Skip to content

Free IELTS General Training Writing Test 1

This page is for you to try doing a complete IELTS writing test. For the best practice, we strongly recommend that you keep to the requirements laid out in the IELTS test.

Getting the result you need in the IELTS writing test requires a lot of practice, as well as understanding the common pitfalls and mistakes many candidates make. By working through the material on this site, you’ll be fully prepared with no surprises on test day!

NOTE: model answers to both tasks can be found at the bottom of the page.

  • Timing – 1 hour in total, 20 minutes for Writing Task 1 and 40 minutes for Writing Task 2
  • Handwriting – many test centres only allow writing in pencil, so practice using a pencil and paper. You’ll be surprised how much your hand can ache after writing for an hour when most people are used to typing!
  • No resources – don’t use a dictionary or any other aid, even if you don’t understand the question. You need to develop the ability to write without any external support.
  • No breaks – it’s essential to practice Writing Task 1 and Task 2 within 60 minutes without taking a break, as this will best simulate the IELTS test.

    • IELTS General Training Writing Test #1

    Writing Task 1

    You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

    You are visiting another town next month for a short break. Write a letter to the tourist information centre. In your letter

    • Tell them how long you are staying
    • Ask for some suggestions for what to do
    • Find out if there are any local events happening at the time

    You do NOT need to write any addresses.

    Begin your letter as follows:

    Dear

    Write at least 150 words.

    Writing Task 2

    You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

    Write about the following topic:

    In many countries, schoolchildren are required to wear school uniforms.

    Do you think this should be enforced in all schools?

    Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

    Write at least 250 words.

    Click here to read a model answer to both writing tasks

    Note: The model answers below would be awarded the highest band for any marking criteria. However, they are not the only way the question could have been answered.

    Writing Task 1 IELTS model answer:

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    I am trying to get some advice about getting the best out of visiting Wanaka Lakes, as I am planning on visiting your area at the end of February for a fortnight, from the fourteenth to the twenty-eighth.

    First of all, what accommodation can you recommend? I am travelling alone and do not have a car, so I’d like something central to the town, at a mid range price if possible. Somewhere near a bus route would be good, too.

    Also, are there any special events on between the dates I will be there? I have heard that there is a market on the 20th of the month, but I was wondering if there’s anything else going on? I am interested in most things, but would like to plan my trip as much as possible to get the most out of my stay.

    Thanks for your time.

    Paul Brown

    (154 words)

    Writing Task 2 IELTS model answer:

    In many countries, pupils are required to wear uniforms when attending school, and this is something that should be enforced for the following reasons.

    Primarily, students, especially those in their teenagers years, are under pressure both academically and socially; insisting on a standardised uniform within the school alleviates some of this as it means that the student does not have to worry about whether their peers think that they are dressed well or in the latest fashions. This has the added advantage for those from lower income families who may simply not be able to afford the clothes worn by those from more affluent families.

    Not only does it remove the social pressure, but wearing a school uniform also has a psychological advantage, as the student is dressed in the mode of attire used for study. Much like wearing a suit and tie may signal going to work for many people, wearing a school uniform prepares the child for the day of learning.

    However, this perhaps works best for younger students. By age 16 or 17, it may be appropriate for the student to wear more casual clothing when they reach their later teens, as the idea of ‘conforming’ by wearing a uniform could discourage the student from pursuing further education and this is often the time in which young adults are looking to establish their own clear identity. It is at this point that it may be more productive to allow more relaxed clothing such as jeans.

    In conclusion, although a school uniform does have advantages at certain stages of a student’s academic career, there is also a time when the enforcement of a standardised set of clothing may be counterproductive.

    (282 words)

    Feeling ready for another test? Go here to practice some more.

    This test originally appeared on https://ieltsforfree.com/free-ielts-practice-tests/