Green // Things to remember

Yellow // Correct Answer

Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

Writing - IELTS (General)

IELTS Writing Task 1 Information

1.) IELTS recommend you spend no more than 20 minutes on Writing

Task 1
2.) You should write over 150 words
3.) IELTS writing task 1 is worth only 33% of your total mark
a.) Task Achievement (25%)
b.) Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
c.) Vocabulary (25%)
d.) Grammar (25%)
4.) General Writing Task 1 is just writing a letter.
5.) All words will be counted and all numbers count as one word.
160-180 words

TIPS:

1.) Spend 20 mins on this letter. Spend 3-5 mins planning and then the
rest writing. Always leave 2 mins to check your letter for spelling or
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

grammar mistakes. You will need a full 40 mins for task 2, so don’t go
over 20 mins for task 1. (60 mins) 20 mins task 1 and 40 mins to task
2.

2.) You must write over 150 words (aim for 160-180 to be safe). Don’t
write over 300 words.
Double-edge sword - negatives
3.) You do not need to write an address on the letter.

4.) Pay close attention to who you are writing to and the relationship you
have with that person. This will decide your style of writing and your
tone.
5.) Pay attention to the aim and purpose of the letter.
Formal language
6.) It is essential that you use the three points to structure the letter and
provide the foundation for the information

7.) All points must be included clearly in your letter. If you fail to include
all the points in your letter, your band score will be lower.
:(((
8.) You must use your imagination to fill in the details and decide the
names of the people in your letter.
Decline an invitation for a wedding. Invent that :D

9.) Begin your letter by addressing the person and then an opening line.
Always sign off appropriately.
Dear Mr Shon,

I am writing to let you know that I am going to marry your daughter

from the other company.

Types of IELTS letter

1.) Personal
2.) Semi-formal
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

3.) Formal
Each type of letter will use different language, different beginning, and
different way of signing off.

Your first task, before you start writing, is to decide which type of
letter you must write by identifying the task given.

Personal

Tip: A personal letter is to someone you have a close personal

relationship with about a social situation or personal situation.

Semi-formal
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

TIP: A semi-formal letter is to someone you have a close personal

relationship with, such as a friend, about a formal or serious situation
such as work. This means it’s to someone you know informally about
something formal = semi-formal.

Note: A personal relationship means you share your private life (your
home life) with that person = a friend. It does not mean your teacher,
your boss, your manager, or anyone else you know in a formal setting
such as school or work.

Formal

Tip: A formal letter is to someone you know in a formal way (a

landlord, a boss, a manager, a teacher, etc) or someone you have not
met and whose name you don’t know (customer services, local council,
hotel manager, etc.) about a serious or formal situation.

Letter Aims

Although there are hints about whether the letters are usually formal
or not, please note that you will know the style by reading the
instructions given to you.

Common contents for letters:

1.) Complaints (usually formal)

2.) Invitation (usually personal or semi-formal)
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

3.) Applications or resignations (usually formal)

4.) request (any style common)
5.) Making arrangements (often formal)
6.) Explanation (sometimes semi-formal or personal)
7.) informative/newsletter (often (o-fen) personal/semi-formal but
formal can also appear)
8.) Apology (could be any style)

Letter Openings

Letters usually start with an opening statement which explains the

reason for writing the letter. This opening statement varies depending on
whether you are writing a formal or informal letter.

c.) semi-formal
a.) formal
b.) personal

Contractions -> I’m, can’t, won’t, Personal or semi-formal

Signing Off

Depending on the style and aim of the letter, you will need to adapt
your final sentence or comment

1.) Dear Sir/ Madame = Yours faithfully (formal letters)

2.) Dear Mr. Robson = Yours sincerely (formal letters)
3.) Dear John Robson = Yours sincerely (formal letters)
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

4.) Hi Dave, Dear Dave = See you soon / Take Care / All the best
(informal or semi-formal)
Tip: You use “Sir/Madame” When we don’t know the person’s name
that you are writing to, for example when you write to the manager of a
hotel. You do not use these titles if you know the name of the person.
Don’t use these titles in your speaking test.
You can also write a formal letter to someone whose name you
know. You can use either “Mr Robson” or “John Robson”
We use no title and no last name when we write to a friend.

Examples of signing off:

I hope the family are (is) well. See you soon.

Best wishes

Sandra

Name
You should write a name at the end of your letter. You can use
your own name or you can invent one.
1.) Dear Sir = Your faithfully, John Brown (always with a family name but
with or without a title)
2.) Dear Mr. Robson = Yours sincerely, Mrs Susan Harper (always with a
family name but with or without a title)
3.) Hi Dave or Dear Dave = See you soon, Brian (no title and no family
name because it is informal)

Grammar
Formal and informal letters contain different languages and styles of
writing. While informal letters can contain contractions (I’m writing…) these
contractions are not allowed in formal writing so you need to write the words
in full (I am writing…).
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

In a formal letter, you could write “I am writing with regards to…” but for
semi-formal letter, you can write “I’m writing about” or I’m writing to say” or
“I just want to let you know that”

Vocabulary

Spelling and punctuation (commas and periods)

Very important, since frequent errors in spelling or in punctuations will result

in a score of 6.

Out of 9

Structure and Paragraphs

 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

Planning your letter

Spend at least 3 or 4 minutes planning your letter. Covering all points,

adding details, using the appropriate style of writing and using paragraphs
well.

Suit

IELTS Informal Apology Letter

 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

IELTS Formal Apology Letter

Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

WRITING TASK 2 - Paragraph

Paragraphs are marked by the examiner in IELTS writing task 2. The criterion
of Coherence and Cohesion, is about linking and paragraphing.

All essays will have an introduction and conclusion - (2 paragraphs already)

The body of the essay must be divided into different body paragraphs
(usually 2 or 4). That makes 4 or 5 paragraphs

1st paragraph - Paraphrase the question, add a little of your opinion or

contrasting opinion of that question
2nd paragraph - Expound on your opinion
3rd paragraph - talk about the contrasting opinion
4th paragraph - conclusion
 Green // Things to remember
Yellow // Correct Answer
Orange // Mispronounced words
Red // Wrong Answer

Some children who are three to four years old were sent by their parents to
attend preschool, while other parents prefer their kids to wait until they can
attend primary school. In my opinion, enrolling to school early will
tremendously help a child since they will learn many basic lessons. However,
there are some downsides as well, since early schooling can also start an
environment of pressure for the kids.

Early schooling can be a wonderful advantage since they can learn the
basics, such as numbers, shapes, and colors, properly. They can also model
a new and kind behavior. An example of this is good manners, since if a child
has learned to integrate this kind of behavior, he or she may be able to apply
this everywhere. Furthermore, preschool teachers can correct the wrong
lessons that parents or other adults impart on the kid. This will have a huge
impact on them since any incorrect ideas will be corrected.

However, this topic can have a few disadvantages. First, if a child has an
aversion to school and would rather sit at home and play, they may become
frustrated and cause behavioral problems. In addition, early pressure can
brew for a gifted child who excels in preschool. It may be created by their
parents, teachers, and even themselves, since having high scores is their
way to have positive reinforcement. Although this may be the case, the cons
of early schooling can be managed by an effective preschool teacher as well
as loving and supporting parents.

In conclusion, although there may be some downsides for early schooling, if

they are managed properly, the rewards that the children and parents can
reap from it will be overwhelming.