The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standard exam taken by international students to test their proficiency in English. The IELTS exam is specifically developed to determine the level of English fluency of non-native speakers. Several educational institutions and workplaces around the globe have widely recognised the exam as proof of English proficiency.
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The IELTS exam pattern consists of four sections that evaluate your English fluency through fundamental language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Here’s everything you should know about IELTS writing tips and tricks.
Table of Contents
- IELTS writing tips: An overview
- IELTS writing section: Key highlights
- IELTS writing tips and tricks for Academic test
- IELTS writing tips and tricks for General training test
- Frequently asked questions
IELTS writing tips: An overview
| IELTS full form | International English Language Testing System |
| No. of tasks in the IELTS writing section | 2 |
| Minimum word limit | 150-250 |
| Total band score | 9 |
| Duration (in minutes) | 60 |
| Is the syllabus the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training? | No |
IELTS writing section: Key highlights
- The IELTS writing section evaluates your ability to understand the information provided and your writing skills.
- The section has two descriptive tasks lasting 60 minutes. You are required to complete two essays between 150-250 words each.
- While the format for the writing section is the same, the IELTS syllabus for the Academic and General Training versions differ.
- You should work on improving your grammar, vocabulary, writing, and your ability to interpret details from any data.
Difference between IELTS Academic and General Training writing tasks
| Task | Duration | IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
| Task 1 | 20 minutes | A data interpretation task, where you should write an essay according to the data provided.
Common question format includes describing the data, explaining a certain stage in the process, and others. | A letter-writing task where you are required to explain an issue or request specific data.
The task would ask you to write the letter in a personal, semi-formal, or formal writing style. |
| Task 2 | 40 minutes | An interpretation essay, where you should deliver your point of view or opinion on a problem.
You should use relatable examples to support your answer. Make sure to keep the tone formal and maintain an academic style. | A descriptive essay where you must provide your point of view for an argument or a problem.
You can add a personal touch to the essay. |
Also read: IELTS writing tips
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IELTS writing tips and tricks for Academic test
- No. of tasks: 2
- Total duration: 60 minutes
IELTS Academic writing task 1: An overview
The IELTS Academic test is taken by international students who wish to pursue their education abroad. The tasks will be based on academic issues and scenarios, and you should provide the answer in a formal or neutral style.
The IELTS writing task 1 requires you to analyse and interpret the data provided in charts, tables, diagrams, processes, or graphs. You should gather the important information and draft an essay that satisfies the IELTS scoring criteria.
The IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 analyses your ability to analyse and identify key information from various forms of data and provide an academic-style essay.
Also Read: Complex Sentence for IELTS
IELTS writing task 1 tips: Academic test
- Understand the aim and concept of task 1. Remember that the task includes analysing data in various forms and drafting an essay with the acquired details.
- It is also essential to understand the scoring criteria for the task. Your essay will be marked based on task achievement (25%), vocabulary (25%), coherence and cohesion (25%), and grammatical range and accuracy (25%).
- Work on writing the introduction paragraph. The introduction gives the examiner the first impression of your essay, so work on providing the finest introduction.
- Aim to provide good quality content and also try to extend beyond the minimum word limit for high scores.
- Practice writing essays for all types of data you can expect in the exam. That is, practice acquiring data from all forms (charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and others) and writing an essay.
- Work on improving your writing skills to meet the scoring requirements. Improve your grammar and vocabulary by reading, writing, and other.
IELTS Academic writing task 2: An overview
Writing task 2 in IELTS Academic requires you to write an essay on an academic topic. You should provide a discursive response on the issue in an academic or semi-formal style. The word limit of the task is at least 250 words, and the duration is 40 minutes.
Writing task 2 is worth double the score compared to task 1, so make sure to provide an essay that satisfies the IELTS score requirements. The question focuses on determining your ability to present relevant information, offer a well-organised argument, and accuracy of the details and examples shown to prove your point.
IELTS writing task 2 tips: Academic test
- Understand the concept of the task before practicing. It is important to learn about the overall format of the question before working on it.
- The IELTS writing task 2 in the Academic test is evaluated based on four factors: task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. It is necessary to provide a response that satisfies the requirements of all these criteria.
- Focus on providing quality content for the essay. It is crucial to add examples to prove your point in the essay. So practice your quality in content and ensure you improve your skills to obtain the maximum score.
- Improve your grammar and vocabulary while practicing to provide error-free content.
Also read: IELTS tricks and tips
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IELTS writing tips and tricks for General training test
- No. of tasks: 2
- Total duration: 60 minutes
IELTS General Training writing task 1: An overview
The IELTS writing task 1 in the General Training version presents you with a situation where you should provide your personal response in the form of a letter. You should determine if the letter requires an informal, formal, or semi-formal tone based on the issue the task poses.
The task provides the necessary information, like the nature of the situation and important details they should include in the letter. You should analyse the issue and provide the most appropriate response with general facts, needs, preferences, dislikes, complaints, and others.
Some common issues include writing a letter to the university administration requesting a change of rooms on campus, a letter to a local newspaper suggesting ideas for renovation in a community centre, a letter to the apartment in charge about problems with the air conditioning, and others.
IELTS writing task 1 tips: General Training test
- It is important to determine the right style before writing the letter and maintain the tone throughout.
- The scoring criteria for the task include task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Practice your writing and check if it satisfies the task-scoring requirements.
- Your task is evaluated based on the structure, the style used, the opening and end of the letter, and the effective use of language.
- The duration of the task is 20 minutes. Time management is crucial so that you have enough time to write and check for any errors.
IELTS General Training writing task 2: An overview
Writing task 2 in IELTS General Training consists of an essay on a social issue. You should provide a discursive response on the issue in an academic or semi-formal style. The word limit of the task is at least 250 words, and the duration is 40 minutes.
Writing task 2 is worth double the score compared to task 1, so make sure to provide an essay that satisfies the IELTS score requirements. The question focuses on determining your ability to present relevant information, provide a well-organised argument, and accuracy of the details and examples shown to prove your point.
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IELTS writing task 2 tips: General Training
- Make sure to understand the concept and format of the task before practicing.
- The IELTS writing task 2 in the General Training is evaluated based on four factors: task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Practice your writing to satisfy the requirements of all these criteria.
- Task 2 is worth double the score compared to task 1. So focus on providing quality content for the essay.
- Add examples to prove your point in the essay, and work on your grammar and vocabulary to provide error-free content.
Also read: IELTS Band Score Calculator
Frequently asked questions
How to divide IELTS writing score?
IELTS has not disclosed its score calculation method for the skills assessed. But it is known that IELTS writing task 2’s score has twice the weightage as task 1 and contributes to 66% of your total band score in the section.
On what basis is IELTS writing marked?
The IELTS writing section is marked based on four factors:
- Task achievement/task response
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
How can I improve my writing in IELTS?
You can improve your writing in the IELTS exam by following these tips:
- Understand the concept and format of the task.
- Work on an outline before drafting your answer.
- Maintain the same writing style throughout the task.
- Keep your language simple and understandable.
- Practice time management and allot some time to proofread your work.
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What is the IELTS syllabus for the writing section?
The IELTS writing syllabus for the Academic and General Training versions is.
IELTS Academic Writing:
Task 1 - A data interpretation task, where you should write an essay according to the data provided.
Task 2 - An interpretation essay, where you should deliver your point of view or opinion on a problem.
IELTS General Training:
Task 1 - A letter-writing task where you are required to explain an issue or request specific data.
Task 2 - A descriptive essay where you must provide your point of view for an argument or a problem.
