Studying abroad might seem like an attractive opportunity, but to avail of it, students must pass a set of challenging assessments. Among these is IELTS, which of global acclaim with computer and paper-based options, it is a standard of acceptance for numerous premium international universities.
Although many students prepare for the IELTS, many still find the writing section to be the toughest. Writing is the second most common way that people express understanding, behind spoken communication. This may be a rationale for the weight given to the writing sections in the IELTS exam.
There are distinctions between the writing sections of the IELTS Academic and General Training examinations. However, to comprehend how you can score well in IELTS Academic Writing, we focused on providing you useful tips in our article below to improve your score in this area.
Overview of the IELTS Writing Test
To pass the IELTS academic writing exam, candidates must produce two separate written responses (one of 150 words and the other of 250 words) within sixty minutes.
- Task 1 requires you to either compose a letter or provide an in-depth description of a conceptual map.
- Task 2 requires you to compose a 250-word essay.
It is recommended that you dedicate 40 minutes to the 2nd Task and 20 minutes to the 1st since the latter will be used to calculate your exam score. The purpose of the exam is to gauge the candidate’s ability to articulate ideas in an understandable and compelling manner.
They must exhibit command of a wide variety of vocabulary and grammar, and display their capacity for reasoning in the written piece.
10 Tips and Techniques to Increase Your Score on IELTS Writing Test
To have a firm grip over the Academic Writing Format of IELTS we have discussed some effective tips below.
Tip 1:Be Well-versed with the Format of Essay Writing
Among the most crucial IELTS writing recommendations is to understand the structure of Essay Writing, as it takes up a lot of the average of the writing test. Learn how to use the framework of a typical academic paper. Essay writing is a significant aspect of doing well in the IELTS Writing section. Maintain an orderly structure and make sure the examiner doesn’t hit an impasse when reading the essay.
Utilize paragraphs to distinguish every one of the points you’ll be making. Adhere to the standard three-part format for IELTS essays, which consists of an introduction, essay body, and concluding note. In the test, this strategy will help you spare valuable time.
Tip 2: Strategize Wisely
When faced with a short time frame, numerous writers feel pressured to begin on their essay topics immediately. Because of this, responses are often ill-organized and plagued with errors. Take a couple of moments for each answer to review the question’s essential criteria and plan out your strategy.
On the internet, during practice, you may find fantastic resources that can help you swiftly structure your thoughts utilizing visual organizers and keyword density. When brainstorming, it’s advisable to jot down only a few phrases at one point for getting the key points across before moving on to the more tedious task of writing.
Using the PEEL Formula, to Point, Evidence, Explained, and Link back to the relevant question accordingly is also useful.
Tip 3: Comprehend the Question
Don’t hurry to respond; doing so increases the likelihood that you’ll misinterpret the question. Before starting to write assignments, read and comprehend them. There is a brief explanation regarding the questions you are viewing (in the context of Task 1) along with the tasks you are obligated to perform (in the cases of Tasks 1 and 2). Prior to arranging your thoughts and writing, you should read and absorb this brief carefully.
Tip 4: Get Familiar With the Vocabulary
Mastering vocabulary is a must to gain success in the writing test of IELTS. Reading regularly often teaches you how to accomplish and comprehend the context of various words. Increase your vocabulary by reading widely and listening to audiobooks. Note unfamiliar terms with an underlining or a highlighter as you come across them.
See if you can infer what they represent from the surrounding content. The next step is to search for the terms in a dictionary. To expand your vocabulary, engage in reading and listening to complex content, such as the English media. To become proficient in English, you need to expose yourself to fresh terms often.
Don’t forget to jot down words and phrases that may be applied in several scholastic settings. To ensure correct word order, refer to a reliable single-language dictionary. To expand your vocabulary, check out several publications or online news sources.
Tip 5: Be Free of Grammatical Errors
The majority of Academic IELTS test takers have trouble coming up with sentences that are free of grammatical errors. The importance of constructing sentences with proper grammar in IELTS Writing cannot be overstated. This will also help you to better compose paragraphs, which will show the assessor that you have a deeper understanding of the subject.
Single or multiple subjects and verbs are required for this to be done properly. This can only be learned through practicing and writing on relevant topics as much as you can.
A high mark for the lexical resource (vocabulary) accounts for an additional one-quarter of the overall points, therefore it is crucial. Using the same phrases repeatedly is not going to attract the person conducting the test.
Tip 6: Write in a Formal Tone
Avoid using informal language such as slang, abbreviations, or overused phrases. Write in a formal tone instead than one that seems more conversational. Pronouns should be used as little as possible. Try to be more specific and straightforward in your topic.
Formality should be taken with the utmost seriousness. Therefore, it is recommended by professionals that you use formal writing while taking the IELTS. It is essential to utilize the right words and phrases while taking the IELTS writing test.
Tip 7: Incorporate Various Sentence Structures
You may demonstrate your English competence by using a range of phrase patterns and lengths. This may move you away from a monotonous style of writing. This may involve altering the word count and sentence lengths by implementing basic, compound, and complicated sentences.
You may communicate your thoughts and show your comprehension by employing a variety of sentence types as well.
Tip 8: Exhibit Clarity in Answers
Your writing can reveal whether you have a firm grasp on the subject and can articulate your viewpoint clearly. It’s preferable to write about something or a topic you’re already familiar with. Avoid elaborating unnecessarily or veering off-topic; rather, convey the simplest response possible. Use proper English and stay away from slang.
Tip 9: Be Natural
Examiners value genuineness and spontaneity in written responses for the IELTS Academic Writing Test. Merely cramming for the final exam might harm your overall band score. Since it can affect the way you write on the examination and can make you sound robotic and non-fluent.
Tip 10: Practice Writing on Recurring Exam Topics
Certain topics consistently appear in the various sections of the writing assessment in IELTS. Exam success is guaranteed if you spend time completing sample questions on the topics such as education, family, environment, transport, etc.
Language is a barrier that prohibits many students from gaining admission to international universities, directly, however, IELTS offers an opportunity to such students globally. IELTS Academic Writing is a section of the whole test carrying significant score weightage and can be improved by following our mentioned tips effectively.
We hope this article will aid you in excelling in the IELTS exam. Make sure to also check out our IELTS Page for more information on tips and other related articles!
