SGR FOCUS TRAINING

How is writing ability assessed in IELTS?

IELTS writing is judged by four criteria across two tasks. Task Achievement or Response measures how well you address the prompt, while Coherence and Cohesion assesses the organization and flow of your writing. Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy evaluate your vocabulary and grammar skills, respectively. Task 2 contributes twice as much to the final writing score as Task 1.

How is the Writing sub-test scored?

The IELTS Writing sub-test is scored by trained examiners based on four equally weighted criteria for both Task 1 and Task 2 mentioned above. For each task, you receive a band score from 1 to 9 for each criterion. The final writing band score is the average of these four scores, with Task 2 carrying twice the weight of Task 1 in the overall calculation. Examiners use detailed band descriptors to assess performance at each band level, ensuring consistent and fair evaluation of your writing ability.

Check IELTS Band Scores here.

How to prepare for the IELTS Writing test?

 Task 1: Academics

• Introduction
• Follow a general structure: Understand the common format for introducing different visual types.
• Keep it concise and avoid data: Don't include specific numbers or details; save those for later paragraphs.
• Use precise and varied language: Employ accurate vocabulary and different sentence structures.
• Integrate information for multiple visuals: If there's more than one image, combine their descriptions smoothly.
• Overview
• Write an overview, not a conclusion: Your Task 1 response needs an overview paragraph summarizing the main features of the visual data.
• Include key features in the overview: The overview should contain all the most important aspects of the chart or graph.
• Don't include specific data in the overview: The overview should only contain general trends and not specific data points.
• Body of paragraph
• Divide into two paragraphs, organizing information logically by category or comparison.
• Use linkers to introduce categories and provide specific data with comparatives.
• Paraphrase: Re-write the given information in your own words.
• Ensure your body paragraphs are well-organized and easy to follow.
• Back up your statements with specific data from the chart.
• Use symbols for currencies and percentages to avoid repetition.

Task 1: General

• Opening
• Analyze the Prompt Carefully: Read the situation and all the bullet points thoroughly. Understand the purpose of your letter and who you are writing to.
• Identify the Required Tone: Determine whether the situation calls for a formal, semi-formal, or informal tone.
• Address All Bullet Points: Ensure your letter covers every single point mentioned in the prompt.
• Plan Your Letter: Before writing, jot down the main points you want to include for each bullet point and think about your paragraph structure.
• Manage Your Time Effectively: Allocate around 20 minutes for Task 1.

• Use a Clear Structure: Employ a logical flow with a salutation, opening statement, body paragraphs addressing each bullet point, and a closing statement.
• Maintain a Consistent Tone: Ensure the tone you establish at the beginning is consistent throughout the letter.
• Use Appropriate Vocabulary: Choose words and phrases that match the required tone.
• Vary Your Sentence Structure: Use a mix of simple and complex sentences.
• Use Linking Words and Phrases: Connect your ideas smoothly.
• For Specific Letter Types: Tailor your language and approach based on whether you are making a request, explaining, complaining, apologizing, etc.

• Closing and Signature: Use an appropriate closing (e.g., Yours faithfully, Best regards) and include your full name.
• Pay Attention to Grammar and Spelling: Proofread carefully for errors.
• Aim for the Word Count: Write at least 150 words.
• Review Your Letter: Reread your letter to ensure it addresses all points, has a clear structure, and uses appropriate language and tone.

Task 2: Academics and General

• Introduction
• Paraphrase the statement: Use different words and alter the sentence structure. You can change the form of the words.
• Clearly state your opinion: Start with "In my opinion" to make your answer easily identifiable.
• Introduce your ideas: Briefly mention the main points you will discuss in the essay.
• Keep it concise: Aim for an introduction of 35-50 words.
• Practice: Practice paraphrasing the statement.
• Body of Paragraph
• Meet the minimum word count: The essay must be at least 250 words.
• Avoid irrelevant information: Adding extra details just to lengthen the essay can negatively impact your score.
• Aim for an ideal range: A good target is between 260-280 words to fully develop your ideas.
• Use formal linking words: Avoid informal language. Use phrases like "such as," "namely," "for instance," or "to illustrate".
• Vary sentence structure: Place examples at the beginning or use whole sentences with phrases like "for example" to introduce them.
• Use a range of examples: Don't rely solely on statistics. Include descriptive phrases where appropriate.
• Clear Topic Sentence: Start each paragraph with a sentence that clearly states the main point you'll be discussing.
• Support with Explanation and Example: Develop your point with detailed explanations and relevant examples.
• Logical Structure: Follow a clear structure (topic sentence, explanation, example) to make your writing easy to follow.
• Conclusion
• Start your conclusion with clear signals like "In conclusion" or "To conclude".
• Do not use phrases like "In a nutshell" because it is considered too informal for academic writing.
• Words like "Finally" are for body paragraphs, not for concluding.