IELTS General Writing Task 1, Types, Tips, Guidance
IELTS General Writing Task 1 requires writing a letter based on a situation. Learn about letter types, tone, structure, and strategies to write effectively for the IELTS General Training test.
Supriya Shrivastava12 May, 2025
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IELTS General Writing Task 1 : The IELTS General Writing Task 1 evaluates your proficiency in discussing common practical issues. You have 20 minutes to reply to a question prompt by writing a letter to an individual, business, or organization. Your answer covers about 30% of your writing score and is evaluated independently from the IELTS General Writing Task 1.
The following section contains suggestions and techniques given in this article. It may help you score as high as possible on the IELTS letter-writing part. Keep track of your progress by using it regularly. While studying for IELTS General Writing Task 1, understand what qualities examiners look for in a letter, and the types of IELTS Writing Task mentioned in this article.IELTS General Writing Task 1
This section is to help you with IELTS General Writing Task 1. In Task 1, applicants are expected to answer a specific issue by writing a letter asking for information or describing a situation. It is advised that applicants take around 20 minutes on IELTS Writing task 1 , which asks them to write at least 150 words. Depending on the task suggested, candidates are assessed on their ability to:- Engage in personal correspondence
- Elicit and provide general factual information.
- Express needs, wants, likes and dislikes
- Express opinions (thoughts, criticisms, etc.).
| IELTS Academic Vs General Training | IELTS General Training Preparation |
Type of IELTS General Writing Task 1
You will learn how to recognize the types of letters you need to write, as well as the appropriate beginning, ending, and tone.Semi-Formal Letter Sample
Your workplace does not have a parking area for cars, and it is causing some problems. Write a letter to your manager and include the following:- Describe the issues it has created.
- Describe the advantages of a parking area for the organization.
- Provide a solution.
Formal Letter Sample
You need to make some adjustments to the hotel reservation you booked for yourself and other employees to stay at during a business trip. Compose a letter to the hotel management. In your letter- Give details of your booking.
- Explain what changes you need to make.
- Ask for some special arrangements to be made for your business meetings.
Informal Letter Sample:
In a letter, inform a friend who is abroad about your intention to work abroad. In your letter say- What jobs do you plan to do?
- Why do you want to work abroad?
- Request some job-related details, such as salary and hours of work.
| IELTS General Important Links | |
|---|---|
| IELTS General Syllabus | IELTS General Training for UKVI Preparation |
| IELTS General Reading | IELTS General Practice Tests |
Tips to Improve Writing Skills for IELTS General Writing Task 1
Here are some IELTS General Writing Task 1 tips to help you improve your letter-writing skills:- Take 20 minutes to finish the letter-writing task. Spend 2-3 minutes planning out the structure and content of the letter.
- Spend 2-3 minutes at the end to double-check the letter for spelling and grammatical mistakes.
- Try to spend just 20 minutes on the IELTS Writing task, since Writing Task 2 has a higher weightage and requires at least 250 words.
- In General IELTS Writing Task 1, you must write at least 150 words, but ideally 160 to 180 words.
- It is not required to provide an address on the letter.
- Pay close attention to who you are writing to and the nature of your connection with them. This will shape the writing tone and style.
- You must structure your letter around the three issues provided in the question. If you do not include any of the three parts, your band score will be affected.
- Always remember to include an opening and closing salutation.
Guidance of Physics Wallah
The objective of Physics Wallah's IELTS coaching is to help students achieve a high band score. The objective of PW IELTS coaching is to improve students' English language skills so they may work or pursue higher education in English-speaking countries. Physics Wallah's experienced teachers can help students in improving their English language proficiency in IELTS online classes . PW offers academic IELTS coaching with general training.IELTS General Writing Task 1 FAQs
Q1 - What is the word limit for IELTS general writing?
Ans - IELTS writing task 1 requires writing more than 150 words, whereas writing task 2 requires writing more than 250 words. There is no upper word limit.
Q2- How many tasks are in general IELTS writing?
Ans - Two writing tasks must be completed. Task 1 requires you to explain visual information in your own words (a graph, table, chart, or diagram). You must write at least 150 words in around 20 minutes. In Task 2, you are given a point of view, argument, or topic to debate.
Q3 - Should I do writing tasks 1 or 2 first?
Ans - Task 2 is worth twice your score from Task 1. If you complete Task 2 first, you will be sure to have completed Task 2. Also, in Task 1, you often get a higher score for including additional details in your letter or report.
Q4 - Which words are not counted in IELTS writing?
Ans - Symbols written with numbers are not counted. For example, the percentage sign in 99.9% is not considered, but 99.9 is counted as one word. Compound nouns (nouns linked together to form a single word) are only counted once.
Q5 - What is the difference between academic and general writing?
Ans - Academic writing is formal, evidence-based, and directed at scholarly audiences, while nonacademic writing is informal, personal, and meant for a wider audience.
Q6 - What is not allowed in IELTS writing?
Ans - Avoid using contractions in your phrases. Examples include: can't, don't, it's, and so on. Slang and idioms should be avoided in writing tasks. Do not repeat the same words.
Q7 - Which is easier, IELTS general or academic?
Ans - In general, the IELTS General Test is seen to be simpler than the IELTS Academic Test. The general test evaluates your ability to maintain English proficiency in any general English-speaking context. In contrast, the academic test evaluates your ability to learn and succeed in a learning environment.
Q8 - Can I write more than 200 words in IELTS writing task 1?
Ans - The minimum requirement for Task 1 in the IELTS Writing test is 150 words, with no limit. If you write more than 200 words, make sure the information is relevant and on point. You should also verify that it is logically structured.
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