IELTS General Training: Writing Task 1
Bullet Points, Closing & Sign Off
Bullet Points:
Every General Training writing Task 1 has 3 bullet points telling you what information you must include. Not including any bullet point will result in a low band score in Task Achievement.
Task achievement
Band 7: All bullet points are covered and clearly highlighted but could be more fully or more appropriately illustrated or extended.
Task achievement
Band 4: Not all bullet points are presented.
Here's a sample task.
The bullet points are prompts that you should expand and develop, using additional information. They usually begin with an instruction such as “explain” or “describe”. Use these instructions as a guide to how you should expand the bullet points.
Don’t copy the bullet points word for word because they will be deducted from your word count.
Don’t introduce the bullet points.
Example:
Now I will explain the work I am currently doing.
Follow the instruction in the bullet point and expand with supporting details.
Example: First bullet point
-
explain what you are currently doing
At the moment, I am employed as a web developer for a local company that specializes in developing websites for local businesses. The job involves responding to enquiries from clients, conducting a needs analysis with them and designing sample sites for their approval.
Closing and Sign off
Closing
Closing the letter should be a summary of what you have written or a request for action. The style / tone should be appropriate for the type of letter.
Sign off
How you sign off your letter depends on the style / tone of the letter.
* Note: There is a distinction between “Yours faithfully & sincerely”
Yours faithfully: When you don’t use a name in the opening e.g. Dear Sir/Madam
Yours sincerely: When you use a name in the opening e.g. Dear Miss Jones
However, it’s highly unlikely that you would be penalized for inappropriate use as this distinction is rarely adhered to today and they are both appropriate formal tones.