This is an introduction to the IELTS writing.
To read more about the exam overall, please click on this link, which was an introductory article to the IELTS exam.
IELTS Writing
Time: 60 minutes.
You are given 60 minutes in the real exam to complete the writing. You may be able to go for toilet breaks during that period but after informing the exam invigilators.
Tasks:
The IELTS writing is divided in to two tasks.
Task 1) You will given a diagram and asked to write a descriptive summary of 150 words on the main features of this diagram. The diagram could vary and could be a:
- Table
- Pie chart
- Line graph
- Bar graph
- Process
- Flow chart
- Map
Before doing the exam you should ensure that you have practised all of these as you do not know which one will appear in the exam.
In later articles we will look at specifics, but in general terms read about how to write answers to the various diagrams, look at various model answers and make a list of commonly recurring words and phrases that exist in various model answers.
You will be marked on your ability to DESCRIBE, not ANALYSE. Please remember that, you must no analyze.
For example if you are describing a graph showing ice cream sales and you notice a very large increase of ice cream sales in the summer, do not say: ” We can notice a dramatic increase of ice cream sales in the summer and this most likely due to the fact that because of the heat people want to eat colder things.”
You are not there to answer, why? But merely to say what. What you can see, what is happening.
You will be marked on:
- GRAMMAR
- VOCABULARY
- ‘TASK FULFILMENT’, did you answer the question properly.
- ‘COHERENCE’, did you have a good structure.
This writing task is useful for universities in helping them to admit students on to their courses that can write about data.
Students will need to be able to identify the main features of any diagram and write about them in a coherent manner with adequate grammar.
Task 2) You are given a question or an idea and asked to discuss it. Sometimes you will be asked to discuss two different opinions on a particular topic, one in favour and one against. Like task 1 you are marked on:
- GRAMMAR
- VOCABULARY
- ‘TASK FULFILMENT’, did you answer the question properly.
- ‘COHERENCE’, did you have a good structure.
You have to write 250 words minimum and can write slightly above that, but not too much e.g. over 300 or you will be penalised
In contrast to task 1 you are actively encouraged to be analytical and to give reasons and evidence for different opinions.
In other articles we will look at the specifics of how to write IELTS writing task 2 essays.
However here is an example of some of the questions that have been asked in previous years.
- “It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sport or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”
Note, here you have to discuss both views and if you only looked at one view you would be marked down for failing in ‘task fulfilment’ (answering the question properly, doing what the examiners have asked you to do).
2. “As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing.
What factors contribute to job satisfaction?
How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?”
So now you have an idea of what both tasks 1 and 2 in the writing involve.
Generally you should spend 20 minutes on task 1 and 40 minutes on task 2.
How to prepare?
- Read lots of model answers.
- Make a list of frequently recurring words and phrases.
- Read about different subjects and make vocabulary lists e.g. in the two example questions above you would need to have vocabulary related to children, growing up, education, music, sport for the first question and about work, emotional happiness for the second question.
- Try to practice by writing your own answers and if possible get them corrected. Each correction you get, you should avoid that mistake or work on that point until you get better and better with each piece of writing.
Good luck in your IELTS, TOEFL or any other English exam!