Task 1 GT IELTS – Preparation for IELTS General Training Task 1 Online

The International Language English Testing System is one of the most popular English proficiency tests that candidates must appear for if they aim to migrate for employment or education abroad. It is of primarily two types: Academic and General Training. Many candidates choose to apply for the latter because it allows one to gain work experience in native English countries.

Many students find task 1 GT IELTS the most challenging due to the time constraint and the variety of letters that candidates can be asked to write. For example, formal ones are generally drafted for businesses or professionals in well-established professional positions. On the other hand, semi-formal letters are written for colleagues, and informal letters are directed towards friends or family.For easier understanding, we have compiled a comprehensive guide to help students prepare for the IELTS GT task 1. 

IELTS GT Task 1 Pattern

Task 1 of General IELTS determines the candidate’s ability to write a letter within 150 words and in 20 minutes. It assesses the candidate’s writing skills, proper sentence construction, vocabulary, grammar, etc. The letter should be able to explain the situation, suggest solutions, and take action if there is no improvement. It is always best to utilise the ODAC format to write a good letter: 

• Opening 
• Details 
• Action
• Closing 

The general approach towards the letter is given for easier understanding: 

• Address the authority appropriately

It is important to start your letter with professional greetings and address the receiver properly. One can use these words to start their letter ‘Dear Sir Madam etc.

• Explain the situation

Then, one must explain the situation and begin with statements such as ‘I am writing to state my discomfort, ‘ I am writing to complain about.’ 

• Go in-depth and talk about the problem

This section will clearly flesh out the issue and can start with ‘I was expecting to receive; I regret to tell you that your service was below the mark.’ 

• Action to be taken 

This is an important section as it will determine how clearly you have been able to explain and resolve the situation. Phrases such as ‘I insist on getting a refund for,’ ‘I hope that this matter will be resolved from your end.’ can be used for greater impact. 

• Ending the letter with name and signature 

Last but not the least, one can end with ‘ I look forward to hearing from your end,’ ‘Yours sincerely.’ 

Types of Letter in IELTS GT Task 1

There are a variety of topics that the candidates can be asked to write letters on. We have collated a list of different types of letters that is used in IELTS GT task 1. Once you are familiar with the types and their general structures, candidates can write a letter on any given topic confidently. The types are:

Letter of Complaint

These are generally formal letters written to place a complaint about unsatisfactory service and faulty products to the concerned authority. Here, the candidate is expected to explain the situation and suggest what action can be taken by the authority. 

Letter for Application

These are generally written to write about your interest in applying for an event, opportunity etc. The intent of the letter is to express your  interest in a particular thing and generally accompanies asking for more details about the said event.

Letter of Invitation

Invitations are one of the most common topics that appear in IELTS GT task 1. These will often ask you to invite your friends or colleagues to an event that you are interested in. It can be either semi-formal or informal depending upon the receiver of the letter which will be specified in the task. 

Letters of Apology

These types of letter are generally written to express regret over something and to apologise for any mistake the sender must have made. It will ideally contain a short explanation of the event, an apology for the same and a resolve to not repeat that error again. 

Tips to Write GT Task 1 

Nailing task 1 GT IELTS is only possible when candidates know the exam pattern, type of questions that appear and the scoring pattern. However, that is not all. Candidates must equally follow the tips diligently. Important points to remember: Candidates must follow a specific structure while writing letters of any kind in task 1 GT IELTS: 

• Addressing the person being written to 
• The purpose behind writing it 
• Key pointers 
• Closing sentence of the letter 
• Ending with name and signature 

Incorporating these pointers is important in task 1 GT IELTSif one aims to attain a high band score.

Practice 

Candidates must attempt to improve their English through continuous practice. They can do this by reading magazines, books, newspapers as well as content on the internet. In addition, they must practice from the worksheets. 

Use English dictionaries 

Any word that candidates are not able to understand should refer to a dictionary. This will help them learn new vocabulary and synonyms. 

Do not make use of contractions in formal letters 

Remember that contractions cannot be written in a formal letter as it does not sound well. For example, words like ‘can’t,’ ‘don’t.’ 

Change the vocabulary based on the letter type

Based on the type of letter, candidates must try to vary their vocabulary as they will be marked on these criteria.  They can follow this table: 

Formal	Informal
Respond	Write back or reply
Purchase	Buy
Could	Can
Would	Will
At your earliest convenience	When you are free
Cannot	Can’t
Yours sincerely	Best wishes

Time management Candidates must complete the task within 20 minutes and the word limit as prescribed. First, students can plan out their letter in the initial 3-5 minutes by bulleting the points they want to talk about in the letter and spend the rest 12 minutes writing. They should give the last 3-5 minutes for proofreading and checking for any spelling errors. 

Use a variety of sentence structures Last but not least, use a variety of sentence structures such as compound and simple sentences. Candidates must remember that they will be scored on their grammatical range and accuracy. 

Conclusion

Candidates must follow the comprehensive guide and follow the sample papers to score well in task 1 GT IELTS.In addition, they must implement the tips mentioned above. However, securing admission to any training program comes with many financing, the primary one financing. However, Leap Scholar is the solution. We provide easy and affordable loans to support your journey abroad. Since its inception, we have funded more than 3000 students. We charge minimal fees and plan to take our number further with our transparency.