IELTS Writing Guide

IELTS General Training Task 1: The Letter, at Band 7+

General Training Task 1 is a 150+ word letter written in about 20 minutes. Your score depends on covering all three bullet points, holding the right register, and using the correct letter conventions. Here is how to do all three.

In short

Write a 150+ word letter in ~20 minutes covering all three bullet points — each one is a required part of the task.
The recipient sets the register: formal, semi-formal, or informal. Keep one consistent tone throughout.
Use the matching opening and closing — "Dear Sir or Madam / Yours faithfully" for an unknown formal recipient.

The 4 criteria at Band 6, 7 and 8

Each criterion is 25% of your Task 1 score. For the letter, Task Achievement turns on covering all three bullets and holding a consistent tone.

Criterion (25% each)	Band 6	Band 7	Band 8
Task Achievement	Covers the bullets; purpose clear but tone may be inconsistent; some points under-developed.	Covers all bullets with clear purpose; consistent tone; points extended.	All bullets well covered and developed; tone fully appropriate throughout.
Coherence & Cohesion	Arranged coherently; cohesion can be faulty or mechanical.	Logical progression; range of cohesive devices; clear paragraphing.	Sequenced logically; cohesion managed so it attracts no attention.
Lexical Resource	Adequate vocabulary; some errors in word choice or spelling.	Some less common vocabulary and collocation; occasional errors only.	Wide resource used fluently; rare, minor slips.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	Mix of simple and complex forms; errors rarely impede meaning.	Variety of complex structures; majority of sentences error-free.	Wide range; vast majority of sentences error-free.

Summarised from the public IELTS General Training Task 1 band descriptors (British Council / IDP / Cambridge Assessment English).

A reliable letter structure

Greeting

Match the register: 'Dear Sir or Madam' (unknown formal), 'Dear Mr Smith' (named formal/semi-formal), or 'Dear Anna' (informal).

Opening — purpose

State why you are writing in the first line. One clear sentence so the reader knows the purpose immediately.

Body — the three bullets

Cover each bullet point with enough development, one per short paragraph. This is where Task Achievement is won or lost.

Closing & sign-off

A closing line that fits the purpose, then 'Yours faithfully' (unknown), 'Yours sincerely' (named), or 'Best wishes' (informal).

What caps most candidates at Band 6

Missing or barely covering one of the three bullet points — each is required.
Mixing registers — starting formal, then slipping into casual phrasing (or the reverse).
Wrong opening/closing pair — e.g. 'Dear Sir or Madam' with 'Yours sincerely'.
Writing under 150 words, which is penalised on Task Achievement.
Over-formal, memorised sentences that do not fit the specific situation.
Only simple sentences — Band 7 needs a variety of accurate complex structures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IELTS General Training Writing Task 1?

You write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes responding to a situation. The prompt gives three bullet points you must cover, and tells you whether the letter is formal, semi-formal, or informal.

How do I know if the letter is formal or informal?

The recipient decides the register. Writing to a person you do not know (a manager, a company, an official) is formal. Writing to someone you know in a professional context is semi-formal. Writing to a friend or family member is informal. Keep one register throughout.

Do I have to cover all three bullet points?

Yes. Each bullet point is a required part of the task. Missing or barely covering one bullet caps your Task Achievement, usually at Band 5. Give each bullet enough development — a sentence or two each is rarely sufficient.

What opening and closing should I use?

Formal with an unknown name: 'Dear Sir or Madam' and 'Yours faithfully'. Formal or semi-formal with a name: 'Dear Mr Smith' and 'Yours sincerely'. Informal: 'Dear Anna' and 'Best wishes' or 'Take care'. Matching these conventions supports your Task Achievement and Coherence scores.

What does Band 7 look like in General Task 1?

A Band 7 letter covers all three bullet points with a clear, consistent tone and purpose, organises ideas logically with a range of cohesive devices, uses some less common vocabulary, and produces a variety of complex sentences that are mostly error-free.

Can I get my Task 1 letter marked?

Yes. The Writing Correction Service marks IELTS Task 1 and Task 2 against all four official criteria with line-by-line feedback and a predicted band score, returned in 48 hours.

IELTS Writing Correction

Get your Task 1 letter marked against all four criteria

Submit a Task 1 letter and receive line-by-line feedback and a predicted band score from experienced teachers in 48 hours — including whether your register and bullet coverage are costing you marks.

See IELTS correction