IELTS Writing Tips for a Good Band Score

IELTS writing test assesses your ability to respond to a given task with proper grammatical structure, coherence, and a wide vocabulary range. Understanding and responding to a task and presenting clear ideas are essential to Getting the Desired IELTS Score. IELTS writing has two tasks, and you will have 60 minutes to complete the sections. The test duration is the same for IELTS General and IELTS Academic. However, task -1 is different for IELTS Writing for academic purposes.

Candidates must prepare well for this section to contribute to their overall IELTS score. In this article, we will briefly discuss the IELTS writing format, and we will also give some valuable Tips and Strategies to Boost Your IELTS Score.

IELTS General -Writing Test

Task-1 in General Training of IELTS writing has a letter. You will be given a situation, and you have to write about 150 words on the given topic. You must complete the task in 20 minutes; otherwise, you will have less time to spend on task -2, worth more marks than task 1. The topic given may ask you to explain a scenario, express your needs, and request assistance for a problem. The letter can be formal, informal, or semi-formal. You will be given clues on what to include in your letter. You must avoid writing bullet points and using your ideas to respond to the task.

Task -2 in the IELTS General is an essay with more band score weightage. You must write at least 250 words in this task, and you will have 40 minutes to finish this task. Advantage-Disadvantages, problem-solution, expressing your views, or giving an opinion are the most common questions asked in this task. You must try to understand the topic and present relevant ideas to support your opinion. Using formal language is recommended while writing the essay.

IELTS Academic -Writing Test

Unlike task -1 in the IELTS General, IELTS Academic has to summarise the information presented in a graph, chart, table, or diagram. Based on the information presented in the task, you need to understand and express the data in a written form. You must use formal or academic language to describe the information given on the topic.

Task 2 For IELTS Academic is the same as IELTS General Training, and it carries twice the weightage compared to Task -1.

Now that you know the basic structure of the IELTS writing test, let’s learn some strategies to Improve Your Band Score in IELTS Writing.

1. Read the Question Carefully and Understand the Task:

The first and most crucial step in IELTS Writing is understanding the meaning of the question. Unless you get the essence of the question, you can not present the ideas. You also pay attention to all the details in the question and make successful use of this information in your writing for a good score.

2. Brainstorm for Ideas:

Think of relevant ideas that come to your mind when you read the question. You do not need to overthink and spend too much of your time. Pen down the logical ideas and make the most sense for the given topic.

3. Learn About the Essay Writing Structure:

Organise your essay using different paragraphs. An ideal essay structure should have an introduction, two or three body paragraphs, and a conclusion that strongly represents your views on a situation.

4. Less Words Means Less Score:

Do not write less than 150 words in your letter and less than 250 words for an essay. For a computer-based test, candidates can check the word count on the screen. However, for a paper-based test, candidates need to predict the word count independently. If you write less than the given word limit, it will affect your band score.

5. Use Formal Language:

Informal expressions and shorthand texts are restricted in the IELTS Writing test Unless you are asked to write an informal letter to a friend. Inappropriate language may offend the examiner, and you might lose marks. Hence, it is best practice to use formal language during your practice sessions.

6. Use a Wide Range of Vocabulary and Sentences:

Proper vocabulary that fits the essay is essential in deciding the band score. Repeated use of average words will not Help You Score high in IELTS Writing. Also, incorporate a variety of sentences in your essay. An ideal essay has a perfect blend of simple, complex, compound, and conditional sentences with a proper structure.

7. Make Sure You Use Correct Grammar:

Incorrect grammar or inappropriate use of tenses in your essay will increase the chances of a low band score. Practice writing correct grammatical sentences during your IELTS Preparation.

8. Keep Track of Time:

60 minutes is never enough for the writing task for many candidates. Most of them fail to complete the tasks on time, resulting in a low band score.

Hence, it is quite essential to check the time at regular intervals.

If you find a problematic question, leave it and move on to the next one. At the end of the test, you can write the answer that you left.

9. Pre-Prepared and Irrelevant Ideas Won’t Help:

Writing Long answers that do not connect with the task is pointless. It would help to focus on what is asked and how to use your ideas to express your views to the examiner. An effective way to write your ideas is to imagine the situation and write what you believe in.

10. Check the Answers and Attempt all the Questions:

Spare a few minutes in the end to check your answers. As you read your answer, you will realise that you’ve made mistakes in your writing. Correct these errors as soon as you find them. While checking your answers for errors, ensure that your response is readable by others.

IELTS Writing test is an essential component in IELTS General and IELTS Academic Training. One must enhance their writing skills to ace the IELTS exam. If you follow the above-mentioned tips in your exam, you can Achieve the Desired Band Score that will assist you in your dream abroad journey.