General Training Writing Task 1: Formal, Semi-formal and Informal Letters
How to write IELTS General Training letters: choosing the right tone, covering all three bullet points, and an original model letter.
In General Training Writing Task 1, you write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The task gives you a situation and three bullet points. Your score depends heavily on two things: covering all three bullet points fully and using the right tone for the reader.
Step 1: identify the tone
| Reader | Tone | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown person or organisation | Formal | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| Named person you don't know well (manager, landlord) | Semi-formal | Dear Mr Patel, | Yours sincerely, |
| Friend or family member | Informal | Hi Sam, / Dear Sam, | Best wishes, / Take care, |
Mixing tones is a frequent cause of lower scores. "Hey, I'm writing to complain…" to a company sounds wrong, and so does "I hereby inform you…" to a friend.
Step 2: plan one paragraph per bullet point
A clear structure:
- Opening line: why you are writing.
- Paragraph for bullet 1.
- Paragraph for bullet 2.
- Paragraph for bullet 3.
- Closing line and sign-off.
Example task
You recently stayed at a hotel and left a valuable item in your room. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:
- give details of your stay
- describe the item you left behind
- explain what you would like the hotel to do.
Model letter (formal)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing regarding an item I believe I left in my room during a recent stay at your hotel.
I stayed in room 412 from 14 to 17 October as part of a business trip, and I checked out early on the morning of the 17th in order to catch a flight. In my hurry, I must have left the item in the bedside drawer.
The item is a silver wristwatch with a black leather strap and a small engraving, "R.M. 2015", on the back. Although it is not especially expensive, it has great sentimental value, as it was a gift from my late father.
I would be very grateful if you could check with your housekeeping staff and let me know whether the watch has been found. If so, I would like it to be sent by registered post to the address below, and I will of course cover the postage costs. Alternatively, a colleague of mine could collect it in person next week.
Thank you in advance for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully, Rania Mansour
(194 words)
Language that raises your score
- Purpose: I am writing to enquire about / to complain about / to request…
- Polite requests: I would be grateful if you could…, Would it be possible to…?
- Informal equivalents: Could you do me a favour?, I was wondering if…
- Closing: I look forward to hearing from you (formal), Can't wait to see you! (informal)
Informal letters: sounding natural
Informal letters are not "easier". Examiners expect a friendly tone and natural expressions:
- Openings: It was great to hear from you!, Sorry I haven't been in touch for a while.
- Contractions: I'm, can't, we'll are normal in informal letters but should be avoided in formal ones.
- Phrasal verbs: catch up, look forward to, put you up, sort it out.
- Endings: Let me know what you think, Say hi to everyone for me.
Even in an informal letter, keep clear paragraphs and answer each bullet point fully.
Checklist before you finish
- Did I answer all three bullet points with detail?
- Is the tone consistent from greeting to sign-off?
- Did I write at least 150 words?
- Did I avoid memorised phrases that don't fit the situation?
Write your own version with our timer and word counter, then check it with AI feedback.