If there was a World Cup for the most unpleasant part of an English language test, IELTS Writing would probably win very often. Today, when studying a foreign language, people often place less emphasis on writing skills and more on speaking or listening. So when it comes time for IELTS, writing on virtually unknown topics in a limited amount of time only makes things worse. When I walk into a classroom and just mention a writing assignment, I can already see the annoyance on the students’ faces, and I know exactly what the first question is:
What do I write about?
Please note that you do not have to be an expert in all fields to be able to write 150 words for task 1 and 250 words for task 2. For the particular essay, you can use your own experiences and knowledge so that you can bring information from your own country or from an article you read in a newspaper or a documentary you saw on TV.
Before test day, be sure to practice writing answers to as many questions as you can. The old-fashioned saying “practice makes perfect” really applies to IELTS. You should also try to watch TV, listen to the radio, or read newspapers in print or online. This will help you get more ideas and you might also learn some new words to add to your vocabulary.
On test day it is extremely important that you read the questions (rubrics) carefully. Read them two or three times if necessary and underline key words if it helps. It is essential that you fully understand the questions, especially for task 2, the essay. The next step is to write down all the ideas that go through your head and then choose two or three that you can fully develop in paragraphs.
As soon as the topic of ideas is brought up, students move on to the next inevitable question:
As I write?
Many people who haven’t written anything important since school have probably forgotten that any piece of writing should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In grading terms, this is called task response or task achievement. So just starting by answering your question won’t get you many points. Bookmarks also look for a piece of writing where the paragraphs are logically connected, so make sure you use the correct linking words. Please note that each new idea should be written in a separate paragraph.
Another scoring criterion is the lexical resource, which simply means vocabulary. The marker wants to see a good variety of vocabulary, from simple, everyday words to more complex, topic-specific words. But using fancy words of 3 or 4 syllables in the wrong context won’t get you a higher score. Therefore, if you are writing the answer to Task 1 of General Training, the letter, and you are writing to a friend, then your words should be less formal. However, if you are writing to a potential employer, formal vocabulary is needed.
Other things that require attention are grammar and sentence structure. Using simple tenses (such as the present and past) and short sentences with only one verb is not always an advantage. Before the test, take some time to brush up on English grammar, and as you practice, try to write longer, more complex sentences that involve more tenses.
Completing the two tasks in one hour is not impossible, it just requires practice, in some cases a lot, and a firm grasp of vocabulary, grammar, and connecting words.
