Improve IELTS General Training Letter

The IELTS General exam is for those who wish to migrate to an English speaking country for work. IELTS General Writing task 1 evaluates your English writing abilities by asking you to write a letter. 

In IELTS, General Writing task 1 involves letter writing, usually formal, semi-formal, or informal. 

Dedicate 20 minutes to write a letter and do not write less than 150 words. If you write less than 150 words, you will end up with a low score. So, make sure you take care of the word limit while writing the letter.

Sample:

Semi-Formal Letter

You live in a block of flats, your neighbour makes a lot of noise which has caused problems for you. Write a letter to your landlord. 

• Explain the situation
• Tell him/her how you are affected by this
• Suggest what you want the landlord to do

Issues with the above letter

1. Although the task is completed, it does not meet the word limit of 150 words. It is 97 words. It will not help because it shows a lack of attention to details. 
2. The opening line is abrupt. For a semi-formal letter, the opening line should be based on the purpose. 
3. The tone of the letter should be semi- formal, not informal. 
4. The letter is to complain about the issue, not inform it. Remember to pay attention to the bullet points listed below the question. It defines the list of details required in your answer. 
5. The letter is not well- organised. The elaborate explanation of the issue is missing. 
6. Sign-off is incomplete. Along with your name, you should add ‘your sincerely’ or ‘yours faithfully.’ 

IELTS General writing task 1 Tips to improve the IELTS letter writing with the help of sample letter 

1. The task has been completed in 213 words. This means that the word limit has been taken into consideration. Don’t forget that the word limit plays a vital role in the answer. It helps you to convey the issue briefly without stuffing too much unnecessary information and words.
2. Before you begin to write, think about how you are going to write? To get a high score in writing, you need to follow a consistent tone, just like it has been done in the sample answer. To identify this, you have to understand what type of letter you are going to write. 
3. Furthermore, your letters should follow a structure, just like the sample letter. 

Introduction: Introduce your problem/issue

Paragraph 1: Describe the problem/issue

Paragraph 2: Elaborate on the same

Conclusion: What measures are you suggesting/asking someone to take

Sing-off: Close your letter according to the letter type.

Reasons why you are scoring low:

• Incorrect greeting
• Weak beginning 
• Lack of structure in the letter
• Repetitions of the words
• Not meeting the word count

Lastly, Practice is the key to success and improvement 

Practise letter writing every day when preparing for the IELTS exam. But Practice is not the only key to success. If you practise every day and do not get it checked by someone knowledgeable, it is a total waste of time. A feedback can help you improve your weaknesses and also give you tips.