here is our own way to spread them across the 20 minutes.
| Minutes | What you do | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Read the task twice. Count the jobs in each bullet. Pick the tone. Decide your purpose sentence. | Four lines of notes: purpose, bullet one, bullet two, bullet three. |
| 3 to 17 | Write: opening, three body paragraphs, closing. | A letter a little over 150 words, with a greeting and a sign-off. |
| 17 to 20 | Read it once. Tick off the bullets. Fix spelling and word endings. | A clean copy with all three bullets and the right closing. |
A paragraph map
A letter of this length does not need long paragraphs. This is the shape we use.
| Part | Job | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Match the tone. No address is needed. | One line |
| Opening | State the purpose in direct reply to the situation. | One or two sentences |
| Body one | Cover bullet one, with a reason or detail. | Two or three sentences |
| Body two | Cover bullet two, with a reason or detail. | Two or three sentences |
| Body three | Cover bullet three, with a reason or detail. | Two or three sentences |
| Closing | Round off, say what you hope happens next, then the sign-off and your name. | One or two sentences |
Five short paragraphs are a better bet than one wall of text. The marking feature here is a letter format, and IDP's description above asks for paragraphs for each part of the letter.
How to extend a bullet point
Presenting a bullet is not enough. Extend it once, then move on.
The marking descriptors say what separates a covered bullet from a well-covered one. These are IDP's published General Training lines for the task achievement criterion.
"(General Training) All bullet points are clearly presented, and appropriately illustrated or extended."
"(General Training) All bullet points are covered and clearly highlighted but could be more fully or more appropriately illustrated or extended. It presents a clear purpose. The tone is consistent and appropriate to the task. Any lapses are minimal."
"(General Training) All bullet points are presented but one or more may not be adequately covered. The purpose may be unclear at times. The tone may be variable and sometimes inappropriate."
The word in the middle is extended. A bullet that is only stated is presented. A bullet that is stated and then supported with a reason, a detail or a result is extended. IDP's list of what the criterion assesses uses the same word.
- Clearly explain the purpose of the letter.
- Fully address the three bullet-pointed requirements set out in the task.
- Extend these three functions appropriately and relevantly.
- Use an appropriate format for the letter.
- Consistently use a tone appropriate to the task.
The extension menu
Our own method. After you state the bullet, add one item from this menu. Do not add all five.
| Add this | Question it answers | Starter |
|---|---|---|
| A reason | Why? | because, since, as |
| A detail | Which one? How much? When? | in particular, on the second floor, at about nine |
| A result | So what happened? | as a result, which means that |
| An example | For instance? | for example, last week |
| A next step | What now? | I would like, could you, I will |
One bullet at three levels
The bullet is "describe the fault and when you noticed it". The three versions below are ours.
| Version | Text | What is wrong or right |
|---|---|---|
| Bare | The window does not close. I noticed it on Monday. | Both jobs are done, but it is stated, not extended. |
| Extended | The window in my bedroom does not close fully, so a gap of about two centimetres stays open. I first noticed it on Monday morning when the room was colder than the rest of the flat. | Both jobs are done and each has a detail and a result. This is enough. |
| Over-extended | The window in my bedroom, which I have had since I moved in two years ago and which my previous landlord had never complained about, does not close fully and I noticed this at some point. | The detail has drifted from the point and the date, one of the two jobs, has got lost. |
Our reading: the over-extended version has two problems. It drifts from the point, and a longer Task 1 answer is the risk IELTS describes when it says it may leave you less time for Task 2. Stop when the bullet has been covered and supported once.
Our practice set: eight prompts
Eight original prompts, two plan cards and a checklist.
Every prompt below is ours. None of them comes from a past test and none is a copy of a published sample. Each has a reader, a situation and three bullets, which is the same shape as the real task. We make no claim about the level any answer would reach.
| No. | Reader and situation | Three bullets | Tone to aim for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The manager of a gym where you are a member. The gym has changed its hours and you can no longer go after work. | Explain how the change affects you. Say what you have already tried. Ask what the gym can offer instead. | Formal |
| 2 | Your landlord, whom you know slightly. A window will not close properly. | Describe the fault and when you noticed it. Explain how it is affecting you. Say what you want done and by when. | Semi-formal |
| 3 | A college admissions office. You want to start a part-time photography course. | Say which course and why you chose it. Ask about fees and how to pay. Ask whether you can visit before you enrol. | Formal |
| 4 | The editor of a local newspaper. Your town plans to cut Sunday bus services. | Say what you have heard about the plan. Explain who will be affected. Suggest what the council could do instead. | Formal |
| 5 | A friend who has just started a job in another city. | Say how you feel about the news. Ask about the new job. Invite your friend to visit and suggest a weekend. | Informal |
| 6 | A cousin who plans to study in your city next year. | Recommend two areas to live in. Describe what getting around costs and how long it takes. Say how you could help when your cousin arrives. | Informal |
| 7 | A colleague who covered your shifts while you were ill. | Thank your colleague and say what it meant. Say how you are now. Offer to return the favour and suggest when. | Semi-formal |
| 8 | Your team leader, whom you know well. You cannot attend a team event. | Say why you cannot come. Apologise and say how you will make up the time. Suggest another way to take part. | Semi-formal |
How to use them
- Work in the shape above: three minutes of planning, fourteen of writing, three of checking. Use a timer.
- Before you write, count the jobs hidden in the bullets, as in the worked example earlier on this page. Write the count in the margin.
- Write the opening sentence first and read it back. Does it say why you are writing, in reply to the situation?
- Type or write the letter in full sentences. Do not use bullets or notes in the answer.
- When the time is up, stop and count your words. Then run the checklist below.
- Do one prompt a day for a week. Take two prompts from the tone you find hardest, not the one you like.
Two plan cards
A plan card is the four lines of notes you make in the first three minutes. Here are two, for prompts two and five. They are not letters. They show how little planning is needed, and how much a plan can hold.
| Line | Prompt 2 (landlord, semi-formal) | Prompt 5 (friend, informal) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Report the broken window and ask for a repair date. | Say congratulations and invite her down for a weekend. |
| Bullet one | Window in the bedroom will not shut. Noticed Monday. Gap at the bottom. | Felt proud and a bit jealous. The job sounds like what she wanted. |
| Bullet two | Room cold at night, heating bill up, hard to sleep. | Ask what a normal day is like. Ask whether she has found a flat. |
| Bullet three | Ask for a visit this week. Say I am home after six. | Suggest the first weekend of next month. Offer the spare bed and a city tour. |
The checklist
Run this on every practice letter. Most items come from the features IDP and IELTS name above; the rest are ours.
- Does the opening sentence say why I am writing?
- Is there a greeting, and does the closing match it?
- Is the tone the same from the first line to the last?
- Did I cover all three bullets, and every job inside them?
- Is each bullet in a paragraph of its own, with a reason or detail?
- Is it at least the minimum word count?
- Is it written in connected sentences, with no notes or bullet points?
- Did I stay on the topic, with nothing copied from the prompt line by line?
- Is there a name at the bottom, and no address at the top?
- Did I leave a minute to check spelling and word endings?
IDP also recommends a habit that makes the checklist work: make a list of the mistakes you often make, then look for them in every draft. Its own wording is below.
"Think about common mistakes you make in your writing and make a list. When practising your writing, look out for these mistakes in your drafts and correct them. Keep doing this every time you write to improve your editing skills."
Five mistakes we would fix first
Missing a job, a late purpose, a slipping tone, thin bullets and a letter that runs long.
These are ours, from the marking features above, not from any one candidate.
- Missing a hidden job. The bullet said "and" or a plural and the letter answered half of it. Count the jobs before you start.
- The purpose arrives too late. The reader reaches paragraph two before learning why you are writing. Put it in the first sentence.
- The tone slips. A polite opening that turns casual by the closing, or a chatty letter that ends with Yours faithfully. Choose the tone at the planning stage and re-read the last line against the first.
- Each bullet is stated and then dropped. One sentence per bullet is presented, not extended. Add one reason or detail to each.
- The letter runs long. A 220-word letter is not a better letter, only a slower one, and it costs you time on the task that carries more weight. Stop when the bullets are covered.
On a computer or on paper
Typed or handwritten, the task, scoring and time are the same.
IELTS says the task is the same, whichever way you sit it.
"The task types, scoring and time allocation of the Writing component are the same whether you take it on computer or write on paper. The only difference is that you write your responses by hand."
"If you are taking IELTS on computer, you must type your answers on the screen."
"You are allowed to take notes using the note-taking tool, but these will not be seen by the examiner."
IDP's Australian site, in its page on test delivery, describes the computer test like this. Features may differ at your centre, so ask your test centre.
"IELTS on computer is designed to be simple and user-friendly, with helpful features such as automatic word counts, on-screen timers, and easy editing."
IELTS.org's Writing on Paper page does not say where that option is offered. It says only this.
"'Writing on Paper' will be available in selected countries from mid-2026."
It does not name the countries, so check your booking page to see whether Writing on Paper is offered where you sit the test. The same page adds that it is not available for IELTS for UKVI.
"Writing on Paper is not available for test takers taking an IELTS for UKVI test."
Our reading: whichever way you sit the test, practise in that way. A letter you have only ever written in a notebook feels different when you type it, and the other way round. Check on your own booking confirmation which mode applies to you.
Free practice from the test owners
Where the owners publish their own sample tasks, scripts and examiner comments.
Use the owners' own materials for the real task style, and ours for extra repetition. The British Council says its free page covers letters of all three styles.
"Get ready for your IELTS General Training Writing test with free practice tests from the British Council. Practise different question types and become familiar with the test format before test day."
"practise writing formal, semi-formal, and informal letters for Task 1"
"General Training Writing sample scripts and examiner comments (PDF, 0.35mb)"
IELTS.org publishes the same sample tasks and scripts.
"In Part 1, you are asked to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation."
"General Training Writing sample scripts and examiner comments (PDF 362 KB - 3 pages)"
Once you have written a letter, compare it with the owners' sample scripts and examiner comments, then look at our letter and essay samples, which include a formal letter with marking notes. For a full timed run of both tasks, use the General Training writing practice test. For the essay task, see our IELTS essay question guide. For habits that help in both tasks, see our IELTS writing tips, and for themes to write about, see IELTS writing topics. This page is not immigration advice, and the test owner's own page decides every rule.
Common questions
It is a letter. In Task 1, you have to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, asking for information or explaining a situation. You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
At least 150 words in about 20 minutes. IELTS says you will not be penalised for writing more, but a longer Task 1 answer may leave you less time for Task 2, which contributes twice as much to your Writing band score.
They are the three things the letter must cover. IELTS says: The task tells you what information to include in the form of three bullet points. IDP adds that some bullets hold more than one job, so watch for and and for plurals.
No. IELTS says: You do not need to write any addresses at the top of your letter. You still need a greeting and a closing that match the tone.
Personal, semi-formal or formal letters about everyday situations. IDP lists complaints, invitations, requests, enquiries, thanks, recommendations and suggestions. IELTS gives examples such as writing to a college accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation.
Not under that name. The Speaking test has three parts. IELTS says: In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic.
The British Council and IELTS.org both publish General Training sample tasks on their public pages, and the British Council describes its page as free practice tests. IELTS.org lists General Training Writing sample scripts and examiner comments (PDF 362 KB - 3 pages). Our own samples are on the letter and essay samples page: three model letters and two model essays. For Academic Task 1 samples of graphs and charts, see our Academic Writing Task 1 page.
No. For Academic, IELTS says: In Task 1, you have to describe some visual information in your own words (a graph, table, chart or diagram). You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. General Training Task 1 is a letter. Our Academic Writing Task 1 page covers graphs and charts.