The short answer
A General Training Task 1 letter should state its purpose, cover all the prompt's bullet points and use a tone appropriate to the recipient. Decide who you are writing to before choosing the greeting, vocabulary and sign-off.
Let the relationship determine the tone
A message to a friend can sound personal and conversational. A letter to an unfamiliar manager needs a more formal, direct style. A letter to a landlord you know may fall between these extremes. The prompt provides the relationship; do not choose an elaborate greeting before reading it.
Use the opening sentence to explain why you are writing. The reader should quickly understand whether this is a request, complaint, invitation or explanation. A clear purpose also helps you stay focused when developing the remaining bullet points.
Turn each bullet into useful detail
Ticking off a bullet with a few words may leave it underdeveloped. Give the recipient the information needed to act: what happened, how it affects you and what you would like them to do. Keep invented details consistent throughout the letter.
Review tone and completeness separately
First, compare your letter with each bullet in the prompt. Then read it as the recipient: is the request specific and easy to respond to? Finally, check that the greeting, body and ending belong to the same relationship. A formal opening followed by slang creates an avoidable mismatch.
For practice, rewrite the same repair message for a close friend whose flat you are borrowing. Keep the facts but change the greeting, degree of directness and ending. This exercise trains flexible tone without memorising a complete letter. General Training Task 1 requires at least 150 words; write connected paragraphs rather than a list of answers.
Before your next attempt
- The recipient can identify my purpose immediately.
- I developed every bullet point with relevant information.
- My tone stays consistent from greeting to ending.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to write postal addresses?
No. IELTS General Training Task 1 does not require addresses at the top of the letter.
Can I invent details?
Yes, you can supply plausible details needed for the situation. Keep them relevant and consistent with the prompt.
Sources and editorial notes
Official sources below support test-format and scoring facts. Exercises, examples and suggested routines are original IELTSRISE learning material, not official test questions or guaranteed score strategies.
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