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IELTS Practice General Training Writing Test - Task 1

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How to Approach General Training Writing Task 1

The IELTS general writing task 1 constitutes of a letter that the test takers need to prepare for. Furthermore, candidates are given 20 minutes to finish general training writing task 1 and they need to write a minimum of 150 words related to the same.

Overall, three types of letters need to be practiced for IELTS general writing task 1, out of which you are going to get only one. These three letters include a formal setting, a semi-formal, and an informal one. 

The formal letter is usually written to strangers sitting at a position of authority and is highly sophisticated. In this situation, you might be asked to write to the manager of a company regarding his company’s product or maybe to the newspaper editor about some important award or civilian issue. 

As far as the semi-formal letter is concerned, it is written most of the times to colleagues, managers of one’s own company or neighbors with whom a person shares a professional relationship.

The third one is the informal letter which is written to friends and family members. While the first two letters constitute a professional and sophisticated form of writing, the third one has a more informal tone.

Task 1 – Write About the Following Topic:

Let us now discuss the method of approaching the question in writing task 1, general training, and how it is constructed. Moreover, a question has been mentioned here in the form of a formal letter.

You have bought a camera while traveling abroad which has started malfunctioning. Write a letter to the manager of the company.

In your letter

  • Explain where you bought the product
  • What is the problem with it and what steps you have taken regarding this matter
  • What steps do you expect the company to undertake 

Write at least 150 words and try to finish this letter within 20 minutes.

Now, this is a formal letter where the examinee has to address a stranger sitting in a position of authority. So, we need to begin it in this manner - Dear Sir/Madam, - before proceeding with details comprising of information related to the bullet points. In the end, you can finish it in this way - Yours sincerely/Yours faithfully - apart from writing your own name.

The second format of writing task 1 in GT consists of a semi-formal letter which is written to professionals or neighbours with whom we share a cordial relationship instead of a friendly one. This is an example of a semi-formal document:

You were unable to attend an important event held by the company you work for. Write a letter to your manager and in your letter:

  • Apologize for your absence and explain the reasoning
  • Explain why you had to be at the other event
  • Explain what you will do to catch up

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.

The semi-formal letter is started in this manner - Dear Mr. Henderson and then we discuss the issue at hand. In the end, we have to write - Yours sincerely/Yours faithfully just as in the formal letter followed by one’s own name.

In the end, we will see the example of an informal letter that is written to friends or family members. 

You have organized a party and want to invite your friend from a different city. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

  • Describe why you are having the party
  • Give directions on how to get to the venue
  • Suggest how you can accommodate him/her

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. You should begin your letter in the following manner Dear X (We can write the name of the friend) and finish it in this way - Yours lovingly - while mentioning our name.

After Completion

Once writing task 1 is over, candidates need to move on to the second writing task which comprises of an essay. In this task, a test taker needs to write at least 250 words and should try to finish it in 40 minutes. 

After finishing both tasks, test takers can check model answers which are important for assessing their performance. In writing the thought process, has to be clear, while the content needs to resonate with the topic. In addition to this, perfect grammar and spelling make an essay competent enough, while taking it above the league of ordinary writings. 

Click Here - IELTS Practice General Training Writing Test - Task 2

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