English Exams/General IELTS Exam Preparation/General IELTS Writing Preparation
English Exams General IELTS Writing Preparation Resources
Understand The General IELTS Writing Exam, Reach Your IELTS Score
Prepare for the General IELTS Writing test with high-quality lessons, practical exercises, and effective exam strategies. Improve your Writing Task 1 and Task 2 performance, develop your letter and essay writing skills, and achieve your target IELTS band score with confidence.
General IELTS Writing Exam Test Structure
Test overview
The General IELTS Writing test has two tasks to complete in 60 minutes: writing a letter in response to a given situation and writing an essay expressing and supporting your ideas. This guide explains both tasks, how General Training differs from Academic, how your writing is assessed, and where to find targeted practice.
Writing Test Structure
60 Minutes Total Both Tasks
Task 1: 20min
Task 2: 40min
Task 1: Minimum 150 words · Write a letter responding to a situation using the correct tone and style.
Task 2: min. 250 words · counts for 2/3 of your Writing band.
01 Start Here
What is IELTS General Writing?
General Training Writing has the same two-task, 60-minute format as Academic Writing, but Task 1 is different: instead of describing a chart or diagram, you write a letter responding to a everyday situation.
Why Task 2 matters more: examiners weight Task 2 roughly twice as heavily as Task 1 when calculating your overall Writing band. A strong essay can lift a weaker letter; a weak essay will cap your band regardless of how good the letter was.
02 Know your version
General vs Academic Training: what's actually different
Only Task 1 changes between the two versions. Task 2, the marking criteria, timing, and word counts are identical
Element
Academic
General Training
Task 1 format
Describe a chart, graph, table, diagram, or process
A letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal)
Task 1 word count
At least 150 words
At least 150 words
Task 2 essay
Identical discursive essay
Identical discursive essay
Marking criteria
Same four criteria, same weighting
Same four criteria, same weighting
Typical use case
University admission, professional registration
Immigration, work, secondary education
03 The 2 Tasks
Writing Task 1 & Task 2
Each task has its own full guide: format, structure, common mistakes, band descriptors, and practice exercises for every sub-skill.
33% Total Writing Score
Task 1: The Leter
Respond to a everyday situation in 150+ words, requesting information, making a complaint, or explaining a problem to a friend, colleague, or organisation.
- Formal, semi-formal & informal letter types
- Correct tone and register for each
- Opening and closing conventions
67% Total Writing Score
Task 2 The Essay
Write a formal discursive essay of 250+ words in response to a point of view, argument, or problem, identical to the General Training version.
- Five essay question types
- Four-paragraph structure that always works
- All four marking criteria explained
04 Scoring
How your Writing band is calculated
Both tasks are marked against four criteria on a 1–9 scale, then combined on a 1:2 weighting (Task 1 : Task 2) to give your overall Writing band, rounded to the nearest half band.
9
Fully developed
Fully addresses all parts, ideas relevant and fully extended
8
Well developed
Sufficiently addresses all parts, well-extended and supported ideas
7
Clear position
Addresses all parts, clear position, main ideas extended but some lack focus
6
Relevant position
Addresses all parts though some more fully; relevant but underdeveloped ideas
5
Partial response
Addresses the task only partially; position unclear, limited support
4
Minimal response
Responds minimally, position unclear, ideas hard to follow
05 Your Plan
How to prepare?
A practical order to work through, adjustable to how much runway you have before test day.
Your 5 Steps To Success
01
Take a diagnostic
Establish your current Writing band score before you start, so study time goes where it’s actually needed.
02
Work Sub Skill by Sub Skill
Use the criterion-by-criterion exercises to isolate and fix your specific weak point instead of writing full essays every time.
03
Get Writing Feedback
Get professional help with expert guidance, personalised feedback, and targeted practice to improve your Specific Writing Problems With General IELTS Writing.
04
Target your weakest Sub Skill
Within Writing and Speaking especially, identify which of the four scoring criteria is capping your band, and drill that specifically.
05
Practise under timed conditions
In the final two weeks, always write both tasks together in the full 60-minute window to build exam-day stamina and pacing.
06 Where Points are lost
Common Academic mistakes
These issues show up repeatedly in Academic scripts, regardless of overall English level.
Task 1: Wrong tone for the letter type: using casual language in a formal complaint, or overly stiff language in a letter to a friend, is penalised under both Task Achievement and Lexical Resource.
Task 1: Missing bullet points: Task 1 prompts always include 2–3 bullet points you must cover. Missing even one caps your Task Achievement score.
Task 2: Treating Task 2 as less important: because Task 1 feels more personal and familiar, candidates under-prepare for the essay, which counts for twice as much of the band.
Task 1 & 2 Under 150 / 250 words: falling short of either minimum word count is penalised directly, regardless of how well-written the response is.
Task 1 & 2 No Clear Paragraphing: not using clearly marker paragraphs (no indent, just 1 empty line between) is penalised directly, regardless of how well-written the response is.
07 Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about the IELTS Academic Writing test.
Is Task 2 really identical to the General Training version?
Yes. The essay task, timing, word count and marking criteria are the same in both versions, only Task 1 differs.
In Task 1: How do I know which letter type to write?
The prompt tells you who you’re writing to. A stranger or organisation = formal; someone you know professionally = semi-formal; a friend or family member = informal.
Task 1: Do I need to include an address or date in the letter?
No. Unlike a real letter, IELTS Task 1 does not require addresses, and a date is optional, focus your words on the body content and bullet points instead.
How many words should each task be?
Task 1: minimum 150 words. Task 2: minimum 250 words. Aim slightly above both minimums, but don’t pad unnecessarily
Which task should I do first in the exam?
Most candidates do Task 1 first since it’s shorter, but there’s no rule against starting with Task 2 if you plan your time carefully, 20 minutes for Task 1, 40 for Task 2.
Which criterion should I focus on if I don't know my weak point?
Submit a response for marking (see below) or take a diagnostic with me, guessing which criterion is capping your band wastes far more time than a single proper assessment.
Any More Questions
If you have more questions about the IELTS Academic Writing test, preparation, or choosing the right resources, feel free to get in touch.
08 Practise a sub-skill
Start Writing Practice
Prefer to skip ahead? Every sub-skill for both tasks has its own set of exercises.
Task 1 vs Task 2
Writing Task 1 Practice
Practise General IELTS Writing Task 1 with realistic letter questions and guided exercises. Learn to respond to different situations, use the correct tone, and write clear, effective letters without unnecessary information.
Writing Task 2 Practice
Practise Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 with realistic essay questions and guided exercises. Learn to develop ideas, organise your arguments, use effective vocabulary, and write clear, well-structured essays for a higher band score.
Writing Task 1 General
General Writing Task 1
Practise General IELTS Writing Task 1 with realistic letter questions and guided exercises. Learn to respond to different situations, use the right tone and style, organise your ideas clearly, and write effective letters for a higher band score.
Quick Navigation
General IELTS Task 1
Task Achievement
Practise Task Achievement for General IELTS Writing Task 1. Learn to answer all parts of the letter prompt, include relevant details, maintain the correct purpose and tone, and write complete responses that meet the assessment criteria.
General IELTS Task 1
Coherence & Cohesion
Practise Coherence and Cohesion for General IELTS Writing Task 1. Learn to organise your letter clearly, connect ideas naturally, use paragraphs effectively, and create well-structured responses.
General IELTS Task 1
Lexical Resource
Practise Lexical Resource for General IELTS Writing Task 1. Learn to use appropriate vocabulary, choose the right level of formality, express ideas clearly, and write effective letters with confidence.
General IELTS Task 1
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Practise Grammatical Range and Accuracy for General IELTS Writing Task 1. Improve sentence variety, grammar accuracy, and your ability to express ideas clearly and effectively in different types of letters.
Writing Task 2 Academic & General
Writing Task 2
Practise Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 with realistic essay questions and targeted exercises. Learn to develop clear arguments, organise your ideas effectively, use academic language, and write well-structured essays using effective exam strategies.
Quick Navigation
IELTS Task 2 Academic & General
Task Achievement
Practise Task Response for IELTS Academic Writing Task 2. Learn to answer the question fully, develop clear arguments, support your ideas with relevant examples, and write well-focused essays that meet the assessment criteria.
IELTS Task 2 Academic & General
Coherence & Cohesion
Practise Coherence and Cohesion for IELTS Academic Writing Task 2. Learn to organise your essay clearly, connect ideas logically, use paragraphs effectively, and create well-structured arguments.
IELTS Task 2 Academic & General
Lexical Resource
Practise Lexical Resource for IELTS Academic Writing Task 2. Learn to use a wider range of academic vocabulary, express ideas precisely, avoid repetition, and develop stronger essays with effective language choices.
IELTS Task 2 Academic & General
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Practise Grammatical Range and Accuracy for IELTS Academic Writing Task 2. Improve sentence variety, grammar accuracy, and your ability to express complex ideas clearly and effectively in well-structured essays.
Self-Study Materials
Popular Free IELTS Exam Worksheets
Start practising today with free worksheets, writing templates, and exam practice activities. Download them instantly. no sign-up required!
IELTS Writing Task 2
Brainstorming Practice
A collection of 10 IELTS Writing Task 2 brainstorming worksheets featuring realistic exam questions. Practise generating relevant, well-developed ideas for different essay types and build the skills needed to plan stronger Band 7–9 essays with confidence.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Argument Structure Practice
A collection of 10 IELTS Writing Task 2 essay planner worksheets designed to help you organise your ideas before you write. Practise choosing your position, planning logical body paragraphs, and selecting relevant supporting ideas to build clear, well-structured Band 7–9 essays with confidence.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Writing Check list
A 1-page IELTS Writing Task 2 checklist covering the four assessment criteria to help you review your essay, identify common mistakes, and maximise your band score before you submit.
Continue Your Journey
What To Study Next?
Keep developing your English with more General IELTS resources designed to improve your reading, listening, and speaking skills. Explore targeted practice activities, build your confidence, and continue preparing effectively for your IELTS goals.
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Exam Feedback
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Record and send your speaking practice, and receive detailed, personalised feedback. I’ll assess your fluency, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and exam performance, with clear advice on how to improve . Your evaluation will be delivered within 48 hours.
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