IELTS General Training Writing Practice Test 1
General Training Writing in the official format: a letter to a hotel about a lost item, and an essay on when children should start learning a language. 60 minutes, with model answers.
How this practice matches real IELTS use
Writing is not marked automatically. After you submit, compare your answer with a model answer and tick a self-check list based on the public IELTS marking criteria.
How to use this practice set
1. Attempt seriously
Use realistic timing, avoid random guessing, and finish the set as one focused session.
2. Review by skill gap
Separate vocabulary gaps, concentration errors, weak task strategy, and careless mistakes instead of looking only at score.
3. Repeat with purpose
After review, move to the next related IELTS section or repeat weak-question types until your accuracy becomes stable.
Writing
Before you start
- Questions
- 2
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Parts
- 2
- The timer starts when you press Start. When it reaches zero, your answers are submitted automatically.
- Use the numbered navigator to move between questions, and flag any you want to come back to.
- For typed answers, keep within the word limit. Answers over the limit are marked wrong, as in the real test.
- You can submit early. Your score, the correct answers and explanations appear straight away.
IELTS General Training Writing Practice Test 1: all 2 questions with answers
Prefer to work through the test on paper? Answer the questions, then open “Show answer” to check.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Q1.You recently stayed at a hotel and left a personal item in your room.
Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:
• describe the item
• explain when and where you think you left it
• say how you would like it to be returned to you
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,
Show answer
Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I stayed at your hotel from 12 to 15 March in room 214, and I am writing because I believe I left a personal item behind when I checked out.
The item is a small black leather wallet containing my driving licence, some foreign coins and a photograph of my family. The wallet itself is not particularly valuable, but the photograph and the licence are very important to me.
I think I left it in the drawer of the bedside table, as I remember putting it there on my last evening. It is also possible that it fell behind the bed. I checked out early on the morning of 15 March in a hurry to catch my train, which is probably why I forgot it.
If the wallet has been found, I would be very grateful if you could send it to my home address by registered post. I am of course happy to pay the postage; please let me know the amount and how I can pay.
Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Maria Lopez
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Q2.Write about the following topic:
Some people think children should start learning a foreign language at primary school, while others believe it is better to start at secondary school.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Show answer
Model answer
Learning a foreign language is now seen as an essential skill, but there is disagreement about when children should begin. Some people believe that lessons should start in primary school, while others think it is better to wait until secondary school. In my opinion, starting early is the better choice, provided it is done well.
Those who prefer a later start argue that young children need to build a strong foundation in their own language first, especially in reading and writing. They also point out that teaching a foreign language well requires qualified teachers, and many primary schools do not have them; poor teaching at an early age could put children off the language for years. Furthermore, older students can learn grammar more quickly because they think more analytically.
On the other hand, there are good reasons to begin in primary school. Young children are usually less self-conscious about making mistakes, so they are more willing to speak and imitate sounds, which helps them develop good pronunciation. Starting early also gives learners more years of study in total, and regular short lessons over a long period are often more effective than intensive study later on.
On balance, I believe children should start learning a foreign language at primary school, as long as lessons focus on speaking, listening and enjoyment rather than formal grammar, and are taught by trained teachers. Grammar and writing can then be developed more fully at secondary school.
In conclusion, while concerns about teacher quality are valid, an early, well-planned start gives children the best chance of becoming confident users of another language.