Table of Contents
How to Answer Part 1 of the Academic Writing Module
Part 1 of the IELTS writing module is an easily passed part of the test if you follow the answering system explained below. Although the data presented in the questions for part 1 are always different, they all follow a very similar pattern, and so long as you actually read the question and the information provided, it should be easy to provide an impressive, higher band score answer.
Tip 1: It is important to remember that you only have 1 hour for the writing test, so you must make sure that you do not spend more than 20 minutes completing part 1 as it is only worth 33% of the marks available for the writing.
Tip 2: You will lose marks if you do not write the minimum number of words required for each answer. The words counted do not include any words of the question title and are:
Task 1: 141 words (To be safe you should do at least 150 words) Task 2: 241 Words (To be safe you should do at least 250 words)
Writing Task 1
In the academic module, Task 1 is always a presentation of data on a specific topic. This is presented in the form of a graph or a diagram. Whatever the data is, the question format is always the same. So to answer part 1 question effectively and gain maximum possible marks on achieving the task requirements you should make sure that you do the following in your answer:
| Academic Task 1 Requirements |
| 1. Introduce the subject |
| 2. Explain the main features with data |
| 3. Show trends with data |
| 4. Make a conclusion |
Here is a breakdown of the four areas that decide what band score candidates are awarded to for part 1.
Tip. Unless the question is fully answered according to the explanation provided below, then the candidate cannot get more than a Band 5 for their answer.
| Marking Criteria | Explanation |
| Answering the Question | Were all the parts of the question answered? These are· So was there an introduction of the data presented· examples of the data provided· an analysis of data given· and a summary of the main trends in the data |
| Style | How easy was it to read the essay? Was it logical and did it have the following:· An introduction and a conclusion· Paragraphing· Good use of language connecting the different paragraphs· A logical progression towards the conclusion ‐ did the essay develop towards a conclusion? |
| Vocabulary used | How varied and accurate was the vocabulary? |
| Grammar used | How wide was the range of grammatical structures uses, and how accurately and appropriately were they used? |
How to Answer Part 1 of the General Training Test
Part 1 of the IELTS writing test is an easily passed part of the test if you follow the answering system explained below. Although the question tasks presented in the questions for part 1 are always different, they all follow a very similar pattern, and so long as you actually read the question and the information provided, it should be easy to provide an impressive, higher band score answer.
Tip 1: It is important to remember that you only have 1 hour for the writing test, so you must make sure that you do not spend more than 20 minutes completing Part 1 as it is only worth 33% of the marks available for the writing.
Tip 2: You will lose marks if you do not write the minimum number of words required for each answer. The words counted do not include any words of the question title and are:
Task 1: 141 words (To be safe you should do at least 150 words) Task 2: 241 Words (To be safe you should do at least 250 words)
Writing Task 1
In the general training module, Task 1 asks the candidate to write a letter for a specific purpose. The question provides the reason why the candidate is writing the letter, the person to address the letter to, and three specific points that have to be mentioned in the letter. To answer Part 1 question effectively and gain maximum possible marks on achieving the task requirements you should make sure that you do the following in your answer:
| General Training Task 1 Requirements |
| 1. Use the correct tone and letter format |
| 2. Mention all three points. |
| 3. Write at least 150 words, (less than 141 words will cost marks.) This does not include the salutations (the beginning and closing phrases of the letter. |
The letter is a formal one as you are writing to a person who you do not know so you need to write in a formal tone. An informal letter is a letter that you write to a person who you do know (a friend, a colleague, an acquaintance). Below is a comparison between formal and informal language in letter‐writing:
| Formal Writing | Informal Writing |
| Dear Sir/Madam, | Hi, |
| I am writing to you to request details about | I want to know |
| I trust | I hope |
| I would appreciate | I want |
| I would be grateful | It would be great |
| I would like to | I’d like to |
| Confirm | Check |
| Yours sincerely | Bye |
| Additionally | Also |
| Provide me with | Give me |
| Establishment | Business |
| I look forward to receiving your reply | Hope to hear from you soon |
Here is a breakdown of the four areas that decide what band score candidates are awarded to for part 1.
Tip. Unless the question is fully answered according to the explanation provided below, then the candidate cannot get more than a Band 5 for their answer.
| Marking Criteria | Explanation |
| Answering the Question | Were all three parts of the question answered? |
| Style | How easy was it to read the letter? Was it logical and did it have the following:· Appropriate tone (formal or informal)· Appropriate style ( a letter style)· A beginning and an ending· Paragraphing· Good use of language connecting the different paragraphs (cohesive connectors) |
| Vocabulary used | How varied and accurate was the vocabulary? |
| Grammar used | How wide the range of grammatical structures uses was, and how accurately and appropriately were they used? |
Writing Task 2
For both Academic and General Training Modules, the Writing Task 2 is the same. The answer is worth 66% of the available marks for writing, so you should allow 40 minutes to complete Task 2. You are presented with a discussion topic and asked to discuss it and present your own opinion on it. The questions may vary, but the task requirements always remain the same, which are:
| Academic and General Training Task 2 Requirements |
| 1. Use the correct tone and essay format (an introduction to the topic, an analysis of both sides of the argument and aconclusion where the writer gives their own opinion. |
| 2. Always use paragraphing. |
| 3. Write at least 250 words, (less than 241 words will costmarks.) This does not include the essay title. So do not copy the essay title to gain extra word length. |
Tip: Every essay question will have at least two possible views – for and against the discussion topic. To gain top marks you need to present both views before providing you own view point in the conclusion.
| Marking Criteria | Explanation |
| Answering the Question | Were all three parts of the question answered? These are · So was there an introduction of the data presented examples of the data provided · an analysis of data given · and a summary of the main trends in the data |
| Style | How easy was it to read the essay? Was it logical and did it have the following: · An introduction and a conclusion · Paragraphing · Good use of language connecting the different paragraphs · A logical progression towards the conclusion ‐ did the essay develop towards a conclusion? |
| Vocabulary used | How varied and accurate was the vocabulary? |
| Grammar used | How wide the range of grammatical structures uses was, and how accuratelyand appropriately were they used? |
Tip: The key to successfully answering Task 2 is to use an essay style with an introduction, an analysis of both points of view and a conclusion based upon the evidence presented. To do this successfully it is essential to use the following:
- paragraphing
- a formal style
- an introduction and a conclusion
- presentation of both view points
- your own opinion
- to write over 241 words, not including the essay title
To get the higher marks it is again important use connective devices to link the paragraphs together. Below is a list of higher level connective devices and when to use them.
Tip: Avoid using clichés where possible ‐ a cliché is a set phrase to describe a situation. Classic examples are the following:
| Cliché | Explanation |
| Every coin has two sides. | Explaining that there are two sides to an argument |
| This is a hot button topic | Describing a contentious issue |
| Frankly speaking | To give an honest view point |
| To look for greener pastures | To improve one’s chances in a new environment |
| To have a bright future | To improve one’s future life |
| The rapid development of technology | The speed of technological change |
| The rapid development of the economy | The speed of economic change |
Below is a list of clichés and the suitable high‐level language that can be used instead to gain rather than lose marks.
| Cliché | Explanation |
| Every coin has two sides. | Every argument has two sides |
| This is a hot button topic | This is a highly contentious issue |
| Frankly speaking | Honestly speaking |
| To look for greener pastures | To seek new better opportunities overseas |
| To have a bright future | To greatly improve one’s future chances |
| The rapid development of technology | The speed of technological progress |
| The rapid development of the economy | The speed of economic progress |
So if you bear the above in mind and practice answering the above questions (Task 1 and 2 both) within a 1 hour time limit, you will greatly improve your chances of passing the Writing module. Indeed, if you practice using the above techniques to answer the 20‐40 individual practice writing tests on the IELTS‐blog.com website (each with a separate Task 1 and Task 2 question), and the incorporate the teachers’ feedback there is no reason why you should not get a high band score in the IELTS Writing module.
The 10 Key Mistakes Made by IELTS Candidates Taking the IELTS Writing Exam
IELTS candidates frequently fail to get the score they require because they make some basic mistakes. Unless you are a Foreign IELTS examiner you do not know what these basic mistakes are. IELTS preparatory courses teach you how to pass the IELTS writing exam from the student’s perspective. Now for the first time you can learn how to pass the IELTS writing exam from the perspective of the person who gives out the scores‐the IELTS examiner.
Let’s take a look at the ten most common and easily solved problems made by IELTS candidates taking the IELTS writing Exam:
10 Key mistakes Made By IELTS Candidates taking the IELTS writing Test
| Mistake | Explanation |
| 1. Writing down memorised answers | A memorised answer is written by a non‐native speaker is easy to recognize and will stop you from passing the exam |
| 2. Not writing enough | Failure to write the minimum amount of wordsmeans that the candidate will be marked down |
| 3. Not writing like an individual | Although it is common to think as part of a group in many countries, most examiners come from Western countries where they expect people write personal or individual answers to questions. |
| 4. Being inadvertently racist | Describing one ethnic/national group as uniqueand deserving special treatment is considered offensive by people from Western countries. |
| 5. Using clichés | A cliché is a phrase used to describe a situation such as “every coin has two sides” which is over‐ used by many candidates. Choose your own wayof describing something. |
| 6. Writing inappropriately | Unless the question asks you to write to a friend, your answers should always be written formally. |
| 7. Not using paragraphing | It is essential to use paragraphing in Task 2 of the Writing exam. |
| 8. Not answering the question | Always answer try to answer the question, otherwise you will not pass the exam |
| 9. Using vocabulary and phrases inappropriately | Do not use vocabulary and phrases unless you know how to use them in a written answer. |
| 10. Not managing exam time well | If you take longer than the recommended amount of time on each task, you will run out oftime to write a good answer. |
And here are the way’s to simply avoid these problems:
10 Key mistakes Made By IELTS Candidates taking the IELTS Writing Test
| Mistake | Solution |
| 1. Writing down memorised answers | Repeatedly practise writing down your own answers ‐ with the feedback from IELTS‐Blog.com teachers you will learn to be able to write your own high‐scoringanswers |
| 2. Not writing enough | Practise writing the minimum word amounts in the required time limits(Task 1‐141 words in 20 minutes. Task 2 ‐ 241 words in 40 minutes.) |
| 3. Not writing like an individual | Avoid writing things such as “because I am (your own nationality) I think…” |
| 4. Using clichés | Avoid using English sayings which you havenot seen used by native English speaking writers. |
| 5. Being inadvertently racist | Recognizing that there are many different types of people in the world and that there no one country or ethnic group can be the best at anything. So writing something such as the following would be acceptable: “The (your own nationality) have a reputation forbeing very hospitable…” |
| 6. Writing inappropriately | Use formal speech always, unless specifically told otherwise in the Task question (this applies only to GeneralTraining candidates) |
| 7. Not using paragraphing | Practise writing essays with paragraphing and using connective devices. |
| 8. Not answering the question | Always try to answer the question. |
| 9. Using vocabulary and phrases inappropriately | Practise using new vocabulary and phrases by identifying them in material written by native English speaking writers, such asnewspapers and magazines. |
| 10. Not managing exam time well | Practise writing your answers under timedconditions‐remember it is 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. |
