IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: Complete Letter Writing Guide (2026)

If you are taking IELTS General Training, Task 1 is a letter — not a chart description. This is the difference most students miss, and it costs them a band score.

You get 20 minutes to write at least 150 words. The letter is worth one third of your total Writing score. The question gives you a situation and three bullet points you must cover.

Here is everything you need to score Band 7+ in GT Task 1, with sample letters for every type.

The 3 Letter Types and When to Use Them

The question tells you who you are writing to. Match your tone to the person:

Letter Type	Who You Write To	Tone	Example Question
Formal	Someone you do not know	Professional, polite	A complaint to a company
Semi-formal	Someone you know professionally	Friendly but respectful	A letter to a landlord or manager
Informal	A friend or family member	Casual, warm	A letter to a friend about a trip

Getting the tone wrong loses marks on Task Achievement and Lexical Resource. A "Dear Sir or Madam" letter written to your best friend scores poorly, no matter how good the English is.

The 6 Letter Question Types

Every GT Task 1 falls into one of these six categories. Learn the phrases for each:

Complaint — "You bought a product that was faulty. Write to the company..."
Request / Enquiry — "You need information about a course. Write to the college..."
Apology — "You missed an appointment. Write to explain..."
Invitation — "You are having a party. Write to invite a friend..."
Resignation — "You have decided to leave your job. Write to your manager..."
Thanks / Recommendation — "A friend helped you. Write to thank them..."

The Structure That Scores Band 7+

A Band 7+ letter has four paragraphs. Do not add a fifth.

Paragraph 1 — Purpose (1-2 sentences). Say why you are writing in one clear sentence. "I am writing to complain about..." or "I am writing to request information about...". Do not warm up with pleasantries in a formal letter.

Paragraph 2 — First bullet point (2-3 sentences). Develop the first point fully. Answer what, why, and any relevant detail.

Paragraph 3 — Second bullet point (2-3 sentences). Cover the next point. Link paragraphs naturally.

Paragraph 4 — Third bullet point + closing (2-3 sentences). Cover the final point, then close with a request for action. "I would be grateful if you could refund the cost within 14 days." or "I look forward to hearing from you."

Band 9 Sample Letter: Formal Complaint

Question: You bought a pair of running shoes online, but when they arrived they were damaged. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: explain what you bought and when, describe the problem, and say what you expect the company to do.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to complain about a pair of running shoes I purchased from your online store on 12 June. The order number was 482917 and the total charge was $89.99.

When the parcel arrived on 18 June, I discovered that the left shoe had a large tear across the instep and the sole was coming away from the upper. Given that the shoes were advertised as a premium product, this level of workmanship is unacceptable.

I would be grateful if you could arrange a replacement pair at no extra cost, or issue a full refund to my original payment method. I would also ask that the courier you use for the replacement handles the package more carefully, as the outer box showed clear signs of being crushed in transit.

I look forward to hearing from you within 14 days to confirm how you will resolve this matter.

Yours faithfully, [Your name]

Why this scores Band 9: Clear purpose in sentence one. All three bullet points fully developed. Precise vocabulary ("level of workmanship is unacceptable," "issue a full refund"). Formal register maintained throughout. Natural cohesive devices ("given that," "I would also ask that"). No errors.

Band 9 Sample Letter: Informal

Question: You have just moved to a new house. Write a letter to a friend. In your letter: describe your new house, explain why you moved, and invite your friend to visit.

Dear Priya,

I hope you are well! I have some exciting news — we finally moved last weekend, and I cannot believe how much I love the new place.

The house is a small two-bedroom cottage about twenty minutes from the city centre. It has a huge south-facing garden that I have already filled with tomatoes and basil, and the kitchen is bigger than our entire old apartment. My favourite part is the little reading nook under the stairs that I always dreamed about.

We moved because my office relocated to the east side of town and the commute from our old flat was becoming unbearable — two hours a day. Being ten minutes from work has changed my life, honestly. I get home early enough to actually cook dinner now.

You must come and see it! The spare room is ready and there is a lovely pub around the corner. How about the first weekend of next month? Let me know if that suits you and I will book us a table.

Looking forward to seeing you soon, Meera

Why this scores Band 9: Warm, natural informal register. All three bullet points covered and developed with specific detail. Contractions and casual phrasing used correctly ("cannot believe," "honestly," "You must come"). Natural flow between paragraphs. This is what informal language should look like.

Band 9 Sample Letter: Semi-Formal

Question: You have a problem with your rented apartment. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter: describe the problem, explain how it affects you, and suggest what the landlord should do.

Dear Mr. Ahmed,

I am writing to let you know about a problem with the heating system in my flat at 14 Elm Street.

The radiators in the living room and the main bedroom have not produced any heat since last Tuesday, and the hot water runs cold after a few minutes. I have checked the boiler and the thermostat, but nothing appears to be wrong with either, so I believe the issue is inside the system itself.

This has made the flat genuinely uncomfortable to live in, especially with the cold weather we have been having. I have had to rely on portable heaters, which I am concerned about running for long periods.

Could you arrange for a heating engineer to inspect the system this week if possible? I am happy to be at the flat at any time that suits the engineer. I would also appreciate you letting me know if I should claim this against the contents insurance or if it will be covered by you.

Thank you for your help with this.

Best regards, Rohan Sharma

Why this scores Band 9: Polite but direct register — friendly enough for a tenant-landlord relationship, formal enough to be taken seriously. All three points developed. The request is specific and reasonable. "Genuinely uncomfortable" is exactly the right register for semi-formal.

The 5 Mistakes That Cost a Band Score

1. Writing in the wrong tone. Formal phrases in an informal letter ("I would like to express my gratitude") or casual phrases in a formal letter ("Cheers for sorting this out"). Match the tone to the recipient.

2. Not covering all three bullet points. Every bullet point must be addressed. Missing one caps you at Band 6 for Task Achievement regardless of your English.

3. Copying the question. Paraphrase the situation in your own words. Memorized openers like "I am writing this letter to complain about the product I bought" copied from the prompt cost marks.

4. Forgetting the closing. A formal letter needs "Yours faithfully" (if you wrote "Dear Sir or Madam") or "Yours sincerely" (if you used a name). Informal letters need a warm sign-off like "Best wishes" or "Take care."

5. Making it a list. "First, second, third" reads as mechanical. Connect your points naturally: "Given that...", "As the shoes were advertised as...", "To make matters worse..."

Time Management for GT Task 1

Phase	Time	What to do
Planning	2 minutes	Identify letter type, tone, and the 3 bullet points
Writing	15 minutes	4 paragraphs, cover all points, 150-190 words
Checking	3 minutes	Grammar, spelling, word count, closing sign-off

Planning is not wasted time. Two minutes deciding the tone and mapping your three points prevents the most common Task Achievement errors.

Practice This Structure

Pick any GT Task 1 question, set a 20-minute timer, and write. Then check: Did I use the right tone? Did I cover all three bullet points? Does the letter read naturally or like a list?

Write at least 10 letters across all 6 types before your exam. Then get AI feedback on all four IELTS criteria to see where your letters lose marks.

For Task 2 preparation, see the 2026 writing question bank and the Band 7+ essay structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my IELTS General Training Task 1 letter be?

At least 150 words. Most Band 7+ letters are 160-190 words. Write 4 paragraphs: a clear purpose sentence, two body paragraphs with one main point each, and a natural closing line. Never copy the question word for word.

How much time should I spend on IELTS GT Task 1?

20 minutes. Spend 2 minutes planning the bullet points, 15 minutes writing, and 3 minutes checking for grammar, spelling, and word count. The letter is worth one third of your total Writing score.

Should I write a formal or informal letter in IELTS GT Task 1?

Match the tone to the person. Formal for someone you do not know (a company, a manager, an official). Semi-formal for someone you know professionally (a colleague, a landlord). Informal for friends and family.

How is IELTS General Training Task 1 scored?

On the same 4 criteria as Task 2: Task Achievement (did you cover all 3 bullet points?), Coherence and Cohesion (paragraphing), Lexical Resource (vocabulary), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The letter must have a clear purpose and all 3 bullet points developed.

Do I need a conclusion in an IELTS letter?

No. Letters end with a closing line and sign-off, not a conclusion paragraph. "I look forward to hearing from you" followed by "Yours faithfully" is the standard ending for formal letters.

What if the letter is for someone I know by name but not well?

Use the semi-formal style. Address them as "Dear Mr. Ahmed" or "Dear Ms. Kim" (surname, not first name), keep the language polite but not stiff, and sign off with "Best regards" or "Kind regards."