IELTS General Training Writing
What’s in the IELTS General Training Writing test?
The General Training Writing test is made up of two tasks, Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2. The topics in each task are of general interest.How long is the IELTS General Training Writing test?
The total duration of the IELTS General Training Writing test is 60 minutes. In Task 1, you have to write a letter in 20 minutes while in Task 2 you must write an essay in 40 minutes.IELTS General Training Writing test format and question types
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.IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
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 to 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.IELTS General Training Writing Task 2
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 main 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.IELTS General Training Writing Practice
If you understand what each task requires you to do and follow the steps we have outlined in this article, you will soon be on your way to achieving a higher band score in your IELTS Writing test. Practise IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 by writing letters and only allow yourself 20 minutes to write. Then practise answering a Task 2 essay and again time yourself and stop writing at 40 minutes. Check out these free IELTS General Training practice questions to help you become better prepared. If you feel you are ready to practise a General Training Writing test, why not try an IELTS Progress Check General Training practice test?Learn More
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What order will I complete the IELTS test in?
If you take IELTS on Computer, you will do the tests in the following order on the same day: Listening, Reading and Writing, with the Speaking test before or after this test session.
If you take IELTS on Paper, you will do the tests in the following order: Listening, Reading and Writing. Depending on the test centre, the Speaking test can be done on the same day, or up to 7 days either before or after the test date.
Do I have to write in pencil for the IELTS on Paper test?
Pencil is used for the IELTS Listening, Reading and Writing tests. This is because tests are scanned and work best with pencil. It also means that you can easily erase and rewrite words. If you forget to bring a pencil, the test centre will provide one for you.
Can I do all parts of the IELTS test on computer?
If you take the IELTS on Computer test, the Reading, Writing and Listening parts of the IELTS test are completed on a computer, but the Speaking test is completed face-to-face with an IELTS examiner.
How can I improve my Writing band score?
Read the assessment criteria used for both Academic and General Training Writing tests carefully before your test day. The examiner will assess your writing based on four criteria for Task 1 and Task 2.
Remember that Writing Task 2 is worth twice as many marks as Task 1. You can improve your Writing band score by practising. Our news and articles page has extensive tips and advice to help you prepare and improve your English-language skills.
Can I write my answers in capital letters?
In the IELTS Reading and Listening sections, you can use all capital letters. However, in the Writing section, make sure that your capitalisation and punctuation is correct so the examiner can see where you start and finish sentences, for example.
Why are the topics in the Writing test so difficult?
Every IELTS test is carefully produced and tested to ensure a consistent level of difficulty across all the test versions. We want every IELTS test taker to have their true English-language ability reflected in their results, which is why we offer so many free and paid tools to help you practise and prepare.
Check out our preparation tools for tips and advice so that you can be as prepared as possible for your test date.
Will I get more marks if I write more than the word limit in the Writing test?
The minimum word limit is important, and you must write at least 150 words for Writing Task 1 and at least 250 words for Writing Task 2.
If you write less than this, you will have fewer ideas and may lose marks. However, if you write much more, this does not mean you will gain marks. It is more important that you use correct English, appropriate grammar, and a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
Will I lose marks if my opinions differ to that of the examiner?
In your Writing test, there are no right or wrong opinions. The examiner is assessing how well you can use your English to report information and express ideas.
Should we expect topics related to COVID-19 in the Writing test?
No, not as part of the question. However, topics in the IELTS Writing test could be related to health, so you can use COVID-19 as an example if you want to.
What is the maximum number of words we should write in the Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2 essay?
This varies from person to person, because some people write quickly. There is no exact number, but approximately 180 words for Task 1 and 280 words for Task 2 can be a good guide, as long as you have enough time to go back and check your work.
