Starter
£0 / month
- 3 free checks a month (the first needs no sign-up)
- Each writing check uses 1 of your monthly checks; saved full rewrites are Pro
- Four criterion scores and a revision plan
- Saved essay history
Ranked October 2026 · checked 21 October 2026
Best IELTS General Training letter checkers
Most "best IELTS checker" lists are about Task 2 essays. A General Training letter is marked differently: Task achievement asks whether you met the purpose, covered all three bullet points and used a tone that suits the reader. A letter checker has to judge those, not only grammar. We ranked four tools on that one job.
Disclosure: we make English Test Coach, ranked first below. Prices are as each site showed them on 21 October 2026, in its own currency. Bands from any checker are estimates, not official IELTS results.
The ranking at a glance
| Tool | Checks General Training letters | Free | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. English Test Coach | Yes: the purpose, each bullet point and a tone that suits the reader, plus the other three criteria | 3 checks a month, the first without sign-up | Pro £12 a month, renewing until you cancel; or a one-off exam pass that never renews: £12 (1 month), £24 (3 months), £49 (12 months), with local prices in some countries. |
| 2. Engnovate | Yes, a separate Writing Task 1 Letter Checker. Engnovate tools and plans | 2 writing evaluations a month | One-time Premium from $11.97 to $61.97, shown as a limited-time offer; non-refundable |
| 3. Writing9 | Yes: its FAQ lists letters from Task 1 General. Writing9 plans and FAQ | Demo only | $7.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $37.49 a year |
| 4. Write & Improve +Test Zone | Its own General Training workbook tasks. Write & Improve +Test Zone | 2 free General Training tasks | £4.50 a month for the workbook (40 tasks) |
Why each is where it is
1. English Test Coach
Built for letters as well as essays. The report checks the purpose of your letter, whether each bullet point is covered, partly covered or missed, and whether the tone fits the reader, then gives a band estimate for all four criteria and the next revision to make. Next to it sits a letters hub with guides for complaint, apology, request, invitation and thank-you letters. It ranks first because it is the only one here that does all of this with free checks every month and a published accuracy test (24 of 27 official responses within one band, across Academic and General Training).
2. Engnovate
A dedicated letter checker and two free evaluations a month. Second because the free allowance is smaller, Premium is non-refundable, and its Task 2 checker says checked essays may become public without Premium (Engnovate checker notice).
3. Writing9
Covers General Training letters as well as Academic reports and essays. Third because there is no free plan beyond a demo, so you pay before your first report.
4. Write & Improve +Test Zone
Cambridge's General Training workbook gives a band for each of its tasks. Fourth because you practise its tasks, not your own letter prompts, and only two are free.
How to use a letter checker well
- Write to the clock: 20 minutes and at least 150 words.
- Before you check, underline the three bullet points and tick each one in your letter.
- Paste the full task, bullet points included, so the checker can judge Task achievement.
- After the check, fix the lowest criterion first, then check again.
Not sure about the tone? Our guides to formal, semi-formal and informal letters show the difference.
Plans for your practice
A clear place to start.
Start with the tools you need and make room for regular practice.
Pro
£12 / month
Or pay once, with no renewal: 1-month pass £12 · 3-month pass £24 · 12-month pass £49
Everything in Starter, plus:
- Unlimited writing checks (fair-use daily limits apply)
- 60 full rewrites each month
- Band progress chart across your saved checks
- Writing mock pack: 5 more timed mocks with printable band reports
- AI essay planner: outline, ideas and topic vocabulary
- AI feedback on your vocabulary practice sentences
- Speaking transcription for your recorded answers
- Cancel any time
Exam passes
Practise until test day.
Pay once for everything in Pro, for as long as you need before your test. A pass never renews and nothing more is charged. Buying another pass adds its days after the current one ends.
Which should I choose? Pro suits regular practice and renews monthly until you cancel. A pass suits a fixed test date: you pay once and it never renews.
A pass starts straight away, so the usual 14-day cancellation right does not apply. It never renews.
Prices in pounds. In some countries checkout shows a fixed local price; elsewhere Stripe converts to your currency, and you can choose to pay in pounds. Show prices in rupees (₹)
Retaking Writing?
If Writing held your band back, practise with a pass until your retake: check every essay against the four criteria, fix one weakness at a time and see each estimate change. The bands are estimates, not official IELTS scores, and no score is guaranteed.
£12 a month, renewing monthly until you cancel. No VAT is added. Cancel any time; Pro stays active until the end of the paid month, with no partial refunds. Outside the UK? You can pay in pounds (GBP) to avoid Stripe's conversion fee.
Pro payments are taken on Stripe's secure checkout page, so English Test Coach never sees your card number.
Questions about IELTS letter checkers
Is there an AI that checks IELTS General Training letters and gives a band?
Yes. English Test Coach, Engnovate and Writing9 all check General Training Task 1 letters and give an estimated band. English Test Coach gives 3 free checks a month, and the first needs no sign-up. We make English Test Coach. Any band from a checker is an estimate, not an official result.
How is a General Training letter marked?
On the same four criteria as other writing tasks, but Task achievement asks whether you met the purpose of the letter, covered all three bullet points and used a tone that suits the reader. Task 1 counts for a third of your Writing band.
How long should an IELTS letter be?
At least 150 words, written in about 20 minutes. Shorter letters lose marks for Task achievement; much longer ones usually take time away from Task 2.
Check a letter
Choose General Training Task 1, paste the full task with its bullet points and run a free check.