How can you achieve this? Avoid complicated ideas and writing too much

There are no marks in IELTS for quality of ideas. They need to be relevant to the question, but that is all. It really makes no difference if the examiner disagrees with your thoughts. Many candidates who are aiming for a high score (perhaps because they are smart), try to show off with great ideas.

• Problem – you have 40 minutes and you are writing in a second language.
• Bigger problem – if you try and write something “clever”, there is a good chance that your language will become over-complex and you will make mistakes you didn’t need to.
• Point to consider – the more you write: the more likely you are to make mistakes and the less likely you are to have time to check
• It’s a language test: always remember that.

Sample letters:

Below is a sample letter response to Task 1 of the General IELTS Writing Section. It is a formal letter, which can be identified in several ways:

· the tone, which is official, business-like and serious

· the use of Dear Sir / Madam

· the absence of contractions

· the use of formal expressions (I am writing in connection with...)

· the closing salutation ("Yours faithfully" instead of the more informal "Yours sincerely" or "Best regards")