IELTS General Writing

Overview of the IELTS General Training Writing Paper

The Writing test includes two tasks, both of which must be completed within the 60-minute time limit.

Task 1

You will respond to a situation by writing a letter, such as:

• Requesting information.
• Explaining a situation.
• Word count: At least 150 words.
• Time recommendation: Approximately 20 minutes.

Task 2

You will be presented with a point of view, argument, or problem to discuss.

• Word count: At least 250 words.
• Time recommendation: Approximately 40 minutes.

Key Guidelines

• Use full sentences; notes or bullet points are not allowed.
• Write your answers on the answer sheet. Notes made on the question paper will not be marked.

Marking Criteria

Certified IELTS examiners will evaluate your performance based on the following criteria:

1. Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2):
   • Task 1: How well the letter fulfills its purpose.
   • Task 2: How effectively you develop and support your argument, including evidence and examples (which may come from personal experience).
2. Coherence and Cohesion:
   • The clarity and fluency of your writing.
   • Logical organization of ideas and appropriate use of cohesive devices (e.g., linking words, pronouns, and conjunctions).
3. Lexical Resource:
   • Range, accuracy, and appropriateness of vocabulary used.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy:
   • Variety and correctness of grammatical structures.

Summary

• Time Allowed: 60 minutes.
• Number of Tasks: 2.
• Marking: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the final Writing score.

By adhering to these guidelines and focusing on the assessment criteria, you can maximize your score in the Writing section.

Writing tasks 1 and 2

• Task 1
• Task 2

Task 1

What’s Involved?
In the General Training Writing Task 1, you are presented with a situation and must write a letter of at least 150 words. The style of the letter—personal, semi-formal, or formal—depends on the task requirements, which are outlined on the question paper using three bullet points.

You might need to:

• Request or provide information.
• Explain a situation.

Examples of situations:

• Writing to a college accommodation officer about issues with your housing.
• Contacting a new employer about challenges in managing your time.
• Writing to a local newspaper about plans to develop a nearby airport.
• Addressing a rental agency to resolve problems with the heating system in your home.

Your writing style should suit the audience and the purpose of the letter, such as:

• Personal: Writing to a friend.
• Semi-formal or formal: Writing to a manager or official.

Time and Word Limit:

• Spend no more than 20 minutes on this task.
• Write at least 150 words. Writing fewer than 150 words will result in a penalty.

Important Notes:

• Writing more than 150 words is allowed, but spending too much time on Task 1 could reduce your available time for Task 2, which carries double the weight in the Writing band score.
• Responses unrelated to the topic, written as bullet points or notes, or copied from another source will be penalized.
• Addresses are not required at the top of the letter.

What Skills Are Tested?
This task assesses your ability to write a well-organized letter that is appropriate in style and register. Depending on the task type, you will be evaluated on your ability to:

• Request or provide factual information.
• Express needs, preferences, likes, and dislikes.
• Share opinions, including views and complaints.

How Much Do You Need to Write?
A minimum of 150 words.

Task 2

What’s Involved?
In the General Training Writing Task 2, you will write a semi-formal or neutral discursive essay on a topic of general interest. The essay must be at least 250 words.

The instructions will provide details about an opinion, argument, or problem, and outline what you need to discuss in your essay.

Examples of topics:

• Whether children’s leisure activities should be educational.
• How environmental problems can be addressed.
• Whether smoking should be prohibited in public spaces.

You must write a complete and relevant response, organizing your ideas clearly and supporting them with examples or evidence. Your response may include examples from personal experience, if relevant.

Time and Word Limit:

• Spend no more than 40 minutes on this task.
• Write at least 250 words. Writing fewer than 250 words will result in a penalty.

Important Notes:

• Writing more than 250 words is allowed, but overly lengthy responses may result in unclear handwriting, limited proofreading time, and irrelevant ideas.
• Responses unrelated to the topic, written as bullet points or notes, or copied from another source will be penalized.

What Skills Are Tested?
This task evaluates your ability to:

• Write a clear, well-organized argument with relevant examples or evidence.
• Discuss abstract or complex ideas while using a variety of vocabulary and grammar.
• Provide factual information, outline problems and solutions, justify opinions, and evaluate arguments.

How Much Do You Need to Write?
A minimum of 250 words.

Both tasks must be written on the answer sheet, and following these guidelines will help ensure a well-structured, high-scoring response.