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Why many people are unable to score well in IELTS Writing

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  • By:CANAM Group
  • Updated On:Jun 21,2023 01:55 PM IST

The IELTS Writing exam is a tough challenge for many candidates, but it doesn't have to be. With these helpful tips, you can score a high band score in each task of the writing test!

Why many people are unable to score well in IELTS Writing

Fortunately for those who study in a country where English is the official language, it's not necessary to be an expert speaker or reader. All that’s required by law from you as part of your application process will simply involve providing proof (through testing) showing how well-versed you are in the grammar/ vocabulary of the English language.

The IELTS Writing exam is a tough challenge for many candidates, but it doesn't have to be. With these helpful tips, you can score a high band score in each task of the writing test!

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 question focuses on infographics. The candidates must analyze the diagram or the pictures provided and compose a brief report of at least 150 words. You will be asked to summarize the information in a graph, table, or chart. You can compare and contrast facts while being creative enough so that it doesn't sound like just another Wikipedia article! Academic Writing Task 1: A report on a chart (Bar Chart, Line Graph, Pie Chart, Table, Map, Diagram/Process).

IELTS Academic Writing Task 2

Essays are the focus of IELTS Writing Task 2. Each applicant must write an essay of at least 250 words on the given topic. Depending on the sort of essay, the applicants must express their thoughts or state whether they agree or disagree. There definitely must be a strong viewpoint and justifications as per the requirements of the question. The problem is that the essay questions can be difficult, but the answer should interest and engage the reader.

IELTS General Writing Task 1

Questions about writing letters can be found in the IELTS General Writing Task 1. The type of letters mentioned in the questions ranges from official to informal to semi-formal. Depending on the question, students must write at least 150 words long responses to the given situation. The tone of voice you use in your business letters can have an important impact on their effectiveness. The letters are most successful when they're written in a formal and professional manner, but there's also something to be said for using more natural language that is easy for the reader - this will help build trust!

IELTS General Writing Task 2

The general training part 2 also expects the test-taker to write an essay. An at least 250-word essay is required from the candidates. The topics of the questions are general ones from daily life. The candidates must state their positions and provide supporting arguments, as well as provide context or evaluate an idea in detail. In this task, you will be required to respond with an essay, either on the subject of a particular argument or issue. The tone should be more formal because it's not just about disseminating information; rather your reaction in an academic way is what counts for double credit towards earning points toward graduation!

Also read: IELTS - Overview

Understanding IELTS Writing

The IELTS writing section is divided into two tasks, the first of which is a report writing task with the minimum requirement of 150-words, whereas, the second one involves essay writing with the requirement of a minimum of 250 words. The time given for writing both the tasks is one hour. There is a question in the essay writing that requires a response based on ideas, justifications, solutions to the issue at hand, etc.

The primary objective is to evaluate the candidates' writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Of the different IELTS writing tips, the first one you must know is familiarization with the evaluation criteria of this section, which is extremely important. There are four dimensions based on which your IELTS writing essay will be scored:

  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy
  • Coherence and Cohesion
  • Task Response/ Task Achievement
  • Lexical Resource

Each portion is equally weighed and candidates are advised to keep the above-mentioned parameters in mind while drafting answers.

Stay Updated About Current Affairs

The list of topics for the IELTS writing section is always changing, so be sure to stay up-to-date with what's happening in your area. To be successful when taking this test, it will help if you remember that examiners are looking at more than just grammar and sentence structure; they want examples demonstrating analytical skills such as varied vocabulary selection or effective use of supporting arguments through evidence gathered from different sources (authoritative witnesses). Try daily newspaper reading to learn about current events and expand your vocabulary. 

Understand the Question

Before you write your answer, make sure to read and understand what has been asked. The main points of an IELTS exam are precision in expression as well as creativity with detail; so stick closely by these pointers while answering questions! Make use of any knowledge that may help, but do not get distracted from actually writing down anything other than just precise words or phrases because this could lead to speculation which is never allowed during testing time."

Time Management is The Key

To give the best possible response, it is important that you stay aware of your time constraints while drafting an answer. A good way to manage this aspect while preparing for an IELTS test would be by taking as many mock tests until you feel comfortable with how long each task should take on average - 60 minutes including brainstorming and gathering ideas related to the two questions being asked in the exam.

IELTS Mock Exams help candidates gain experience giving responses under pressure without worrying about scoring lower band scores. To ensure that it is thoroughly revised and free of errors, try finishing the essay at least five minutes before the due time.

Brainstorm Ideas before Writing

Brainstorming is another essential IELTS writing tip. Before you begin writing, take five minutes to make a list of all the ideas that come to mind and that you want to include in your essay. This will assist you in answering the question's main points and reduce the possibility that you may provide too much detail or become distracted.

Pay Proper Attention to Spelling and Grammar

You must be extremely careful to use grammar correctly when creating your responses for the IELTS writing section. It is one of the most popular IELTS writing strategies since careless spelling, grammatical faults, and poor sentence structure can cost you hard-earned points.

Make Separate Paragraphs

You must keep in mind to break up your essay or report into paragraphs. Some applicants have a habit of writing their entire response in one paragraph. Writing the response in separate paragraphs, with an Introduction, Body, and Conclusion is preferable. Your response will be well-organized and coherent as a result.

Adhere to a Formal Tone of Writing

It is better to use formal language while writing the paper as an informal writing style can create a wrong impression on the examiner. Don’t use abbreviations or slang while writing. Also, shorthand should be completely avoided in any competitive examination. For example, instead of ‘etc.’ one must prefer to write ‘etcetera’.

Be Careful While Using Punctuation

In IELTS writing, grammar forms an imperative aspect of the evaluating parameters. The break, stress, and importance of words and sentences are understood by punctuation. Make sure to use the right punctuation while proposing your arguments about a certain problem.

IELTS Writing Time Management

We’ve discussed several helpful IELTS Writing Tips in the previous section. Let’s take a look at time management.

Also read : IELTS test type
 

To do

Task 1 – 20 minutes

Task 2 – 40 minutes

Read the question carefully 

2 minutes

2 minutes

Map out your ideas 

3 minutes

3 – 5 minutes 

First draft 

10 minutes 

23 minutes 

Organization and logical flow

2 minutes

5 minutes 

Proofread and finalize

3 minutes

5 minutes

FAQ

In order to improve your IELTS Writing skills, you should practice IELTS writing regularly and get feedback from an experienced teacher or tutor. You should also analyse sample essays, review important grammar rules and learn new words to expand your vocabulary knowledge.
The common mistakes in IELTS Writing majorly include grammar errors, not following the prompt or instructions, failing to develop relevant ideas sufficiently and not providing enough supporting evidence. Students sometimes also fail to write a well-organized essay as per the required format.
It is important to follow the word limit criteria in IELTS Writing, because writing less number of words than required directly effects the band score of a student. Also, writing more than required word limit, will not provide you enough time to fully proofread and edit your essay.
In order to organize your thoughts, you are always required to plan your essay before you start writing. The planning of your IELTS writing provides an outline and make sure that you have a clear thesis statement and topic sentences for each paragraph.
Adding any sort of heading and bullet point is strictly prohibited in IELTS writing. However, you are required to follow proper paragraph structure, punctuation, and grammar to write formally in IELTS writing.

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