The General Training Writing test lasts 60 minutes and has two tasks, both compulsory. In Task 1 you are given an everyday situation and you must write a letter of at least 150 words, spending about 20 minutes on it.

Three bullet points tell you exactly what to include. Typical situations include:

• writing to a college accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation,
• writing to a new employer about problems managing your time,
• writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport,
• writing to a renting agency to sort out a heating problem.

Depending on the reader, the letter may be informal (to a friend or family member), semi-formal (to someone you know but address politely) or formal (to a company, an official or someone you do not know). Choose the right tone, cover all three bullet points, and write in full connected sentences (not notes or bullet points). You do not need to write any addresses. Writing fewer than 150 words is penalised; writing off-topic or copying text is penalised heavily.