IELTS General Training Letter Checker — AI Evaluation of Register, Format & Band Score
Paste your GT Writing Task 1 letter and receive instant AI feedback on register, format, content coverage and all 4 band descriptors. The most common reason GT candidates lose marks - identified instantly.
What is IELTS General Training Writing Task 1?
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 is the letter-writing task in the IELTS General Training Writing test. Candidates must write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes in response to a situation. The task always includes three bullet points, and all three must be addressed clearly for a strong Task Achievement score. The required register may be formal, semi-formal or informal, depending on who the recipient is and why the letter is being written. Candidates must identify the register from the task before writing, then match the salutation, closing phrase, vocabulary and tone to that register. Register errors are the single most common reason General Training candidates score below Band 7 in Task Achievement, even when grammar and vocabulary are otherwise accurate.
Why Register Matters
Formal
- When
- Company, authority, unknown person
- Opens with
- Dear Sir or Madam,
- Closes with
- Yours faithfully,
- Tone
- Impersonal, professional
- Rule
- No contractions
Semi-Formal
- When
- Known professional contact
- Opens with
- Dear Mr/Ms [Surname],
- Closes with
- Yours sincerely,
- Tone
- Polite, slightly personal
- Rule
- Avoid very casual language
Informal
- When
- Friend or family member
- Opens with
- Dear [First Name],
- Closes with
- Best wishes, / Love,
- Tone
- Friendly, natural
- Rule
- Contractions fine
The most costly mistake in GT Task 1 is using the wrong register - for example writing "Dear Sir or Madam" to a friend or using contractions in a formal complaint. This immediately lowers your Task Achievement and Lexical Resource scores.
What Gets Checked
Register Accuracy
Is your letter formal, semi-formal or informal? Does your vocabulary, salutation and closing match the required register?
Bullet Point Coverage
Have you addressed all 3 bullet points from the task? Missing a bullet point caps your Task Achievement at Band 5.
Format & Structure
Is your opening salutation correct? Is your closing phrase appropriate? Is your letter properly paragraphed?
Band Score Estimation
Scores across all 4 IELTS Writing band descriptors - Task Achievement, Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammar.
Who Is This For?
Immigration Applicants
UK Skilled Worker Visa, Australian skilled migration and Canadian Express Entry all require IELTS General Training. GT Writing Task 1 is tested in every exam.
International Students
Many universities in the UK, Australia and Canada accept General Training IELTS for undergraduate admission. Task 1 is worth 33% of your writing score.
Healthcare Professionals
Nurses and doctors registering with the NMC or GMC in the UK must take Academic IELTS - but GT candidates preparing alongside them will find this tool equally valuable.
Sample Task Preview
This is the format you will practise with in the tool below.
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You recently purchased a laptop from an online retailer. You are not satisfied with your purchase. Write a letter to the customer service manager.
In your letter:
- describe the problem with the laptop
- explain how this has affected you
- say what you would like the company to do
Minimum 150 words • 20 minutes recommended
Check your GT letter before test day
Get register, format and bullet-point feedback before you spend another practise session repeating the same mistake.
Check Your Letter Now
Paste your letter below - or choose a sample task to practise with first.
Letter Checker: Frequently Asked Questions
What is IELTS General Training Writing Task 1?+
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 requires candidates to write a letter of at least 150 words in approximately 20 minutes. The letter may be formal, semi-formal or informal depending on the task instructions, and must address three bullet points provided in the question.
What is the difference between formal, semi-formal and informal letters in IELTS?+
Formal letters are written to unknown recipients or organisations (Dear Sir or Madam, Yours faithfully). Semi-formal letters go to known professionals (Dear Mr Smith, Yours sincerely). Informal letters are written to friends or family (Dear John, Best wishes). Using the wrong register is the most common GT Task 1 error.
How does the Letter Checker evaluate register?+
The tool checks your opening salutation, closing phrase, vocabulary choices and overall tone against the required register for your task type. It identifies specific register errors with corrections and explains the band impact of each error.
What happens if I miss a bullet point in my IELTS letter?+
Missing a bullet point in IELTS GT Task 1 significantly reduces your Task Achievement score. According to official IELTS marking guidance, inadequate coverage of the bullet points prevents candidates from scoring above Band 5 for Task Achievement.
How much does the Letter Checker cost?+
1 credit per letter check. Credits start from £4.99 for 10 credits - equivalent to checking 10 letters for under 50p each.
Does the Letter Checker work for both Academic and General Training?+
The Letter Checker is specifically designed for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, which requires a letter. IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 requires describing a graph, chart or diagram - use our AI Writing Evaluator for Academic Task 1.