IELTS General Writing Task 1 - Letter Writing

Introduction

A standardized test called the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is used to evaluate the English language proficiency of non-native speakers who want to immigrate, study, or work in English-speaking countries. IELTS primarily offers two test options: IELTS General (necessary for immigration) and IELTS Academic (for those who want to study in an English Speaking country). The four modules on each test—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—are the same, with a few small exceptions. One example of a distinction is that the IELTS GT’s writing is a letter task rather than a report.

In this blog, we will focus on the IELTS letter-writing task.

What is the letter writing task?

Your ability to write a formal or semi-formal letter in English is evaluated by the IELTS letter writing task. Typically, the task is outlined as a situation or an issue that you must address in your letter. For instance, you might be required to send a letter to your landlord to express your dissatisfaction with the state of your flat or to a friend to express congratulations on a new job.

The letter should be between 150-200 words, and you will be given 20 minutes to complete the task.

The Marking Criteria:

The IELTS letter writing task is marked based on four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.

Task Achievement:

Task achievement is the first criterion, which evaluates how successfully you met the requirements of the task. You must make sure that you have properly addressed the assignment and that your letter is pertinent to the scenario or problem offered if you want to receive a good grade for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion:

Coherence and cohesiveness, the second criterion, evaluates how effectively your letter is structured and how well your ideas are related. You must make sure that your letter has a specific format and well-developed, logically related paragraphs in order to fulfill this requirement.

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Lexical Resource:

The third criterion, lexical resource, evaluates your vocabulary as well as your proficiency with a variety of words and expressions. You must use several kinds of words and make sure that it is used appropriately in the letter’s context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy:

The capacity to apply a range of grammatical structures correctly and appropriately is evaluated by the fourth criterion. You must make sure that your letter is well written, using a variety of sentence structures, in order to receive a good score for this criterion.

Structure of the Letter:

Now let’s take a look at the structure of the letter. A typical letter consists of three parts: the opening, the body, and the closing.

Opening:

The opening of the letter should be formal and polite. You should start with a greeting, followed by an introduction that briefly states the purpose of the letter. For example, “Dear Mr. Smith, I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the poor condition of my apartment.”

Body:

The body of the letter should be well-organized and developed. You should provide details and examples to support your points. For example, if you are writing a complaint letter to your landlord, you may describe the problems you are experiencing with your apartment and provide photographic evidence to support your claims.

Closing:

The closing of the letter should also be formal and polite. You should summarize your main points and restate the purpose of the letter. For example, “In conclusion, I request that you take immediate action to address the issues I have highlighted in this letter. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

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Written By:

-Ahmed Raza is a contributing writer at Edify Group of Companies. He is also an experienced IELTS and PTE instructor. He has passion for teaching, writing and instructional design. He graduated from UET and embarked on the journey of teaching English Language tests afterwards.