IELTS General Writing Task 1: Evaluation, Letter Samples, and Tips
IELTS General Writing Task 1 is 20 minutes long, and you need to write a letter of at least 150 words. There is given information about a situation, whom you need to address in the letter, and the points to be included in the letter are mentioned. IELTS writing task one general question comprises three letter types: formal, semi-formal, and personal. You will be allocated 60 minutes for the writing section, 40 minutes required for task 2, and 20 minutes for IELTS general writing task1.
To finish the letter in 20 minutes, you have to prepare all the three-letter types thoroughly. IELTS writing task 1 for general accounts for around 30% of the writing score, and it evaluates your idea, writing style, vocabulary, and grammar. IELTS general is designed for candidates who are aiming for work or are migrating to an English-speaking country. Achieving an IELTS writing score of 6.5 bands can strengthen your application process.
IELTS General writing tasks focus on everyday situations, while Academic tasks deal with more complex academic topics. You need to write a letter on IELTS writing task 1 for general training, and the letter must contain the purpose, appropriate tone, and an appropriate format. Always start your letter by clearly stating why you are writing, the reason needs to be presented in the opening paragraph.
IELTS Writing Task 1 for General
IELTS General writing training task 1 has three types of questions: formal, semi-formal, and informal. The three types of questions are explained in detail so that candidates can understand them well and perform well in IELTS General exam.
| Letter type | Purpose | Characteristic | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Applying for a job, giving a feedback to the company, requesting for a refund from the college, applying for higher education, asking for an experience letter, etc | Written to someone with whom one has a formal connection, such as school teacher, city magistrate, etc | Dear Sir/Ma’am | Yours faithfully |
| Semi-formal | Asking for permission, complaining about something, informing about something | Written to a known person For eg, landlord, colleague, etc | Dear Mr/Ms name of a person | Yours sincerely |
| Informal | writing a letter to invite a friend to a birthday party, apologizing to a loved one, etc | Written to a known person. For example friend, relative, family member, etc. | Dear Name of a person | Best wishes |
Evaluation Criteria
On the basis of four criteria, candidates are allotted marks in IELTS GT writing task 1. To achieve a good IELTS band score in the writing part, focus on the following:
- Task achievement
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
IELTS General Writing Task 1 Topics
Candidates can refer to IELTS preparation books to practice thoroughly as it will aid them in learning process. Some of the topics that are asked frequently in GT letter task are provided below:
- Justification letter
- Invitation letter
- Letter expressing concern
- Letter of expression of satisfaction
- Thank you letter
- Letter of recommendation
- Letter informing someone of good/bad news
- Suggestion letter
- Apologizing letter
IELTS General Writing Task 1 sample questions with answers
It is vital to attempt complete mock tests before IELTS exam dates. But before starting a full-length mock test, candidates should attempt a few section-wise mocks to help them analyze their weak points. For IELTS letter writing task, aspirants can practice the sample General writing Task 1 questions. For the first few questions, candidates can use IELTS writing task 1 general training sample questions with answers as it will help them analyze their answers. The below image presents IELTS letter-writing questions, and its answer:
Sample answer:
Few more IELTS general writing task 1 questions are:
Tips for IELTS General writing task 1
The purpose of the question is to assess applicants' abilities in practical writing. It assesses the applicant's capacity to write in various styles about various topics and objectives. Additionally, it evaluates ideas, writing style, vocabulary, and grammar. Students are required to concentrate on a variety of everyday practical problems to write properly in exams. Here are some tips that will help the candidate in IELTS preparation:
- Write in your own words.
- Never write a formal letter in informal language.
- Start letter with greetings (Dear Sir/Ma’am, Dear friend).
- Write about the purpose of the letter in the introduction paragraph.
- Information and the purpose should be written in a concise manner.
- Provide relevant facts and information.
- Bullet points that are given in the question should be included in the answer.
- Use modals in formal letters.
- Tone of the letter should be as per the question type.
- Address should not be written in the letter.
- Write at least 150 words.
- Use words like could, would, request, may, and purchase in formal letters.
- Use words like ask, buy, can, will, and when are you free in informal letters,
- Divide the letter into paragraphs.
- Use standard phrases and words.
- Always highlight the important point.
- Avoid grammatical errors.
- Proofread the letter.
- Do not forget the closing salutation.
- Never skip this question type.
- Try to complete it in 20 minutes.
Useful Expressions for writing task 1 General
Completing the task in 20 minutes is achievable if the candidate learns some commonly used phrases. But it should be noted that phrases and expressions should be used as per the question type asked in IELTS writing task 1 topics. So, in a formal letter, formal tone should be used. Here is the list of some commonly used phrases and expressions:
- I am writing to express my dissatisfaction…
- I was so pleased to hear that…
- I would like to know about…
- Looking forward to catching up…
- I regret to inform you that…
- I am writing to express my concern about…
- It was so kind of you to…
- I am delighted to announce that…
- Could you please
- I hope you are doing well…
- I am writing to inquire about…
The General training writing task 1 should be written in a coherent fashion, and it should be free from grammatical errors. Moreover, the letter should include at least 150 words, and a wide range of vocabulary should be used when writing task 1 General.
FAQs
Ques: What is IELTS General Writing Task 1?
Ans: IELTS general writing task 1 will provide you an information about a situation, whom you need to address in the letter, and the points to be included in the letter.
Ques: How much time do I get for IELTS general writing task 1?
Ans: IELTS General Writing Task 1 is 20 minutes long, and you need to write a letter of at least 150 words.
Ques: What are the different types of tasks in IELTS general writing task 1?
Ans: IELTS writing task one general question comprises three letter types: formal, semi-formal, and personal.
Ques: What kind of vocabulary should I use in IELTS general writing task 1?
Ans: Always try to use formal vocabulary suitable for the context, and avoid slang or informal language.
Ques: What are some good resources for practicing IELTS Writing Task 1?
Ans: You can get ideas about the topics and questions from the IDP official website. There are other preparation apps, websites, and coaching centers available for effective preparation.
Ques: How to write Task 1 in IELTS General?
Ans: Always start your letter by clearly stating why you are writing, the reason needs to be presented in the opening paragraph.
Ques: What are the common topics for IELTS general writing task 1?
Ans: You will be given topics from everyday situations such as complaining to a company about bad service, writing to apologize for missing a friend's party, or writing to express your interest in a new job.
Ques: What is the general writing task in IELTS?
Ans: In IELTS general writing task you are given information about a situation, whom you need to address in the letter, and the points to be included in the letter.
Ques: How can I pass IELTS general writing task 1?
Ans: Your letter must contain the purpose, appropriate tone, and an appropriate format. Always start your letter by clearly stating why you are writing, the reason needs to be presented in the opening paragraph.
Ques: What is General Training IELTS writing task 1 format?
Ans: The candidate should begin the letter with greetings, then write the main body; it can have multiple paragraphs, and finally salutation.
Ques: What are the types of letters in IELTS general writing task 1?
Ans: Types of letters that can be asked in writing task 1 General are formal, semi-formal, and informal.
Ques: How to write a formal letter for general Training IELTS?
Ans: A formal letter in Task 1 General should be written formally. The letter's purpose should be stated, and relevant information and facts should be added.
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