Top Tips, Strategies & Practice Test for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1

Writing Tips/Strategies for IELTS Writing Task 1  (General Training Module)

To answer Task 1 questions, you should work through the following steps.

In this section the five-step strategy will be used to guide you through various sample writing task 1

When the IELTS marker looks at a Task 1 answer, he or she has three basic questions in mind:

♦ Does the letter do what the question asks? Or, is the content (the ideas and information) appropriate to the task?

♦ Is the letter written in a well-organised, logical way?

♦ Is the language accurate and correct?

Many candidates get lower band scores in the test because the content and organisation of their writing are not good enough. It is important that you follow these steps when answering a Task 1 question.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Topic Analysis:

Sample Question 1

The course director of your previous college has invited you to attend a party for new students, and he has also asked you to give a talk about studying overseas. You have an important examination on the same day so you cannot attend the party.

Write to the director to apologise and to explain why you cannot attend. Suggest another date when you could give your talk.

How to Answer

Step 1—Analyse the question

What is the topic?

Find out by underlining the key words in the question.

The course director of your previous college has invited you to attend a party for new students, and he has also asked you to give a talk about studying overseas. You have an important examination on the following day so you cannot attend the party.

You have been invited to go to a party and give a talk, but you cannot go to the party.

To whom am I writing?

The letter is to the course director of your old college. Although you know him it is unlikely that you know him very well. The style of the letter should in this instance be formal or semi-formal.

What is your purpose in writing the letter?

Write to the director to apologise and to explain why you cannot attend. Surest another date when you could give your talk or some other solution.

You can see that you are given three things to do:

♦ apologise (for not being able to attend)

♦ explain (why you cannot attend)

♦ suggest (another date).

Step 2—Make notes of ideas

Make a brief note of any ideas which you might use in your answer.

In the following box, the student has written some notes. On the right side is an explanation of what these notes mean.

Step 3—Make a plan

Decide which of these ideas you will definitely use in the letter. Organise them. The notes from step 2 are on the left side below. In the box on the right there is a sample plan which is based on the notes. Each black dot represents a separate paragraph. Notice that not all of the ideas have been used.

Step 4 – Write the letter
Follow the plan

Step 5 – Check for Mistakes

(Continue with the page 2 for Practice and Exercises)