IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is designed to assess a candidate’s language ability. Understanding the IELTS scoring system can help you plan your preparation and perform at your best on the test day. IELTS has four parts – writing, reading, listening, and speaking. You’ll receive an individual scoring for each part along with an overall score (which is the sum-average of all four parts). Candidates often cite that the writing section is the most challenging section of the test. We will tell you how you can improve your writing score on the IELTS test.
Two Tasks in IELTS Writing Test
Task one – If you’re taking IELTS General Training, you will have to write a letter. If you’re taking IELTS Academic test, you will have to compare and summarise data from a graph, table, chart, or diagram.
Task two – Task two is the same for both test types. You will be writing an essay
Your tasks will be assessed on four criteria:
- Task achievement (25%)
- Cohesion and coherence (25%)
- Lexical resource (25%)
- Grammatical range and accuracy (25%)
Now let’s check out how you can improve your writing score and perform at your best on IELTS test day.
1. Understand the task carefully
You will receive instructions for each task in your writing test. Read them carefully and even underline the important words. Understand what you need to cover, what you should include, the word count, and others. Plan the whole essay quickly: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion, and use the time wisely to finish the job.
2. Use your time wisely
You have 60 minutes to complete the entire writing section. Keep in mind that Task 2 is weighted heavier and worth more marks than Task 1, so you need to spend more energy on that. Plan how much time you should spend on task one and task two. It is recommended that you spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. Task 1 requires candidates to write 150 words and 250 words for task 2. Avoid spending time calculating the number of words. If you have an idea of how many words you typically write on one line, you can count the lines and estimate your word count.
3. Avoid informal or casual writing
We tend to use some words and phrases that come very naturally when speaking. It is not recommended to use informal words or phrases when writing. Avoid writing in the first or second person—I, me, you—unless you’re instructed to do so. Always use words in their full form. Use more accurate vocabulary to increase your writing score.
4. Don’t copy, paraphrase
If you copy too much of the question in your answer, it can lower your writing score. If you copy 4-5 word chunks from the question, the words will be crossed off and not counted as part of your essay. Paraphrase the sentences in your own words. You can use synonyms when required, but they should mean the same thing as the words in the question and be used in the proper context.
5. Practice more and more
The best way to improve your writing is to keep at it. Enroll in IELTS preparation courses and take as many practice tests as you can. At AOLCC, we offer IELTS courses that can help you improve your score on specific sections of the IELTS test.
We hope these IELTS writing tips will help you improve your score on your next test. Good luck!
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Get the convenience of booking an IELTS test near you. IELTS AOLCC facilitates the convenience of providing IELTS test booking centers in Kingston, Brampton, or Mississauga. Choose from one of these three locations in Canada at your convenience. It is recommended that you register in advance in one of our IELTS test booking centers in Kingston, Brampton, or Mississauga so that you do not miss out on the date you wish to take the IELTS test.