IELTS Writing General Task 1 Samples | Letter Writing Skills

IELTS General Writing Samples

IELTS Sample Letters and Model Answers

The sample questions and model answers below will help you understand how to write IELTS letters.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Informal Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have borrowed something from your friend for a party, but it was damaged during the party. Write a letter to your friend and say:

• What was it?
• How was it damaged?
• What will you do about it?

Write at least 150 words.

Hi Paulo,

How are you? I hope you are well. I would like to thank you again for lending me your hammock for our beach party last weekend. It was a great a party and it's a shame you couldn't make it.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you. Some of the guests got a little crazy and they managed to ruin the hammock, I think there were several of them trying to use it at the same time. Obviously they were too heavy for it and it ripped in the middle, so it's pretty useless now. I can't believe how stupid they were.

I'm going to buy you a new one to repace it, so give me a couple of days to try and find a similar one and I'll bring it round to you, okay.

Sorry again, but you know how parties turn out sometimes when things get out of hand.

See you soon,
Angelo

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IELTS General Task 1 Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Someone in your company is organizing a trip abroad for language learning training. Write a letter to him/her and say why he/she should choose you for this trip, as there is limited number of places available.You should say:

• Describe who you are.
• Why do you think this trip is good for you?
• How can it help the company?

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Jonothan,
You probably don’t remember me, but we met once at a meeting last year. My name is Javier Salazar and I work in the IT department of our company.

I understand you are organising a trip to London for some of the staff and I would really like to go so I can practice my English. I have been studying English in classes here in the company, but I would love the opportunity to really practice in an English speaking country. We also have some international clients we deal with in IT so it would be a good thing for the company as well if I could improve my fluency and understanding when dealing with native English speakers.

I hope you can reserve me a place in the group. Please let me know ASAP and if it’s possible all the details of the trip so I can plan.

Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Javier

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IELTS General Writing Task 1 Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You’ve recently found an object and you think that it might be of some historical value. Write a letter to the director of the museum asking for some information on the object.

• Give a description of that object.
• Tell them where you found it.
• Ask for information you are seeking.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Sir,

I recently found an interesting object while I was walking in the Gratham Moor area. It appears to be some kind of utensil or maybe a tool, but it looks very old. I understand that particular area has some significant historic value and was wondering if you, or someone else at the museum might be able to help me in discovering if the object is indeed from the ancient ruins of the village which founded the area many years ago.

The object is about 40cm in length, narrow, but with one end bigger than the other, it looks like it might have been some kind of spoon or tool for mixing, maybe. Oh, and it appears to be made of some hard kind of material, it isn’t wood or metal.

Would it be possible for me to bring the object to the museum and let you examine it in further detail?

Thank you for your time, I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,
Mauricio Fabanelle

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IELTS General Writing Task 1 Semi Formal Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have applied for a new job in an international organization and you need to provide a reference letter. Write a letter to your former teacher asking him/her to write it for you.

• Give your full details.
• Describe the job that you are going to do there.
• Say why it is important to you.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Mr Petry,

My name is Johanna Bertollini, I was a student in your graduate economics class in 2012. Maybe you remember me? I worked on the same project as Mitzi and Francine in the last semester.

I recently applied for a full time position and I’m writing to ask you for a reference for the job which I’ve applied for. It’s with Global Enterprises, an international company. The position is for a financial researcher and fact checker which I think is quite interesting and will help me develop my research skills further.

I would really love to get this job because it is a great opportunity in a really good company and they have office overseas as well and there is the possibility of working on projects with staff from other countries around the world. This is something which has always interested me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your help in this matter.

Regards,

Johanna Bertollini

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General Training IELTS Writing Task 1 Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Your friend recently had a new baby born and you have bought him/her a present. Write a letter and say:

• What is the present?
• Why did you choose it?
• Arrange a visit to give them the present and see the baby.

Write at least 150 words.

Hi Stephanie,

How are you? How’s the baby? Are you getting any sleep?

Thanks for the lovely photos you sent me. I know we haven’t seen each other for a long time but I’ve managed to organize some free time next week. I’d like to travel to see you and Ben and little Jasmine and spend some time with you. Would it be possible to stay overnight with you? If it would be awkward, I understand, and I can always book a hotel nearby.

I found this lovely baby blanket the other day and I just couldn’t resist it, it’s beautiful. I hope you like it, I think you will. It’s made of the softest material and I almost wanted to sleep in it myself it was so soothing. It’s amazing!

I remembered you telling me about the blanket you had when you were a little baby and that’s why I thought it would be the perfect gift for little Jasmine.

Please write soon,

All the best,

Franky

IELTS General Writing Task 1 Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You friend has an idea for a start up business. Write a letter to him/her to say that you are interested to become a partner. Include in your letter:

• What do you think about the idea?
• Why do you want to be part of this business?
• Give some suggestions.

Write at least 150 words.

Hi Melanie,

I hope you’re well and keeping busy. I’ve been thinking about what you told me the other day about your idea for starting a graphic design business. The more I think about it the better it sounds.

In fact, I like the idea so much I’d like to suggest that we do it together. We could share the work and as you know I have a lot of experience in marketing and business administration so I could concentrate on organising the website and social media campaigns and take care of client accounts and all the administration requirements while you focus on the design side of the business.

I think together we’d make a great team. What do you think? If you like the idea we should meet up and discuss it in more detail ... you know, make a plan and get things started.

Write me soon and let me know what you think.

All the best,

Giovana

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IELTS General Writing Task 1 Formal Letter

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write a letter to the cinema manager to inform him/her that you have lost your bag in the cinema. In your letter you should:

• Tell exactly what happened and when.
• Explain where you think you left the bag.
• Ask the manager to help find your bag.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Last night my friend and I attended the late show of Homefront, the Jason Statham movie, in auditorium number 4 at the cinema complex. Unfortunately, I think I left my bag behind when I left. I placed it on the floor, under the seat, during the movie and forgot to pick it up before leaving.

I wonder if you could tell me if any of your staff or anyone else has handed it in. I tried ringing the reception of the cinema but they couldn’t help me, they didn’t know anything about it and they suggested I should contact you, so I am writing to see if you could help locate my bag so that I may collect it from you.

Let me describe it for you: it’s black, made of leather and has two pockets or pouches on the outside. The maker is Diesel and it looks like a small backpack.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter, and I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Alicia Bogona

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Task 1: General Training Writing

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are going on a business trip to another city and have arranged for a colleague to stay in your apartment. Write a letter to this colleague. In your letter:

• Explain where you have left the keys
• Describe some house rules or things they should be aware of
• Suggest a few places they could visit during their stay in your city

Write at least 150 words.

Sample Answer

Dear Susan,

I hope this letter finds you well. As you know, I'll be going on a business trip next week, and I greatly appreciate your willingness to look after my apartment during my absence.

The keys will be with Mrs. Hudson, our friendly neighbor in apartment 2B. She's expecting you to drop by after 4 PM on the day of my departure. Mrs. Hudson is aware of your stay and can assist you should you need any direction or help.

As for the house rules, please avoid smoking indoors and hosting any large gatherings. I also have a few plants that need watering every other day—there is a can in the balcony storage box for this purpose. My cat, Whiskers, is quite self-sufficient but will need her food bowl filled daily; her supplies are in the pantry.

During your stay, I'd recommend visiting the Riverside Café, which is just a 10-minute walk away and offers a serene skyline view. The Central Library is also a must-see if you're keen on a quiet afternoon with a vast collection of books. For a more vibrant scene, the East End Street Market runs on Saturdays, and it's a great chance to taste local treats and shop for unique gifts.

Thank you again for helping me out. I'm just a call or email away if you need to reach me. I look forward to hearing about your adventures!

Warm regards,

Belinda

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essential IELTS letter writing skills?

Mastering essential IELTS letter writing skills is key to success in the IELTS General Training writing test. A test-taker should focus on the following skills:

1. Understand the Prompt | Firstly, accurately identifying the type of letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal) based on the prompt given is crucial for setting the tone and style of writing.
2. Organize Letter Content | The letter should follow a clear structure with an opening salutation, an introduction, body paragraphs detailing the purpose, and a concluding paragraph with an appropriate signing off.
3. Purpose Clarity | The candidate must be adept at expressing the purpose of the letter succinctly—whether it’s an apology, a request, an invitation, or a complaint.
4. Tone and Register | The tone must match the formality of the letter. Formal letters should use polite language and no slang, whereas informal letters can be more conversational.
5. Variety in Vocabulary | Exhibiting a wide range of vocabulary and avoiding repetition demonstrate linguistic ability. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Demonstrating control over sentence structures and tenses without making significant grammatical errors is essential.
6. Meet Word Count Requirements | Writing at least 150 words ensures that test-takers can develop the topic sufficiently.

What standard phrases should I learn to use for IELTS letter writing?

In IELTS General Training letter writing, it's beneficial to familiarize yourself with standard phrases that serve various functions in your correspondence.

For opening and closing salutations, "Dear [Name]," and "Yours faithfully," or "Yours sincerely," are formal and universally accepted.

When expressing the reason for your writing (in first paragraph), phrases like "I am writing to enquire about..." or "I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with..." can set a clear tone.

To conclude your letters, phrases such as "I look forward to hearing from you," and "Thank you for your attention to this matter," are polite and appropriate.

For complaints, phrases like "I must insist on a full refund," or "I trust you will resolve this matter promptly," are useful.

When asking for information, you might use "Could you possibly provide details regarding...?" or "I would be grateful if you could include...".

Finally, phrases that show appreciation such as "I greatly appreciate your help in this matter," can also be part of your toolkit.

These phrases not only help to standardize your responses but also give your letters a tone of professionalism and courtesy that IELTS examiners look for.

Let the context of the letter guide your choice of phrases - whether it requires a formal or semi-formal style. Practicing with a wide variety of prompts will help you become adept at matching the tone to the situation.

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