Cambridge IELTS General Writing Practice Questions
The IELTS General Writing Practice Questions are key components of the Writing section, designed to evaluate a candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in everyday situations. Test-takers are required to compose a formal, semi-formal, or informal letter based on a given scenario, such as requesting information, making a complaint, or expressing gratitude. The task assesses clarity, tone, vocabulary, and grammatical accuracy, with an emphasis on maintaining an appropriate style for the given audience. Understanding the purpose and tone of the letter is crucial to crafting a coherent and well-structured response that meets the assessment criteria.
Table of Contents
The General IELTS task 1 writing section is made up three different types of letters: Formal letter, Informal letter, and semi-formal letter. The article provides official past questions for these types of letters writing:
Formal letter
Question 1
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
you work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.
Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment.
In your letter
- describe the problem with the equipment
- explain how this problem is affecting your work
- say what you want to shop or company to do
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 12)
Check the sample written letter here
Question 2
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
you recently attended a meeting at a hotel. When you return home, you found you had left some important papers at the hotel.
Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter:
- say where you think you left the papers
- explain why they are so important
- tell the manager what you want him/her to do
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 12)
Question 3
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
The local council is considering closing a sports and leisure centre that it runs, in order to save money. Write a letter to the local council. In your letter
- give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
- explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
- describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 12)
Question 4
a large company in your area has decided to spend a certain amount of money, either to sponsor a local children’s sports team for two years, or to pay for two open air concerts. It has asked for feedback from the general public.
Write a letter to the company. In your letter
- describe the benefits of sponsoring the sports team
- summarize the benefits of paying for the concerts
- say how you think the company should spend the money
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 11)
Question 5
You recently organized and all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants at the meeting said that they like the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.
Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter
- say what the participants liked about the hotel
- explain why they were unhappy about the food
- suggest what the managers should do to improve the food in the future
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 13)
Question 6
The system used for rubbish/garbage collection in your local area is not working properly. This is causing problems for you and your neighbours.
Write a letter to the local council. In your letter
- describe how the rubbish collection system is not working properly
- explain how this is affecting you and your neighbours
- suggest what should be done about the problem
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 13)
Informal letter
Question 1
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
Write a letter to your friend about a book that you have read recently. Include the following in your letter:
- describe the book
- say why you want him/her to read it
- tell him/her how to get the book
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 11)
Question 2
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
A friend you made while you are studying abroad has written to ask you for help in finding a job in your country. You have heard about a job in a local company that might be suitable for him/her.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
- tell your friend about the job and what sort of work it involves
- say why you think the job would be suitable for him/her
- explain how to apply for the job
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 13)
Question 3
Our friend is thinking about learning to drive and would like some advice. Write a letter to your friend.
- Say why a driving license is advantageous
- Recommend a driving school
- Give extra guidance/ tips
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 15)
Question 4
Your friend invited you to his/her birthday party, but you are unable to attend.
Write a letter apologizing for your absence. In your letter:
- State why you cannot go
- Explain your reason for not contacting your friend sooner
- Suggest another time to meet
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 16)
Question 5
A friend of yours is going on holiday soon and has asked you to recommend a destination.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- Recommend a good place for a holiday that you have visited
- Describe where you stayed and what you can do there
- Provide one negative aspect about the destination
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ___,
Question 6
You are moving to a new city for work and have just realized that an old friend lives in the city.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- Ask them for advice in finding accommodation
- Tell them where you would like to live
- Tell them the type of place you are looking for
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ___,
Semiformal letter
Question 1
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part-time. Write a letter to your boss. In your letter
- explain why you want to reduce your working hours
- say which hours you would like to work
- describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear _______________ (Cambridge IELTS 19)
Question 2
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
You are a member of an International Students’ club. The club is organizing an event to celebrate popular food from around the world.
Write a letter to the event organizer, Luis. In your letter
- offer to make a popular dish from your country
- describe what this dish is
- explain why it should be included in the event
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Luis, (Cambridge IELTS 19)
Question 3
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
Five months ago, you started renting an apartment on a six-month agreement. You now wish to stay in the apartment for longer than the six months you originally agreed with the owner.
Write a letter to the owner of your apartment. In your letter
- say how long you now want to rent the apartment for
- explain why your plans have changed
- tell the owner about a problem in the apartment
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear _______________ (Cambridge IELTS 19)
Question 4
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
You started in your present job two years ago. You now feel it is important for your career development to move to a different department in the same company. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- say what you have learned in your present job
- suggest how the company would benefit from moving you to a different department
- explain why you do not wish to leave the company
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear _______________ (Cambridge IELTS 19)
Question 5
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
You work for an international company you have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- describe the training course you want to do
- explain what the company could do to help you
- say how the course will be useful for your job
Dear _______________ (Cambridge IELTS 11)
Question 6
During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talk to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants. Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter
- remind him when and where you met
- tell him what kind of job you’re interested in
- say why you think you would be suitable for the job
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 15)
Question 7
There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors in your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- describe the complaints that have been made
- say why the reception area is important
- suggest how the reception area could be improved
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 12)
Question 8
You work for an international company and would like to spend six months working on its head office in another country.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
- explain why you want to work in the company’s head office for six months
- say how your work could be done while you are away
- asked by his/her help in arranging it
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 13)
Writing a 9.0 sample letter writing
This is the letter for question 1. For detailed explanation on how to write a 9.0 IELTS letter writing, click here
Question 1 – Formal letter
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
you work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.
Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment.
In your letter
- describe the problem with the equipment
- explain how this problem is affecting your work
- say what you want to shop or company to do
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam (Cambridge IELTS 12)
Written letter for formal letter question 1
Dear Sir or Madam,
My name is Davis Ann and I am writing to express my concern regarding a Hp 3356 printer that I purchased from your store on the 12th of January 2024. Unfortunately, the device has developed a fault that is seriously affecting my ability to work from home.
The issue is that the printer frequently jams and fails to print documents correctly. Despite following the troubleshooting steps outlined in the user manual, the problem persists. This has rendered the equipment unreliable for my daily tasks.
As I rely heavily on this printer to produce client contracts and reports, this malfunction has disrupted my workflow and delayed several projects. The inconvenience has not only impacted my efficiency but has also strained professional relationships due to missed deadlines.
I kindly request that you either repair the printer under the warranty terms or provide a replacement at the earliest. Please advise on how to proceed with returning the device.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Davis Ann
Question 1 – Informal letter
You should spend 20 minutes on this task
Write a letter to your friend about a book that you have read recently. Include the following in your letter:
- describe the book
- say why you want him/her to read it
- tell him/her how to get the book
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ________ (Cambridge IELTS 11)
Written letter for Question 1 Informal letter.
For explanation on how to write a 9.0 IELTS letter, please click her
Dear Ann,
How are you doing? I am very sorry that I didn’t acknowledge the email you sent to me a few days ago. I was indisposed and I needed to rest. I recently finished reading a fascinating book called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.
It’s a captivating story about a young shepherd named Santiago who embarks on a journey to find a treasure, only to discover the deeper meaning of life and his own destiny. The book is filled with inspiring lessons about following one’s dreams and passion.
I think you would love this book because it’s not just a story, but a journey that encourages self-reflection and personal growth, which are among the things you value deeply. Its simple yet profound writing makes it a quick and rewarding read.
You can easily get a copy online from sites like Amazon or borrow it from the local library. Let me know if you’d like me to lend you my copy instead!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Best wishes,
Ann
Question 1 – Semi-formal letter
You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part-time. Write a letter to your boss. In your letter
- explain why you want to reduce your working hours
- say which hours you would like to work
- describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer
Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear _______________
Sample written letter
For explanation on how to write a 9.0 IELTS letter, please click here
Dear Mr. Edward,
How are you doing and I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours to accommodate part-time studies that I plan to begin soon.
The course I intend to take is project management, which is directly related to my current role. It will enhance my knowledge in human resource management, resource management, and risk management, equipping me with skills that can contribute to team efficiency, time-based project delivery, and the overall success of the company.
I propose to adjust my schedule to working from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This will allow me to attend my classes while still fulfilling my key responsibilities and maintaining productivity at work.
I would be happy to discuss this further and explore how we can make this arrangement beneficial for both the company and my personal development.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Yours sincerely,
Davis Ann
Conclusion
Learning the writing strategies strengthen your writing and enables you to get a good score in the exam. We can take you through the process. Register with us today for IELTS training
