Task 1 General Training — Letters
The whole of GT Task 1 turns on one decision you make before writing a single sentence: who am I writing to? Get the register right, cover all three bullet points, and the marks follow. Here are the three tones, the greetings that match them, and two full model letters to copy the moves from.
What you'll be able to do
- Identify whether a letter should be formal, semi-formal or informal
- Match the correct greeting and sign-off to the register
- Cover all three bullet points to protect your Task Achievement mark
- Keep tone consistent — no contractions in a formal letter
General Training Task 1 replaces the Academic graph with a letter. You are given a situation — a complaint, an invitation, a request, an apology — and three bullet points telling you exactly what to include. You write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. The Academic essay in Task 2 is identical for both versions, so the letter is the only part that is uniquely yours to master.
Here is the good news the graph-writers don't get: the bullet points hand you your content. You never have to invent what to say — only how to say it. And "how" comes down to a single word: register.
The three registers
Before you write, decide who receives this letter, because that governs every word choice that follows. There are three levels of formality, and mixing them is one of the fastest ways to lose marks.
- Formal — to someone you do not know, usually in an official role: a company, a manager, a landlord, a newspaper editor. This is the register for complaints and official requests. No contractions, no slang, polite and measured throughout.
- Semi-formal — to someone you know personally but still respect or address with some distance: a neighbour, a colleague, your child's teacher, a landlord you are on decent terms with. Warmer than formal, but still courteous.
- Informal — to a friend or close family member. This is where you can relax: contractions, friendly phrasing, even the odd exclamation. Invitations to friends and thank-you notes live here.
| Situation | Register | Greeting | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complaint to a company; you don't know the name | Formal | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| Official letter to a named person (Mr Smith, Ms Rao) | Formal | Dear Mr Smith, | Yours sincerely, |
| Request to a neighbour or your child's teacher | Semi-formal | Dear Mrs Kapoor, | Kind regards, / Best regards, |
| Inviting or thanking a friend | Informal | Dear Anna, / Hi Anna, | Best wishes, / Love, / Take care, |
The faithfully / sincerely rule
In a formal letter the sign-off depends on whether you named the reader. If you opened with "Dear Sir or Madam" (you don't know their name), close with "Yours faithfully." If you opened with "Dear Mr Smith" (you do), close with "Yours sincerely." A quick memory hook: never have two names — no "Sir" and no "faithfully" together, so the one with the name gets "sincerely."
Cover all three bullets — or lose Task Achievement
The three bullet points are not suggestions; they are the marking scheme. Miss one, or deal with it in a rushed half-sentence, and your Task Achievement band is capped no matter how good your English is. Give each bullet roughly its own paragraph, and if a bullet says "explain what happened," actually explain it with a detail or two rather than one bald line.
Write the letter in five moves
- Read the situation and the three bullets. Decide the register from the relationship, and choose your greeting.
- Opening line. State your purpose immediately: "I am writing to complain about…" (formal) or "I've got some exciting news to share…" (informal).
- Body — one paragraph per bullet. Cover each of the three points fully and in order, adding a concrete detail to each.
- Closing line. Round off politely: "I look forward to your prompt response" or "Can't wait to see you!" depending on register.
- Sign-off. Match it to your greeting, then add your name — a first name for informal, a full name for formal.
Consistency beats fancy vocabulary
The single most common register error is smuggling a contraction ("don't," "I'm") or a casual phrase ("a bit of a nightmare") into a formal complaint. Pick a register on the first line and hold it to the last. An examiner would rather read a plain, perfectly consistent formal letter than an impressive one that keeps slipping into chatty English.
Model 1 — a formal complaint
The prompt: You recently stayed at a hotel and were unhappy with your stay. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter: explain why you were staying at the hotel; describe the problems you experienced; say what you would like the manager to do.
✅ Band 8 model — formal complaint Band 8.0
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with my recent stay at the Grand Meridian Hotel, where I was a guest in room 214 from 3rd to 6th August.
I had booked the hotel because I was attending a three-day business conference at the nearby convention centre, and I had specifically chosen your establishment for its advertised quiet rooms and reliable internet, both of which I needed to prepare presentations each evening.
Unfortunately, my stay fell well short of these expectations. The wireless internet was unusable for the entire visit, cutting out every few minutes, which meant I was unable to finalise my work as planned. In addition, extensive building work directly outside my window began at seven each morning, making it impossible to rest, and my requests to be moved to a quieter room were not acted upon.
Given these problems, I would be grateful if you could refund at least half of the amount I paid, and I would also appreciate a written assurance that guests are informed of ongoing construction before booking. I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours faithfully,
Rajiv Menon
- "Dear Sir or Madam" pairs with "Yours faithfully" — the name is unknown, so the faithfully rule applies correctly.
- Opening line states the purpose at once — "I am writing to express my dissatisfaction" — and anchors it with concrete facts (room 214, the dates).
- Each of the three bullets gets its own paragraph: why he was staying, the problems, and the requested action — all fully covered.
- Consistently formal, no contractions: "I would be grateful," "I would also appreciate," "I look forward to your prompt response."
- Concrete detail sells the complaint: the internet "cutting out every few minutes," building work "at seven each morning" — showing, not just asserting.
- Around 220 words with complex structures kept accurate — "both of which I needed," "which meant I was unable" — and a full name to close a formal letter.
Model 2 — an informal invitation
The prompt: A friend from another city is free next month. Write a letter inviting your friend to come and stay with you. In your letter: invite your friend to visit; suggest some things you could do together; give directions to your home.
✅ Band 8 model — informal invitation Band 8.0
Dear Anna,
It feels like ages since we last caught up, and I've just heard you're free next month — so here's my plan: come and stay with me for a few days! I've got the whole place to myself, there's a spare room with your name on it, and honestly I could do with the company. Say yes.
There's so much we could get up to. The old market by the river has reopened, and I know how much you love hunting for second-hand books, so we'd have to spend a morning there. In the evenings we could just cook something together and watch those terrible films we used to laugh at — no plans, no rush, exactly the kind of trip we both need right now.
Getting here is easy. Take the fast train to Central Station, and from there my flat is a ten-minute walk: turn left out of the main exit, follow the river until you reach the blue bridge, and I'm the yellow building right beside the little café. Just text me your arrival time and I'll come and meet you.
Can't wait to see you!
Love,
Priya
- "Dear Anna" and "Love," — a first-name greeting and an affectionate sign-off, the natural pairing for a close friend.
- Relaxed, informal register throughout: contractions ("I've," "we'd," "I'm"), friendly phrasing ("a spare room with your name on it"), and an exclamation to close.
- All three bullets covered in order — the invitation, things to do together, and clear directions — each with its own paragraph.
- Genuine warmth and specific detail: the reopened market, hunting for second-hand books, "those terrible films we used to laugh at" — personal touches that feel real, not generic.
- Directions are concrete and easy to follow: train, ten-minute walk, turn left, the blue bridge, the yellow building by the café.
- Around 230 words, comfortably over the minimum, and a first name only to sign off an informal letter.
Want it marked?
Reading models only gets you so far — the register slips you can't see in your own writing are exactly what costs marks. Write a letter to one of these prompts, then take it to the Writing Clinic for an instant band estimate across all four criteria. For official practice papers, the free samples at the British Council and IELTS are worth working through.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether the letter is formal or informal?
Look at who receives it. If it's a stranger or someone in an official role (a manager, a company, a landlord you don't know) write formally; if it's a friend or close relative, write informally. Anyone you know but still address with respect — a neighbour, a teacher — takes a semi-formal tone.
What if I don't cover all three bullet points?
Your Task Achievement mark is capped, usually at band 5, however strong your grammar and vocabulary are. Treat the three bullets as a checklist and give each one roughly a paragraph so none gets missed.
Should I use 'Yours faithfully' or 'Yours sincerely'?
Use 'Yours faithfully' when you opened with 'Dear Sir or Madam' because you don't know the name, and 'Yours sincerely' when you addressed a named person such as 'Dear Mr Smith'. Both belong only in formal letters.
Can I use contractions in the letter?
In informal and semi-formal letters, yes — contractions sound natural to a friend. In a formal letter, avoid them: write 'I am writing' and 'do not', not 'I'm writing' and 'don't', and keep that consistency from the greeting to the sign-off.