Below, you can learn the main points of the IELTS General Training Writing module.
IELTS General Training Writing Test
The writing module is very similar in both IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. Both exams include two test tasks that must be completed in 60 minutes on the test day.
The main difference is that in the format of the IELTS General Training Writing exam, the tasks are developed within different subject areas.
Check out these official sample answers to IELTS General Writing questions.
IELTS General Training Writing Module
The writing module of IELTS General Training includes two tasks:
IELTS General Writing Task 1
The first task presents a situation in which an informal / semi-formal / formal response is required.
It is an answer to a letter of a personal nature.
The situations described in the letter deal with daily life:
- academic matters
- labour issues
- institutional plans
- requesting information or a service
Example letter requesting information about an educational course
You are interested in joining an educational course that you recently heard about through a friend. Write a letter to the institution offering this course seeking further information. In the letter, you should:
- Explain how you heard about the course and why you are interested in it.
- Enquire about the course details, such as its duration, schedule, and content.
- Request information on the fee structure and any available financial assistance or scholarships.
The information required in the task response is listed in three bullet points that must be resolved.
It is likely that you will be required to give information or explain the context of the problem.
To do this, it will be necessary to give factual information, express needs, wishes, tastes, opinions and/or make suggestions and recommendations.
This task lasts 20 minutes. The answer must contain at least 150 words and will be penalized for not having complied with this minimum number.
There will be no penalty for writing more than 150 words, however, it is important to remember that there will be less time to answer the second task.
Another reason for a penalty will be the irrelevance of the response.
If the answer is outside the required points or there is no link to the central theme of the question, it will be scored with a lower score.
Plagiarism will be severely punished!
This task has the objective of measuring the ability to follow the conventions of writing to use the language accurately and appropriately.
The ability to organize and link information in a coherent manner is also evaluated.
IELTS General Writing Task 2
The second task comprises a 250-word essay in a semi-formal discursive style, based on your own knowledge and experience.
It is about the development of a point of view, an argument or a problem.
Example
Some experts believe that the world is facing serious environmental problems, such as global warming, pollution, and deforestation. These issues not only affect nature but also have negative effects on human health and economies.
Discuss how these problems affect the environment and people, and suggest some practical things that individuals, communities, and governments can do to reduce the impact of these issues.
Based on the given information, you need to present a text that involves facts, solutions, justifications and/or evaluations of the central idea of the given task. Your answer should include relevant examples.
The topics are of general interest:
- education
- family
- environment
- economic and cultural issues
It is important that the answer is complete and relevant to the topic presented.
The examinees should organize the ideas clearly and support their argument with examples from their own experience or factual evidence.
This test qualifies the ability to communicate abstract and complex ideas through grammatical structures and extensive use of the lexicon.
Unlike the IELTS General Training test Task 1, Task 2 has a higher value for the module score. Task 2 will last 40 minutes.
The answer must have at least 250 words and it will be penalized if fewer words are written.
Assessment Criteria
The IELTS General Training Writing Test evaluates candidates on four critical criteria:
Task Achievement (TA)
This checks if the response meets the task's needs correctly, clearly, and in a related way, including how many words it should have.
Coherence and Cohesion (CC)
Checks how clear and smooth the message is. It checks if the ideas and information are well-arranged and linked together, and how well it uses connecting words (like "and", "but", and "because").
Lexical Resource (LR)
This criterion checks how wide and correct the candidate's vocabulary is. It checks if the test-taker can use words to exactly say what they mean, and if they can choose the right words for the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)
Looks at how well the candidate uses different grammar rules, checking for mistakes and the variety of grammar used.
In addition, if there is plagiarism, if the answer is not linked to the central theme of the test, or if the ideas presented do not include organization, test takers will receive a lower score in the IELTS General Training Writing test.
Here are sample questions and sample answers (PDF) for Task 1 and Task 2 of the IELTS General Training Writing Module.