IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter Writing Samples and Tips

Understanding IELTS General Writing Task 1

In the IELTS General Writing Task 1, you are supposed to write a letter and this task measures your ability to communicate in writing. The topics are everyday situations you might encounter.

Let us help you learn all about the task and share our expert tips with a band 8+ in it. Read ahead!

IELTS General Writing Task 1 Question Types

In General Writing Task 1, you will be asked to write three kinds of letters. Look at the table below to learn more about them!

Word Count: 150

Duration: 20 Mins

IELTS General Writing Task 1: Scoring Criteria

Writing task 1 for General module of IELTS is letter writing. Candidates will be allotted 20 minutes to complete the task and the minimum word count is 150. It comprises 33% of your writing scores. Marking criteria are as follows:

• Task achievement - 25%
• Coherence and cohesion - 25%
• Vocabulary - 25%
• Grammar - 25%

Tips for Success in IELTS General Writing Task 1

1. Understanding the task and clearly structuring your letter helps the examiner follow your ideas.
2. Adapting your tone appropriately enhances the overall effectiveness of your letter.
3. Paying close attention to instructions and answering all the sub-questions is important.
4. Linking words helps create cohesion and coherence in your writing for a higher score.
5. Experimenting with different sentence structures adds variety to your IELTS General Writing Task 1 letter.

5 Advanced Techniques for IELTS General Writing Task 1

1. Understand the Task 

Grasp the task requirements clearly to know what type of letter you're expected to write - whether it's formal, semi-formal, or informal.

2. Structure Matters

Keep your letter organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each part should show its purpose effectively.

3. Aim for Task Completion

Make sure your letter addresses all the content points required in the task prompt. Failure to cover all the necessary points can result in a lower score, even if your language use is strong.

4. Practice Time Management

Keep your time enough for planning, writing, and reviewing your letter. Always practice under timed conditions to improve your efficiency!

5. Tone and Style

Adapt your tone and style according to the letter's purpose. For instance, a formal letter requires polite language and structured sentences. Hence, use it appropriately.

6 Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS General Writing Task 1

1. Not understanding task instructions leads to missing important details.
2. Going off the suggested structure makes your writing messy.
3. Using too many complex words can confuse the reader.
4. Ignoring the word count can get you in trouble.
5. Forgetting to check for grammar mistakes makes your writing worse.
6. Not reading through your work carefully can lead to errors.

IELTS General Writing Task 1 Questions with Answers

Formal letters

These formal letters are addressed to someone whom you don’t know.

Begins with: Dear Sir/Madam

Ends with: Yours faithfully/ Yours sincerely

Example: Write a letter to a bookstore manager who is living in another city. Ask him/her to make available a book that you are interested in.

In your letter, you should say:

• What book are you looking for?
• Why do you need this book?
• How do you plan to purchase the book?

Sample Answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

Being a book nerd, I like looking for new libraries and bookstores. Lately, I have been going through the list of nearby bookstores on the internet. And, I found yours. Although your book store is located in a different town, I keep visiting every alternative day. I would like to put forth a small request. I am looking for a book called Tuesdays with Morrie, written by Mitch Albom.

I have been trying to get a hand on this book for a while now but couldn’t find it anywhere so far. Most of my friends have read it, and they can’t stop praising the storyline. A lot of people have already recommended this book.

Thus, if you can make the book available by next week, it would be great as I am coming to your town on the 14th of February 2021. This way, I can easily buy the book.

I am hoping for a positive response.

Yours sincerely,
Steven.

Semi-formal letters

These types of letters are addressed to someone whom you know formally.

Begins with: Dear Mr. Rad

Ends with: Best wishes/All the Best/With regards

Example: You recently started commuting to work by bicycle and discovered a problem with parking near the building where you work. Write a letter to the building manager and say:

• Explain the reason for using a bicycle to commute.
• What problems have you encountered with parking?
• What are your recommendations to solve them?

Sample Answer

Dear Mr. Alex,

My name is Henry, and I have been working in the Aarav building, located on Lincoln Road for the past year. I believe you handle the responsibility of managing this building. Lately, I have enrolled in an environment preservation initiative.

Thus, ditching every other type of commute, I have started coming to the office on a bicycle. However, for the past few weeks, I have been experiencing issues with the parking in the building.

There is enough space to park almost every other vehicle but a bicycle. Also, there are issues with security, as well. Yesterday, I found the lock on my bicycle broken, and it was lying on the ground. Being the building manager I would like you to create a different parking stand only for bicycles and look after safety just like you do for other vehicles parked on the premises.

I am hoping for a supportive response.

With regards,
Henry.

Informal letters

These Informal letters are addressed to someone whom you know personally.

Begins with: Dear Susan

Ends with: Warm regards

Example: Your friend is about to move into a new house. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• offer to help him/her to move
• explain how exactly you can help
• ask him/her some questions about the new house

Sample Answer

Dear Ray,

Hope you are doing well. It’s been a long time since we wrote to each other. A few days back, I was having a conversation with Kushaal, and I got to know that you are moving into a new house. I was pretty happy to find out that you are finally moving ahead in your life and progressing professionally.

I don’t know the exact location, can you let me know the address? Also, I am excited to see how this new abode looks from the outside and inside. I am waiting to see the pictures.

Anyway, Kushaal mentioned that you are a bit busy with your professional project; thus, unable to pack anything sooner. Are you looking for a helping hand? If you need any support, Kushaal and I can drop down to your house and help pack.

Do let me know how it works for you. All the best for your new journey.

Yours lovingly,
Viky.

Latest Task 1 General IELTS Topics

Now that you know the ins and outs of the IELTS General Writing Task 1, look at the following 2024’s latest topics to start practising!

1. Invitation
2. Recommendation
3. Amendment
4. Apology
5. Application
6. Accommodation
7. Complaint
8. Advice
9. Explanation
10. Request

The key is to practice more of it and make writing letters a practice! Here we have some IELTS General Task 1 letter writing samples to help you get an idea of how to approach different scenarios before actually beginning to pen down. We bet you’re all set to grab your desired band in the IELTS General Writing Task 1! So, why not gear up for the IELTS Writing Task 2 now? Hop on!