IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter Writing Guide with Samples
In IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The task describes a situation and gives you three bullet points that your letter must cover.
The letter can be formal, semi-formal or informal, depending on who you are writing to. Choosing the right tone is just as important as covering all three points.
What the task looks like
Every General Training Task 1 prompt has the same parts: a short situation, who to write to, three bullet points and the opening line. Here is a typical example of an informal letter task:
Writing Task 1 General Training 20 minutes
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
A friend has asked you to recommend a place to visit in your country for a short holiday.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
- recommend a place to visit
- explain why you think your friend would enjoy it
- suggest the best time of year to go
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ... ,
Formal, semi-formal or informal?
The person you are writing to decides the tone, the greeting and the sign-off. Use this table to choose:
| Tone | When | Begin | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | You do not know the person’s name: a company, a manager you have never met | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| Semi-formal | You know the name but not well: your manager, a landlord, a neighbour | Dear Mr Brown, | Yours sincerely, |
| Informal | A friend or a family member | Dear Anna, | Best wishes, / Love, |
Formal and semi-formal letters avoid contractions (I am, not I’m) and slang. Informal letters can use them, but they still need clear paragraphs and correct grammar. See types of letters for more examples of each tone.
Structure of an IELTS letter
The three bullet points give you the body of the letter. Write one paragraph for each, and add a short opening and closing:
| Part | What to write |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr Brown, / Dear Anna, |
| Opening | One or two sentences: why you are writing. |
| Paragraph 1 | The first bullet point, with details. |
| Paragraph 2 | The second bullet point, with details. |
| Paragraph 3 | The third bullet point, with details. |
| Closing | One sentence, e.g. what you expect next: “I look forward to hearing from you.” |
| Sign-off | Yours faithfully, / Yours sincerely, / Best wishes, and your name. |
How to write the letter, step by step
- Read the task carefullyWho are you writing to, and why? Underline the three bullet points.
- Choose the toneFormal, semi-formal or informal, which also decides your greeting and sign-off.
- Plan for a few minutesNote one or two details for each bullet point. You can invent details, as long as they are realistic.
- Write one paragraph per bullet pointCover all three fully. Missing or thin points are the most common reason for a low Task Achievement score.
- Close and checkAdd a closing sentence and the right sign-off, then use the last two or three minutes to check grammar and spelling.
Aim for 160–190 words. That is enough to cover each point well and still leaves time for Task 2, which is worth twice as much.
How is IELTS General Writing Task 1 scored?
Both tasks are marked on a 0–9 scale against four criteria of equal weight. The final score is a whole or half band, for example 6.0 or 6.5.
The examiner gives each criterion its own band, and the four bands are averaged into a score for that task. Your Task 1 and Task 2 scores are then combined into one Writing band, with Task 2 counting twice as much. A weak spot in one criterion, such as frequent grammar mistakes, can pull down an otherwise good answer.
Four criteria · 25% eachTask 2 counts double, so don't spend more than 20 minutes on Task 1.
For more detailed information, see the IELTS Writing band descriptors.
A real student letter, corrected by an IELTS examiner
A student wrote this letter on the task below, and an IELTS examiner marked it. Mistakes are in red and crossed out, and the examiner’s corrections are in green right after them. Hover over a correction, or tap it on your phone, to see why it was changed.
Writing Task 1 Student letter 20 minutes
There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- describe the complaints that have been made
- say why the reception area is important
- suggest how the reception area could be improved
Write at least 150 words.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear ... ,
Dear Mr Brown,
There have been quite a number of complaints from our visitors regarding the reception area recently. After doing some research, I am writing this letter to talk about the complaints and my suggestions on how to improve the area.
Some visitors said that our reception area was too darkas there was not bright enough, so they felt our company iswas dull and monotonousmundane. They also said that there were no seats for people when they were waiting for someone from our office and that, as a matter of fact, it iswas rude to let our guests stand and wait in our office.
The reception area is very crucial to a company, because it is the first impression that visitors have about a company, it represents the souls as well as style of a company, and it will certainly affect whether our customers want to do business with us.
I would like to suggest that adding more windows around the reception area for natural light or installing some better lighting on the ceilingwill help. BesidesFurthermore, it willwould be beneficial to put some sofas there so that visitors can sit down whenwhile they are waiting. I look forward to receiving your comments on my suggestions.
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Edmond Stafford
(213 words)
7.5
Examiner’s band scorefor the letter as written, before the corrections
What made this a band 7.5 letter
All three bullet points are covered, each in its own paragraph, and the tone is right for a letter to a manager the writer knows: Dear Mr Brown and Yours sincerely. The suggestions are concrete (more windows, better lighting, sofas), and the vocabulary is good: first impression, natural light, beneficial. The mistakes are mostly with tenses after said and with words that were not needed.
IELTS letter topics and types
General Training letters come back to the same everyday situations. These are typical Task 1 topics, grouped by the purpose of the letter:
| Purpose | Typical situations | Usual tone |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint | A faulty product, noisy neighbours, poor service at a hotel or restaurant | Formal or semi-formal |
| Request | Asking about a course, a job, accommodation or a lost item | Formal |
| Job application | Applying for a part-time job or a volunteer position | Formal |
| Business | Writing to your manager or a colleague: suggestions, a problem at work, time off | Semi-formal |
| Personal | Inviting a friend, thanking them, giving advice or news, apologising | Informal |
Choose a letter type to see its structure, useful phrases and a sample letter corrected by an IELTS examiner:
Informal Letter
Business Letter
Complaint Letter
Job Application Letter
Request Letter
General Writing Task 1 FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students ask most.
How many words should an IELTS letter have?
At least 150 words. Most strong letters have 160–190 words. Writing much more takes time you need for Task 2.
How long should I spend on Task 1?
About 20 minutes. Task 2 is worth twice as much, so it needs the remaining 40 minutes.
Do I need to write addresses?
No. Start with the greeting, for example “Dear Mr Brown,”, as the task tells you.
Should I end with “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”?
Use “Yours faithfully” after “Dear Sir or Madam”, and “Yours sincerely” after a name such as “Dear Mr Brown”. For a friend, “Best wishes” or “Love” is fine.
Can I invent details in my letter?
Yes. The examiner does not check facts. Invented details such as dates, names or prices make the letter more realistic, as long as they fit the situation.