General Training Writing format
IELTS General Training Writing also lasts 60 minutes with two tasks. Task 1 is a letter — formal, semi-formal, or informal depending on the situation. You must write with the correct tone, cover all bullet points, and organise the letter into clear paragraphs. Task 2 is the same essay task as Academic IELTS, scored on the same four criteria.
Many GT candidates lose marks on Task 1 because they use essay language instead of letter conventions — wrong greeting, missing purpose statement, or informal tone in a formal complaint. Practise GT letter prompts under 20-minute timing, then check each letter for tone and task coverage before moving to Task 2 essays.
General Training Writing checker
Check GT Task 1 letters and Task 2 essays for tone, task coverage, and band criteria.
General Training Writing resources
GT Task 1 Letter Checker
Check tone, purpose, and paragraph structure for formal and informal letters.
OpenTask 2 Essay Guide
Task 2 is identical to Academic — same essay types, timing, and scoring.
OpenPractice Questions
GT letter prompts plus Task 2 essay questions to write and check.
OpenTask 2 Samples
Band 7–9 model essays by question type.
OpenWriting Test
Timed 60-minute GT writing simulation.
OpenFull Writing Guide
Academic vs GT overview, timing, and band descriptors.
OpenFrequently asked questions
Is Task 2 different in General Training?
No. IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same essay task for Academic and General Training — same timing, word count, and scoring criteria.
What letter types appear in GT Task 1?
You may need to write a formal letter (complaint, application), semi-formal letter (to a colleague), or informal letter (to a friend). Tone and format matter.
Credits for GT Writing prep
1 trial credit — check one GT letter or essay free
Writing Sprint — 30 credits for letter + essay practice over 3 months
Yearly Marathon — 400 credits for immigration or work visa prep
Ready to practise?
Paste your essay for a free band diagnosis, or use your trial credit for a full Premium report with sentence-level fixes.