IELTS GT Writing Tips

IELTS General Training Writing: Master Strategy (Task 1 & Task 2)

IELTS Writing is assessed by four criteria:

• Task Achievement / Task Response
• Coherence & Cohesion
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Your goal is to systematically satisfy all four — not to sound “creative”.

Time Management

Always finish Task 2, even if Task 1 is weaker.

UNIVERSAL 7-STEP PROCESS (Use for BOTH Tasks)

Step 1: Identify the Task Type (30 seconds)

• Task 1 → Letter (Formal / Semi-formal / Informal)
• Task 2 → Essay type (Opinion, Discussion, etc.)

Underline:

• Who you are writing to
• Why you are writing
• What exactly is asked

Step 2: Decide Tone & Structure (30 seconds)

• Formal → No contractions, polite distance
• Informal → Friendly, contractions allowed
• Essay → Academic-neutral, logical

Step 3: Plan (4-5 minutes)

Write keywords only, not sentences:

• Intro purpose
• 2-3 main ideas
• Example per idea
• Clear conclusion

Step 4: Write a Strong Introduction

• Task 1: Clear purpose
• Task 2: Paraphrase + clear position

Step 5: Develop Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph:

Topic sentence → Explanation → Example → Link

Step 6: Clear Conclusion

• Summarise, don't add new ideas

Step 7: Check (3-5 minutes)

• Verb tenses
• Articles (a / an / the)
• Plurals
• Linking words
• Word count

TASK 1 — GENERAL TRAINING (LETTERS)

Step 1: Identify Letter Type

Step 2: Correct Structure (ALL letters)

Greeting

• Formal: Dear Sir or Madam,
• Semi-formal: Dear Mr Smith,
• Informal: Dear John,

Opening Paragraph (Purpose)

Say why you are writing (1-2 sentences).

Example (Formal):

I am writing to complain about a faulty product that I purchased from your store last week.

Body Paragraphs (Answer Bullet Points)

Each bullet = one paragraph or section

Use clear sequencing:

• Firstly / In addition / Finally

Closing Paragraph (Action / Expectation)

• Request, apology, suggestion, or future action.

Example:

I would appreciate it if you could arrange a replacement or a full refund at your earliest convenience.

Sign-off

• Formal: Yours faithfully
• Semi-formal: Yours sincerely
• Informal: Best wishes / Take care

Task 1 Band-Boosting Tips

TASK 2 — GENERAL TRAINING ESSAYS

UNIVERSAL ESSAY STRUCTURE

• Introduction
• Body Paragraph 1
• Body Paragraph 2 (or 3)
• Conclusion

Opinion Essay (Agree / Disagree)

How to Handle It

Goal: Clear position + strong justification

Step-by-step

• Decide your stance immediately.
• Choose 2 strong reasons.
• Introduction → paraphrase + opinion.
• Each body paragraph = 1 reason + example.
• Conclusion → restate position.

Example Thesis:

I strongly agree that flexible working hours improve productivity because they enhance work-life balance and employee motivation.

Discussion Essay (Both Views + Opinion)

Step-by-step

• Identify View A and View B.
• Decide your opinion.
• Structure:

  • Body 1 → View A

  • Body 2 → View B

  • Body 3 → Your opinion

• Conclusion → summary + opinion

Key Rule: Treat both sides fairly.

Problem-Solution Essay

Step-by-step

• Identify causes + effects.
• Choose realistic solutions.
• Structure:

  • Body 1 → Problems (cause + effect)

  • Body 2 → Solutions (how + result)

• Conclusion → recommend best solution

Examiner wants: logic + feasibility.

Advantages-Disadvantages Essay

Step-by-step

• Decide which side is stronger.
• Body 1 → Advantages
• Body 2 → Disadvantages
• Conclusion → evaluation (outweigh or not)

Do NOT just list — explain.

Mixed / Direct Questions (MOST DANGEROUS)

Example:

Why do people change jobs frequently? Is this a positive or negative development?

Step-by-step

• Split question into parts (A + B).
• Body 1 → Answer A fully.
• Body 2 → Answer B fully.
• Conclusion → summary of both answers.

Ignoring one part = Band 5-6 max.

Language That Examiners LOVE (GT)

Linking

• Moreover, Furthermore, However, Consequently, In contrast

Opinion

• I firmly believe / I am of the opinion that

Cause & Effect

• Owing to / Results in / Leads to

Examples

• For instance / To illustrate this

Common Reasons for Low Scores

• Memorised templates
• Unclear opinion
• Informal tone in Task 2
• Weak paragraphing
• Over-general examples

Final Examiner Checklist

• Clear purpose (Task 1)
• Clear position (Task 2)
• Logical paragraphing
• Varied vocabulary (accurate, not forced)
• Complex but controlled grammar
• All parts answered