IELTS General Training · Writing
IELTS General Training Writing
IELTS General Training Writing has two tasks in 60 minutes. Task 1 is a letter of at least 150 words in a formal, semi-formal or informal tone. Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words on an everyday issue. The suggested split is about 20 minutes for the letter and 40 for the essay.
- Tasks
- 2: a letter (Task 1) and an essay (Task 2)
- Time
- 60 minutes for both tasks
- Task 1
- Letter, at least 150 words, about 20 minutes
- Task 2
- Essay, at least 250 words, about 40 minutes
- Score
- Band 0 to 9
How IELTS General Training Writing works
Task 1 gives you an everyday situation and three bullet points to cover in a letter, for example writing to a landlord, an employer or a friend. You choose the tone that suits the reader. Task 2 asks for an essay that gives an opinion, discusses views, suggests solutions or weighs advantages and disadvantages.
Task 1 is assessed on Task Achievement, and Task 2 on Task Response, with both also assessed on Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Writing under the minimum word count usually lowers your score.
IELTS General Training Writing tasks
Tips that work
- Keep to about 20 minutes on the letter so the essay gets its 40.
- Cover every bullet point in the letter and every part of the essay question.
- Plan both tasks briefly before writing; clear paragraphs help Coherence and Cohesion.
- Leave two or three minutes at the end to check grammar and word counts.
Questions candidates ask
Is General Training Writing easier than Academic Writing?
It is different. Task 1 is a letter instead of describing a chart or diagram. Task 2 is the same kind of essay, often on everyday topics. Both are assessed on the same four criteria.
Can I write Task 2 first?
Yes. You can switch between tasks within the 60 minutes, so many candidates start with the essay to make sure it gets enough time. Just keep about 20 minutes for the letter.
Will I get feedback on my writing?
Yes. Letters and essays written in our practice sets and mock tests receive AI feedback on the four assessment areas. There are 200 practice sets and 50 full mock tests, and the first mock is free.
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