What makes GT Task 1 different from Academic Task 1
General Training Task 1
- Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal).
- Address three bullet points from the question.
- Tone must match the letter type — examiner checks this directly.
- Opening and closing must match the register.
- 150 words minimum.
Academic Task 1
- Describe a chart, graph, map, table, or process.
- Include an overview of the main trends or features.
- Use data accurately — no opinions or speculation.
- Report-style vocabulary for trends and proportions.
- 150 words minimum.
Three letter types — and why tone decides your band
The examiner reads your opening line and already knows whether you understand the register. A single tone mismatch — a contraction in a formal letter, or 'Dear Sir' to a close friend — can lower your Task Achievement score without the examiner reading further.
What the checker evaluates
Task Achievement
25%Have you addressed all three bullet points? Does your letter fulfill its stated purpose — complaint, request, apology, invitation, or explanation?
Coherence and Cohesion
25%Does the letter flow naturally? Are paragraphs logically ordered? Does the opening and closing fit the tone?
Lexical Resource
25%Is the vocabulary appropriate for the letter type? Formal letters need formal vocabulary. Informal letters benefit from natural, varied phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
25%Are sentences constructed accurately? Does grammar support the intended tone without awkward constructions?
5 mistakes that drop GT Task 1 scores
Wrong tone for the letter type
Using casual contractions in a formal complaint letter, or writing stiff official language to a friend. The examiner penalises tone mismatch heavily in Task Achievement.
Missing or incomplete bullet points
IELTS GT Task 1 always gives three bullet points. Missing or only partially covering one can drop your Task Achievement score by a full band.
Inappropriate opening or closing
Starting a formal letter with 'Hi' or ending an informal letter with 'Yours faithfully' signals a tone misread to the examiner.
Too short
The minimum is 150 words. Under 150 words and the examiner applies a length penalty regardless of quality.
Not giving a purpose in the opening
The first paragraph should state clearly why you are writing. Examiners expect 'I am writing to...' or an equivalent before you get to the details.
Frequently asked questions
What is IELTS General Training Task 1?
IELTS General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter in response to a given situation. The letter can be formal (to a company or authority), semi-formal (to a neighbour or acquaintance), or informal (to a friend). You must write at least 150 words and address all three bullet points in the question. You have about 20 minutes for this task.
How does the GT Task 1 checker evaluate tone?
The checker identifies whether your vocabulary, grammar constructions, and opening/closing phrases match the expected tone for the letter type. A formal complaint that uses contractions and casual vocabulary will score lower in Lexical Resource even if the grammar is correct. The checker flags tone mismatches as a priority fix.
Is this checker different from the Academic Task 1 checker?
Yes. Academic Task 1 checks overview quality, data selection, trend comparison, and report-style vocabulary. General Training Task 1 checks letter purpose, tone match, bullet-point coverage, and appropriate opening and closing phrases. The four scoring criteria are the same, but what earns marks is different.
What band score can I achieve in GT Task 1?
GT Task 1 is scored on the same 0-9 band scale as Academic. Most exam candidates targeting Band 7 need to: address all three bullet points fully, use the correct tone throughout, write at least 150 words, and avoid noticeable grammar errors. The checker shows which of these is most likely dropping your current draft.
Do I need to sign off the letter?
Yes. The opening salutation and closing sign-off are part of Task Achievement. Formal letters typically end with 'Yours faithfully' (when you do not know the recipient's name) or 'Yours sincerely' (when you do). Informal letters can end with 'Best wishes', 'Take care', or similar. Using the wrong sign-off is a common tone error.
Not sure which letter type you wrote?
Paste your letter above and the checker will flag tone mismatches regardless of letter type. If your opening or vocabulary does not match the register the question implies, that will appear as a priority fix in the report.