General Training Writing test collection
IELTS General Training Writing
ExamBand · 11 full tests · 22 tasks · General Training
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11 General Training Writing tests
- Practice Test 1A letter to the electricity company · Some people believe that friendships made online can be just as close as friendships made face to face.1 · Formal letter2 · Opinion60:00Start free
- 2 Practice Test 2A letter to your friend · In many countries, people now spend very large amounts of money on weddings and other family celebrations.1 · Informal letter2 · Two questions60:00Start free
- 3 Practice Test 3A letter to your neighbour · Some people think that all schoolchildren should wear a uniform, while others believe that children should be free to choose what they wear to school.1 · Semi-formal letter2 · Discussion60:00Start free
- 4 Practice Test 4A letter to the manager of the hotel · Many people now spend most of their working day sitting at a desk, and this can be harmful to their health.1 · Formal letter2 · Problems60:00Start free
- 5 Practice Test 5A letter to your friend · More and more people are choosing to work for themselves instead of working for an employer.1 · Informal letter2 · Pros and cons60:00Start free
- 6 Practice Test 6A letter to the airline · Newspapers and websites should not be allowed to publish stories about the private lives of famous people.1 · Formal letter2 · Opinion60:00Start free
- 7 Practice Test 7A letter to your manager · Some parents allow their children to walk to school or use public transport on their own from an early age, while others think that children should always be accompanied by an adult.1 · Semi-formal letter2 · Discussion60:00Start free
- 8 Practice Test 8A letter to your friend · In many families today, people rarely sit down together to share a meal.1 · Informal letter2 · Two questions60:00Start free
- 9 Practice Test 9A letter to the manager of the restaurant · Every year, large numbers of people are tricked by criminals who contact them by phone, email or text message and persuade them to hand over money or personal details.1 · Formal letter2 · Problems60:00Start free
- 10 Practice Test 10A letter to your colleague · Many students have a part-time job while they are still studying at school or university.1 · Semi-formal letter2 · Pros and cons60:00Start free
- 11 Practice Test 11A letter to the coach company · Some people say that there is little point in individuals trying to protect the environment, because only governments can make a real difference.1 · Formal letter2 · Opinion60:00Start free
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The guide
About the General Training Writing test
What is in the IELTS General Training Writing test
You have 60 minutes for both tasks and choose how to split the time. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1, so most teachers advise about 20 minutes for the letter and 40 for the essay. Each General Training Writing test here gives you both tasks in one timed hour.
Write a letter about an everyday situation, such as a complaint, a request or news for a friend, covering the three points in the task.
At least 150 words, in a formal, semi-formal or informal style.
Write an essay in answer to a point of view, an argument or a problem on a topic of general interest.
At least 250 words.
The task types you will meet
Our tests rotate the three kinds of letter and every Task 2 question type, so you are ready for whichever comes up.
Task 1: formal letters
To a company or someone you don't know: a complaint, a request, a job application or thanks. Begin “Dear Sir or Madam,” and end “Yours faithfully,”.
Task 1: semi-formal letters
To someone you know but not well, such as a neighbour, a manager or a colleague: polite, but not stiff. End “Yours sincerely,” or “Kind regards,”.
Task 1: informal letters
To a friend: news, thanks, an apology, advice or an invitation, in a warm and personal style.
Task 2: opinion
“To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
Task 2: discussion
“Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”
Task 2: advantages, problems and causes
Advantages and disadvantages, problems and solutions, or causes and effects.
Task 2: two-part questions
Two direct questions to answer in one essay.
How IELTS General Training Writing is marked
Each task is marked on four criteria, each worth a quarter of that task's band. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing band.
- Leave out one of the three points in the letter and your Task Achievement band falls to about 4, however good the rest is.
- Writing under 150 or 250 words lowers your Task Achievement or Task Response score.
- Our AI feedback is an estimated band based on these four criteria, not an official IELTS score.
Source: ielts.org: how IELTS Writing is marked
Work out your overall band with the IELTS band score calculatorTask Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2)
In the letter: a clear purpose, all three points covered and developed, and the right tone for the reader. In the essay: every part of the question answered, with a clear position.
Coherence and Cohesion
Clear paragraphs, a logical order and linking that helps the reader.
Lexical Resource
A range of vocabulary, used accurately and naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of sentence structures with few errors.
From 10 years of teaching IELTS
Tips for IELTS General Writing
- 1
Say why you are writing
Decide the purpose before you start: to complain, to ask, to thank or to apologise. Make it clear in your first two sentences.
- 2
One paragraph for each point
Three points, three paragraphs. Add a detail or a reason to each one, so that no point is only mentioned.
- 3
Keep one tone
“Dear Sir or Madam” means formal from the first line to the last: no contractions and no slang. To a friend, write as you would talk.
- 4
Finish the letter properly
“Yours faithfully,” after “Dear Sir or Madam”, “Yours sincerely,” or “Kind regards,” after a name, and “Best wishes,” to a friend. Then your name.
- 5
Answer every part of Task 2
If the question asks two things, answer both. Missing half the question limits your Task Response band.
- 6
Keep three minutes to check
Look for articles, plurals, verb tenses and subject–verb agreement: the errors students make most under time pressure.
Questions about the General Training Writing test
Is the AI band the same as a real IELTS band?
No. It is an estimate based on the published band descriptors, to show your strengths and what to fix. Only IELTS gives an official score.
How is General Training Writing different from Academic Writing?
In Task 1. In General Training you write a letter; in Academic you describe a chart, map or process. Task 2 is an essay in both, with General Training topics a little more everyday. The time and the marking are the same.
How do I know if the letter should be formal or informal?
Look at who you are writing to and how the task tells you to begin. “Dear Sir or Madam,” means formal. A letter to a friend is informal. A neighbour, a manager or a colleague usually needs a semi-formal letter.
Do I need to write addresses?
No. The task says you do not need to write any addresses. Start with the greeting the task gives you.
Is this General Training Writing test free?
Yes. Every General Training Writing test is free to take. AI feedback is $4 for one test, or comes with the Exam Pass.