General Training Writing Task 1 – Letter

The IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 asks you to write a letter of a minimum of 150 words in response to some situation or a problem. The task will probably ask you to complain about something, to request information, ask for help, to make arrangements and/or explain a situation. All these are fairly similar tasks.

Letter Structure

1. Salutation– Example: Dear Sir or Dear John 
2. Opening statement– This paragraph or sentence should include the purpose for writing.
3. Body paragraph 1–  This paragraph should explain one point of the letter with details.
4. Body paragraph 2– This paragraph should  explain one point of the letter with details.
5. Body paragraph 3– This paragraph should  explain one point of the letter with details.
6. Closing statement– This statement should be  written in a separate line, after covering the final point and before signing off Example: Hoping to see you soon.
7. Signing off– Example: Yours sincerely, Yours lovingly
8. Name– Could be any name

Letter Types and Salutations

Type of letter	Beginning	Ending
Formal, no name	Dear Sir or Madam	Yours faithfully
Formal, with surname	Dear Mr. Sharma	Yours sincerely
Semi -formal, e.g. neighbour or colleague	Dear Ramesh	Yours truly
Informal, e.g. friend	Dear Sarah	Yours lovingly

Some Examples

Request letter to authorities for additional sports facilities	Formal
Invitation letter to an English friend for your wedding	Informal
Request letter to hotel to return your things which you accidentally forgot there	Formal
Apology letter to a friend who is visiting from abroad who is to stay with you but you can’t accommodate her	Informal
Resentment letter to the director of your company as they have decided to close the cafeteria	Formal
Complaint letter to airport manager for the problems you faced at the airport	Formal
Letter to friend accepting her request to look after her children	Informal
Letter to airport manager for appreciating an employee who helped you with a problem at the airport	Formal
Invitation letter to a friend for a photography exhibition where your prize winning photo will be shown	Informal
Apology letter to friend who bought theatre tickets for you but you cannot go	Informal