How long should the IELTS GT Task 1 letter be?

At least 150 words in about 20 minutes — aim for roughly 160–180 to develop all three bullets without rushing Task 2.

How do I know if the letter is formal or informal?

From who you're writing to: a stranger or official = formal; someone you know in a formal role = semi-formal; a friend = informal. Match greeting, tone and sign-off to that.

Do I have to cover all three bullet points?

Yes. Each bullet is part of the task — missing one limits your Task Achievement score even if the rest is strong.

Is General Training Task 1 easier than Academic?

Many find the letter more approachable than describing data, but it's marked on the same four criteria — tone, coverage and accuracy still decide your band.

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: How to Write the Letter

The three letter types — and their tone

Formal (to someone you don't know, e.g. a manager, council): no contractions, polite and impersonal. Open "Dear Sir or Madam," → close "Yours faithfully,". If you have a name: "Dear Mr Smith," → "Yours sincerely,".
Semi-formal (someone you know in a formal role, e.g. your landlord): polite but a little warmer. "Dear Mr Smith," → "Yours sincerely,".
Informal (a friend): friendly, contractions fine. "Dear Sam," → "Best wishes," / "Take care,".

Reading the situation correctly to pick the tone is the single biggest scoring decision — a formal complaint written like a note to a friend loses marks immediately.

A structure that always works

Greeting — matched to the type.
Opening line — state your purpose in one sentence ("I am writing to…").
Body — one short paragraph per bullet point. Address all three; expand each a little (don't just restate the bullet).
Closing line — a polite wrap ("I look forward to your reply").
Sign-off — matched to the type.

Language that lifts your band

Use the conventional phrases for the tone: formal complaints use "I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with…"; requests use "I would be grateful if you could…"; informal letters use "Just wanted to let you know…". Vary your sentence structures and keep grammar accurate — Task 1 is marked on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy, just like Task 2.

Common mistakes that cap your score

Wrong tone — mixing formal and informal, or misreading the relationship.
Missing a bullet — you must cover all three; skipping one caps Task Achievement.
Under 150 words — penalised; aim for ~160–180.
Just copying the bullets — examiners want you to develop each point a little.
No clear purpose in the opening line.

Not sure if you need General Training?

Academic and General Training share Listening and Speaking but differ in Reading and Writing — GT Task 1 is this letter, while Academic Task 1 describes a chart or process. Confirm which you need in our IELTS Academic vs General Training guide.

How to practise

Write timed letters across all three tones and get criteria-based feedback on tone, coverage and accuracy. Check yours with IELTS writing correction and build the rest of your plan in the IELTS preparation hub.