A Brief Guide to IELTS Writing Tips

The IELTS Tests format is made to evaluate test-takers on how efficient they are in all forms of the English language. In all forms, the IELTS test analyzes a student’s expertise in Listening, Reading, Speaking, and  Writing the English language. Furthermore, while every section of the IELTS exam is tricky, the IELTS writing examination is considered the most difficult test of all four parts. Therefore, this post discusses some effective IELTS writing tips and tricks. 

In the IELTS writing test, there are two tasks, namely Task1 and Task2. In Task1, students must write a letter on a given topic in a minimum of 150 words. The letter generally describes a situation that occurred or reports or depicts a problem that has happened. Likewise, the time recommended for this task is 20 minutes, and you must keep 40 minutes dedicated for the longer Task2, where you need to compose an essay of 250 words. 

Effective tips to ace your IELTS writing test 

The fundamental purpose of the IELTS writing test is to measure the test takers’ aptitudes in writing. Especially considering the elements like vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and the capability to write one’s view. Therefore, many IELTS test-takers look for tips to help them perform better in either version of the IELTS writing test they choose. While the writing sections of the IELTS academic and IELTS general training test varies, here are some tips that will help you perform better in all your IELTS writing test. 

Acquaint yourself with the essay writing structure 

It is one of the most effective IELTS writing tips, and you must understand the standard essay layout with a solid grasp. In addition, essay writing is a fundamental element to success in the IELTS writing section, as writing is not merely a hoop for learners to jump through. Also, to better ace the IELTS writing section, it is better to systematize your essay and never present the examiner with a report wall. Next, ensure that you use different topics in paragraphs and accurately follow the IELTS essay writing structure, including all the sections Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Doing this will make your essay look more organized and save time during the test.

Understand the task type

As previously mentioned, while the IELTS writing part structure of the Academic and General IELTS writing examination are identical, their tasks are entirely distinct. Furthermore, your primary task for the academics section will be explaining or describing a graphic like a chart or a table, followed by an essay writing question. 

On the other hand, you usually begin with an answer to a prompt like an e-mail or letter and are then allocated an essay question to complete for the General section. So, to better ace both these sections, it is reasonable to practice sample IELTS writing test papers to improve your thinking process, prepare your content, write, and compose your thoughts in the time allowed.

Write grammatically correct sentences. 

Another crucial aspect most test-takers fail to accomplish is writing grammatically correct sentences. In addition, it is important in the IELTS writing test to create grammatically correct sentences as it makes a considerable difference in speaking and writing. So to accomplish this, you must ensure that your subject and verb must be singular or plural. In simpler terms, the verb and subject should conform to their tense. In addition, if the subject remains in the plural form, always ensure keeping the plural also plural.

Time management is essential. 

Time management is one of the critical factors to weigh in the IELTS exam writing section. Also, keeping a close watch on the time in the writing section is crucial, as one hour is usually insufficient to complete two tasks. It is important to remember not to spend too much time on one question to score better in your IELTS examination, especially when you do not know the answer. 

Leave that question and move to the next one, as you can always come back to it once you are done answering all the questions you know. Besides, it is important not to lose your calm about the subject text unknown to you, as all appropriate answers are available within the text. Hence, it might not be wrong to say that proper planning and preparation can assist you in fulfilling the assessment criteria for the cumulative IELTS scoring.

Always maintain a formal tone. 

Always ensure that your writing style is always formal and free from any slang words or short forms like “Don’t,” “She’s,” “won’t,” etc. Furthermore, writing your letter and essays as formally as feasible is better than a conversational piece. 

In addition, being formal in your writing section is about taking it seriously. Thus, professionals recommend formal writing in IELTS if you aspire to score a higher band of 7 or 8+. Additionally, writing an educational essay differs from penning a letter to a friend. Hence, using the right vocabulary and sentence structure will help you achieve a high score in the IELTS test writing section.

Key Takeaways 

• The IELTS exam writing section is the ultimate proficiency examination in English. Therefore, the most foolproof way to improve your IELTS writing score is to enhance the General English level.

• Solving as many mock tests as possible is recommended to prepare for the IELTS test. 

• If you think you require some extra help to prepare, you should consider taking an online IELTS Preparation course offered by a reputable online platform.  

• You must understand the differences between the writing tasks in the General and Academic IELTS. Otherwise, you may be reading the wrong material 

Visit our website to learn more about some effective IELTS writing tips with sample questions!

FAQs

Question 1: What is the time limit for the IELTS writing exam?

Answer 1: The time limit for writing the IELTS writing exam is 60 minutes; you will get 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. 

Question 2: Can I carry a watch for the IELTS writing test?

Answer 2: Wearing a watch is prohibited in the IELTS writing test. 

Question 3: Is there any penalty for writing more than 250 words on the IELTS writing test?

Answer 3: No, there is no penalty for writing more than 250 words in the IELTS writing test.