IELTS Tips

Why is it important? 🤔 Before you begin writing your letter in IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training), it is crucial to understand the question prompt clearly. This is the foundation for your entire response. If you fail to understand the task, you risk writing an irrelevant or incomplete letter, which can negatively affect your task achievement score. The question

Why is it important? 🧐 In IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training), you will typically be given a question prompt that asks you to address multiple points. If you fail to cover all these points, your response may be deemed incomplete, and you will lose valuable marks in Task Achievement. This is a crucial element for achieving a Band 8+.

Why is it important? 🧐 In IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training), using the correct tone is essential, as it reflects your understanding of the task type and ensures your response is appropriate for the audience. Whether you’re writing to a friend, a colleague, or a formal institution, the formality of your tone directly impacts your Task Achievement and Lexical

A well-structured letter makes it easy for the examiner to follow your ideas. It improves Coherence and Cohesion, one of the four key IELTS writing scoring criteria. For a band score of 8+, your letter must have a clear purpose, logical progression, and be organized into distinct paragraphs, each with a specific focus. Letters that are unclear or disorganized –

One of the most common reasons candidates lose marks in Task 1 is inconsistent tone. The tone of your letter (formal or informal) directly affects your word choice, phrasing, grammar, and even punctuation. IELTS examiners look for consistency — if your task is formal, your entire letter must remain formal from beginning to end, and vice versa. Failing to do

Using the wrong tone can seriously affect your band score in Task Achievement and Lexical Resource. Whether your letter is formal, semi-formal, or informal completely changes how you greet, sign off, and express your ideas. 🛠️ How to Identify the Tone: Clue in the PromptTone TypeExample“Write to your friend…”InformalTalking to someone you know well“Write to your landlord / manager /

A well-structured letter is easier for the examiner to read and understand, which boosts your scores in Coherence and Cohesion as well as Task Achievement. Most high-scoring letters follow a clear and balanced layout, often using around 7 key sentences distributed across 3–4 paragraphs. 🧱 The 7-Sentence Framework: Here’s how to build your letter step by step: PartSentence PurposeExample Sentence1.

If IELTS Writing Task 1 prompt gives you three bullet points. These are not optional—they are your writing plan. If you miss even one, your Task Achievement score will drop, making it hard to hit band 8. 🔍 What the Prompt Looks Like: You recently had a problem while shopping online. Write a letter to the company. In your letter:

🕒 You only get 60 minutes for the entire writing test. Spend no more than 20 minutes on Task 1—this gives you enough time for the more heavily weighted Task 2. 🎯 Why Time Management Is Critical Task 1 is worth one-third of your overall writing score. Spending too much time on Task 1 often leads to rushed, poor-quality writing

🎯 Target Time: 20 minutes total📌 Minimum Word Count: 150 words ✅ Before You Start Writing (Total: 5 Minutes) ✔️TaskTimeNotes☐Read the question prompt carefully1 minIdentify the purpose & audience☐Identify letter type (formal/informal)0.5 minSets tone and language style☐Highlight the 3 bullet points0.5 minMust be addressed clearly☐Jot down 1–2 ideas for each bullet point2–3 minUse keywords or phrases☐Outline paragraph structure1 min4–5 paragraphs