IELTS General Training Practice Test 1: Writing
Sixty minutes for two tasks. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so give it forty minutes.
Unofficial original RCF practice material
Both tasks were written by RCF English. This is not an official IELTS test.
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently stayed at a hotel while attending a two-day work conference. After you returned home, you realised that you had left something in your room.
Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter:
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,
- give the dates of your stay and explain why you were there
- describe the item you left behind
- say what you would like the hotel to do
What Task 1 is marked on
| Criterion | What the examiner looks for in a letter |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement | All three bullet points covered and developed, the purpose clear from the start, and a tone that suits writing to a manager you have never met: polite and formal. |
| Coherence and Cohesion | One paragraph for each bullet point, in a logical order, joined with natural linking words. |
| Lexical Resource | Precise words for the item and the situation, used accurately and without repetition. |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | A mix of simple and complex sentences, with polite request forms such as I would be grateful if you could... |
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
In many countries, young people are encouraged to do unpaid voluntary work in their local community. Some people believe that this should be compulsory for all secondary school students.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
What Task 2 is marked on
| Criterion | What the examiner looks for in the essay |
|---|---|
| Task Response | A clear position on compulsory voluntary work, held throughout, with main ideas that are developed and supported. An essay about volunteering in general, which never deals with compulsory, is off the point. |
| Coherence and Cohesion | An introduction that states the position, body paragraphs with one central idea each, and a conclusion that follows from them. |
| Lexical Resource | Topic vocabulary used precisely: civic responsibility, work experience, obligation, genuine commitment. |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Accurate complex sentences, including conditionals and concessions such as Although... |
End of the Writing test
Compare your answers with the model letter and model essay. For more essays, see the 10 Task 2 model essays. Then sit Practice Test 1: Speaking, which is the same for both tests.