Here's what catches most students off guard: you can write grammatically perfect sentences and still lose 2-3 band points because your letter isn't structured correctly. IELTS examiners follow the band descriptors, which explicitly reward "appropriate register and style" and "clear organisation". A poorly formatted letter signals confusion, and confusion costs you marks.
This guide walks you through exactly how to structure a General Training letter so it passes the eye test before a single sentence gets evaluated. You'll learn the formula, see where students trip up, and get a checklist you can use right before you submit. Use this framework alongside our free IELTS writing checker to catch structural issues and get detailed feedback on all four scoring criteria.
The IELTS Writing Task 1 evaluation criteria splits into four areas: Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. Your letter structure directly impacts two of those—and they're worth half your score.
Coherence & Cohesion (25% of your marks) looks at how well your ideas connect and how logically you organize everything. A missing paragraph break or unclear letter format confuses the reader. That's an instant band drop. Task Response (another 25%) requires you to address every bullet point clearly and appropriately. You can't do that without a structure that separates your greeting, purpose, body, and closing.
Here's the reality: examiners read hundreds of letters per day. A letter that follows the standard format is instantly easier to mark. A letter that ignores conventions? They have to hunt for your main points. You're making their job harder, and your band score reflects that.
Real talk: General Training letter format has stricter formatting rules than Academic Task 1. This is your chance to rack up easy marks by following a simple structure. Most students don't. You will.
Every General Training letter has five sections. Nail this and you're halfway to Band 7.
That's it. No creative formats. No exceptions. Examiners expect this structure, and you deliver it.
Your opening line sets the tone for everything. Get it wrong and you're already signaling low register awareness. Use "Dear Mr. Smith," or "Dear Sir or Madam," depending on whether you know the recipient's name. A comma after the name (not a colon) follows British conventions, which IELTS expects.
If you know the person's name: Write "Dear Mr. Smith," or "Dear Mrs. Johnson,". Formal. Safe. Correct. Use a comma after the name, not a colon (IELTS follows British conventions, and that matters).
If you don't know their name: Write "Dear Sir or Madam,". Skip "To whom it may concern" (outdated). Skip "Hello" or "Hi" (too casual for formal letters). "Dear Sir or Madam," does the job.
Weak: "Hi there, I'm writing about..."
Good: "Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to enquire about..."
That difference signals professionalism and register awareness instantly. That's how examiners spot Band 7 thinking.
Your opening paragraph has one job. Tell the reader why you're writing. That's it.
Start with "I am writing to [reason]." Full stop. Then add one or two sentences of context if the prompt asks for it. Don't waste words.
Real IELTS example: You've recently moved to a different house. Write a letter to a local newspaper describing what you like about your new neighborhood and what problems you've faced.
Good opening: "I am writing to share my experience living in the new residential area on Maple Street. I moved here three months ago and would like to describe both the positive aspects and challenges I have faced."
Weak opening: "I recently moved to a new house and there are things I like and things I don't like about it."
The good version anchors the topic, gives context, and previews your letter's direction. The weak one is vague and misses the newspaper angle. Examiners mark it as unclear on Task Response.
Keep your opening to 2-3 sentences max. You're setting the stage, not wrapping up the essay.
This is where most students lose marks. They cram multiple ideas into one paragraph or skip a bullet point entirely.
Rule: one body paragraph per bullet point. No exceptions. If the prompt has 2-3 bullet points, you write 2-3 body paragraphs. Simple.
Each body paragraph follows this pattern:
Real IELTS example: Your friend is organizing a charity event. Write a letter explaining why you support it, describing what you could contribute, and asking about the date.
Good body paragraph (first bullet): "I fully support the charity event because I believe in the cause. The organization has a proven track record of helping families in need, and I've seen firsthand how their programs make a difference. This is exactly the kind of initiative our community needs right now."
Weak body paragraph: "I like what you're doing and I want to help. There are many reasons to support this event. It's important."
The good paragraph is specific and developed. It earns marks for both Task Response and Coherence & Cohesion. The weak one is thin and generic.
When you move between bullet points, use transitional phrases like "Regarding my contribution," or "As for the event date," to show you're shifting ideas deliberately. This keeps your letter organized and easy to follow. If you're working on Task 1 more broadly, our guide on identifying formal requests covers how to frame each bullet point with precision.
Your closing paragraph is short. Two to three sentences. It doesn't repeat your opening or summarize your body paragraphs.
Instead, it wraps up politely and invites further contact. Think of it as the handshake at the end of a real conversation.
Good closing: "I look forward to hearing from you regarding the event date. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information about my contribution."
Weak closing: "In conclusion, I support the charity event, I can contribute, and I want to know the date. Thank you for reading my letter."
The weak version is formulaic and summarizes instead of closing gracefully. The good version feels natural and professional.
Your closing line depends on who you're writing to. The pairing between your opening salutation and closing sign-off matters for register consistency.
If you know the person's name: Use "Yours sincerely,". This is the British standard for formal letters to a named person.
If you don't know their name: Use "Yours faithfully,". This matches "Dear Sir or Madam," and keeps your register consistent throughout.
Then add your full name. Just type it out—no cursive signature needed for IELTS. Your name is the sign-off.
Weak: "Thanks! John" or "Talk soon, John Smith"
Good: "Yours sincerely, John Smith" (named recipient) or "Yours faithfully, John Smith" (unnamed recipient)
These details contribute to "Appropriate Register and Style" on the rubric. Small choices add up to bigger band scores.
Mistake 1: No paragraph breaks. Some students write their entire letter as one block. IELTS expects five distinct sections with clear breaks. Even if it looks shorter, break them up.
Mistake 2: Two bullet points crammed into one paragraph. Your reader can't tell where one idea ends and another starts. You'll lose organization marks. Stick to one bullet point per paragraph.
Mistake 3: Casual salutations like "Hi" or "Hello". Your greeting sets your tone. Get it wrong and you signal low register awareness from line one. The examiner is already deducting points.
Mistake 4: Closing with a summary instead of a polite ending. Your closing isn't an essay conclusion. It's a courteous wrap-up. "I look forward to your response" beats "To sum up, I support the event and want to help" every time.
Mistake 5: Mismatched closing and salutation. "Dear Sir or Madam" pairs with "Yours faithfully". "Dear Mr. Smith" pairs with "Yours sincerely". Mixing them signals you don't understand British letter conventions, which is a Coherence & Cohesion penalty.
IELTS Task 1 requires a minimum of 150 words. Most successful letters run 180-220 words. You have 20 minutes.
Don't overthink length. If you follow the five-part structure with one solid paragraph per bullet point, you'll naturally hit 150-180 words. Forcing yourself to write 300 words means you're repeating yourself, which kills your Coherence & Cohesion score.
Here's how to budget your time: spend 1-2 minutes planning (sketch your five sections), 12-14 minutes writing, and 2-3 minutes checking spelling and punctuation. That leaves 1-2 minutes for a final read-through.
Time-saver: If you're running short, add more detail to your body paragraphs instead of adding new sections. One thick, well-developed paragraph beats two thin ones every time.
Before you submit, run through this. Tick every box and your structure is solid.
Hit all nine and your structure is exam-ready. Examiners will see organization, clarity, and register awareness immediately. That's Band 7-8 territory for Coherence & Cohesion.
Structure alone won't get you to Band 7, but it's the foundation everything else rests on. Once you've formatted your letter correctly following this guide, use our IELTS writing checker to catch grammar errors, vocabulary issues, and get a band score prediction. You'll get instant feedback on all four scoring criteria so you know exactly where you stand before test day.
The checklist and framework above work for every General Training letter prompt. Apply them consistently and you'll develop the habit that examiners reward.