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I am an ESL teacher. I have a B1 student who is undertaking the IELTS General exam. Please use the following worksheet to provide conversational, simple, concise and meaningful feedback. Here is the worksheet:

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General Training Writing Task 1 How to write a
letter
While preparing for IELTS General Training - Writing Task 1, know what features the
examiners look for in a letter.
If we take a closer look at task achievement in the IELTS assessment criteria, you can
see the examiner checks to see if your letter contains the following features:
Purpose of the letter is presented
Tone of the letter is appropriate
Bullet points are presented, highlighted and extended
Format is appropriate – letter format
State the purpose
Start your letter by clearly stating why you are writing, the purpose. The reason for writing
your letter needs to be clearly presented in the opening paragraph. Make sure the
purpose of the letter is in direct response to the situation outlined in the question.
Example opening paragraphs with a clear purpose presented:
Formal letter
Informal letter
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my
dissatisfaction with a product I have
purchased recently and to request
a full refund.

Dear John,

I was so pleased to hear that you are planning
on visiting my country, so I’m writing to give you
some travel tips and advice before you book your
trip.

Common IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1 situations may include:
Formal
Informal
Letter of complaint (e.g. personal,
business, recent, experience, product)
Letter of invitation (e.g. party, dinner,
celebration)
Letter of request (e.g. refund, repair,
advice, reservation)
Letter of request (e.g. asking questions,
asking for advice, asking for help)
2/7
Letter of enquiry (e.g. information request,
booking)
Letter of thanks or appreciation
Letter of recommendation (e.g. job,
colleague)
Letter of suggestion (e.g. suggesting
ideas, plans, solutions)
Letter of suggestion (e.g. suggesting
ideas, plans, solutions)
Use the right tone
Let’s move on to the next feature in your letter that the examiner is looking for, the tone of
your letter. The tone refers to the way in which you write the letter, formal or informal
style. The instructions in the question will give you a clue.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear…
Informal or semi-formal: written to a friend, colleague or someone you
know
Dear Sir/
Madam
Formal: written to someone you do not know
A formal letter contains:
Longer sentences that use passive language (be + past participle)
Modals (e.g. The broken light needs to be fixed to ensure that the customers who
use this facility have adequate visibility of their surroundings.)
An informal letter is:
Conversational
Can include contractions (e.g. can’t) and more direct speech (e.g. Can you fix the
light in the kitchen, so I don’t have an accident?)
The table shows some examples of formal and informal vocabulary and structures that
you can use in your IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 response:
Formal vocabulary and structures Informal vocabulary and structures
Request
Ask
3/7
Purchase
Buy
Could
Can
Would
Will
At your earliest convenience
When you are free
Respond
Write back/ reply
Cannot
Can’t
Yours sincerely/ faithfully
Best wishes/ love
Futhermore
And/ also
Can I suggest
Can I tell you
As you described above
As I mentioned before
And finally, remember that the greeting and the closing salutation of an IELTS General
Training, Writing Task 1 letter needs to match the style. For example:
Dear Sir/Madam -----------------------> Yours faithfully
Dear John -----------------------> Best wishes
Include bullet points presented in the question
When writing a letter as part of the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, it is important
to include the bullet points presented to you in the question.
The question in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 will present you with:
A situation
Who to write the letter to
What you must include in the letter (the bullet points).
All three bullet points need to be presented. And remember that some bullet points
contain more than one element. So, make sure to watch for ‘and’ and plurals.
Let’s break down the following question.
4/7
An overseas friend wants to visit your country on holiday.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
Recommend the best time of year to visit and why
Describe the types of accommodation your friend could choose
Say what you would like to show your friend in your country
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear…
Look at the first bullet point and you will see it contains two elements. So, make sure you
present both:
1. The best time of the year to visit
2. Why it is the best time to visit
Look at the second bullet point and you will see you will that you have to describe ‘types’
of accommodation. So, remember to watch for plurals.
3. First type of accommodation
4. Second type of accommodation
Example for the first bullet point, covering both elements (when and why):
Most people visit Brisbane in the summer months, but I think it’s far too hot then. The best
time to visit is between April and June, our autumn season. It’s still sunny, but much
cooler and not as humid as the summer.
Structure your letter
The final feature to look at in IELTS General Training, Writing Task 1 is the format of your
letter. A letter needs to be written using a proper format, including the following:
A greeting (Dear sir/madam, Dear John, Dear Mr. Smith)
The main body (consisting of paragraphs for each part of the letter)
A closing (Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully, Best wishes, Kind regards, Love)
In the instructions you are told - You do NOT need to write any addresses – so do not
include them.
5/7
This is an example of an informal letter:
Dear Andrew
Opening
salutation or
greeting must
be included for
appropriate
letter format.
I was pleased to hear that you’re going to visit Brisbane, so I’m
writing to give you some information to think about before you come.
State the
purpose of the
letter in the
opening
paragraph.
Most people travel to Brisbane in the summer months, but I think it’s
uncomfortably hot at that time of the year. Autumn is the best season,
between April and June. It’s still sunny, but much cooler than in
summer.
First bullet
point presented
and highlighted
in a separate
paragraph.
At the moment, all our bedrooms are full, so unfortunately, we can’t
put you up. However, there are some cheap places to stay, like
Airbnb’s, in our suburb. You could also stay in a serviced apartment
in the city centre or on the Gold Coast. There are lots of specials
online, so I’m sure you’ll find somewhere affordable.
Second bullet
point presented
and highlighted
in a separate
paragraph.
When you get here, let me be your tourist guide. I’ll take you to Lone
Pine Koala Sanctuary, where you can feed kangaroos and koalas. I
can also drive you to the Gold Coast for a swim. To add excitement,
we can visit the theme parks there too.
Third bullet
point presented
and highlighted
in a separate
paragraph.
Looking forward to catching up
Concluding
letter (rounding
off statement).
Best wishes
Closing
salutation must
be included for
appropriate
letter format.
Laurel
Your name, to
make the letter
look realistic.
6/7
Remember, to reach a higher band score for IELTS General Training Writing Task
1, - task achievement, you need to include each of these features in your letter.
A clear purpose
Appropriate tone
Present and highlight all the bullet points
Appropriate format
7/7

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Here is the student’s previous written letters (including my feedback):

“”

Writingtask1.Youliveinaroomincollegewhichyousharewithanotherstudent.
However,therearemanyproblemswiththisarrangement,andyoufinditverydifficulttowork.
Writealettertotheaccommodationofficeratthecollege.Intheletter,
•describethesituation
•explainyourproblemsandwhyitisdifficulttowork
•saywhatkindofaccommodationyouwouldprefer
Writeatleast150words.
YoudoNOTneedtowriteanyaddresses.
Beginyourletterasfollows:
DearSirorMadam,
“Iamwritingthislettertocomplainingthelightinthesharingbathroomhasbeenbroken
forafewweeks.Wehavealotofourstudentwhowascomplainingaboutthat.”
Let’sstartbyclearlystatingyourmainreasonforwriting.Youshouldfocusonhow
sharingtheroomaffectsyourstudies,notjustthebathroomlightissue.Forexample,try,
“Iamwritingtoexpressmyconcernsaboutsharingmydormroom,whichhasbeen
impactingmyabilitytostudy.”Thissetsthecontextbetterforyourletter.
“Thisproblemsbecameveryhugeforallstudentswhoisli ngintheaccommodation.
Because.Everynighta er9pm.Wedonothavelightinthebathroomandmanyofus
werefallandinjured.Thereasonitwaswecannotseeanythinginthebathroomandthere
somanypartswithverysharpyareas.”
Here,focusmoreonhowtheroomsituationaffectsyourstudies.Also,let’smakesure
sentencesflowwell.Forinstance,say,“Theproblemswithroom-sharing,includingnoise
andlackofspace,havemadeitdifficulttofocusonmystudies.”
“Mysuggestionissendingsometechniciantochangethelightassoonaspossibleand
addingfewmorelightaroundinthebathroom.Additionally.Putsomesiliconprotection
aroundtableoranysharpyplace.”
Thispart’ssupposedtobeaboutwhataccommodationyou’dprefer.Keepitsimpleand
straight to the point. Maybe something like, “I would prefer a single room where I can
study without disruptions. This would help me focus better.” It’s important to express
exactly what change you need.
“Hope hear from you very soon. Your faithfully. Yan”
Don’t forget the correct formal ending. For a formal letter, try, “I look forward to your
prompt response. Yours faithfully, Yan.” Always ensure the closing fits the tone of the
letter.

“”

Another written letter from the student:

“”

Your local public library wants to make improvements to their ser ces and facilities. In order to get ideas
from the public, they have asked library users to send them suggestions in writing. Write a letter to the
librarian. In your letter:
• describe what you like about the library
• say what youdon’t like
• makesuggestions for improvements
Write at least 150 words.
You doNOTneedtowriteanyaddresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
“I hope this email finds you well. I have seen that letter from advertisement about the
local public library improvements ser ces and facilities. There is few things I am
extremally happy to see the changes from the local public library.”
Let’s clear up the introduction. Start by being straightforward (direct): “I recently read
about the planned improvements at the local public library, and I wanted to share my
thoughts.” This way, you’re directly addressing the purpose of the letter.
“First. The children book area. I realize that we adding a lot more books for kids and I also
f
ind out kids would love to read books with their friends together. Second. Installed the
scanner at conner. Superior idea of that. This would able to help people to know the
prince very quickly and easily.”
Try to make sure the sentences connect well. You can say: “I appreciate the expansion of
the children’s book area. It’s wonderful to see more books available, which encourages
and flow.
kids to read together. Additionally, the installation of a scanner is an excellent idea, as it
allows people to borrow books more conveniently on their own.” Focus on full sentences
“However. There is one suggestion I would like mentioned in the letter. It is the AC system.
Since the local public library build until now. We didn’t change the AC system yet. If we
continued to use the old system. It may cause low air quality in the building.”
Here, make the suggestion more clear. Try: “One area for improvement is the air
conditioning system. Since it hasn’t been updated since the library was built, this might
affect air quality. Upgrading it could enhance the library en ronment.”
“Finally. The improvement of the library it is very successful, and more ser ces been
updated. Your faithfully Yan”
I like that you ended the letter on a positive note. Suggestion: “Overall, the library
changes are impressive, and I’m excited to see further improvements.
Yours faithfully,
Yan.”
IMPORTANTNOTE!
Don’t use full stops where commas should be, as it breaks sentence flow.
For example:
“First. The children book area.”
✅
“First, the children’s book area.”
“Second. Installed the scanner at conner. Superior idea of that.”
✅
“Second,installing the scanner in the corner was a superior idea.”

“”

And another:

“”

“I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my complaint the customer
Ser ce.Because. I have phone to the customs ser ce morethan10timesandthere no
answering at all.”
Openwith aclear statement of your main issue. Try: “I hope this letter finds you well. I am
writing to express my dissatisfaction with your customer ser ce, as I have called more
than ten times without a response.” Also, avoid using full stops where commas should be;
this will improve sentence flow.
“Currently. I have bought new stove to my new apartment since last week.”
Suggested re sion: “I recently bought a new stove for my apartment last week.”
“However. The stove was only working for 2 days, and stopped working properly. I have
reinstalled the stove and very carefully to read the handbook. Unfortunaly. It didn’t work
anymore. I feel really unlucky that why my purchase only working for 2 days?”
Correct spelling (“Unfortunately”). Again, commas (“However, the stove…”) make
sentences connected and clear. Suggested re sion: “However, the stove only worked for
two days before it stopped functioning. I followed the handbook carefully and reinstalled
it, but it still doesn’t work. It’s frustrating that my purchase only lasted two days.”
“As I mentioned before.I have called to the customer Ser ce more than 10 times and
nobody response and there no staff able to help me to fix this issues.”
Connect related points: “As mentioned, I’ve called customer ser ce more than ten times,
but no onehasresponded or helped with this issue.”
“Therefore.My suggestion is to sending a new pair of stove to my home with 5 years
garrentie for my dissatisfaction.”
Clarify your request: “Therefore, I request a replacement stove be sent to my home along
with a five-year guarantee to address my dissatisfaction.” Correct spelling (“guarantee”)
“Thank you for you attention and hope to hear from you very soon. Your faithfully Yan”
“Thank you for your attention, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
Yan.”
✅
You’ve addressed the main issues in your letter by mentioning the poor customer
service and the stove problem, but there are some areas to improve. Make sure to
keep your tone formal since this is a complaint letter. Use commas instead of full
stops when connecting ideas. Aim for clear and connected sentences (does it sound
natural if you read it out loud?). This will help make your letter more clear and
effectively communicate your request.

“”

Finally, here is the latest letter he has written. This is the letter you will be giving feedback on. Use a similar style and tone of feedback like in the previous letters.

“”

Dear Mr James

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express adjustment the working time. As you know, currently, I am studying how to write the computer code. I will taking my final test on August 20th. However, I only have 3 months to go and, I would like to request my working hour to be educed.

Therefore, every day, I would like to start my work at 2 pm until 6 pm. I will take around 3 months period for my study. Additionally, I am available working on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Additionally, if I could finish this study, I will have better idea for my current position of my work, it will be a huge benefit for our IT department. For example, in my study, including how writing a program code,

Thank you for your attention and hope hear from you soon.

“”
Here is your feedback for the student’s latest letter, similar in style and tone as your previous feedback:

—

Dear Yan,

Thank you for sharing your letter. Let’s work on refining it a bit.

Opening:
“I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express adjustment the working time.”
To clarify your intention, try: “I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to discuss adjusting my working hours due to my studies.”

Main Content:
“As you know, currently, I am studying how to write the computer code. I will taking my final test on August 20th.”
Ensure consistent verb tense and clarity: “As you know, I am currently studying computer coding and will be taking my final test on August 20th.”

“I would like to request my working hour to be educed.”
Clarify your request: “I would like to request a reduction in my working hours.”

Working Hours Proposal:
“Therefore, every day, I would like to start my work at 2 pm until 6 pm. I will take around 3 months period for my study. Additionally, I am available working on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.”
For smoother flow: “Therefore, I propose to work from 2 pm to 6 pm each day for the next three months to focus on my studies. Additionally, I am available to work on Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.”

Benefits to the Company:
“Additionally, if I could finish this study, I will have better idea for my current position of my work, it will be a huge benefit for our IT department. For example, in my study, including how writing a program code,”
Compose this clearly: “Completing my studies will enhance my skills and benefit the IT department. For example, I will gain expertise in writing program code, which can improve our current processes.”

Closing:
“Thank you for your attention and hope hear from you soon.”
Ensure formality and consistency: “Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Reminder: Avoid confusion by keeping the sentences clear and connected. Ensure your tone suits the formal nature of a professional request. Small adjustments in grammar and sentence structure will enhance clarity and effectiveness.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

—

This feedback provides guidance while maintaining a supportive and instructive tone, helping to improve clarity and formal writing skills.
Here is the instructions for the letter:

“”

WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part time.
Write a letter to your boss. In your letter

- explain why you want to reduce your working hours
- say which hours you would like to work
- describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer

Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear…

“”

Revise the feedback, making sure that the letter addresses the key points, style and tone required. Student is aiming for BAND 6 score.
Here is a revised version of the feedback, ensuring that the letter addresses the key points, style, and tone appropriate for a BAND 6 IELTS score:

—

Dear Yan,

Thank you for sharing your letter. Let’s refine it to ensure it addresses all the key points effectively.

Opening:
“I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express adjustment the working time.”
Start with a clear statement of your intention: “I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours to accommodate my part-time studies.”

Explaining the Request:
“As you know, currently, I am studying how to write the computer code. I will taking my final test on August 20th.”
Ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity: “I am currently studying computer programming and plan to take my final exam on August 20th. To prepare adequately, I would like to adjust my working hours.”

Specifying the Hours:
“Therefore, every day, I would like to start my work at 2 pm until 6 pm. I will take around 3 months period for my study. Additionally, I am available working on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.”
Clarify your proposed schedule: “I propose to work from 2 pm to 6 pm each day for the next three months. I am also available to work on Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm to make up for the reduced hours.”

Benefits to the Employer:
“Additionally, if I could finish this study, I will have better idea for my current position of my work, it will be a huge benefit for our IT department. For example, in my study, including how writing a program code,”
Highlight the benefits clearly: “Completing my studies will enhance my skills, bringing significant benefits to our IT department. I will gain expertise in programming, which can improve our efficiency and innovation.”

Closing:
“Thank you for your attention and hope hear from you soon.”
Ensure the closing is polite and formal: “Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your response.”

Reminder:
Focus on clear and accurate grammar. Ensure your sentences flow well and that your tone remains professional and respectful. Address each bullet point in the task to provide a complete response.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

—

This feedback aligns the student’s response more closely with the task requirements and helps improve clarity, grammar, and formal tone to aim for a BAND 6 score.
Provide constructive feedback to let the student know if they have addressed all the requirements of the writing task. Also, the student previously had a problem with pucntuation (especially commas), and linking words. Highlight these areas of improvement. Suggest improvements if necessary.
Here is detailed feedback for the student’s letter, focusing on the task requirements, punctuation, and linking words:

—

Dear Yan,

Thank you for submitting your letter. Let’s see how it aligns with the task requirements and explore areas for improvement.

Task Completion:

1. Explain why you want to reduce your working hours:
You mentioned your current studies in computer programming and your upcoming exam date. This provides context, but it would be beneficial to directly state why reducing hours is necessary for your study preparation. For example, explain how more study time will help you succeed in your final exam.

2. Say which hours you would like to work:
You clearly stated your proposed work schedule, which addresses this requirement. However, ensure you clearly link your needs (study and new work schedule) in a single, flowing sentence.

3. Describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer:
You touched on the benefits for the IT department. It would be helpful to elaborate on specific skills or knowledge you’ll gain that directly enhance your role, mentioning how this will contribute to workplace improvements.

Punctuation and Linking Words:

- Punctuation:
You tend to omit necessary commas that help clarify sentence structure. For example, in your schedule proposal:
“Therefore, I propose to work from 2 pm to 6 pm each day, and I am also available to work on Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.”
Using commas as shown will help the sentence flow smoothly.

- Linking Words:
To ensure coherence, incorporate linking words to connect your ideas. Words like “therefore,” “however,” “additionally,” and “because” can make your reasoning clearer and more persuasive.
Example: “I am studying computer programming because improving my skills will benefit the team. Therefore, I propose to adjust my work hours.”

Suggestions for Improvement:

- Start with a clear statement of why adjusting your schedule is essential for your studies and how it benefits both you and the employer.
- Use commas to separate clauses and improve readability, especially in complex sentences.
- Incorporate additional linking words to clearly connect your reasoning, schedule, and benefits for your employer.
- Expand a little more on how your new skills will benefit the company. Mention specific problems you might solve or improvements you can make.

By enhancing these areas, you can improve the clarity and efficacy of your letter. Keep practicing your punctuation and linking words to ensure your ideas are always presented clearly.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

—

This feedback targets the areas where the student can refine their skills, paying particular attention to punctuation and the use of linking words, and ensuring all task requirements are thoroughly addressed.

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