IELTS Writing Tips

If studying abroad is what you dream of, you must be knowing that having a good grip over the English language is a must. To study in a country where English is the official language, the aspirants are asked to provide English Proficiency Test scores. One such English proficiency exam is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which is organized in two variants, i.e. Academic and General. If you have to aim to appear for this exam and struggle with the different sections, here is a blog that will walk you through important IELTS writing tips and tricks and preparations strategies employing which you can successfully ace this section with high scores. 

Recommended Read: How to Prepare for IELTS Online?

What is IELTS?

Before imparting you useful IELTS writing tips, let’s first explore the basic features of this exam. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language proficiency exam that aims to evaluate the writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills of those individuals whose native language is not English. IELTS was established in 1989 and is conducted in India by its affiliated institutions like Cambridge Assessment English, British Council, amongst others. IELTS exam pattern comprises four sections, namely, writing, reading, speaking, and listening. There is no restriction on the number of attempts for this exam and one can take IELTS as many times as possible until they achieve the score they require for their course or visa application.

Know All About IELTS Eligibility

Understanding IELTS Writing

The IELTS writing section is divided into two tasks which the first one comprises report writing for which the word limit is 150 words whereas the second one involves essay writing under the 250-word limit. The time given for the entire set is one hour. The essay writing has a question under which one needs to provide an answer based on opinions, arguments, solutions to the given certain problem, and so on. The main aim is to check the writing skills, thinking ability, and problem-solving skills of the candidates. Amongst the different IELTS writing tips, the first one you must know is that familiarization with the evaluation criteria of this section is extremely important. There are four dimensions based on which your IELTS writing essay will be scored:

• Grammar
• Coherence and cohesion
• Task Response
• Vocabulary

Each portion is given equal weightage and candidates are advised to keep the above-mentioned parameters in mind while drafting their answer.

IELTS Writing Test Format – Academic

There are two sections to this story. The tone of IELTS Task 1 and IELTS Task 2 replies should be formal, semi-formal, or neutral.

Task 1

You’ll be given a graph, table, chart, or diagram and asked to sum up and summarise the information in your own words. You can be requested to compare and contrast facts, describe the steps of a process, describe an object, or explain how something works.

Task 2

You’ve been given an essay to write in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. Test takers starting undergraduate or postgraduate courses or pursuing professional registration will find the problems discussed to be of wide interest, suited for, and readily comprehended.

IELTS Writing Test Format – General Training

There are two sections to this story. The topics are interesting to a wide range of people.

Task 1

You’ve been assigned the task of writing a letter to someone to gather information or explain the existing scenario. It is possible to write the letter in a personal, semi-formal, or formal tone.

Task 2

You’ve been assigned to write an essay in response to a viewpoint, argument, or problem. The essay may be less formal in tone and have a more personal reaction than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 when it comes to the Writing score.

IELTS Writing Samples

Sample 1	Click here
Sample 2	Click here
Sample 3	Click here
Sample 4	Click here

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IELTS Writing Tips & Tricks

Since it mainly evaluates your writing skills, this section of IELTS can be successfully aced by improving one’s vocabulary as well as grammatical skills. To help you efficiently prepare for this part, here are the key IELTS writing tips and tricks you must follow:

Stay Updated About Current Affairs

There are no certain topics that have been specified for the IELTS writing section and questions can be asked regarding anything. Hence, it is extremely crucial to keep yourself updated about the recent happenings as well as prevalent issues. While exploring the long list of IELTS writing tips, you must remember the motive of this section which is to evaluate your writing proficiency. Thus, revise to locate any grammatical errors and present your arguments with varied examples. To know about recent topics and ameliorate your vocabulary, try reading the newspaper daily. 

Understand the Question

In our list of useful IELTS writing tips, the first one you should know about is that always carefully read and comprehend the question. Once you understand what has been asked, you will be able to formulate an impressive answer as well as the chief pointers that must be covered. Stick to those pointers and craft a precise, coherent, and detailed answer while also making sure that you are not getting distracted and adding excessive information. To know what needs to be put in, it is important to understand the question thoroughly and then tailor your answer accordingly. 

Time Management is The Key

The writing paper is a time-bound examination and the candidate must adhere to the specified duration, i.e. 60 minutes for both tasks. One of the most useful IELTS writing tips, staying aware of the time while drafting your answer is pivotal. Time management is a matter of practice, so it is advised to take as many mock tests as possible before giving the actual exam. Moreover, use the first five minutes for brainstorming and gathering ideas related to the question. Try completing the essay at least five minutes before time so that you can check for spelling mistakes and errors and revise it thoroughly.

Brainstorm Ideas Before Writing

Another important one in our list of IELTS writing tips is, brainstorming is extremely helpful in crafting a high-scoring answer. Before you start writing, take five minutes and jot down all the points that are coming to your mind and you want to include them in your essay. This will help you in covering the major pointers of the question as well as minimizing any scope of putting excessive information or getting distracted.

Check Out: Grammar for IELTS

Pay Proper Attention to Spellings and Grammar

Proper usage of grammar is a critical aspect you must keep in mind while crafting your answers for the IELTS writing section. It is amongst the most common IELTS writing tips as unnecessary spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and improper sentence formation can take away your hard-earned marks.

Make Separate Paragraphs

While exploring IELTS writing tips, you must also remember to segregate your essay or report into paragraphs. Some candidates have the habit of writing the whole answer in a single paragraph. It is better to write the answer in different paragraphs by dividing it into an introduction, body, and conclusion. This will make your answer well-structured and cohesive.

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.

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 to a certain problem.

Personalize It

Add relevant examples and your opinions while writing an essay. Keep in mind that you are writing the essay to a friend, and phrase your thoughts and ideas openly. The aim here, is to grasp what the prompt requires from you and structure your easy accordingly.

Complete All Your Task

Completing all your tasks is extremely important and removes chances of penalization on these grounds.

IELTS Writing Time Management

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

To do	Task 1 – 20 minutes	Task 2 – 40 minutes
Read the question carefully	2 min	2 min
Map out your ideas	3 min	3 – 5 minutes
First draft	10 minutes	23 minutes
Organization and logical flow	2 min	5 minutes
Proofread and finalize	3 min	5 minutes

Check Out: IELTS Essay Topics

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Thus, following the aforementioned IELTS writing tips and tricks, you can surely crack this section with good scores. Needless to say, expert guidance can further help you strategize the right way for this exam. Sign up for a free IELTS online demo session with our Leverage Edu Experts and we will provide you with the necessary guidance, exam tips, and preparation materials through which you can successfully qualify and get into your dream university abroad.