Writing General Training : Overview

About the IELTS General Writing test:

The General Training Writing test is 60 minutes long. It has two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words. In Task 1, candidates are asked to respond to a situation, by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation. In Task 2, candidates write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1:

Length: Write at least 150 words.

Time: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Writing a short letter for a specific purpose:

Task 1 in the General Training Writing section is a letter of correspondence where you demonstrate your ability to communicate using English letter-writing conventions.

You will be given a common, everyday situation such as writing to apologize for missing a friend’s party, or complaining to a company about bad service, writing to give advice to a friend about where to go on holiday, or writing to express your interest in a new job.

In addition to being given the situation, three bullet points will outline exactly what information you need to include in your letter. You might, for example, have to describe details, give reasons, express likes and dislikes, or make suggestions or recommendations.

You will need to choose and use the correct tone in your letter. The tone is the way you communicate with people that shows the kind of relationship you have with them. In letters, it is clearly indicated by a proper salutation and closing and it should also be conveyed by your choice of words or phrasing as well as the kind and amount of details you include.

Different relationships require different levels of respect which is probably true in your language as well. IELTS letters are usually either formal or informal in tone. Generally, if the letter is to friends, people you know well, or family, and the reason for writing is positive, the tone is informal. Letters to everyone else and for all complaints or negative messages should be more formal.

Here are examples of the two main kinds of letters that can appear on the test with advice on how to create a tone for each:

The formal letter:

You live in a room in college which you share with another student. However, there are many problems with this arrangement and you find it very difficult to work.

Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In the letter,

describe the situation
explain your problems and why it is difficult to work
say what kind of accommodation you would prefer

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

A key indicator of a formal letter is when you are given the salutation of “Dear Sir or Madam” which shows that you do not know the person you are writing to.

The following are some suggestions for how to create and keep a formal tone in your letter:

Openings and Closings:

Begin with: Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Mr. Smith, or Dear Mrs. Jones
End with: Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely

Kind and amount of detail:

Get to the point or purpose of your letter right away, include the necessary and relevant information only and make sure you cover the three bullet points in the question accurately (if you are asked to explain your problems (plural), give more than one and stick to the facts).

Use polite, formal language and DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS OR SHORT FORMS:

“I am writing to thank you . . . “

“I apologize for missing the birthday celebration . . . “

“I would like some more information about . . . “

“Would it be possible for us to meet . . . “

The informal letter:

A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday.

Write a letter to your friend. In the letter,

give contact details for when you are away
give instructions about how to care for your pet
describe other household duties

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear . . .

Notice that you have to choose the salutation, unlike the previous task sample. This does not automatically mean it is an informal letter. You should look to see who you are writing to and why. This example is a letter to a friend and the situation is a positive one (not a complaint, or a serious apology), so an informal tone can be used.

The following are some suggestions for how to create and keep an informal tone in your letter:

Openings and Closings:

Begin with: Dear Mary, or Hello Jasmeet, or Hi Helmut,
End with: Best wishes, or Warm regards, or All the best,

Kind and amount of detail:

You can be a little chattier in an informal letter and include a few details that show that you know each other before getting to the point. Be careful not to stray from the purpose of the letter. Cover the three bullet points in the question completely (if you are asked to give instructions, give more than one).

Casual (not slang) language and contractions are allowed. Compare these to the formal language above:

“Just a note to say thanks . . . “

“Sorry I missed the birthday bash . . . “

“I’d like to know . . . “

“Let’s get together . . . “

Writing Format:

The letter always starts with the salutation “Dear . . .”, on a line by itself, next to the left margin of the page.

Indent the first line of each paragraph or leave an empty line before beginning a new one.

The first paragraph should introduce the situation and reason for writing. The purpose of the letter must be clear from beginning to end.

The body of the response can be three or more paragraphs, depending on the amount of detail you have time to include. A paragraph to address each of the bullets is often enough.

The final paragraph is usually a call to action that relates to the purpose of the letter. For example, the letter to the friend about taking care of the house and pet might finish by telling the friend what to do if he or she has any other questions or concerns about how to care for the pet or house and thanking him or her.

The end of the letter is signaled by a closing (Yours faithfully, or Warm regards, for example) that is written next to the left margin on a line by itself and your signature is written under it.

Note that paragraphs in letters are not like essay paragraphs. They can be one or two sentences long about a single subject or topic that is different from the paragraph before and after.

Tips:

You will improve your score if you:

Use letter-writing form and conventions such as proper salutations and closings
Respond to the bullet points completely. For example, give more than one reason when you are asked to give reasons (plural).
Include only relevant and correct information. For example, if the bullet asks you to describe other household duties and instead you describe what to do in an emergency, you will miss one of the task requirements and lower your score.

In this video, we will show you the TOP 14 Tips for task 1 :

Click here to download the video

IELTS General Training Writing Task 2:

Length: Write at least 250 words

Time: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task

Writing an Essay

Essays on the General Training test are about general interest topics such as whether it is better to homeschool children, whether the drinking age should be raised, who is responsible for the care of the elderly or how families could be brought closer together.

Given a statement about a topic, you may be asked to agree or disagree or you may be required to answer one or two questions about the topic. For example, given the statement that families are not as close as they were in the past, you might be asked to respond to the following questions: Why do you think this is so? What can be done to bring families closer together again?

Organization:

An IELTS essay is usually composed of 4 – 6 paragraphs.

The first paragraph introduces the subject of your essay is about and what you plan to say about it and the last paragraph summarizes your point and restates your main findings of this topic.

The body or middle paragraphs should answer the main questions you have identified in the task with a clear explanation for your response and examples to support your thinking. If you have analyzed the task before writing, you will know exactly what to write in these body paragraphs. The example below will illustrate how.

Analyzing the Essay task:

Force yourself to look carefully at the prompt by underlining keywords. Then identify exactly what the questions are asking you to do.

Traditionally, elderly people have lived with and been cared for by younger family members. In modern society, more and more elderly people are living in special homes for the elderly.

Why do you think families choose to have their elderly relatives live in special homes away from family?

What do you think it the best way for modern families to care for their elderly relatives?

This essay has 2 parts:

1. Explain why modern families send their elderly relatives away to live in special homes?

2. Say whether you think it is better for elderly parents to care for younger family members at home or to be sent away or whether you have an even better alternative.

If you fail to answer either one of these questions, you will lower your score.

You could use a paragraph to answer each in the body of your essay. Note that if you had two very good reasons, for example, for why families send their relatives away, you could devote a paragraph to each which would allow you to provide further extension and support.

Higher-level essays do not simply list possible answers, they make a couple of good points and provide reasoning and examples to support them.

Here is an example of a point being effectively developed. This is a sample BODY PARAGRAPH that might appear in an essay responding to the first question above:

Modern families today often do not have the time or energy to care for the elderly at home. In most places today people have demanding jobs and can barely take care of themselves let alone an older relative who may be sick or infirm. In most countries, special residences for the aging are designed to care for the needs of those who have medical issues related to getting older and they provide wholesome activities and social stimulation for the elderly who otherwise might be sitting alone at home while their younger relatives are off working. That is why some families feel their relatives are safer and happier living away in these care centers.

Notice that the paragraph begins with the answer to the question and is followed by further explanation, an example and a concluding sentence at the end.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips:

You will improve your score if you:

Make sure your ideas are relevant. Understand exactly what the topic is and what you are supposed to write about it. Turn the prompt into a question or questions so you can see how many parts there are to address.
Plan your essay. Brainstorm and then draw a quick outline jotting down some supporting ideas before you write.
Use the proper essay structure and a range of linking words to connect and sequence your ideas. If your reasoning is easy to follow, you will score higher. This is why planning helps (see 2 above).
Leave time to check your work. Know the errors that you commonly make (many people forget articles) and scan your writing to make final corrections and additions.

In this video we will give you the TOP TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW for Task 2:

Click here to download the video