General Training Task 1 Letters for the IELTS Exam

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

• !Wrong register (using informal language in a formal complaint letter)
• !Forgetting one of the three required bullet points
• !Wrong opening/closing salutations for the register
• !Below 150 words

Study tips

• 1Memorize three opening sets: Formal ("Dear Sir/Madam"), Semi-formal ("Dear Mr./Ms. X"), Informal ("Hi/Hey John").
• 2Drill three closings: Formal ("Yours faithfully"), Semi-formal ("Yours sincerely"), Informal ("Best,", "Cheers").
• 3Practice covering all three bullet points with one paragraph each.
• 4Write 30 letters across the three registers in the month before your test.

Sample IELTS General Training Task 1 Letters questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real IELTS questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1. 1

   A General Training letter to a manager you have never met about a workplace issue should use which register?

   • AFormalCorrect
   • BSemi-formal
   • CInformal
   • DNo register markers needed
   Why this answer?

   A letter to someone you have never met (regardless of relationship) uses formal register. Semi-formal applies when you have an established relationship; informal applies only to friends and family.