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While achieving a Band 9 score in IELTS Speaking or Writing may seem daunting at first, it’s attainable with dedicated preparation and practice. This blog offers guidance on achieving a Band 9 in both sections of IELTS, along with general tips and book recommendations to solidify your preparation. Read the complete article to know more.
This Blog Includes:
IELTS Band 9 Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 1: IELTS test takers often ponder upon the question of how to score a band 9 in IELTS Writing Task 1. Although the task may seem daunting to some if prepared well, it’s not tough to crack. But before we delve into the details of IELTS Writing Task 1 and know how to secure a band 9 in IELTS, we must first understand what exactly is IELTS Writing Task 1.
The IELTS Writing Task 1 requires test takers to write a concise summary of at least 150 words about some visual information, generally in the form of a graph or chart. The candidate needs to select the main characteristics and describe and compare the data provided.
How to Score a Band 9 in IELTS Writing Task 1?
Since you’ve gained a basic understanding of IELTS writing task 1, let’s delve into some helpful tips and strategies to ensure success in this section.
Mastering IELTS Writing Task 1 requires meticulous attention to detail. Scoring below a 6 indicates the need to identify and address weaknesses to reach at least a band 7. Here are some proven strategies to secure a band 9 score in IELTS Writing Task 1.
- Rushing into writing without analyzing the question is a common pitfall. This leads to overlooking crucial details essential for securing a high band score. Start by thoroughly reading the question to understand the chart’s key information. This aids in crafting a strong introduction. Carefully examine the axes, noting units and other relevant details alongside numerical data.
- Some need to understand the nature of describing information in this task. You must analyze the information, identify the most important findings, and present them concisely. Use unique language to capture the examiner’s attention.
- Paraphrasing the information provided is a critical skill in this task. Use synonyms, alter sentence structure, or convert passive voice to active voice, but avoid direct copying.
- Remember to compare the trends in the chart, highlighting any similarities as key features.
- Additionally, identify and mention any significant differences, using strong vocabulary to structure your response effectively.
- Proofreading is crucial for identifying and correcting errors in grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, tense, and spelling. These mistakes can only be rectified on a second review.
- Aim to complete the task within approximately 15 minutes, allocating the last 5 minutes for thorough proofreading and final review of your response.
- By following these strategies and practising diligently, you can significantly increase your chances of success in IELTS Writing Task 1.
IELTS Band 9 Writing Task 1 Samples
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample: Solving IELTS Writing Task 1 samples can significantly boost your confidence and improve your ability to tackle the actual task with ease. The more you practice these samples, the better equipped you will be to answer a wide range of questions effectively. Here are some high-quality samples that can guide you towards achieving a Band 9 score in IELTS Writing.
Q 1. Describe the Pie Chart
Ans. The pie chart represents the percentage of browser usage by people. The browser types listed are Android, Chrome, Safari, and Opera.
Overall, the basic Android browser is the most preferred choice, chosen by 40% of users, while Safari, Chrome, and Opera each have a 20% usage. From the data, it is evident that Android leads the race to be the most popular browser among the majority of users.
Q 2. Describe the Bar Graph
Ans: The bar graph shows the number of social media users in Australia by age and gender.
There is a relatively balanced gender distribution among social media users. However, among teenagers and older adults, there are slightly more female users compared to males.
People aged 25-34 use social media the most, with 2,583,000 users. Teenagers (248,500 users) have the lowest usage followed by older adults (861,000 users)
Overall, the graph highlights that social media is widely used across different age groups and genders in Australia.
IELTS Band 9 Writing Task 2
The IELTS Writing Task 2 presents five main essay types: Opinion, Discussion, Advantage/Disadvantage, and Double-question essays. Test takers are given around 40 minutes to complete their chosen essay. Acquiring a thorough understanding of the different essay types will help you score better in the IELTS Writing Task 2, potentially setting you apart from your peers.
IELTS Band 9 Essays in Writing Task 2
Types of IELTS Essays: There are 5 types of essays asked in IELTS General Writing Task 2. These are Opinion, Discussion, Problem-Solution, Advantage-Disadvantage and Double Question Essays. Refer to the data given below to understand the different types of essays in IELTS writing.
- Opinion Essays: Opinion essays are also known as ‘agree/disagree’/’argumentative’ essays. These essays typically require individuals to express their opinions or arguments on the given topic. Opinion essay questions are predominantly framed as: What is your opinion? Do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Discussion Essays: These essay questions demand a careful analysis of both supporting and opposing viewpoints regarding a given statement. To showcase your balanced understanding of the issue, it’s wise to prepare two perspectives: one where you acknowledge the strengths of the statement and another where you express some doubts or counterarguments. This approach will reflect your ability to consider the topic thoughtfully and arrive at a well-supported personal opinion.
- Problem essays: Commonly referred to as “cause-and-solution” or “problem-solution” essays, these tasks require a specific focus on the problems and solutions presented in the prompt. However, simply listing every possible challenge and answer isn’t an effective approach. Instead, the emphasis should be on identifying problems with solutions that are directly connected, forming a unified narrative that fully addresses the given topic.
- Advantages & Disadvantages Essays: These essays require test takers to write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the given topic. Some questions about advantage/disadvantage essays are framed as: ‘AI is being implemented in most of the working sectors in the world. What are the major advantages and disadvantages of using AI?’
- Double Question Essays: These essay prompts are known as “direct question” or “two-question” essays. They present test takers with two distinct questions, which may or may not be directly related.
IELTS Speaking for Band 9 Sample
Given below are some samples that can help you understand the IELTS Speaking tasks and how to crack them. Have a look.
Q1. IELTS Speaking Part 2- Describe a short trip that you often take but do not like.
Ans: The short trip that I often take but do not like is the trip to my office. I am currently working in Gurugram and my home is in the capital of India Delhi. It takes me at least 2 hours to commute. The reason for travel is simple-it is the requirement of my job that I have to work from my office. I am expected to be there for 6 days, Monday to Saturday with no hybrid setting. My job starts from 9:30 in the morning to 7: 30 in the evening. My timings are during the peak hours, and I have to leave my house around 7 in the morning and reach home between 9:30 and 10:00 at night.
The main reason to dislike the trip to my office is even though I travel by metro train, with 2 hours of travel, everything is quite hectic. There are times when it gets extremely crowded and everything seems suffocating. People keep pushing each other as they are always in a rush and want to reach before time. There are times in the journey when I have to stand and travel for 2 hours straight without getting a chance to grab a seat because of the crowd. Sometimes, the metro gets delayed or has some technical issues, so no matter how early I leave my house, I arrive late to the office. This not only makes the journey tedious but wastes a lot of time and makes me feel exhausted and burnout.
No matter how much I love the work that I do, it never really justifies the time I have to spend travelling. It never leaves me with time to think about anything beyond work. I am not able to focus on my personal life or growth as by the time I reach home I am already very tired. Furthermore, the pollution levels in the city are quite high, especially during the morning and evening. Exposure to such an environment is something that I am not used to. It also takes a toll on my physical well-being. Standing for too long and such a crowd can create discomfort. Apart from that, as a claustrophobic person, it makes situations much worse as it is the same as standing in a stampede.
To conclude, though the trip to my workplace is unavoidable, it is something that I do not look forward to. I feel that proper management with the help of security people around the metro station will help in managing the crowd. Another solution to this is trying to keep metros in check so that technical glitches and unnecessary delays can be avoided. Unless such measures are taken, this trip will always pose challenges to me.
Q2. IELTS Speaking Part 2- Describe a quiet place you like to spend your time in.
Ans: One of the quietest places where I like to spend time is the library which is in the heart of Delhi. I discovered it during my university years when a friend of mine recommended it as an ideal spot for focused study. Since then, it has become my regular retreat, a place I visit at least twice weekly. This library has high ceilings and an atmosphere of calm and quiet that is hard to find anywhere else. There are large windows that provide abundant sunlight. The walls have books of various genres and from all periods of history. The rustling of pages, the smell of books, and the whispers of readers all contribute to the peace that is found there.
When I am there I spend my time reading books, finding new literature, or working on my laptop. It provides a distraction-free environment for both reading and writing. This is a place where I find myself getting deeply engrossed in different worlds through the pages of books or focusing on my work without interruptions. What I appreciate the most about the place is that it carries a sense of history and knowledge. I am always fascinated by the idea that I can stroll around the library and check different books ranging from art, and history to fiction and self-help and get exposed to people of various mindsets and ideas. I feel connected to their knowledge and experience. This connection along with the calmness and quietness of the library makes everything a source of inspiration, something that makes me think about life and philosophy.
Moreover, this library also hosts a series of events such as book readings, author meet and greets, and workshops to build a sense of community amongst fellow readers. It gives opportunities to people of different ideologies to connect, form deeper friendships, and broaden their horizons. Over the years I have met a lot of famous authors here like Ashish Bagrecha, Arundhati Roy, and Chetan Bhagat. I would get to hear their materials and engage in thought-provoking discussions. This library not only promotes literacy but is the hub of knowledge and culture that is accessible to everyone regardless of their age or background.
In conclusion, the library is more than a place for me, it is a place of knowledge and peace. A sanctuary where I always come back from time to time, take a break from all of the hustle and bustle of modern life and immerse myself in the world of reflection and learning.
IELTS Band 9 Sample Essays
IELTS Sample Essays: Given the significant role essays play in your overall IELTS score, mastering the art of crafting strong responses in Writing Tasks is crucial. With that in mind, the following sample essays aim to guide you towards achieving a Band 9 score in IELTS.
Q 1. People should be unemployed rather than be employed in a job they do not enjoy. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Ans. The idea of staying unemployed rather than taking up a job that is not enjoyable is absurd. I disagree with this statement, as the pursuit of job satisfaction must not come at the expense of financial stability.
Employment, irrespective of personal satisfaction, provides financial stability to people. Necessities of life such as food, shelter, and healthcare can be afforded only when there is a source of income. Employment also plays a crucial role in helping individuals plan their future through savings and investments for retirement and their children’s education. If a person is unemployed, it will lead to financial distress, and in extreme cases, it will be a major cause of poverty. Therefore, having a job that is not enjoyable is far better than having no job at all.
In addition to this, being employed is a major indicator of one’s self-worth and societal contribution. It helps create a structured routine, forms a platform for social interactions, and builds a sense of achievement in people. All of these factors play an important role in maintaining mental health and overall well-being. On the other hand, if one remains unemployed it builds a feeling of worthlessness and depression. As a consequence, an individual may experience social isolation since he would lack possible ways of interaction with others.
To conclude, while job satisfaction is important, it is never a reason to stay unemployed. Instead, one must seek employment to provide oneself with financial security and a sense of purpose in life. These aspects are more important to one’s well-being than choosing to stay unemployed and waiting for a pleasant opportunity.
Q 2. Some People Say that every human being can create art. Others think only people born with the ability can create art. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Ans. There are differing opinions on the ability to create art. Whilst some point out that the power to create art lies in everyone’s ability, others assert that this is inherent in only some talented individuals. Although both views are valid, I strongly assert that one needs to be blessed with an innate skill to create art.
On one hand, some people argue that art is a god-gifted thing and is given to only a few people. The reason is that they believe that art can not be learned and it flows naturally if one is passionate enough about it. They just have to explore it and refine it to become more professional. These people think that skills such as having a keen eye for detail or a natural sense of rhythm and melody can not be learned. For example, Arijit Singh who is known for romantic melodies, never really learned singing. He has held this musical prowess since birth and has been a widely admired singer.
On the other hand, the belief that every human can create art is rooted in the idea that anyone can learn art and be exceptionally good at it. Believers of this statement argue that with dedication, practice and right guidance anyone can learn how to create art. They say that if one puts enough effort and has dedication, then art is not just natural talent but also hard work and passion. It is evident from the stories of numerous artists that, although they may not have been naturally gifted, they have achieved greatness by spending enough time honing their skills. For example, M.S. Dhoni during his childhood days was interested in football and then became a professional cricketer. This achievement was a result of years of practice and determination.
From my perspective, people do not choose art, art chooses them. Though people can learn the art and be good at it if someone is already gifted, they would need just a little more push, and they could become exceptional compared to any other person in the respective field. They will have a natural passion and zeal to work. This is because they would not get bored due to their innate ability and the enjoyment they receive in pursuing that particular art.
In conclusion, there are art skills that one can develop by learning after birth, but there are some special skills that can never be learned and these are the gift of god to people.
7+ Tips to Score a Band 9 in IELTS
Securing a Band 9 score in IELTS is often considered to be a daunting task by many. That being said, one must keep abreast of the common tips and tricks to help you score a band 9.
- Dedicate ample time to studying and practising for the IELTS well in advance of your test date. Consistent effort is key to improving your English language skills across all areas tested.
- Familiarize yourself with the specific tasks, time constraints, and marking criteria for each section of the IELTS. This will help you strategize effectively during the exam.
- Surround yourself with the English language as much as possible. Read English newspapers, watch English movies and TV shows, and listen to English podcasts and music.
- Utilize official IELTS practice tests and resources to get accustomed to the format and difficulty level of the actual exam.
- Practice listening to a variety of English accents at different speeds and in different contexts.
- Don’t get bogged down by trying to understand every single word.
- Practice reading a variety of academic and non-academic texts in English.
- Learn to skim and scan for specific information will help you save time and answer questions efficiently.
- Learn to paraphrase and summarize information in your own words.
- Focus on writing clear, concise, and well-organized essays: Structure your essays using an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
- Practice speaking English fluently and confidently. Find conversation partners or practice speaking on your own.
Best Book to Help You Achieve a Band 9 Score in IELTS
Here are some of the best books to help achieve a Band 9 score in IELTS. Have a look.
Individuals preparing for the IELTS Exam can refer to the following table to go through the list of the best IELTS preparation books.
| Name of the Book | Author/Publisher | Price | Purchase Link |
| The Official Cambridge Guide To Ielts Student’s Book With Answers | Pauline Cullen | INR 594 | Click Here To Buy |
| R*barron’s Ielts Practice Exams | Lin Lougheed | INR 448 | Click Here To Buy |
| IELTS Graphs from the past exam | Kiranpreet Kaur Makkar | INR 287 | Click Here To Buy |
| Cambridge IELTS Academic 16 Student’s Book [paperback] Cambridge | Career Zone | INR 130 | Click Here To Buy |
| Word Power Made Easy Including Latest Word List | Norman Lewis | INR 149 | Click Here To Buy |
| IELTS WRITING ACADEMIC 2023 | Karamveer Singh | INR 299 | Click Here To Buy |
| Cambridge IELTS 18 academic with authentic papers | Cambridge Press | INR 234 | Click Here To Buy |
So that was all about securing a band 9 score in IELTS. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic.
FAQs
Ans: “The Official Cambridge Guide To Ielts Student’s Book With Answers”, “Barron’s IELTS Practice Exams”, and “IELTS Graphs from the past exam” are some of the best books that can help you secure a band 9 score in IELTS.
Ans: Repetition of questions/answers, overuse of cohesive devices, inclusion of personal biases are some of the mistakes that must be avoided while attempting the IELTS writing section.
Ans: The IELTS writing section lasts for 60 minutes.
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