IELTS General Training Writing: Overview

This version of IELTS is for those applying for:

• Work experience
• Immigration
• Training programs (below degree level)

Time: 60 minutes

• Task 1: Letter writing (20 minutes, 150 words)
• Task 2: Essay writing (40 minutes, 250 words)

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Task 1: Letter Writing

What you’ll be asked:

You will write a letter in response to a given situation, such as:

• Complaining about a service
• Requesting information
• Applying for a job
• Explaining a problem

Types of letters:

1. Formal – to someone you don’t know (e.g., company, manager)
2. Semi-formal – to someone you know in a professional context
3. Informal – to a friend or close contact

What to include:

• Purpose of the letter (introduction)
• Main content/body (details, explanation)
• Appropriate tone and style
• Proper opening/closing phrases (e.g., Dear Sir/Madam, Yours sincerely)

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Task 2: Essay Writing

Exactly the same as the Academic test in terms of format.

What you’ll be asked:

Write a formal essay in response to a question, such as:

• Agree/disagree
• Problem and solution
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Discussion + your opinion

Essay must:

• Be at least 250 words
• Clearly present ideas
• Use examples to support your points
• Have a clear structure

Scoring Criteria (Band Descriptors)

Both tasks are marked with the same criteria as Academic:

1. Task Achievement (T1) / Task Response (T2)
2. Coherence and Cohesion
3. Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Writing Tips for General Training

Task 1 Letter:

• Identify the tone: formal, semi-formal, or informal
• Use appropriate greetings (Dear Sir, vs Hi John,)
• Cover all three bullet points in the prompt
• Avoid slang in formal letters

Task 2 Essay:

• Plan for 5–10 minutes before writing
• Follow a 4–5 paragraph structure
• Use a mix of sentence structures
• Use linking words (e.g., Firstly, However, In conclusion)

Letter Openings and Closings – Examples

Type	Opening	Closing
Formal	Dear Sir or Madam,	Yours faithfully,
Semi-formal	Dear Mr. Smith,	Yours sincerely,
Informal	Dear John,	Best regards / Yours truly