how to improve essay writing skills for ielts

IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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• Writing Task 2
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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

Success in IELTS writing task 2 is based on using the right techniques. These free tips, model essays, lessons, videos and information will help develop the skills for writing task 2. This page will teach you how to maximise your IELTS writing task 2 score.

All lessons are on this page are for both GT and Academic writing task 2.

On this page, you will find for free:

• Test Information for Writing Task 2
• Practice essay questions
• Essential tips for IELTS writing task 2
• Free video lessons
• Model essays
• Practice lessons to improve your IELTS essay writing (paraphrasing, skills, ideas, spelling etc

Although some lessons are dated from years ago, all lessons and tips are 100% relevant to IELTS writing task 2 today. 

1. IELTS Writing Task 2 Test Information

Learn about your IELTS writing task 2 test.

• IELTS recommend you spend no more than 40 mins on writing task 2. However, the time is yours to manage as you wish.
• You should write  over 250 words. In the lessons below you will learn about word count and essay length.
• Learn how your total writing score is calculated: Total Writing Score Calculations
• Task Response (25%)
• Coherence & Cohesion (25%)
• Vocabulary (25%)
• Grammar (25%)
• For band score tips and details, see this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores 
• Academic writing task 2 is a formal essay. The common types of essays are: Opinion, Discussion, Advantage/Disadvantage, Direct Questions, Solutions. These categorisations will differ from teacher to teacher depending on how they like to teach. See below for 100 IELTS Essay Questions to practise at home.
• GT writing task 2 is the same as Academic IELTS. The essay is written in the same way and the scoring is the same. The only difference is that GT essay questions are often easier and topics are simpler.
• All words will be counted, even small or repeated words. See this page: How Words are Counted
• COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS: See the following link to read Pros and Cons of Computer Based IELTS : 
• For more information about IELTS test rules and info, see this page: IELTS  Test FAQ

2. IELTS Practice Essay Questions

Practice essay questions to help you prepare ideas for topics in IELTS writing task 2. These questions have been written based on questions reported by IELTS students. They are not IELTS tests.

Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions

3. Essential IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

The most important writing tips for a strong IELTS essay in writing task 2. Learn about the recommended essay length, how to plan your essay, when to give your opinion and how to write an introduction etc.

How many paragraphs for an IELTS essay? : Essay structure

Key Linking Words List : Academic Vocabulary

Types of IELTS Essays : Main Essay Types in Writing Task 2

Video:  How to write an introduction paragraph : Complete lesson

Essay Planning Tips : How to plan your IELTS essay

Common Essay Topics : 20 Most Common Essay Topics

Video:  Essay Length Advice : How long should your essay be?

Video:  Official Writing Answer Sheet Tips : Using the answer sheet

When to give your opinion : Opinion Essay Tips

Video  Using the last 5 minutes : Exam technique tips

Video: Paraphrasing Tips

Finding Ideas : Developing ideas for essay topics

4. More Video & Tips for Writing Task 2

• Deleting Words in your Essay
• Should I indent the first word of my paragraphs?
• 10 sentences to avoid in your IELTS essay
• Video:  How to add examples to your essay
• Tips: Under Words Penalty
• Do advantages outweigh disadvantages tips?
• Video:   How to give your opinion
• Can you use quotes, idioms or proverbs in your essay?
• Handwriting: Using cursive writing or not
• Essay Questions from 2016
• Writing a Long Introduction: Good or Bad?
• Video : Single-sex & Mixed Schools 
• Video : Grammar – How to Add a Clause
• Video : Grammar – Connecting Sentences
• Video : Conclusion Linkers
• Video : Discussion Essay Useful Language
• Video : Using the Last 5 Minutes Tips
• Video : Should Ideas be Interesting?
• New Essay Topics for 2023

All Free IELTS Writing Task 2 Videos Lessons

5. Model Essays

Sample essays for IELTS writing task 2. These high score model essays will help you understand how to answer the essay questions and how to structure your writing.

• Agree Disagree Opinion Essay: Health
• Advantages & Disadvantages Essay: Language
• Cause  Solution Essay: Crime & Punishment
• Direct Questions Essay: Happiness
• Opinion Essay: Social Media
• Discussion Essay: Work
• Direct Questions Essay: Family
• Direct Questions Essay: Art
• Positive or Negative Development: Social Media
• 2 Model Essays about Economy & Money /Buildings
• Model Essay & Question for Topic of Education

6. Practice Lessons for Writing Task 2

Develop your IELTS writing skills and get useful ideas for many essay questions. Lessons are in order of date and new lessons will be added over time.

• New Essay Topics in 2023 (these are new topics only. You also need to prepare all common topics as well)
• IELTS Essay Topics Prediction 2022
• Grammar Test : Using “the” with countries and nationalities
• Paraphrasing Practice 1
• Paraphrasing Practice 2
• Paraphrasing Practice 3
• Essay Questions for 2017 – questions reported in the test this year.
• Using Passive Voice for Giving Opinions
• Essay Ideas: Employment Competition
• Writing Skills: Paraphrasing Practice
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (2)
• Essay Ideas: The Importance of History
• Essay Ideas: Housing & Trees 
• Essay Ideas: International Aid
• Essay Ideas: City Transport
• Essay Ideas: Salaries
• Essay Ideas: Function of Schools
• Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions
• Writing Skills: Punctuation Practice
• Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice
• Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities
• Listen and Write Dictation: Natural Disasters
• Discussion Essay with Feedback: Music Topic
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences: Ebooks Topic
• Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones
• Two Question Essay with Feedback: Judging Business Success
• Essay Ideas: Tourism and Local Communities
• Essay Ideas: Traffic & Pollution
• Writing Skills: Improving a Thesis Statement
• Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (1)
• Essay Ideas: Handwriting Skills
• Essay Ideas: Promoting to Children
• Essay Ideas: Older or Younger Leaders
• Writing Skills: Introduction Feedback
• Writing Skill: Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Introduction
• Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Finding Main Points
• Writing Skills: Thesis Statement
• Essay Ideas: Public Services .

………………

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10 steps to writing high-scoring IELTS essays

Date Published

01 February 2023

This article was first published on IELTS.IDP.com

Whether you take the General Training or Academic IELTS test, the second writing task is writing an essay in response to a problem or argument. Here are 10 easy steps, with lots of tips, to guide you on how to write high-scoring essays.

How is the IELTS essay component marked?

Fairness and accuracy are critically important when marking IELTS writing tasks . Your essay will be marked by at least two experienced IELTS examiners on the following criteria:

• Task response - Whether you answered the question fully and supported your answer well.
• Coherence and cohesion - How well you linked your ideas together.
• Lexical resource - Whether you used a wide range of vocabulary correctly and appropriately.
• Grammatical range and accuracy - How many grammatical structures you used accurately and appropriately.

Each of these criteria is worth 25 percent of your total score for the essay writing task. Both of your writing tasks are used to calculate your overall writing band score.

How to write high-scoring essays in 10 easy steps

Step one: plan your time.

The Writing test (consisting of Writing tasks 1 and 2) takes approximately 60 minutes. Plan to spend around 20 minutes on your first task, and 40 minutes on your essay task. A sample plan for your time might be:

• 5 to 10 minutes reading the essay question and planning your answer
• 15 to 20 minutes writing your first draft
• 10 minutes proofreading and editing your essay

How to write a good introduction

Step two: Read the question

While you may be anxious to jump straight into writing, make sure you take the time to carefully read the essay question. If you misunderstand the question, you risk writing an essay that does not address the issues properly which will lower your score.

Top 10 podcasts to help you improve your English

Step three: Highlight the issues to address

There will be multiple issues that you will need to address in your essay. Addressing each issue individually is key to achieving a high essay score. Highlight each individual issue that you will need to address.

The A to Z of IELTS: E is for Essays

Step four: Outline your response

Create an outline of how you will respond to the issues in your essay. This will serve as your ‘blueprint’ when you write your first draft. As a general rule your essay should have:

• An introduction stating what you will talk about
• Two or three body paragraphs , each addressing one issue or idea
• A conclusion summing up what was discussed in the essay

Make sure you note which idea or issue you will address in each paragraph. Check that the issues you highlighted are all accounted for in your outline.

Step five: Expand on your ideas

Write some notes about any key points or ideas you’d like to include in each paragraph. When you’re writing your first draft, these notes will help to make sure you don’t forget any ideas you want to include.

Mind maps to build your vocabulary resource for IELTS

Step six: Plan how you will connect your ideas

Connecting your ideas clearly and correctly is critical to achieving a high essay score. Try to use a range of linking words to make your essay easy to read. You can use connecting devices and phrases to:

List connected ideas

• ‘Firstly, secondly, thirdly’
• ‘Furthermore’

Provide more information

Compare ideas.

• ‘On the other hand’
• ‘Alternatively’

Don’t fall into the trap of trying to put a linking word in every sentence. Essays will score higher when the writer uses linking words only where necessary and appropriate.

Step seven: Write your first draft

Now that you’ve planned your essay, it’s time to write your first draft. Follow the outline you’ve created and expand on the notes and ideas you included there.

• Avoid informal language unless it is appropriate.
• Avoid spelling and grammatical errors where possible.
• Use a mix of sentence structures such as simple sentences, complex sentences and compound sentences.

How to boost your IELTS Writing score

Step eight: Proofread your essay

When you have completed the first draft of your essay, it’s important to proofread it. Read your essay from start to finish.

You can read it silently, but it may help to read it out loud if you can do so without disturbing others. Make a mental note or mark your paper anywhere that you may need to fix an issue.

How to access FREE official IELTS mock tests

Step nine: Edit your essay

Carefully go through the issues you noted while proofreading. Edit or rewrite these until they look and sound correct. Examples of issues and how to edit them may include:

• The sentence is too long. A sentence is probably too long if you need to take a breath in the middle of reading it. Try splitting this up into smaller sentences.
• A sentence sounds strange when you read it out loud. Try using different words or punctuation until it sounds right. It may need to be connected to another sentence.
• The same word appears many times. Think about any other words you could use instead.

There is more than one main idea in each paragraph. Move any unrelated sentences to the correct paragraph. Each paragraph should address one issue only.

IELTS Writing: How to organise your responses

Step 10: Proofread your essay again

After your edits and before submitting your essay , give it one final proofread. Make sure you have:

• Included all the points you highlighted in step three
• Followed your outline from step four
• Used good connecting words from step six
• Fixed any errors or issues in step nine

IELTS Writing: 8 steps towards a band 8

Why choose IELTS?

IELTS is widely recognised by businesses and universities globally, and is the only English language competency test approved by all four of the following countries:

• New Zealand

With convenient computer and paper based test options, your IELTS test can be completed in a way that you’re most comfortable with. If you’re in a hurry, you could even have your test results back within two to five days!

Also, the IELTS Familiarisation test is designed to give test takers an idea of what to expect on the actual IELTS test. It includes sample questions from different part of the test, such as Listening, Reading, and Writing. Set yourself up for success and explore our extensive library of preparation materials today.

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IELTS Writing Test

The IELTS writing   test is the module that many students find the most difficult.

This is because in a short space of time (one hour) you have to write an essay and a graph (academic module) or a letter (general training module).

At IELTS buddy we'll provide you with top tips and strategies to get the score you need in the test.

Strategies for the IELTS Writing Test

These are some of our most important IELTS Writing Pages for the Academic module: 

• Task 1 Lessons  
• Task 2 Lessons 
• Model Essays with Feedback
• Model Graphs with Feedback
• Writing Practice Tests
• Writing Tips
• IELTS Grammar

If you are taking General Training , you can get tips and strategies and learn more about this particular module here:

• IELTS General Training

Read on to learn more about what you have to do in the IELTS writing test.

About the Writing Test

The IELTS writing test module varies depending on whether you are doing the Academic Test (for university applications) or the General Test (usually for work / general migration). 

• In IELTS Academic  you have to describe a graph or diagram (Task 1) and write an essay (Task 2). 
• In IELTS General Training you have to write a letter (Task 1) and write an essay (Task 2). 

The Task 2 (essay) is actually worth more marks than the Task 1 (graph or letter) so you should spend 40 minutes of the time on the essay and 20 minutes on the graph / letter. 

This difference in marking is represented in the number of words you have to write, which is a minimum of 150 for the Task 1 and 250 for the Task 2.

Academic Task 1

In the first section you will need to describe, summarize or explain a graph, diagram or process. Here is an example question: 

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task .

The chart shows components of GDP in the UK from 1992 to 2000.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

You will have to describe the chart in no less than 150 words. In this section of the test, you could also get a line graph, a pie chart, a process, a table, or a map to describe.

Check out this video giving you an overview and tips on the language you'll need to know:

Academic Task 2

Task 2 is an essay question. You will have to write a response to the question giving reasons and examples to support your answer. The topics are general interest. 

Here is an example of a question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

The dangers and complexities of the modern world have made the mobile phone an absolute necessity for children.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Check out this video giving you an overview of the kind of questions you could get for the IELTS Essay:

General Training Task 1

The task of the general training module is to write a letter. You will be presented with a situation and you will need to write your letter explaining the situation or asking for information. The letter may be one of three styles: 

• Semi-Formal

Your response will have to reflect the appropriate style. 

Here is an example question:

You want to sell your television. You think a friend of yours might like to buy it from you.  Write a letter to your friend.

In your letter:

• Explain why you are selling the television
• Describe the television
• Suggest a date when your friend can come and see it

Write at least 150 words

You do  NOT  need to write any addresses

Begin your letter as follows:

General Training Task 2

This is the same as the IELTS writing Academic module. You will need to write an essay responding to a point of view, argument or problem.

However, on the test day, the essay will be different to the one given to those taking the Academic module.

The essays is sometimes in a slightly more personal style than for the academic essay, but you need to follow the same methods for writing the essay.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: ✍️ Everything You Need to Know

When helping students prepare for the IELTS test, one of the biggest fears is how to do well in IELTS Writing Task 2. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing test, where you are presented with a point of view, argument or problem and asked to write an essay in response. Your essay should be in a formal style, at least 250 words in length and you should aim to complete it in under 40 minutes. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Everything You Need to Know

In this video, I’ll outline exactly what you must do to create an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to IELTS or if you’ve failed the exam before – I’ve broken everything down into a simple 3-step process that anyone can use to improve their scores! Watch the video above to find out what they are.

5 Steps to a Band 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. Understand the question.

You must understand the question before you attempt to answer it. This way, you’ll know exactly what the examiner is looking for. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not answering the question fully, which stops them from getting a score higher than a Band 5.

To analyse the question , you must first identify the question type, then identify the keywords in the question and finally identify the instructions words. This will help you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to do with the question.

2. Plan your answer.

The students who get the highest marks in Writing Task 2 always plan their answers for up to 10 minutes. Planning helps you organise your ideas and structure your essay before you write it, saving you time and helping you produce a clear and coherent essay.

3. Write an introduction.

The introduction should answer the question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and helps you write your main body paragraphs.

4. Write the main body paragraphs.

This is where you give the examiner more detail . You do this by stating your main points and supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

5. Write a conclusion.

In your conclusion , you should provide a summary of what you already said in the rest of your essay.

4 Ways to Improve your Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

Many people know they need to improve their writing skills but don’t know how to do it. Here are 4 ways you can boost your score in Writing Task 2:

1. Understand the exam.

You must first understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 is, what you are expected to do and how to give the examiners what they want. This is the first stage and one that is often overlooked.

There are many online resources, often with conflicting and poor-quality information, so finding a reliable source of information is key.

2. Identify your weak areas.

If your car breaks down, you would try and identify which part caused the problem. If you get sick, your doctor will run tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same. We must first identify WHY you are not getting the score you need before we can help you improve.

However, be very careful! You wouldn’t ask the average man on the street for medical advice, so make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has the expertise to help you with this.

3. Fix the problems.

Now that we know what the problems are, we must fix them.

If your grammar needs work, fix those issues. If your vocabulary is lacking, work on fixing this issue.

Just as a good doctor can help you fix a medical problem, a good IELTS teacher can help you fix your specific issues.

4. Practice and get feedback.

Practice alone will not help you. It is an essential part of your preparation, but you must also get feedback on your work if you are really going to improve.

You wouldn’t try to teach yourself how to drive without an instructor, would you?

Find someone who will give you accurate and helpful feedback on your work. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to the last stage.

Now that you have understood what you need to do, identified the exact areas you need to work on, improved those areas, and received feedback on your work, you are now ready to get the IELTS Writing Task 2 score you deserve.

Writing Task 2 Structures 

I want to warn you about structures because they are not a magic wand that will help you automatically get a higher score. They WILL help you, but please realise that they are just a small part of your overall score.

These structures provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all the main Task 2 question types, making your job much easier on exam day.

• Task 2 Essay Structures

Essential Writing Task 2 Skills 

No matter how good your English is, you must still learn IELTS writing skills before taking the Writing Task 2 test. These helpful guides will take you through each of these skills step-by-step:

• How to Plan an Essay

Making a good plan actually saves you time when you write your essay. This guide will show you how to plan and write a clear essay every time.

• How to Think of Relevant Ideas

This guide provides 5 different methods to help you quickly think of relevant ideas that are directly linked to the question.

• How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences help you boost your score for grammar. They are actually very simple to write and are not complex at all.

• How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is one of the essential IELTS skills for all parts of the IELTS test. You should paraphrase the question in the very first sentence of your essay to help boost your vocabulary score in Writing Task 2.

• How to Write a Supporting Paragraph

Supporting paragraphs are the main body paragraphs and are the meat in the sandwich. This is where you provide the detail the examiner is looking for in the form of explanations and examples.

• How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement tells the examiner your opinion. Many IELTS Writing Task 2 questions specifically ask for your opinion, and if you don’t write it clearly, you have not answered the question properly. This article shows you how, where and when to give your opinion.

How many words should I write?

Around 250 words? Exactly 250 words or over 250 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? Will I lose marks if I write too many words? This article answers all those questions.

• How to Understand and Analyse Any Question

A critical part of answering any question. This article shows you how to break down any Task 2 question and identify the keywords, micro-keywords and instruction words to help you answer the question effectively.

• How to Write a Great Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the examiner reads; therefore, we must give them a good first impression. I share a very specific sentence-by-sentence structure in this article to help you write introductions quickly and effectively.

• Task 2 Marking Criteria 

Do you know how Task 2 is marked? What is the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 8 answer? This article breaks down the marking criteria and explains it in simple language so you can give the IELTS examiners exactly what they want.

• How to Write a Conclusion

A good conclusion should be a summary of your main points. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads, and if you can write a good one, you will leave them with a very good impression.

• Using Examples

Each of your supporting paragraphs should have a specific example that supports and illustrates your main point. This is an essential skill to learn if you want to get one of the higher band scores.

• Cohesive Devices

Cohesive devices (sometimes called linking words) are one of the most misunderstood and misused elements of writing. Therefore, you must learn how to use them and when to use them.

• The Danger of Synonyms

While synonyms are very important, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

• Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

• IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success

Read this blog now to access our 61-page Task 2 strategy.

• IELTS Writing Tips

I have compiled these tips after years of teaching IELTS, and all of them have been approved by IELTS examiners.

• Coherence and Cohesion

This is a video lesson that shows you in practical terms how to improve your coherence and cohesion score.

Writing Task 2 Common Topics 

Knowing the common topics can help you prepare for the test more efficiently. Here are the 10 most common topics over the last few years. Studying hard is great, but don’t forget to study smart.

The article below will show you the top 10 most common IELTS topics.

• Most Common Task 2 Topics 

Full IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Lessons 

Here are some lessons that I have used when teaching students about IELTS Writing Task 2. I have changed them so that you can easily learn from home. They are very long but contain all the necessary information combined with the skills above.

• Agree or Disagree (Opinion) Lesson

In this lesson, we look at how to tackle an ‘agree or disagree’ question. Many people worry about whether to take one side of the other or discuss both sides. Additionally, people also worry about how to deal with ‘To what extent’ question types. We allay all of these fears in this lesson.

• Discussion Essay Lesson

‘Discuss both views’ questions often confuse people because you are asked to do many things in one essay. As such, it is very important to remember that the question asks you to discuss BOTH views AND give YOUR opinion.

• Problem and Solution Essay Lesson

These questions are much easier than you think. You probably discuss problems and solutions in your day-to-day life all the time. Keep it simple.

• Advantages and Disadvantages Lesson 

There are a couple of different types of advantages and disadvantages questions. This lesson will show you how to answer them.

• Writing Task 2 Exercise with Video

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it is important to practice to improve.

• From Band 6.5 to 8 Demo Lesson

This is my most comprehensive free lesson on IELTS Writing Task 2. We show you how we took one VIP student from Band 6.5 to an amazing 8.

Sample Answers

You must have some good examples to compare your writing and see if you are on the right track. Click the link below for lots of sample answers and over 100 questions.

Task 2 Sample Answers

• Agree or Disagree Sample Essays
• Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
• Latest Real Task 2 Questions
• Official Sample Test Questions
• Cambridge Sample Questions
• Free Practice Test
• How To Use Task 2 Samples
• Recent Confusing Questions
• IELTS Writing Practice Guide

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essential Information

• You must write an essay in response to a question.
• You must write 250 words or more.
• Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
• You should spend around 40 minutes on this part of the test.
• General Training and Academic are essentially the same for Task 2. However, they are different for Task 1.
• There are certain types of questions that you will be asked, for example, opinion, discussion etc. See below for more detail on these.
• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Grammar and Vocabulary

Grammar is one of the four things you will be marked on in the Writing Task 2 test. Finding out what your common grammar mistakes are and then fixing them is a very powerful way to boost your score in this area. Here are some common grammar mistakes I have found after making hundreds of tests.

• Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

For most IELTS students, the problem is not grammar in general. In fact, it is usually just 1-2 problem areas. Therefore, when you fix these main weaknesses, you’ll be able to improve your grammar and your writing score dramatically.

• Using Personal Pronouns

Hint- They aren’t as big of a deal as you think.

See the interactive tool below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 2: 

IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQs

How can i improve my writing.

You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:

Writing Task 2

We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:

Task 2 5 Day Challenge

Task 2 Essay Builder

If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:

How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?

The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You'll find a guide to answering this question in this article

If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:

Can you correct my writing?

Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:

Writing Correction Service

Do you have any sample answers?

Yes, you will find them at the link below:

Will using 'high level' or 'academic' words help me improve my score?

Probably not.

Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:

5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary

Can I use idioms?

No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.

Can I use personal pronouns?

You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.

Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?

Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven't finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:

How to Write an Effective Task 2 Conclusion

How many paragraphs should I write?

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:

• Introduction
• Supporting Paragraph 1
• Supporting Paragraph 2

However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:

5 Day Challenge

Do I need to plan my essay?

I would highly recommend planning your essay. A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here: How to Plan an IELTS Essay

You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.

I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.

Will I lose marks if I don't write enough words?

Yes, if you don't write the required number of words, you will lose marks in 'Task Achievement' for not answering the question fully. Read more here .

Can I use contractions?

No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.

• A Beginner’s Guide to IELTS
• Common Grammar Mistakes [for IELTS Writing Candidates]

Writing Correction Service

• Free IELTS Resources
• Practice Speaking Test

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How to Improve your IELTS Writing

Posted by David S. Wills | Dec 24, 2017 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 3

One of the most common questions I’m asked as an IELTS tutor is, “How can I improve my IELTS writing?” It’s obviously something that many students are worried about, and it seems like the most difficult part of the exam to prepare for. Students often feel that they can progressively improve their listening and reading skills with practice, yet writing seems to defy this logic – you can keep writing and not get any better. So today I’m going to tell you how to improve your IELTS writing in this simple, short guide.

Start Small and Aim Big

The first and most important piece of advice I’m going to give you today is simple but incredibly important: You need to master the basics before doing anything more complicated. In other words, think about the small things before you move on to the hard ones.

What does this mean?

Think about an essay being produced in this manner:

You must first know what the individual words means and how they are spelled, conjugated, or collocated. Then you can string them together into clauses. Those clauses can become sentences, but make sure you can write a correct simple or complex sentence before attempting a compound-complex sentence. Then you can test out your paragraph structure before finally combining the paragraphs into a full essay .

Practice Makes Perfect

Many IELTS students feel that they can practice their reading , listening, and even speaking, and that their skill will improve. They can test themselves over and over and slowly get better. However, with writing it seems impossible. However, it is the same principle – practice will help you get better. The important thing, though, is how you practice.

By practicing these two areas, you will improve your skills and also become faster at writing the essay. The quicker you can understand the question and prepare an outline for your essay, the more time you have for writing and editing. This will ultimately reduce the number of mistakes you make.

Get Feedback

The reason feedback is so important is that you can begin to see what mistakes you have been making and then change your writing to remove those mistakes. It is therefore essential that you find someone who can help you in this respect. You need someone who will critique your spelling, grammar, structure, and even task response. They should be able to give you careful criticism that can push you in the right direction.

Since 2018, I have been offering quick, affordable, and professional writing correction services to IELTS students from all over the world.

Look at Sample Answers

It is really important that you know what you should be aiming for in the IELTS exam. For that, you should first be aware of the marking rubric (that means what the examiner judges you for) but also you should look at some high level sample answers. The reason for this is that you can see how they are structured and what sort of language is used in them. You can look closely at the question and then consider how the essay answers it. Obviously you can’t copy an essay, but you can certainly learn a lot by looking at these examples.

I have written many sample answers on this site. Here are some that you can use to help guide your IELTS writing:

• Report on female unemployment [task 1]
• Government funding of scholarships [task 2]
• 2x diagram descriptions [task 1]
• Unethical adverts [task 2]

When using sample essays like these, you should first look at the question and attempt to understand it. Perhaps plan a response of your own. Then you should look at the essay and see how the author responded to the question – what sort of structure was used? What kind of vocabulary? What reasoning did he/she give? How did they use examples or explanations? What sort of transitional phrases were used?

The IELTS writing can be difficult to prepare for, but it is just like all the other sections in that you can practice and eventually get good at it. It takes a lot of work, but with the right attitude and effort, you will succeed. Find a good book to guide you, and a good teacher or mentor to give you specific and constructive feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make mistakes – that’s how we all learn. Leave a comment below if you have any questions for me about how to improve your IELTS writing.

Hey everyone… I have a video that I would like to share with you that really adds to what I said in this lesson. This is all about planning your IELTS writing task 2 essay. Check it out:

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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I have difficulties in content building for task 2 general essays..what are all the sources i can look up to improve my task response.

kindly guide me.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Saranya,

In terms of content building, you should think carefully about planning your essay. Start by brainstorming some ideas, and then choose the best ones. Then think about how to expand these ideas into structured paragraphs. This will ensure your content is developed and relevant. You can check this link for more related ideas: https://ted-ielts.com/selecting-ideas-structuring-essay/

Hi David S. Wills sir, greetings

I faced a problem in speaking while we were forming a sentence on any topic. I have an IELTS exam next month

Please guide me,

thanks in advance

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Writing for ielts: a comprehensive guide.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over all aspects of the IELTS writing test. We’ll discuss the different types of essays you’ll be asked to write, and provide step-by-step instructions for how to write each one. Plus, we’ll give you tips and advice for staying motivated and overcoming writers’ block.

So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced IELTS writer, this guide has something for you. Let’s get started!

What Is the IELTS Writing Test?

The IELTS Writing Test is a test of your ability to write in English. You will be asked to write two essays: one Task 1 and one Task 2.

Task 1 is a letter For general training students and report for academic students . Task 2 is an essay on a more challenging topic.

The test is designed to assess your ability to communicate information, ideas, and arguments in writing. It is also designed to assess your ability to respond to questions and criticism about your writing.

Why Is Writing Important for IELTS?

When you’re taking the IELTS test, writing is one of the sections that counts for your final score. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you spend enough time practicing and preparing for this section.

The good news is that there are a lot of resources out there to help you improve your writing skills. In fact, we have an entire section on our website dedicated to helping IELTS students improve their essay writing.

So why is writing so important for IELTS? Well, it’s not just about getting a good score on the test. Writing is a critical skill that you’ll need in academic and professional settings. That’s why it’s important to practice and develop your skills so that you can perform your best on test day.

How to Prepare for the IELTS Writing Test

In order to ace the IELTS writing test, you need to practice, practice, practice. And that means working on your writing skills on a regular basis.

But it’s not just about practicing the actual writing task. You also need to be familiar with the types of questions that will be asked. So make sure you spend some time reading the IELTS test instructions carefully.

Equally important is knowing what the marking criteria are. So take a look at the marking grid and make sure you understand how your writing will be graded.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to scoring high on the IELTS writing test!

What Are the Different Types of IELTS Writing Tasks?

In the IELTS writing test, there are two tasks: a task 1 and a task 2.

Task 1 is a report for academic training students , and it usually asks for information about a graph or table. In this task, you need to give a concise summary of the data, as well as describe any trends that you notice.

Task 1 for general training is letter writing and it usually asks to write a situation based letter may be to a friend, manager or boss. The relation with the person to whom you are writing the letter will decide the tone whether it will be a formal or an informal letter

Task 2 is an essay , and it asks for your opinion on a given topic. In this task, you need to develop your argument and provide evidence to support your point of view.

How to Plan and Structure Your IELTS Writing Task

Ok, so you’ve got your task, and now it’s time to plan and structure your essay. Here are a few tips to help you out:

• Plan your essay before you start writing. This means thinking about the main points you want to make and organizing them in a logical order.
• Start with a strong introduction that clearly states your position on the topic.
• Develop your argument using clear and concise points, making sure to support your points with evidence from the text.
• Use a variety of sentence structures to keep your writing interesting and engaging.
• Write a strong conclusion that sums up your argument and leaves the reader with something to think about.

How to Write an IELTS Essay

Now that we’ve covered the basics of IELTS writing, let’s take a look at how to actually write an essay. The best way to learn is by example, so let’s take a look at a sample question and see how we might go about answering it.

When you’re writing your essay, make sure to include your opinion on the matter. You don’t have to agree or disagree with the statement, but you should state your position either way. Here’s an example of how we might write this essay:

I think that the way to be successful is to find something that you’re passionate about and put your heart and soul into it. Money is important, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that drives you. There are many people who are successful without having a lot of money, and I think that’s because they’re doing something they love.

How to Write an IELTS Letter

When it comes to writing letters for IELTS, it’s important to remember that there’s a specific format you need to follow.

The general structure of a letter is usually:

• salutation – Dear sir/mam/john
• Opening paragraph
• Detailing paragraph(s)
• Closing sentence

Within each of these sections, there are specific things you need to include. Let’s take a closer look. The opening paragraph should introduce the topic of your letter, and the main paragraph(s) should provide more detail. The closing sentence should thank the recipient for their time, and the signature should be your name followed by your signature.

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Academic

The 1st Task of the Academic Writing Module asks you to describe and summarise some information presented in a visual format (chart, table, graph or diagram) in about 20 minutes. Students, for this task, must write at least 150 words.

The Academic Writing Task 1 can be of the following types:

Ielts writing task 1 academic answer structure.

For a high band score in Academic Writing Task 1, the students must structure their answers. First, we will look at a high band score answer structure for the first four categories mentioned above like Line Graph, Bar Chart, Pie Chart, & Table. Because the answer structure for a process or flow chart or a picture is different.

The students can structure their answers for the first four categories as below;

IELTS Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Are you preparing to take the IELTS Writing Exam? If so, you need to be aware of the most common mistakes people make.

One of the biggest mistakes is not paying attention to the task instructions. Make sure you read the question carefully and understand what’s being asked. Sometimes people try to be too clever and they end up writing something that’s completely irrelevant to the topic.

Another mistake is not organizing your thoughts properly. When you’re writing a paragraph, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you want to say it. Rambling on and on without any structure will only confuse the reader.

And finally, don’t forget to proofread your work! A lot of people make mistakes because they don’t bother to check their work for mistakes. This is a BIG mistake, because it can cost you marks in the final score.

Sample IELTS Writing Tasks

If you’re looking to improve your IELTS writing score, one of the best things you can do is practice. And what better way to practice than by working on sample tasks?

In this section, we’ve provided a range of sample tasks to help you get started. These tasks cover a variety of different topics, so you can get a feel for the different types of questions that come up in the test.

We’ve also included some tips and advice to help you start tackling these tasks. So don’t waste any time—get started today and see how much your score improves!

Congratulations on deciding to take the IELTS writing test! This document is designed to provide you with all the information you need to get a great score.

Inside, you will find:

• An introduction to the IELTS writing test
• The format of the writing test
• Advice on how to approach the task types
• Detailed guidance on how to generate ideas and write essays for each task type
• Sample answers to each task type
• Useful language for academic writing
• A glossary of terms
• Tips for improving your writing skills

You will also find a number of exercises to help you practice and improve your score. The more you practice, the better your score will be. Good luck!

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In this comprehensive guide, we'll go over all aspects of the IELTS writing test. We'll discuss the different types of essays you'll be asked to write, and provide step-by-step instructions for how to write each one. Plus, we'll give you tips and advice for staying motivated and overcoming writers' block.

So whether you're a beginner or an experienced IELTS writer, this guide has something for you. Let's get started!

When you're taking the IELTS test, writing is one of the sections that counts for your final score. That's why it's so important to make sure that you spend enough time practicing and preparing for this section.

So why is writing so important for IELTS? Well, it's not just about getting a good score on the test. Writing is a critical skill that you'll need in academic and professional settings. That's why it's important to practice and develop your skills so that you can perform your best on test day.

But it's not just about practicing the actual writing task. You also need to be familiar with the types of questions that will be asked. So make sure you spend some time reading the IELTS test instructions carefully.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to scoring high on the IELTS writing test!

Ok, so you've got your task, and now it's time to plan and structure your essay. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Now that we've covered the basics of IELTS writing, let's take a look at how to actually write an essay. The best way to learn is by example, so let's take a look at a sample question and see how we might go about answering it.

When you're writing your essay, make sure to include your opinion on the matter. You don't have to agree or disagree with the statement, but you should state your position either way. Here's an example of how we might write this essay:

I think that the way to be successful is to find something that you're passionate about and put your heart and soul into it. Money is important, but it shouldn't be the only thing that drives you. There are many people who are successful without having a lot of money, and I think that's because they're doing something they love.

When it comes to writing letters for IELTS, it's important to remember that there's a specific format you need to follow.

• salutation - Dear sir/mam/john

Within each of these sections, there are specific things you need to include. Let's take a closer look. The opening paragraph should introduce the topic of your letter, and the main paragraph(s) should provide more detail. The closing sentence should thank the recipient for their time, and the signature should be your name followed by your signature.

IELTS Writing Task 1 - Academic

One of the biggest mistakes is not paying attention to the task instructions. Make sure you read the question carefully and understand what's being asked. Sometimes people try to be too clever and they end up writing something that's completely irrelevant to the topic.

Another mistake is not organizing your thoughts properly. When you're writing a paragraph, it's important to have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you want to say it. Rambling on and on without any structure will only confuse the reader.

And finally, don't forget to proofread your work! A lot of people make mistakes because they don't bother to check their work for mistakes. This is a BIG mistake, because it can cost you marks in the final score.

If you're looking to improve your IELTS writing score, one of the best things you can do is practice. And what better way to practice than by working on sample tasks?

In this section, we've provided a range of sample tasks to help you get started. These tasks cover a variety of different topics, so you can get a feel for the different types of questions that come up in the test.

We've also included some tips and advice to help you start tackling these tasks. So don't waste any time—get started today and see how much your score improves!

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10 tips to improve your IELTS Writing band score

The IELTS Writing test can be a challenging task for many of you. To help you prepare, here are 10 tips that can assist you to develop your writing skills and get you closer to achieving your desired score.

If you’re interested in living or working in Australia, you may need to achieve a particular band score in one or more of these IELTS components for your study, visa application and professional registration: 

The IELTS band score you need to achieve will depend on the visa, employer or university requirements that apply to your situation. If you need a higher band in the IELTS Writing section (or you just want to improve your overall IELTS score) , there are things you can do to improve your band score.

What is the IELTS Writing test?

The IELTS writing test is made up of two tasks. 

Writing Task 1 

Writing Task 1 is slightly different depending on whether you are an Academic or General Training test-taker, however, both responses must be 150 words or more. Writing Task 1 is worth one-third of your overall writing band score.

General Training test-takers will be asked to write a letter based on a situation outlined in the IELTS test. Examples of letters you may be asked to write include:

A letter to a friend

A complaint to a company

A request to an employer

Academic test-takers will be provided with a chart, diagram or graph. The test-taker will be asked to analyse and explain the data in their own words. This answer must be written in a formal style. 

Writing Task 2 

Writing Task 2 is the same for both General Training and Academic test-takers. In Task 2, you will be asked to write a formal essay in response to a statement or premise.  Your essay must be 250 words or more in length. Writing Task 2 is worth two-thirds of your overall Writing band score.

Types of essays to expect in your IELTS Writing Task 2

No secrets to how your ielts test is marked.

At IELTS, we want to help boost you to the next level. That’s why we share with you  how we test , how we mark your work, and  what is important . There are no secrets to how the Writing test is marked, everything is transparent.

The marking scheme is based on the following four criteria. Each of the criteria is worth 25% of your total mark for each task.

Task Achievement:

This assesses how well you have answered the question that was asked.

Coherence and Cohesion:

This assesses how well you have organised your ideas and how well you have linked them together.

Lexical Resource:

This assesses your range of vocabulary and your ability to use it accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy:

This assesses your ability to use grammar correctly and to produce sentences that are grammatically correct.

Each criterion is marked on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest score. The overall band score is calculated by averaging the scores for each criterion.

Download the IELTS Writing Task 1 and IELTS Writing Task 2  assessment criteria

Tip 1: study the assessment criteria.

The best way to impress the examiners is to understand what they’re looking for.

The band descriptors for both Writing Task 1 and Task 2 can be downloaded for free. These resources outline the skills and behaviours that a test-taker needs to demonstrate for each band score (and for each of the four assessment criteria) .

Tip 2: Plan your time

Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1 when it comes to calculating your final writing band score.

With this in mind, plan to spend about 40 minutes on Task 2, and 20 minutes on Task 1. If you spend too much time on Task 1, you may find yourself unable to finish Task 2 which will result in a lower overall Writing band score.

Tip 3: Read the task outline twice

It’s important to fully understand the tasks that you are completing.

IELTS examiners will give higher scores to test-takers who fully address all parts of the task, and show that they have well developed answers on the topic.

Highlight or write down the different elements of the task scenario or question and make sure you address all of these in your answer.

Tip 4: Draft your answers

Spending some time planning your answers can help you achieve higher marks for the coherence and cohesion assessment criteria.

Examiners look for evidence that you can organise your ideas logically. Aim to cover one key topic in each paragraph and read your essay or letter to make sure the ideas flow well together. 

Tip 5: Show off your vocabulary

IELTS examiners look for evidence that you can use a wide range of vocabulary correctly. You can improve your vocabulary by reading from different English language sources such as:

Look up any words you don’t know and practise using them before your test. If you find yourself using the same words over and over, think about any other words that you could use instead.

Tip 6: Use a mix of sentence structures

Aim to use both complex and simple sentence structures in your Writing task answers. Even if you’re comfortable using complex sentence structures, make sure these are broken up by some short, simple sentences .

Using too many complex sentence structures can make your test answers sound clunky.

Tip 7: Perfect your punctuation

Using the correct punctuation in the right places is extremely important. The correct punctuation can help your test answers flow in a way that showcases your English fluency.

If you’re not sure what a certain punctuation symbol means, keep things simple and avoid using it if you can.

Tip 8: Know when to use formal language

Formal language uses a professional or academic tone that you might use while at work or university. Informal language is the more casual tone which you might use when speaking to your friends. If the task you’re working on requires formal language, you should avoid using:

Contractions

If you are taking the A cademic Writing test , Tasks 1 and 2 must be answered using formal language. General Training test-takers should use formal language for Task 2, however, Task 1 may require formal or informal language.

Tip 9: Take some practice tests

Achieving a great IELTS score takes time and planning. You can’t just book and take your test in a matter of days – no matter how strong your English skills are. Successful test takers create a schedule to help them study everything they need to know before they sit an IELTS test. They make time to practise all four English skills –  Listening ,  Reading ,  Writing  and  Speaking  – as they know that each one is different.

If they have trouble with a topic, they attend a  FREE Masterclass  with an IELTS expert who can teach them how to improve. And, when they’re almost ready to take IELTS, they will complete as many  practice tests  as they can find. 

So, when there are hundreds of resources to help you study, where do you begin?  Click here  to access your go-to guide to IELTS preparation. All of our most important materials – both free and paid – are listed here, divided by category.

Tip 10: Get a study partner

If you know someone else who is preparing for the IELTS, see if they’d like to study with you. Having a study partner is a great way to make sure you don’t skip study sessions and it can be helpful to share ideas and feedback during your time together.

If you don’t have a study partner, you can receive personalised feedback and a tailored improvement plan from an IELTS expert. Try IELTS Writing Assist , it's an official IELTS mock Writing test from IDP Education for test takers who need to boost their Writing score. 

So, what do you get when you buy IELTS Writing Assist?

Access to a Mock IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2

Feedback on your IELTS tasks

A detailed action plan with areas where you can improve within 3-5 days

Need help booking your test?

Ready for test day? Book your IELTS test today and get one step closer to living, working or studying in Australia!

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IELTS Test Preparation Tips

How to Improve Your IELTS Essay Writing?

You should prepare yourself well before the test on how to plan and construct an essay. The planning comes first. You should not spare much time for planning, a well prepared you hopefully should know that taking 3 to 5 minutes for planning the essay is adequate enough. Prior to writing an essay you should first read and analyze the question thoroughly, this is an indispensable part. You should be aware about the fact that, if you cannot write addressing all the parts of the question you won’t be able to get a good Band Score. So scanning each and every part on the question is compulsory, and you should not jump start to write, without making an impeccable plan.

Why you should make a plan before start writing :

Planning before writing is an integral part to ensure higher Band Score. It ensures that you would never get lost in the middle, also planning would help you write the exact sequence things should be written. One who writes without planning would have to stop- then think – then write – again stop and think – and write this process simply wastes time incurs errors at the same time it lowers the quality of the essay. Planning and working accordingly would also save your time and help you write in a more organized manner. So, as mentioned above, first read and analyze the question and have a clear idea of what exactly you need to write about. For example, let’s write a sample question to make you understand finding the keywords. Say, the questions are as below:

A major number of children of the age group 5 to 11 years are getting addicted towards playing games on the cell phones and becoming unsocial: What is your opinion, is it completely bad or has some good side as well? Do you think that they should socialize more? Here the major keyword is ‘G etting addicted towards playing games on the cell phones’, and the smaller keyword is ‘becoming unsocial ‘ . If you can’t identify the exact ‘Keyword’ your essay would be off the track and carry no marks for you at all. Your answer through the essay should be exactly to the point. So once you have got the ‘Keyword’ you start planning your essay. Remember, you are writing on papers, not typing on your computer screen, so that you have the liberty of delete-rewrite-edit-then write again. You have to plan what you are going to write, then start writing according to the plan. A good plan would work as a roadmap preventing you from losing on the midway.

How to plan your essay : In short, we can write that there are four things to do:

• Identifying the right keyword that means the central idea.
• Identifying the micro-keywords that are the main points.
• Starting with a good introductory paragraph.
• Thinking and constructing the body of the essay.
• While thinking about the construction framing them into paragraphs is necessary.

An average IELTS essay is 250 to 280 words long with 14 to 18 sentences in it. So you could spend 5 minutes for planning and then 35 minutes for writing. In the case of constructing an essay first comes the introduction part, think about the introduction part, first. Remember a good introduction bears immense importance as we all know the famous quote saying “well begun is half done”. For writing a good introduction, first decide what is your opinion, is it in favor of the ‘Keyword’ or against the ‘Keyword’. Once you decide what exactly you are going to write, you can write your opinion clearly and transparently, clarify on which side you are, ‘Against’ or ‘For’. So this is the first phase of planning. Plan to write a compact context without overlapping ideas. Write every sentence with a purpose.

Now you have to ‘Generate the Exact Idea’ for forming of the essay : You have written down your opinion or view in the introduction part, now you have to justify it with logic. At this juncture make yourself ready with how to weave the sentences to form a complete and compact essay. It might sound easy, but doing it in the exam hall without sufficient practice would be almost impossible. Generate the ideas using logic, which sentence comes when, whether it fits there or not, etc. Having a rock-solid plan from the start would make you move through the context with ease without having to think about the structure, it would be formed automatically. Note that you have to write both the options ‘Good’ or ‘Bad’ and establish it with logic.

For executing your plan in the best way and not forgetting them you can write the planning on the question paper, the examiner won’t mind it, he would mind about your answer only. Hundreds of top students have found getting low Band Score because of their poor planning or no planning at all for the essay. Another very important thing is if you fall low in the word count. In the exam hall you won’t be able to count your words, so practice it at home by watching ‘How 250 words look in your handwriting’, this is important.

There are 4 main marking criteria for giving marks for the IELTS essay. They are as follows:

• How your response to the task
• How good the essay is from the point of view of ‘Coherence’ and ‘Cohesion’
• How good it is regarding the ‘Lexical Resource’.
• How appropriate is the range of grammatical expertise and accuracy
• Accuracy in spelling.

A suggestive discussion, for getting a high Band Score like 8 is:

• Address all parts of the tasks.
• Write complete answers of all issues in the essay questions.
• The contextual meaning should be transparent to the readers.
• All the answers are supported by justifying opinions.
• Don’t write in big paragraphs, exceeding 140 words, complete the essay in 2 to 3 paragraphs.
• Be always relevant to the topics, don’t write irrelevant points and sentences, the examiner will be annoyed.
• Strictly avoid any errors in linking words and paragraphs.
• Write paragraphs in perfect sequence, so as to be transparent with your writing.
• Don’t use too common words, use synonyms instead.
• Use a wide range of rich vocabulary to stand tall amongst the crowd.
• Use a wide range of complex sentences without losing lucidity.

While giving your opinion, remember that you would have to justify it with the solid argument in favor. At the same time when you are talking about the ‘Dark side’, you have to establish your view with the solid justifying statement.  To get a high Band Score like 8 or 9 you have to do something specials during your preparation, you have to

• Read a lot of good essays.
• Practice on ‘how to make planning within 5 minutes before starting’. This would make you write in the coherent form.
• Your opinion should be transparent and you have to establish it with 100% convincing and justifying points.
• Always keep in mind that, ‘The purpose of writing’ is to convey the meaning of the essay, at the same time showing the examiner how impressive your range of vocabulary is and how expert you are in construct complex sentences keeping the cohesion intact.

Focus on writing clearly and you will do very well. They know the key to high grammar scores is accuracy.

Originally posted 2016-12-26 14:06:06.

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6 Important Ways to Improve Writing Skills for IELTS

IELTS Simplified

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Writing is a complex ability that is not limited to those who are learning English or preparing for the IELTS test; even native English speakers can find it challenging. Daily, we tend to engage more in writing text messages or emails rather than composing essays or describing graphs. However, there are methods available to practice and enhance writing skills.

For numerous students, the writing section of the IELTS test can pose significant difficulties. As a result, students often seek ways to rapidly improve their English writing skills and search for effective techniques to enhance their writing, specifically for the IELTS. In this discussion, we will explore tips for enhancing writing skills for the IELTS and provide some IELTS writing topics for students.

What is the objective of IELTS? The main objective of IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is to assess the proficiency of individuals who wish to study or work in countries where English is the primary language. It aims to measure their writing and language skills to determine their level of competence.

6 Ways how to improve writing skills for IELTS

Understanding the statement:.

It is essential to comprehend the statement for both task 1 and task 2. Begin by determining whether the tone is formal or informal, which will guide you in writing an appropriate opening and closing. Understanding the question's requirements is crucial for writing accurately.

Make an outline:

Before you start writing, create an outline. This will help you stay focused, save time, and prevent straying from the topic. An outline enables you to organize your thoughts and arrange them in the most effective order prior to writing. It is a valuable technique for enhancing writing skills for the IELTS.

Put your best foot forward:

When outlining an essay, decide on the sequence for presenting your ideas. Begin with a strong body paragraph, as this will make the first and most impactful impression on your reader.

Keep it simple:

IELTS writing tasks evaluate your ability to express your thoughts and opinions in English, rather than assessing your knowledge of the given topic. It is important to clarify your ideas and ensure your essay is well-structured. Provide relevant supporting points and examples to reinforce your arguments.

The length of an IELTS essay is not important; however, it is crucial to meet the specified word count range of 150-250 words. You can earn points by employing sophisticated sentence structures and employing a wide range of vocabulary accurately and effortlessly.

Reviewing your work is a crucial aspect. Allocating time towards the end of the exam to double-check what you have written helps in detecting and rectifying any spelling or grammatical errors committed by you.

Keep this in mind for improving IELTS writing skills-

Know your weaknesses and strengths.

Understanding your current level of proficiency in the English language is crucial. If you are unaware of where you stand, it becomes pointless to learn tips for the IELTS exam. Take a diagnostic test to identify your weaknesses and strengths. By taking multiple diagnostic tests, you can discern patterns in your mistakes.

Enhance your vocabulary and improve expression

The ability to effectively express thoughts and emotions in different situations is showcased through your vocabulary. Learn methods to utilize vocabulary in various contexts and practice incorporating these words into sentences and phrases.

Improve your English writing skills

Select a storybook, newspaper, magazine, or journal article and practice reading. As you progress, challenge yourself with more challenging reading materials. Underline any difficult words you encounter while reading and look up their meanings.

Practice English communication

Engaging in conversations and listening to English will help improve your vocabulary and enhance your understanding of grammar. Additionally, watching English movies will provide insights into the usage of words and phrases within specific contexts.

Regularly practice writing

Make a habit of writing short essays, letters, reviews, and narratives about your daily life and experiences. This practice will aid in improving your writing skills and reducing mistakes. Focus on rephrasing sentences and organizing your answers within the given word limit.

Use your time effectively

One valuable tip for enhancing writing skills in the IELTS is to utilize your time wisely. You are allocated 50 minutes for the entire section, with Task 2 carrying more weight in terms of scoring. It is advisable to allocate no more than 20 minutes to Task 1 and 30 minutes to Task 2, ensuring you reserve time for planning and reviewing your work.

Monitor the word count

In both tasks, it is crucial to meet the minimum word requirements: at least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2. Falling short of the specified word count will result in a deduction of marks.

Comprehend the task

Thoroughly read and carefully analyze the instructions, highlighting or underlining the keywords. Understand the questions that need to be addressed and the information that should be included.

Structure your ideas

Devote approximately five minutes to brainstorming and selecting relevant information. Organize your thoughts coherently, employing linking words and cohesive devices to establish connections between paragraphs, sentences, and phrases.

Familiarize yourself with the approach

Each task necessitates a specific approach. Analyze the question, generate ideas using bullet points, outline your paragraphs, address the bullet points, and then proceed to write your essay.

Consider your writing style

Every task type requires an appropriate writing style, which will influence your selection of grammatical structures and vocabulary resources. Take into account the desired style and adapt your language accordingly.

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How to Improve Essay Writing for IELTS? Must Know Six Tips and Tricks One to Keep in Mind

Do you find yourself trapped in band 6 or 6.5? We understand how aggravating it can be. Many people struggle with IELTS exam training because it is incredibly tricky and will put anyone’s language skills to the test. Essay writing is a style that everyone can learn until they understand the fundamentals of essay writing. An essay should start with a strong, debatable thesis that is then backed up with relevant evidence from other sources or in-depth analysis.

If you want to improve your IELTS writing score, you must first understand that there is no such thing as a “magic word,” “phrase,” or “sentence.” But one thing is certain: if you want to improve your ranking, you’ll have to work hard. It all comes down to learning English and understanding the IELTS Test. It is critical to understand how to prepare for the IELTS essay writing section.

The writing section of the test may be the most stressful for many people, but don’t worry; we have some helpful tips for everyone who is having trouble. Take a look at some of our suggestions and tips for IELTS essay writing, and you’ll be well on your way to passing the IELTS writing exam.

Understanding the Prompt

Knowing and understanding exactly what the prompt asks you to do is important, whether you’re writing for the Academic or General Test, Task 1 or how to write an essay for IELTS Task 2. If you’re writing a letter, make sure you know what tonality you’re writing in (formal or informal) and what salutations and closings are appropriate.

If you’re writing an argumentative article, make sure you know all sides of the argument. If you’re describing graphs or processes, start by figuring out what the graphs display, then analyze the key trends and features. If you’ve got your head around the job, you can start planning your paper’s outline.

Creating an Outline

You should create an overview before you start writing. Students also suggest that since the exam is timed, they do not waste valuable minutes creating an outline. This isn’t real at all! An outline will save you time by ensuring that you stay focused while writing and do not stray from the subject.

Before you begin writing, an outline will help you collect your thoughts and place them in the best order possible. Overall, having a clear outline allows you to concentrate on the language you’re using rather than the concepts you’ll present.

You Don’t Have to be Completely Accurate

So, how accurate does your description need to be? Begin by writing a thesis statement (Writing Task 2) or a list of key points for your introduction. Your thesis statement will be the guiding force behind your whole article, with each paragraph relating to and supporting it. Organize your presentation for Writing Task 1 by writing down the answer to the question, “What detail should anyone know about these charts/graphs/diagrams?” “What is the intent of this letter?” (Academic Task 1) or “What is the purpose of this letter?” (Task General 1).

Your layout for the body paragraphs only needs to represent the paragraph’s main subject, the proof to be used, and, if applicable (Task 2), how it reflects your thesis statement. Since the conclusion is a restatement or description of your point, and you will not be proposing any new thoughts, there is no need to compose something in the outline for it.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Decide on the order in which you will present your ideas while assembling your thought essay during the outline stage. The strongest paragraph should come first, as it will make the first and most significant impressions on your reader. If you have three body paragraphs, start with the best one, then the weakest in the middle, and the second-strongest at the end. Your reader will be left with a positive view of your essay if you do this.

Also Read: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics 2020: Questions Answers and Topics for IELTS Speaking Test

Focus on Quality, not Quantity

While you must strive for the appropriate word count in IELTS writing, it does not have to be as long as 150 or 250 words. Two strong body paragraphs are needed for Task 2 essays, but three is a plus if you can arrange it. You get points correctly and spontaneously using detailed sentence construction and good vocabulary.

Rather than being concerned about the length of your article, focus on using interesting vocabulary and avoiding repetition. You should focus on expanding your vocabulary for a range of topics as you study for the IELTS test. Additionally, you may want to use notecards to group synonyms or similar terms together. This will assist you in coming up with synonyms for a whim.

For timed assessments, this can be difficult, but it is important to set aside a few minutes after each writing assignment to proofread. You should look for minor spelling and grammar errors. After completion is not the time to decide that your case is weak and write a new paragraph. Read your essay to ensure that it is well-organized, and if necessary, add fragments or phrases to strengthen links between concepts.

You will find it easier to reach your target score in the Essay Writing for IELTS now that you are familiar with enough information. Making errors lowers the chances of success. As a result, make sure you read through these suggestions carefully and put them into effect regularly.

Parting Words

Practising alone isn’t enough to ace the IELTS. IELTS Ninja provides useful tips, ideas, and expert reviews through Online IELTS Writing Practice. Mission IELTS Program of IELTS NINJA offers Full Practice Tests, Model Answers, Time-based Test Analysis, Expert Guidance, and E-booklets, all of which will help you in your end goal.

Thousands of people have used our services to break through this barrier and achieve a band 7+ in IELTS Writing. IELTS Writing Correction Services will help you to comprehend which areas you should concentrate on. You will also receive feedback and corrections for making your essay, letter, or report writing tasks easier. At IELTS Ninja we will assist you in planning your tests and tutorials when you begin an IELTS course with us so that you get the most out of your training.

Also Read: Describe a Useful Website that You Visited and Used:  IELTS Speaking Cue Card Preparation

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About the Author

Shilpa is a professional web content writer and is in deep love with travelling. She completed her mass communication degree and is now dedicatedly playing with words to guide her readers to get the best for themselves. Developing educational content for UPSC, IELTS aspirants from breakthrough research work is her forte. Strongly driven by her zodiac sign Sagittarius, Shilpa loves to live her life on her own notes and completely agrees with the idea of ‘live and let live. Apart from writing and travelling, most of the time she can be seen in the avatar of 'hooman' mom to her pets and street dogs or else you can also catch her wearing the toque blanche and creating magic in the kitchen on weekends.

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21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score

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Updated On Mar 22, 2024

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Are you gearing up for the IELTS and aiming to ace the writing component? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through 21+ essential tips to answer your question on ‘How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score.’ Whether you’re tackling the Academic or General Training module, mastering these strategies will help you boost your performance and achieve your desired results.

A multitude of IELTS learners ask me how to boost their  IELTS score  to Band 7.0 or higher. It’s not an easy question to answer. Fortunately, there are many tips you can make use of. Below, I’ll show you some areas to focus on in order to boost your  IELTS writing  skills.

Understanding the IELTS Writing Task

Before diving into the tips, let’s briefly discuss the structure of the IELTS Writing Task.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic

This IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic requires candidates to write a formal essay in response to a given prompt. It assesses the candidate’s ability to present an argument or viewpoint, analyze information, and use appropriate academic language and style.

IELTS Writing Task 1 General

In contrast, the IELTS Writing Task 1 General module focuses on more everyday situations, such as writing a letter or an essay expressing opinions. It evaluates the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in English for practical purposes.

It requires candidates to write an essay in response to a given prompt or question. The essay should be formal in style and well-structured, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Effective essay planning, organization, and the use of appropriate language and grammar are crucial for achieving a high score in IELTS Writing Task 2.

21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing

We all know framing complex sentences with the right vocabulary selection isn’t easy, and so this question goes around our mind – How to improve writing skills for IELTS? Well with the tips mentioned below writing surely becomes much easier. So check them out:

1. Become a Criteria Pro

Thoroughly understand the four criteria used to assess your writing: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. For example, under Lexical Resource, the examiner evaluates your vocabulary range and accuracy of word usage. Knowing this, you can aim to use more varied and precise vocabulary choices throughout your response.

2. Master Time Management

Proper time allocation is crucial. For Task 1 (20 minutes), spend 2-3 minutes carefully reading and analyzing the prompt, 10 minutes planning and writing your response, and the remaining 5-7 minutes proofreading and making revisions. For the lengthier Task 2 (40 minutes), follow a similar time distribution, ensuring you leave enough time for planning, writing, and reviewing your essay.

3. Read the Task Twice (or More) 

Carefully read the task prompt multiple times to ensure you fully comprehend what is being asked. For instance, if Task 1 requires you to describe a line graph depicting global temperature changes from 1990 to 2023, reread the instructions and analyze the graph thoroughly to understand the specific data trends you need to address in your response.

4. Outline Your Thoughts 

Before you start writing, take a moment to quickly outline your main ideas and supporting details. For a Task 2 opinion essay on the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources, jot down your thesis statement, key arguments for and against, and relevant examples or facts you plan to include. This outline will help you organize your thoughts and ensure a well-structured response.

5. Develop Your Paragraphs

Ensure that each paragraph in your writing has a clear focus and logical flow. Begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by relevant supporting details, examples, or evidence, and conclude with a summarizing sentence that reinforces the paragraph’s central point. Well-developed paragraphs enhance the coherence and cohesion of your writing.

6. Start with a Bang 

Craft an engaging introduction that captures the reader’s attention right from the start. For a Task 2 essay on the benefits and drawbacks of online education, you could begin with a thought-provoking statistic or a rhetorical question to pique the examiner’s interest and set the tone for your response.

7. Flaunt Your Vocabulary

Demonstrate your lexical range and precision by using a wide variety of relevant and contextually appropriate vocabulary. Instead of repeating the word “increase” multiple times when describing an upward trend, use synonyms like “surge,” “soar,” “escalate,” or “spike” to showcase your advanced vocabulary skills.

8. Keep It Simple, Silly!

While using advanced vocabulary is encouraged, ensure that your ideas are conveyed clearly and concisely. Avoid convoluted or overly complex language that may obscure your meaning. For example, instead of stating “Fossil fuels have a deleterious effect on the ecosystem,” it’s clearer and more direct to say, “Fossil fuels adversely impact the environment.”

9. Mix It Up

Vary your sentence structures to enhance the overall quality and readability of your writing. Combine simple sentences (“The graph shows an upward trend.”), compound sentences (“The graph shows an upward trend, but it plateaus after 2020.”), and complex sentences (“While the graph shows an upward trend initially, it plateaus after 2020 due to the implementation of environmental regulations.”) to create a more engaging and cohesive response.

10. Punctuate Like a Pro

Pay close attention to punctuation rules to enhance the clarity and flow of your writing. Use commas correctly to separate clauses (“The line graph, which depicts global temperatures from 1990 to 2023, shows a steady increase.”) and avoid run-on sentences that can confuse the reader.

Watch this video to know how to Improve Your Writing Skills Immediately !

11. Link Like a Boss

Use appropriate cohesive devices and transition words to create a smooth and logical progression of ideas throughout your response. Words and phrases like “moreover,” “in addition,” “however,” “for instance,” “consequently,” and “nevertheless” can help you effectively connect your thoughts and arguments.

12. Showcase Your Critical Thinking 

In Task 2 essays that require you to present arguments or opinions, be sure to analyze and evaluate ideas from multiple perspectives. Provide well-supported examples or evidence, acknowledge counterarguments, and present a thoughtful and well-reasoned conclusion. For instance, in an essay on media censorship, you could analyze the arguments for and against censorship, citing relevant examples or case studies, before offering your balanced perspective on the issue.

13. Stay on Topic 

Ensure that your writing remains focused and relevant to the task prompt at all times. Avoid deviating from the main theme or introducing irrelevant information that may distract the reader from the central topic. If asked to describe a pie chart on energy sources, for example, resist the urge to digress into a detailed discussion of the environmental impact of fossil fuels unless it is directly relevant to the task.

14. Aim for Balance 

When addressing complex or multifaceted topics, strive to maintain a balanced perspective by considering multiple viewpoints or aspects of the issue. For a Task 2 essay on the advantages and disadvantages of remote work, you could acknowledge the benefits (flexibility, reduced commute time) while also exploring the potential drawbacks (social isolation, distractions at home) to present a well-rounded analysis.

15. Mind Your Tone

In academic writing tasks, adopt an objective and impersonal tone, avoiding overly personal or emotional language. Instead of using phrases like “I think…” or “In my opinion…,” present your arguments and evidence in a more formal and authoritative manner.

16. Wrap It Up Nicely 

Conclude your writing with a clear and concise summary that reinforces your main points or arguments. In an essay response, you could restate your thesis and key supporting ideas, followed by a final perspective, recommendation, or call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

17. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Carefully review your written responses before submitting them. Check for typos, subject-verb agreement errors (“The data shows…” not “show”), inconsistent tense usage, and any other mistakes that may detract from the overall quality of your writing.

So were you able to find the answer to the question – How to improve writing skills for IELTS? If not, then the next section is going to add further knowledge about writing to your mental repository.

Grammar Tips On How to Improve Your Writing Skills

In IELTS Writing, Grammar plays a significant role in conveying your ideas clearly, accurately, and effectively. The fact that it is one of the core elements in answering your question on – How to improve your IELTS writing, gives you a full view of what all you should learn to improve your writing skills.

1. Vary your Sentence Length

Once you know the different types of sentences, you should practice using them. The most difficult one is the compound-complex sentence, but even if you don’t know that, you can still get a good score with a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences. The key is varying the length and type of sentence so it sounds natural.

This is an IELTS Writing Task 1 example of an opinion essay. Look at how we are changing it:

• Firstly, children watch too much TV. It’s bad for their health. It can make them addicted. They will spend too much time indoors. This can make them fat.

The sentences are all short and could easily be mixed together into more interesting patterns:

• Firstly, children watch too much TV, which is bad for their health. This habit can cause them to become addicted, resulting in them spending too much time indoors and thus getting fat.

2. Remember Collocations

Students preparing for the IELTS exam always want to study lots of vocabulary. This is understandable as vocabulary is important for understanding and making yourself understood. However, knowing a word’s meaning is very different from being able to use it. Learn a word in context and you will be able to apply it more easily. When you are learning vocabulary, pay attention to what words commonly go together.

Below are a few IELTS Writing Task 1 & 2 examples on different collocations:

Example of ‘Verb + thought’

• Spare a thought
• Spare a thought for all those who are homeless on a cold night like this.
• Hear one’s thought
• Have you given the new proposal any thought yet? We are keen to hear your thoughts.
• One’s thought goes out to somebody/something
• Our thoughts go out to all those families who lost relatives in the disaster.
• The thought occurs to someone
• The thought just occurred to me that it’s mum’s birthday tomorrow and we haven’t got her a card.
• Gather one’s thought
• The President was taken aback by the question and took a minute to gather his thoughts.

Example of ‘Noun + preposition + thought’

• A great deal of thought
• Shirley doesn’t devote a great deal of thought to her appearance.
• freedom of thought
• Some places don’t encourage freedom of thought.
• school of thought
• One school of thought contends that modern man originated in Central Africa.
• train of thought
• Sorry, where was I? I’ve lost my train of thought.

3. Avoid using ‘Really, So, A lot, Very’

In IELTS writing, you need to write an essay, using “academic” language. So your goal should be to be reasonably formal/academic. To do so, you should not use imprecise language like really, so, a lot, very, etc

Many IELTS candidates think that achieving Band 8.0 in IELTS is very hard.

• Use a stronger word:  Many IELTS candidates think that achieving Band 8.0 in IELTS is difficult
• Very good:  top-notch, splendid, terrific, excellent, magnificent, fabulous, outstanding, etc
• Very bad:  horrible, terrible, outrageous, distressing, awful, etc
• Very delicious:  appetizing, delectable, flavorful, scrumptious, enjoyable, palatable, etc
• Robot-driven car is really controversial

Change:  Robot-driven car is controversial.

• A lot of IELTS learners share their great tips on IELTS writing, and speaking on the IELTS Material website.

Change:  Many/A great number of/ A multitude of IELTS learners……

4. Do not use Contractions in Academic Writing

It’s better to write out the words like:

• Don’t > do not
• Can’t > cannot
• Mustn’t > must not
• Couldn’t > could not
• Wouldn’t > would not
• Isn’t > is not
• Haven’t > have not
• Hasn’t > has not

5. Avoid “There is/ There are”

When you write, try to write your ideas in a clear & concise way. There is/there are is extra words that are not needed. So just leave them out to make your sentences stronger and straight to the point.

• Example:  There are many issues that students have to face at university.
• Alternative:  Students face a multitude of issues at university.

6. Know the Sentence Types

It’s really important that you know the difference between a simple sentence and a complex sentence. You don’t need to know the terminology, but it is important that you can form full sentences. Knowing the sentence types means being able to avoid these cardinal sins of writing:

• sentence fragment
• run-on sentences
• comma splices

A. Sentence Fragments

This is the most common grammar error IELTS students make. A sentence fragment cannot be a sentence by itself. It does not even have one independent clause.

Remember:  a simple sentence is an independent clause, which requires 3 things:

• A complete thought

Sometimes it seems to be a sentence, but if we examine it closely it lacks the necessary parts and thus cannot stand alone.

• The doctor worked round the clock. Operating on the boy.
• As India has entered the WTO. The local entrepreneurs are faced with both challenges and opportunities.

Corrections:

• The doctor worked around the clock, operating on the boy.
• As India has entered the WTO, local entrepreneurs are faced with both challenges and opportunities.

B. Run-on Sentences

A run-on sentence consists of two or more main clauses that are joined together without proper punctuation (comma, semi-colon, period, etc). We often speak in run-on sentences but our pauses indicate meaning; however, when we write we need to use punctuation to break up our sentences and impart proper meaning.

C. Comma Splices

Comma splices occur when two independent clauses are joined by a comma. Remember: a comma is not strong enough to join these clauses itself! You need a conjunctive coordinator to complement it, or else use a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb.

Most importantly, to do well in the IELTS writing you don’t need to be a punctuation expert. Just knowing commas and periods is usually sufficient for a good grade.

• Van Gogh is a world-famous artist his paintings can be found in many museums and art galleries.
• Allen Ginsberg is a renowned American poet, his most famous poem is Howl.
• Van Gogh is a world-famous artist whose paintings can be found in many museums and art galleries.
• Allen Ginsberg is a renowned American poet, whose most famous poem is Howl.

As you can see above, there is more than one way to fix these errors. Make sure, however, that you use the correct fix according to the sentence’s precise meaning as it will help you know how to improve grammar in IELTS writing.

Consistency is the key to improving your writing skills. By taking part in our  best IELTS online classes , you can now learn through varying tips to score the highest.

By following these 21+ tips, providing detailed and well-supported responses, and practicing regularly, you’ll be well-equipped to achieve your desired IELTS Writing band score in 2024 and beyond.

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Raajdeep Saha

Raajdeep Saha, an MBA graduate in Marketing from IMT Ghaziabad and holder of a BCA degree from The Heritage Academy, boasts three years of experience as a Senior Content Marketing Specialist. His focus lies in crafting persuasive content for IELTS, CELPIP, and TOEFL. Simultaneously, he's an accomplished author and poet, with his published work, "OUSHQ," showcasing his literary prowess. He seamlessly marries his marketing acumen with creative storytelling, making him a versatile professional of both corporate and artistic distinction.

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How to Improve IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay? (5 Tips)

In IELTS Writing Task 2 , you need to write an essay on a given topic. Writing an essay may often seem a difficult and also daunting task. But don't worry, it will become a lot easier and make better sense as you follow along.

We advise you to take time to read the 5 Tips on how you can improve your writing skills for IELTS and achieve a high score.

Prepare smarter, not harder, and writing tasks won't stop you from getting the band score you deserve!

Keep your IELTS Essay structure simple

There is a ton of information available online about different types of IELTS essays, and if you are a self-learner, it is easy to get confused. Especially, when the information is often conflicting as well. Therefore, we recommend that you do not worry about identifying what type of essay you must write or what structure you need to follow. It is all redundant and unnecessary.

Although there are 5 Different Types of IELTS Essays , learning about suggested essay structures one by one just overburdens you and at the end of the day, there is no actual benefit. All that matters is to answer all the questions and stick to that. It is as simple as that! You just need to address all parts of the task . That's it!

Take time to read the essay question and answer it completely and directly. There is no need to overthink whether the essay is this or that type and which structure you need to use. You will do yourself a favour when you skip learning about "the right" essay structures to follow as there are none found. Instead, trust yourself and listen to your gut.

Plan your IELTS essay before you write

Think and plan before you write! It is necessary to brainstorm for at least 2-5 minutes. Write down all the keywords and phrases that come to your mind, and then organise your ideas by making a simple plan for the IELTS essay structure. The more you practice essay writing, the faster you will become at brainstorming.

It is crucial to keep in mind what the task prompt asks you to do. If you fail to address all parts of the writing task prompt, achieving a high score will become unlikely. So, by making the plan make sure you answer all the questions!

For example, if you need to discuss both views, then make sure that you have one body paragraph for one view, another for another view and so forth.

Stick to the plan and use the words, phrases and ideas that have come to your mind while brainstorming.

Show good grammar and vocabulary

To write a high-level IELTS essay and attain a high score, you need to demonstrate that you can use a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary . For example, use different tenses, conditionals, passive voice, wide vocabulary and avoid repeating the same words.

You need to find a good balance between showing your writing skills and feeling comfortable.

Using good language in your essay does not mean that you know some sophisticated sentences by heart that you are desperately trying to use in your essay. It is a bad practice, and we recommend that you should avoid doing that.

If your overall usage of language is consistent throughout the essay and then, all of a sudden, you use a very complex sentence, it looks unnatural. Furthermore, IELTS examiners consider this to be a learned expression and, as a result, it pushes your score downwards.

Write coherently and use cohesive words

Writing coherently will surely give your score an extra boost. Actually, "Coherence and Cohesion" is one of the four band criteria your writing will be evaluated on. Therefore, it is super useful to learn linking words along with IELTS essay vocabulary . You can use these resources all the time while studying.

After writing about 3 IELTS essays, many good phrases and linking words will glue to you. You will find out your favourite ways to start and end the essays, state viewpoints and add arguments.

As a result, the essay becomes easier to write, and you will be a lot quicker too. But do not memorise long phrases or sentences ; these samples are all listed just for inspiration. However, learning words for different topics is highly recommended! It will give you ideas and the ability to express yourself.

Get feedback on your IELTS essay and practice

Finally, it is important to get feedback on each practice essay you write. The key to improving your IELTS essay writing is to get your writing task reviewed by a qualified IELTS professional , so you can learn from feedback and improve your writing skills.

Writing evaluation gives you an idea of what level you are at and what band score your writing would likely get. You will learn about your weak areas, and you will receive tips and suggestions on how to improve them.

If you struggle and want to improve your writing skills, let IELTS experts help you . The last thing you want to happen is to discover your weaknesses on the exam day, especially if the result is unsatisfying for you. After all, taking the exam gives you nothing but a plain band score that carries absolutely no weight regarding feedback: you will not get to know your mistakes and why you failed.

So, instead of risking failure, consider using the IELTS writing correction service to be better prepared, achieve your desired result on the first try and ultimately become better at writing.

"I have 7+ years of IELTS teaching experience . I will correct your grammar and give suggestions for more appropriate word use. I will give you tips on how to answer the question in the way the IELTS examiners expect." — Claudia, IELTS teacher from the UK

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IELTS Discussion Essay Sample

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How Can I Improve My IELTS Writing Skills? Simple Tricks That Work

Getting the score you need in IELTS means performing your best across all four sections of the exam. This means understanding the format of the exam and implementing the right tips and tricks to help you succeed.

The IELTS exam consists of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Each stage has a certain amount of points, which must be added up to get the required score.

To get the required score, you need to know what the examiner is looking for in each section and do your best to meet those criteria. In the listening and reading sections, you need to show that you understand the main ideas of the passages and questions. The writing section requires you to demonstrate your ability to write a clear and concise essay. And in the speaking section, you need to demonstrate your speaking skills.

This piece will guide you to know how best you can improve your writing skills in the IELTS exams whether you are a fresh student or returning to retake the exam.

Details About The IELTS Writing Section

The IELTS Writing section is designed to assess your ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written English. This section has two tasks to complete and you have 60 minutes to complete both tasks.

Task 1 is a writing task in which you will be asked to describe a graph, table, chart, or diagram. You must write at least 150 words to complete this task.

Task 2 is an essay task asking you to write about a specific topic. You need to write at least 250 words to complete this task.

Both tasks require you to use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. Your ability to use these language skills effectively to communicate your ideas clearly and fluently will be assessed.

There are four key criteria IELTS uses in gauging your writing skills and it is important that you understand these criteria to help you achieve the best score in this section. There are four criteria that IELTS uses in gauging your writing skills. They are:

• grammatical range and accuracy,
• lexical resources,
• cohesion & coherence, and
• task achievement.

Proven And Effective Tricks And Tips

Proven and effective tricks and tips to improve your writing score.

Now that we have discussed the writing section and what it entails here are the tips you can implement to improve your writing score.

Use Your Time Wisely When During The IELTS Writing Exam

One of the best ways to score high in the IELTS writing section is to make use of your time wisely. This means planning your essay before you start writing and making sure you use your time wisely during the essay itself.

Here are some tips to make the most of your time in the IELTS Writing section:

• Read the question carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked.
• Make a quick outline of your essay before you start writing. This will keep you on track and make sure you cover all the points you need.
• Use your time wisely during the essay itself. Don’t spend too long on one section, and make sure you leave yourself enough time to proofread and edit your work.
• Practice timed essays before your exam so you are used to formatting

Ensure You Check For The Number Of Words You Are Required To Write

The IELTS writing section is a challenging part of the exam and one of the main things that can trip up students is not meeting the word count requirement. I need to write 150-250 words depending on the task given.

This may not seem like a big deal, but if you don't plan and structure your essay carefully, it can go over or under the character limit.

If you go over the word limit, your essay will be penalized. Likewise, if you don't write enough words, you will also lose marks. So how do you make sure you're achieving the right word count?

To start with, you want to comprehend the various kinds of assignments in the IELTS composing segment and the number of words they that require. Then, you can utilize a few techniques to help you plan and construction your paper.

Grasp The Undertaking And Read The Directions Cautiously

The IELTS test is a trial of your English level and the composing part is a significant piece of the test. To find success in the composing part, you should have the option to painstakingly comprehend and adhere to directions.

One of the main things to remember while composing is to underline or feature watchwords in your portrayal. This permits you to remain on subject and address the issues analysts are searching for.

In this way, when you plunk down to do the composing part of the IELTS test, make certain to peruse the directions cautiously and underline or feature the catchphrases. This will assist you with giving your all on the test and getting the score you need.

Take Time To Organise Your Ideas Logically

Another tip is to Carve out the opportunity To Arrange Your Thoughts Intelligently while endeavoring the composing segment of the IELTS exam preparation . Many students make the mistake of rushing through their essays without taking the time to organize their thoughts. This can lead to a disorganized and incoherent essay.

Taking the time to plan your essay before you start writing will help organize your thoughts and help your essay run smoothly. Start by brainstorming your ideas and then organise them into a logical order. Once you have a clear plan, you can start writing your essay. Remember to stay on topic and support your points with evidence. Taking the time to organize your ideas before you start writing will help you create a clear and well-organized essay.

Know Your Approach Each Task Requires A Specific Approach

When it comes to the IELTS Writing section, knowing your approach is essential to success. Each task on the IELTS Writing test requires a different approach in order to achieve a high score.

For example,

Task 1 of the IELTS Writing test is a report writing task, which requires a different approach than

Task 2 , is an essay writing task. Task 1 should focus on organizing your ideas and presenting them clearly and concisely. Task 2, on the other hand, should focus on developing your arguments and using supporting evidence to support your claims.

Knowing which approach to take for each task on the IELTS Writing test will help you maximize your score. Be sure to practice each type of task so that you are familiar with the different approaches and can use them.

Think About Style Either Formal, Semi-Formal Or Informal As It Determines Your Grammatical Structure

The writing section of IELTS can be daunting, especially when you don't know what tone to use in your essay. Formal, semi-formal, or informal? It's important to choose the right tone for your IELTS essay, as using the wrong one can result in a lower score.

Here's a quick tip to help you choose the right tone for your IELTS essay: think about your audience. Who will be reading your essay? If you're writing for an academic audience, then a formal tone is appropriate. However, if you are writing for a more general audience, a semi-formal or informal tone is more appropriate.

Remember, using the right tone in your IELTS essay will help you get a higher score. So choose wisely!

Twofold Really look at Your Work For Any Blunder

Another tip is to Check your work for any errors in grammar or spelling when attempting the writing section IELTS exam. Examples: capitalize, use correct spelling of words, use correct tenses for verbs, use active voice instead of passive voice, etc.

Writing Section Practice Question

The IELTS writing section is designed to test your ability to communicate effectively in written English. To succeed in this section, you should practice writing essays in a variety of genres.

Here are a few activities to kick you off:

1. You were approached to give a show on the advantages of concentrating abroad to a gathering of secondary school understudies. What focuses could you remember for your discussion?

2. you have been approached to compose an article for a sightseeing publication about the most ideal getaway spots in your country. what focuses could you remember for your article, 3. you have been approached to compose a report for your organization on the upsides and downsides of carrying on with work abroad. what are the focuses to remember for the report.

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How To Improve IELTS Writing Skills-Useful Tips

The IELTS exam is known for being challenging. According to an online source, the success rate for this test is just around 50%.

Among the different sections of the test, many students are more concerned with the writing part of the test. It is a timed portion and requires you to write top-quality work while staying within the time limit.

In this article, we are going to list some useful tips to help you ace this language test.

5 Useful Tips to Improve IELTS Writing Skills

1.     improve your comprehension skills.

While giving the IELTS test , you will need to read and understand the instructions in quite a few instances throughout the writing section.

One example of this is that you should be able to understand which type of topic you are given to write about. There are different types of topics that can be given to you, and you have to adopt a specific tone for each one of them.

A few types of essays that you might come across are given in the following.

• Opinion essays
• Discussion essays
• Comparison or Advantage/Disadvantage essays

All of these require different writing styles.

For example, if you are given an essay in which you are asked to give an opinion on a certain matter, you should stick to your views on that matter and not talk about counter-opinions. However, there might be cases when you are asked to write about the benefits and drawbacks of something. This type of essay needs to be vast and cover all the aspects of the topic and not just your opinion.

2.    Improve Your Vocabulary

A well-chosen word can make a huge difference. You need to surprise the checker by giving off the impression that your vocabulary is top-notch. There is a lot of study material that you can get online to improve your vocabulary.

Similarly, you can try practicing by regularly writing about random topics of your choice. Once you have a draft ready, you can look for words that are not very impressive and search for their synonyms by searching them online on Thesaurus (an online book that lists synonyms of words).

Another approach that could be used for learning synonyms is by taking assistance from online tools to paraphrase the content. You can paraphrase online your draft with these tools to get results in which words get replaced with their synonyms, and most of the time, these synonyms are a better pick as compared to the original word.

In this way, you can learn new words, and the next time you write about something, you can use these new words. Repeating this process until the test day is a good idea so that your collection of words keeps getting updated.

3.    Know the Correct Spellings of Words

Spelling mistakes are completely off the charts. You have to make sure that whatever you write in your test is spelled correctly. A spelling error can greatly impact the checker’s decision to give you a score.

If you evaluate any sample paper of an IELTS writing task, you will see that there is no spelling mistake of any sort. Every word would be written accurately.

So, how can you improve your spelling skills? Well, the simple answer is to practice as much as possible. And to be quite frank, this is actually the best approach there is to get your spelling right.

Now, you might be wondering how you can identify a spelling mistake while practicing. The simple solution is to use online grammar-checking tools. These tools automatically proofread your work, highlight grammatical errors in it, and provide the best suggestions to correct them.

4.     Learn How to Structure Sentences

Your sentences need to cover a wide range of sentence structures. A few types of sentences are explained in the following.

• Simple: A sentence that consists of only one independent clause.
• Compound: A sentence that has two independent clauses joined together with a coordinating conjunction such as and, so, but, etc.
• Complex: A sentence that has one independent clause and one or more respective dependent clauses.

Your writing task should be a mix of all these sentences, as this will indicate your grip on the grammar aspect of the language.

Still, it is suggested that the use of simple sentences should be minimized. However, make sure that you don’t jumble up your sentences so much that they become unreadable. You should use a semi-formal tone instead of highly complex sentences.

Here is an example that explains what we are talking about.

Don’t: “I have an opinion on this matter which is, to be honest, not very common as the vast majority might disagree.”

Do: “My opinion on the matter is rather unpopular as the vast majority might think otherwise.”

In the don’t section, the sentence used is overly complicated and is risky to use in an IELTS test. A better and rephrased version has been given in the do section.

Now that the instructions about the type of sentences to use in the IELTS writing portion are out of the way let’s talk about how you can learn to write these sentences.

During your preparation, set aside a specific time to learn about structuring sentences. First, you should get a little familiar with a few technical aspects, such as grammatical terms. After that, you can try reading books or online posts that interest you.

Reading will help you understand and write these sentences naturally without thinking about the technical details.

5.    Try to Write Concisely

Additional or unnecessary information will not be appreciated by your checker. The writing tasks of IELTS require you to be concise and to the point. Be straightforward in your sentences and use a tone that makes you sound sure about what you are writing.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t write extensive paragraphs. They can throw off the checker, and he might skip some parts of your work that were valuable to your point.

Segment your essay into distinct sections explaining all the different aspects of your topic. In this way, you give your work a nice flow that facilitates the reader.

IELTS writing is, without a doubt, a challenging section of the test, but it can be tackled if you follow the strategies explained above. The summary of these strategies is that you need to practice as much as possible, and while writing, you need to find a balance between complex and simple terms.

You cannot overcomplicate your writing, and at the same time, you can’t use overly simple sentences or words. Something in between these two extremes will give the best results, and you will be bound to get above 6 bands.

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Five essential writing skills for Academic Task 1

Home  »  IELTS academic task 1  »  Five essential writing skills for Academic Task 1

In this tutorial we look at:

• Essential language for academic task 1 : comparison, change, process, and topic specific vocabulary for the IELTS exam .
• Task response, identifying trends, overall ideas, maximums, minimums, patterns and changes. BIG TIP GROUPING IS ESSENTIAL AND LISTING IS ABYSMAL!

Transforming graph labels into grammatical sentences - key skill (explained below)

• Superlatives (explained in details below).
• Paraphrasing.

To compare data from a graph or table, it is necessary to create noun phrases by transforming the labels from the diagram (which will usually be single words, or in ungrammatical note-form) into full grammatical phrases which agree grammatically with the rest of your sentence.

For example, we see in the graph:

University Educated (18%)

This label needs to be transformed to fit into a grammatical sentence, e.g.:

The percentage of university educated people (18%) was almost equal to the percentage of non-university educated people (21%).

Hair colours in Acme Corp: Brown 21% Blonde 18% Black 12% Ginger 49%

The percentage of blonde workers (18%) was almost equal to the percentage of brown haired employees (21%).

Drinking Preferences in Eastern Europe 2015 Filtered 16% Un-filtered 14% Purified 40% Mineralised 30%

Again these labels need to be transformed to fit into a grammatical sentence, e.g.:

The percentage of Eastern Europeans who prefer un-filtered water (14%) was almost equal to the percentage of those who prefer filtered water.

Eating Preferences in Eastern Europe 2015 Paleo 16% Vegan 14% Carnivore 40% Vegetarian 30%

The percentage of vegans (14%) was almost equal to the percentage of those following a paleo diet (16%).

Bonus tip: Find a similarity

Superlatives - the basics (a quick recap)

If we use a superlative adjective (‘the most popular country for tourists’) then there is obviously only one (or one group) of the thing we are talking about. There is one country which is the most popular in the graph, and because it’s clear to the listener which one we mean, we usually use the:

In 2018, Germany saw the largest growth in exports.

The largest fraction of the pie chart is the foreign section, representing over 20% of the total.

The most significant fraction of the pie chart is the imports section, representing almost 90% of the total.

The most fluctuations can be seen in the year 1998, ranging from a low of 20 to a high of 100.

Although the overseas section is the largest, the smallest section belongs to the domestic sector at just 11%

Remember, we don’t use 'the' when there is a possessive:

Russia’s best year is clearly 2010 when exports rose to well over 300,000 tonnes.

Regarding cereals, wheat has its largest surge in popularity in the final quarter of 2018, reaching just over 500,000.

China’s most productive year was in 2010, when it almost reached 900,000.

Take a look at sample academic task 1 essays to help you with your IELTS preparation and our IELTS writing evaluation .

More Useful Task 1 Tutorials:

• How to describe a pie chart
• Bar Chart IELTS
• How to describe a map
• Describe an image 
• Describe a natural process
• How to describe a table
• How to paraphrase
• Line graph sample answer
• Marking criteria for Task 1
• Map vocabulary for IELTS Task 1
• How to describe a flow chart
• How to get band 9 for academic task 1
• How to describe a process diagram

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How can I improve IELTS Writing skills?

There are several ways to improve your ielts writing skills:.

• Understand the question: Make sure you understand the question and what is being asked of you. Read the question carefully and underline key words and phrases.
• Plan your essay: Take a few minutes to plan your essay before you start writing. This will help you to organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Practice writing: The more you practice writing, the better you will become. Write as often as you can, and ask someone to check your writing for errors and provide feedback.
• Learn from examples: Read sample essays and look for common features, such as the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Expand your vocabulary: Make an effort to learn new words and phrases. This will help you to express your ideas more clearly and effectively.
• Use proper grammar and sentence structure: Make sure your sentences are grammatically correct and well-structured. Use a variety of sentence structures to make your writing more interesting.
• Manage your time: During the exam, manage your time effectively so that you have enough time to complete all sections of the writing test.
• Get feedback: Ask someone to read your writing and give you feedback. This will help you to identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes.

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How To Use AI To Improve Your IELTS Writing?

IELTS is important for non-English speaking students if they want to go abroad, mainly for study purposes. If you are worried about passing your test then you have to prepare well for IELTS. For the preparation, you can get assistance from multiple sources and one of them is AI. 

Yes! you are right that it is not perfect, but you can use it to improve your IELTS writing . In this article, we will discuss how you can use AI to improve your IELTS writing in detail.

1. Understanding IELTS Writing Requirements

IELTS is a test that measures the language proficiency of a person. The IELTS writing task requires you to first understand the test pattern.

There are two types of tests,

• Academic for university applicants
• General Training for non-academic purposes like work or immigration. 

The test is based on various tasks including:

• Listening, 
• Writing, and 

Writing has two further tasks.

• The first task is to write a report on a given diagram, chart, or drawing information. This task is only for academic applicants. The non-academic candidates receive something other than this.
• The second task is essay writing and it’s for everyone.

In writing tasks, you can get maximum band scores if you are good at writing. You can use the AI assistants to understand the IELTS writing. 

Multiple AI-based tools can help you provide complete information about the writing guidelines. Such as ChatGPT can help you in providing complete information about writing tasks.

2. Helping In Writing Tasks 1 And 2

The main component of this test is the writing task, and it tests your writing skills. Search for guidance during preparation times is important to enhance your academic writing performance. For the search guidelines, you can use AI tools.

In task 1 you have to write an explanation briefly and to the point. You can use Chatbots to learn how to write reports more relevant to the given topic. There are different Chatbots available on the internet. Such as ChatGPT, and Gemini can help you by providing valuable information for report writing.

In writing task 2 you have to write in a more semi-formal style and academic concisely. You can make your writing more concise by using AI tools. Let us explain with an example of one of them named an AI Summarizer that summarizes your text efficiently while maintaining its true sense.

3. Grammar And Composition Improvement

AI-based grammar checker offers quick analysis and free suggestions to improve your write-up. For Example, Grammarly, this tools can check your spelling mistakes and assist you in understanding complex grammatical rules.

Using AI tools in this way not only improves your grammar and composition but can also increase your understanding of writing techniques. It is important for getting high scores in the IELTS examination.

4. Feedback On Your Write-Up From AI

AI chatbots provide instant and valuable feedback on your IELTS write-up for improvement. In case you have a written work, and no one is available for scrutiny then you can use AI Chatbots and AI tools for checking your mistakes. 

You can assess your progress for examination by using an AI-based tool’s scoring system. It is important in preparing for the IELTS writing section. 

Final Words:

If you want to achieve higher scores in the IELTS test then you have to use AI tools for its preparation. They can reduce your preparation difficulties and elevate your skills. 

Understanding writing requirements, correcting grammar, staying to the point, and getting feedback on your write-up by using AI chatbots like GPT and Gemini can improve your IELTS writing. I hope this article helps you to improve your writing skills.

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