IELTS General Training letter: tone, structure and examples for Task 1

In the IELTS General Training test, Writing Task 1 is a letter. You are given an everyday situation and three bullet points, and you have about 20 minutes to write at least 150 words. The letter may need to be personal, semi-formal or formal, and choosing the right tone is half the task.

This guide shows you how to read the task, pick the tone, plan around the bullet points, and open and close correctly. Every example letter and extract here is original and written for practice. If you are taking the Academic test, your Task 1 is a chart description instead: see our Academic Writing Task 1 guide.

What the IELTS General Training letter involves

The official format page says you will be given a situation and must write a response in the form of a letter. You might need to ask for or give information, or explain a situation, and the task tells you what to include in the form of three bullet points. The examples IELTS gives are everyday ones: writing to an accommodation officer about a problem, to an employer, to a local newspaper, or to a rental agency about faulty heating.

IELTS also says that Task Achievement for the letter refers to how well your letter achieves its purpose. A letter with perfect grammar that forgets one bullet point, or sounds rude to a manager, has not fully achieved its purpose.

Choosing formal, semi-formal or informal tone

According to IELTS, the style depends on who you are writing to and how well you are supposed to know them: a friend calls for a personal style, and a manager for a semi-formal or formal one. Look at the first line of the task and ask two questions: who is the reader, and do I know them?

These opening and closing pairs follow standard British letter conventions. The important point is consistency: once you choose a tone, keep it. The official band descriptors for Task 1 (General Training) describe band 7 as “the tone is consistent and appropriate to the task”, while band 6 allows “minor inconsistencies in tone”. A formal complaint that suddenly says Anyway, sort it out ASAP is exactly the kind of slip to avoid.

How to read the three bullet points

The bullet points are your paragraph plan. Each one usually begins with a verb that tells you what kind of writing is needed: explain, describe, say, suggest, ask, apologise, invite. Underline the verb and answer it directly. Here is an original practice task, analysed:

The reader is the manager, a named person you do not know well, so this is semi-formal. A strong plan, then, is: one opening sentence stating the purpose, one paragraph per bullet point, a one-line closing request, and the sign-off.

The official descriptors are strict about coverage. At band 7, “all bullet points are covered and clearly highlighted”; at band 4, “not all bullet points are presented”. Missing a bullet point is one of the quickest ways to lose marks, so tick each one off as you write.

A simple letter structure

1. Greeting that matches the tone.
2. Opening sentence stating why you are writing. In formal and semi-formal letters, get to the point in the first line: I am writing to…
3. Body paragraph 1 for bullet point 1.
4. Body paragraph 2 for bullet point 2.
5. Body paragraph 3 for bullet point 3.
6. Closing line that signals what you expect next: I look forward to hearing from you. / Let me know what you think!
7. Sign-off and name. First name only for a friend; full name for formal and semi-formal letters.

The criteria are about purpose, coverage of the bullet points, tone, organisation and language, so spend your 20 minutes on those rather than on addresses or decorative layout.

Common letter purposes, with original examples

Most tasks combine one or two of the purposes below. Each example is a short extract to show the tone and useful phrases, not a full letter.

Complaint

Be specific (dates, amounts, what went wrong) and say exactly what you want done. Stay polite: firmness comes from facts, not anger.

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the cleaning service your company provided at my flat on 12 June. Although the booking was for three hours, your staff left after ninety minutes, and the kitchen and bathroom were not cleaned at all. I would therefore be grateful if you could refund half of the £80 fee.

For a complete formal complaint with commentary on each criterion, read our model complaint letter about a delayed delivery.

Request for information or action

I am planning to enrol on your evening photography course in September and would like some further information. Could you tell me whether the course fee includes the use of a camera, and whether there is a discount for students who pay for the whole year in advance?

Apology

Apologise early, explain briefly without making excuses, and offer to put things right.

Dear Mrs Lindqvist, I am so sorry that I missed our meeting on Tuesday. My train was cancelled and, foolishly, I had left my phone at home, so I could not let you know. I would very much like to rearrange, and I am free any morning next week if that suits you.

Invitation

Hi Jonas, I'm finally having a housewarming party now that the new flat is (almost) unpacked, and I'd love you to come. It's on Saturday the 21st from about seven. Don't bring anything except yourself, although if you could bring that excellent bread you made last time, I wouldn't complain!

Thanks

Say what you are grateful for and why it mattered. A specific detail makes thanks sound sincere.

Dear Mr Adeyemi, I wanted to thank you for the advice you gave me before my job interview last month. Your suggestion to prepare examples from my volunteering work turned out to be crucial, because the panel asked about teamwork almost immediately. I am delighted to say that I was offered the position.

A complete informal letter

Dear Marta,

I'm so excited that you're finally coming to visit! I've been thinking about how to make your week here as good as possible, so here are a few ideas.

You'd be very welcome to stay with me, but my flat is tiny and the sofa bed isn't exactly luxurious. If you'd prefer your own space, there's a lovely guesthouse called The Old Mill just two streets away. It's reasonably priced and the breakfasts are famous.

As for things to do, you have to try the walk along the cliffs to the lighthouse. It takes about two hours and the views are amazing on a clear day. The Saturday market is also worth a visit, especially if you like cheese, and I'll definitely take you to my favourite café for the best hot chocolate in town.

Getting here is easy. When you land, follow the signs to the bus station and take the number 12. It leaves every half an hour and takes about forty minutes. Just text me when you get on and I'll meet you at the last stop.

Can't wait to see you!

Love, Ana

This letter is around 220 words, comfortably over the minimum. Notice that each bullet point gets its own paragraph, that the opening sentence sets a warm tone, and that informal features (contractions, As for, Can't wait) are used consistently from start to finish.

Mistakes that cost marks

• Mixing tones, such as Dear Sir or Madam followed by Hope you're well! or Yours faithfully to a named person.
• Skipping or rushing a bullet point. Give each one roughly equal weight unless the task suggests otherwise.
• A vague purpose. The reader should know why you are writing by the end of your first sentence.
• Memorised openings that don't fit, such as long formulaic paragraphs. The descriptors mention inappropriate use of memorised phrases and formulaic language at band 4 for Lexical Resource.
• Copying the task wording. Rephrase the situation in your own words; our paraphrasing guide shows how.
• Running out of time for Task 2. Twenty minutes is a guide, not a minimum. The essay carries twice the weight.

Accurate punctuation and articles matter in short letters, because errors stand out more. Our grammar pages on punctuation and modals for polite requests and hedging cover the structures you will use most. For the bigger picture, see our IELTS Writing tips and the plain-English Writing band descriptors.

How do I know whether to write a formal or informal letter?

Look at who you are writing to. IELTS says the style depends on your reader and how well you are supposed to know them. A friend means informal; a named manager, landlord or neighbour usually means semi-formal; a company or someone whose name you do not know means formal.

Do I need to write addresses or a date?

The marking criteria focus on purpose, bullet points, tone, organisation and language. Spend your time on those. Start with the greeting and finish with the sign-off and your name.

How long should the letter be?

At least 150 words. There is no penalty for writing more, but a long letter takes time from Task 2, which counts twice as much. Around 160 to 200 words is usually enough to cover three bullet points well.

Can I invent details such as names, dates and prices?

Yes. The situation is imaginary, so specific, realistic details help you illustrate and extend each bullet point, which is what the higher bands describe.

Should I use Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?

In British convention, use Yours faithfully after Dear Sir or Madam, and Yours sincerely after a name such as Dear Ms Chen. For friends, use something like Best wishes or See you soon.

Is the General Training essay different from the Academic one?

Both are essays of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. IELTS describes the General Training Task 2 as a semi-formal/neutral discursive essay on a topic of general interest. See our guide to IELTS essay types for structures.