IELTS Practical WRITING PRACTICE for Task 1 and 2

IELTS WRITING
PRACTICE
prepared by: Teacher Maria

Here are some basic guidelines and effective tips or strategies to help
you ace the IELTS General Training Writing Test, Task 1 and Task 2.

Pre-Test Preparation
Understand the Test Format:
Familiarize yourself with the format of the IELTS General Training Writing Test, which includes Task 1 (letter writing) and Task 2 (essay writing).
Review sample questions and answers to understand the types of tasks you will encounter.
Practice Writing:
Regularly practice writing letters and essays within the time limits to improve your writing speed and accuracy.
Focus on different types of letter and essay prompts to cover a variety of topics and styles.
Study Vocabulary and Grammar:
Enhance your vocabulary by learning new words and phrases related to common IELTS topics.
Practice grammar exercises to ensure your writing is grammatically correct.
Take Practice Tests:
Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions to simulate the actual test experience.
Review your answers and identify areas for improvement.

During the Test
Time Management:
Manage your time effectively for each task. Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2.
Keep track of time to ensure you complete both tasks within the allotted 60 minutes.
Follow the Instructions:
Read the task prompts carefully and follow the instructions for each task.
Make sure your response addresses all parts of the prompt.
Stay Focused:
Stay calm and focused throughout the test. If you encounter difficult questions, take a deep breath and do your best.
Review Your Work:
If you finish early, use the remaining time to review your work and correct any mistakes.

Scoring Criteria
Task Achievement (for Task 1) / Task Response (for Task 2)
Task 1 (Task Achievement): This criterion evaluates how well you address the task requirements. It includes how effectively you fulfill the purpose of the
letter (e.g., request, complaint, application), the clarity and completeness of your response, and the relevance of your information.
Task 2 (Task Response): This criterion measures how well you answer the essay question, including the clarity and relevance of your argument, the depth
and development of your ideas, and how well you address all parts of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion
This criterion assesses the organization and logical flow of your writing. It includes the clarity and smoothness of your text, the effective use of paragraphs,
the use of cohesive devices (e.g., linking words, conjunctions), and the overall structure of your response.
Lexical Resource
This criterion evaluates your use of vocabulary. It includes the range of vocabulary used, the accuracy and appropriateness of word choice, the use of
idiomatic language, and the ability to paraphrase effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
This criterion assesses your use of grammar. It includes the range of grammatical structures used, the accuracy and appropriateness of grammar and
punctuation, and the complexity and variety of sentence structures.

Scoring Process
Each of the four criteria is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9.
The scores for each criterion are then averaged to calculate your final writing band score.
Band Descriptors
Here is a brief overview of what the band descriptors typically include:
Band 9: Expert user – Fully operational command of the language.
Band 8: Very good user – Fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies.
Band 7: Good user – Operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and
misunderstandings in some situations.
Band 6: Competent user – Generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and
misunderstandings.
Band 5: Modest user – Partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though likely to make
many mistakes.
Band 4: Limited user – Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and
expression.
Band 3: Extremely limited user – Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
Band 2: Intermittent user – No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or
short formulae.
Band 1: Non-user – Essentially no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
Band 0: Did not attempt the test – No assessable information provided.

Tips for Improving Your Score
Task Achievement/Response: Ensure you understand the task requirements and address all parts
of the prompt. Stay on topic and provide relevant information.
Coherence and Cohesion: Plan your writing to have a clear structure. Use paragraphs effectively
and link your ideas smoothly.
Lexical Resource: Expand your vocabulary and practice using a range of words and expressions
accurately. Avoid repetition and try to use synonyms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Practice using a variety of grammatical structures accurately.
Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, tenses, and punctuation.
By focusing on these criteria and practicing regularly, you can improve your writing skills and
achieve a higher score on the IELTS General Training Writing Test.

Task 1: Letter Writing
Basic Guidelines:
Understand the Prompt: Carefully read the task prompt and identify the type of
letter you need to write (formal, semi-formal, or informal).
Structure Your Letter:
1.Greeting: Start with an appropriate salutation
(e.g., Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Mr. Smith, Dear John).
2. Introduction: Briefly introduce the purpose of your letter.
3. Body: Divide the body into paragraphs, each addressing a specific point from the
prompt.
4. Closing: End with an appropriate closing (e.g., Yours sincerely, Best regards).
5. Signature: Sign off with your name.

Effective Tips:
Identify the Tone: Determine if the letter should be formal, semi-formal, or
informal based on the audience.
Be Clear and Concise: Stick to the points requested in the task. Avoid
unnecessary information.
Use Paragraphs: Separate your ideas into clear paragraphs. This helps with
readability and organization.
Use Appropriate Language: Use formal language for formal letters, and more
relaxed language for informal letters.
Check for Mistakes: After writing, review your letter for grammar, spelling,
and punctuation errors.

Task 2: Essay Writing
Basic Guidelines:
Understand the Prompt: Carefully read the essay question and determine
what type of essay is required (opinion, discussion, solution, etc.).
Plan Your Essay:
Introduction: Paraphrase the question and state your thesis or main point.
Body Paragraphs: Develop your main ideas, each in a separate paragraph with
supporting details and examples.
Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new way.

Effective Tips:
Plan Before Writing: Spend a few minutes planning your essay structure and main points. This will save you
time and keep your writing focused.
Write a Clear Thesis Statement: Your thesis should clearly state your position or the main idea of your essay.
Use Topic Sentences: Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly relates to your thesis.
Support Your Ideas: Provide specific examples, reasons, and evidence to support your points.
Use Linking Words: Use cohesive devices (e.g., however, therefore, moreover) to connect your ideas and
ensure a smooth flow.
Manage Your Time: Allocate time for planning, writing, and reviewing your essay. Aim to finish writing a few
minutes before the end so you can review your work.
Practice Variety: Familiarize yourself with different types of essay questions and practice writing various
types of essays.

General Tips for Both Tasks
Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with the format
and timing of the test.
Expand Your Vocabulary: A rich vocabulary allows you to express your ideas more clearly and
accurately.
Improve Grammar and Spelling: Accurate grammar and spelling are crucial for a high score. Practice
writing with a focus on these areas.
Read Model Answers: Review high-scoring sample letters and essays to understand what makes
them effective.
Seek Feedback: If possible, get feedback from a teacher or someone proficient in English. This can
help you identify areas for improvement.
Stay Calm and Focused: During the test, stay calm, manage your time wisely, and focus on
answering the questions as clearly and effectively as possible.

By following these guidelines and tips, you'll be better prepared to perform well
on the IELTS General Training Writing Test. Good luck!

Duration: 60 minutes
The General Training Writing test includes two tasks that are based on topics of general interest.
Task 1
You will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation.
The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
Task 2
You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly
more personal in style compared to an Academic Writing task. You will support your point of view with relevant
examples from your own knowledge and experience.

Task 1: Writing a short letter for a specific purpose
In Task 1 in the General Training Writing test, you are asked to write a letter, where you demonstrate your ability to communicate
using English letter-writing conventions.
You will be given a common, everyday situation such as writing to apologise 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 use the correct tone in your letter. Tone is the way you communicate with people showing the kind of relationship you
have with them. In letters, the tone you use is clearly indicated by a proper salutation and closing and it should also be conveyed by
your choice of words or phrasing.
Letters are usually written in a formal or informal 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.

Task 2: Writing an essay
In Task 2 of the General Training Writing test, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, an
argument, or a problem. Topics are of general interest 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.
The task instructions give you information about the question telling you how to discuss the topic in your essay.
You may be asked to provide factual information, outline and present solutions, justify an opinion or evaluate
evidence and ideas. It is important that you complete the task carefully using relevant ideas and examples to
support your position. Your ideas should be organised clearly, using paragraphs for each idea. You must write a
minimum of 250 words.
You are assessed on your ability to follow English essay-writing conventions to organise and link information in a
coherent way using language accurately and appropriately to express your ideas and opinions.

sample questions for
IELTS General Training Writing
Tasks 1 and 2

Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
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
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
Write about the following topic:
In Britain, when someone gets old they often go to live in a home with
other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes
the government has to pay for this care.
Who do you think should pay for this care, the government or the family?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from
your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words

Task 1
You recently bought a piece of equipment for your kitchen, but it is not working properly.
Write a letter to the store manager. In your letter:
Describe the problem with the equipment
Explain how this problem is affecting you
Say what you would like the store to do
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
Some people believe that children should start learning a foreign language at a very early age. Others think that
children should begin learning a foreign language only when they start secondary school.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Task 1
You have seen an advertisement in an Australian magazine for someone to live with a family for six months and look after their
six-year-old child.
Write a letter to the parents. In your letter:
Explain why you would like the job
Give details of why you would be a suitable person to employ
Say how you would spend your free time while you are in Australia
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
Some people think that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum
legal age for driving cars or riding motorbikes.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

Task 1
You are planning a two-week vacation and need someone to take care of your house while you are away.
Write a letter to your neighbor. In your letter:
Explain why you are going away
Ask your neighbor to take care of your house
Offer your neighbor a reward for helping you
Dear [Neighbor's Name],

Task 2
Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of
plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Task 1
You have recently moved to a different house.
Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your letter:
Explain why you have moved
Describe the new house
Invite your friend to come and visit
Dear [Friend's Name],

Task 2
In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that the
government should be responsible for solving this problem.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

Task 1
You missed an important meeting at work last week due to a family emergency.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:
Apologize for not attending the meeting
Explain why you missed it
Say what you will do to make up for it
Dear [Manager's Name],

Task 2
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school
programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching
sports to younger children).
experience.

Task 1
You have been doing some voluntary work to help your local community. However, now you need to stop doing this work due to some
personal reasons.
Write a letter to the manager of the organization where you have been working. In your letter:
Describe the work you have been doing
Explain why you need to stop doing this work
Suggest a way they can find a replacement for you

Task 2
Many people believe that reducing speed limits is the best option for road safety improvement.
Do you think there are other measures that could be more effective?

Task 1
You are going to have a family holiday in another country next month. You need someone to look after your house and
pets while you are away.
Write a letter to your neighbor. In your letter:
Tell your neighbor you are going away
Explain what you would like your neighbor to do
Inform your neighbor how they can contact you in case of an emergency
Dear [Neighbor's Name],

Task 2
Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they
should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and
technology.

Task 1
You recently organized an all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants
at the meeting said they liked the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.
Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter:
Say what the participants liked about the hotel
Explain why they were unhappy about the food
Suggest what the manager should do to improve the food in future

Task 2
Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary schools to universities, too much time is spent on
learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.
Do you agree or disagree?

Task 1
You recently attended a conference and you would like to give a presentation about the information you gained by attending the
conference.
Explain what the presentation would be about
Why this would be useful to your colleagues
Give details of when and where you would like to give the presentation

Task 2
Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of
money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

Task 1
You have a friend who lives in another country. You have decided to write a letter to that friend.
In your letter:
Tell your friend about a job you have started recently
Describe your new job
Explain why you decided to take this job

Task 2
Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others,
however, believe that school is the place to learn this.
experience.

Task 1
You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the city museum during the holidays.
Write a letter to the director of the museum. In your letter:
Introduce yourself
Explain what experience and special skills you have
Explain why you are interested in the job
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
Many people believe that it is important to protect the environment, but they make no effort to do
so themselves.
Why do you think this is the case? What actions can individuals take to protect the environment?
experience.

Task 1
You borrowed some books from your school or college library. Unfortunately, you have to go away for a few days and cannot return
the books on time.
Write a letter to the library. In your letter:
Apologize for the delay
Explain why you cannot return the books on time
Ask them what you can do to avoid any penalty
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
Some people believe that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving
cars or riding motorbikes.

Task 1
Your neighbors have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your house or apartment.
Write a letter to your neighbors. In your letter:
Explain the reasons for the noise
Apologize for the noise
Describe what actions you will take to reduce the noise
Dear [Neighbors' Names],

Task 2
Many people prefer to live in rented accommodation rather than buying a house.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting a home?

Task 1
You recently stayed in a hotel and had a very poor experience. Write a letter to the hotel management to complain about the
issues.
In your letter:
Describe the problems you faced
Explain why these issues were problematic
Suggest what the hotel should do to improve
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
More and more people are moving from rural areas to cities in search of a better life, but city life can be
extremely difficult.
What are the reasons for this movement? How can governments make urban life better for everyone?

Task 1
You are due to start a new job next week but you will not be able to because you have some problems.
Write a letter to your new employer. In your letter:
Explain your situation
Describe your problems
Tell them when you think you can start
Dear [Employer's Name],

Task 2
In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting
university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

Task 1
You are studying for a qualification, and you would like some time off work to complete it.
Ask for some time off to complete a qualification
Suggest what you will do to make up for the time
Explain how the qualification will help your job or company

Task 2
In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone apps is becoming increasingly common.
Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?

Task 1
You were disappointed with the meal and service at a restaurant you have recently visited. Write a letter to the restaurant to complain.
In your letter:
Tell them why you were at the restaurant
Describe the problems
Write about how they can improve
Dear Sir or Madam,

Task 2
Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together.
To what extent do you agree that the Internet is making it easier for people to communicate with one another?

Task 1
You recently moved to a new house and you want to tell your friend about your good news.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
Describe the house
Describe the neighborhood
Invite your friend to come and visit

Task 2
Some people think that everyone should be a vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to stay healthy.

Task 1:
You recently stayed at a hotel and had some problems during your stay. Write a
letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:
Describe the problems you experienced.
Explain how these problems affected your stay.
Suggest what the manager could do to improve the situation.

You have been offered a job in another city and need to find accommodation.
Write a letter to the landlord of a rental property. In your letter:
Introduce yourself and explain your situation.
Describe the type of accommodation you are looking for.
Ask about the rent, facilities, and availability of the property.

Task 2:
Many people believe that social media platforms have a negative impact
on individuals and society. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
this statement? Support your opinion with relevant examples.

Some people think that children should be encouraged to take up
a job while they are still students. Do you agree or disagree with
this statement?
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

In some countries, governments are encouraging businesses to
move to regional areas outside the capital city.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.
Include relevant examples in your response.

Nowadays, many people choose to buy online rather than in
stores.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping.
Provide examples and your personal experience to support
your viewpoint.

Task 1:
You have just moved into a new house and are planning to give a housewarming party. However, you
have a problem that needs to be fixed before the party. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter:
Describe the problem.
Explain how it is affecting your plans.
Tell the landlord what you would like them to do.

You are going on a business trip to another city for a week and need someone to
take care of your pet. Write a letter to your neighbor. In your letter:
Explain the situation.
Describe the pet and its needs.
Offer a way for your neighbor to contact you if needed.

You have borrowed a book from your local library and discovered some
missing pages. Write a letter to the librarian. In your letter:
Explain the situation.
Describe the book.
Suggest what you would like the librarian to do.

You have a friend who is coming to visit you from another country.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
Tell your friend about the local attractions they should visit.
Give them some advice about transportation in your city.
Suggest some places where they can try local food.

Task 2:
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of
high school programs (for example, working for a charity, improving the
neighborhood, or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree
or disagree?

The world’s natural resources are being consumed at an ever-
increasing rate.
What are the dangers of this situation?
What should we do to solve these problems?

In many countries, people do not recycle waste materials
such as bottles and newspapers.
What are the reasons for this?
What could be done to solve this problem?

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of
particular species of plants and animals.
Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Some people think that schools should teach students to become good citizens and
workers rather than independent individuals.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.

IELTS Practical WRITING PRACTICE for Task 1 and 2

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