1 IELTS Writing - Band 9 Essays A guide to writing high quality IELTS essays Includes 40 sample essays with notes Dr Bruce A Smart Founder Yasi Learning Web: www.com Email: brucesmart36@gmail.com Yasi Learning is a private organization and is not affiliated in any way with IELTS Australia and accordingly this book is not endorsed by IELTS Australia, its parent company or any other official IELTS organization. The views presented in this book are solely those of the author. 2 IELTS Writing - Band 9 Essays First edition January 2015 Copyright © Bruce A. Smart 2015 All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents 1. Table of Contents. About the Author. Essays, Language and Communication.
Strategies and Hints for IELTS Writing .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 14 Use passive forms .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 15 Use plural forms .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 15 Use simple past and present tenses .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 15 Misuse of Pronouns .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 19 Commonly Misused Words .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 20 Avoid Unnecessary Language - Fillers .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 23 Unnecessary Language - Duplication .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 24 Avoid Oral Language .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 24 Avoid “some/those” Before General Nouns. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 25 Use Precise Language.NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 26 Use Positive Language – Negatives of Positives rather than Negatives. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 27 Ensure that Subjects are Fully Described .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 27 Avoid Leaving Readers Hanging .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 29 Identifying the Topic .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 29 Is the Topic Binary or Graded?.NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 30 Pros and Cons.NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 31 Have Stakeholders Been Considered? .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 32 Dimensions – Time, Place and Culture. The Academic Task 1 Essay.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 35 Step 1 – Organising the information – thinking time. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 35 Step 2 – Writing the Introduction .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 35 Step 3 – Writing the Body. Academic Task 1 Sample Essays. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 37 General Task 1 Useful Language .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 37 Diagram – Tourist Island .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 43 Line Graph – Telephone Calls.NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 45 Bar Graph – School Qualifications .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 48 Bar and Line Graph – Employment .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 50 Bar Graph and Scatter Plot – Fast Food .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 52 Line Graph – Aging Population .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 55 Pie Chart – University Expenses .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 58 Bar Graph and Table – Population in Iran and Spain .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 61 Pie Chart And Bar Graph – Land Degradation.
The General Task 1 Letter. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 64 Step 1 – Organising the information – thinking time. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 64 Step 2 – Writing the Introduction .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 64 Step 3 – Writing the Explanation .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 65 Step 4 – Writing the Request .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 65 Step 5 – Concluding the Letter. General Task 1 Letter Examples.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 66 General Task 1 Useful Language. Letter – Hot Water. Letter – Coming for a Holiday. Letter – Car Accident.
Letter – Cheque Book. Letter – Philosophy or Computer Science. The Task 2 Essay. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 90 Step 1 – Analysing the question .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 90 Step 2 – Write a short plan .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 92 Step 3 – Write the Introduction .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 92 Step 4 – Write the Body .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 93 Step 5 – Write the Conclusion.
Topics and Sample Essays .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 95 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 98 6 Sample Essay – Higher Education Costs .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 103 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 106 Sample Essay – Editorial Choices .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 111 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 112 Sample Essay – Working From Home .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 117 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 119 Sample Essay – Extinction .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 122 Topic 5 – The Arts .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 123 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 124 Sample Essay – Art and Quality of Life.NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 127 Topic 6 – Government and Health .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 128 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 129 Sample Essay – Health Care Providers .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 133 Topic 7 – Science and Technology .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 134 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 135 Sample Essay – Mobile Phones .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 139 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 141 Sample Essay – Mandatory Sentencing .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 145 Topic 9 – Women and Families .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 147 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 148 Sample Essay – University Quotas .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 152 General Topic Information .NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN 153 Sample Essay – Tourist Behaviour. Essay – Gap Years. Essay – Artistic Freedom. Essay – Moral Teaching for Children.
Essay – Purpose of Universities. Essay – Financial Management for Children. Essay Topic – Advertising. Essay Topic – Rewards or Discipline?.
Essay Topic – Developing Countries. About the Author Bruce Smart holds a PhD and a Graduate Diploma in Modern Languages from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He is fluent in Chinese and has successfully passed HSK5, the Chinese equivalent of IELTS. He is the founder of Yasi Learning, which is based in Melbourne, Australia and is also Director of Studies at Propel Academics in Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
He currently trains IELTS teachers, writes courses and teaches IELTS to students of all cultural backgrounds. His main focus is teaching writing and speaking to students. He is also an experienced teacher of TOEFL, SAT and thesis writing. In addition, he teaches native speakers essay writing.
Introduction There are many forums providing sample essays for IELTS academic writing Task 1 and Task 2 essays. The majority of these provide samples that are written to a moderate standard (typically IELTS Band 5-7 standard) and in many ways are unrepresentative of typical essays that students produce in exams because they contain very few grammatical errors for essays of this standard. In addition, their use is limited by often not being written in an academic style and almost always there is little explanation of the choices made by the writer or the limitations of the response. Furthermore, these samples are different in style to what would be produced by an educated native speaker because of the extensive use of “fillers” (unnecessary language that is typically used in spoken language to give the speaker thinking time) that serve to make essays indirect.
This book is an attempt to redress the weakness of these essays by providing 40 high quality essays (10 Academic Task 1, 10 General Task 1 and 20 Task 2 essays) that are written by an educated native speaker. Typically when IELTS students are shown these essays they are surprised by the directness and simplicity of the language. The essays provided are all of IELTS band 9 standard; however, the intention is not necessarily to allow students to reach that standard but to provide a pathway to write better quality essays that are of an academic standard and style. An important part of each essay is the accompanying notes that explain the choices made by the writer.
It is also intended that this book, although directed at IELTS students, has a focus beyond the IELTS exam and provides students with writing skills that can also be used in study and in the workplace. The first part of the book contains a section on useful strategies and common mistakes. Within the section there are parts outlining common grammatical and vocabulary problems as well methods for generating ideas. A section on Academic Task 1 essays that outlines the general approach that students should adopt when writing a Task 1 Academic essay is included and is followed by 10 examples of Academic Task 1 essays.
Notes that describe the choices made by the author accompany each essay. An equivalent section is also provided for General Task 1 essays and includes general approach, structure and 10 sample essays. The sections on Task 2 responses include a section on essay structure followed by examples. The examples section is divided into 10 general topics (e.
Education, Media, etc.) and the ideas surrounding each topic are described in 11 detail and important vocabulary is provided. A sample essay is provided for each topic and supplemented with commentary and key vocabulary. The final section provides a further 10 Task 2 essays with notes and key vocabulary. Essays, Language and Communication It is critical that IELTS students understand the purpose of writing because this will give students an idea of how they should be constructing essays.
Simply, the purpose of writing is to communicate information, and language is the mechanism by which that information is communicated. This means that communication is the goal, not language. It also suggests that content is extremely important because an essay that has few ideas has communicated little. Many students focus almost exclusively on grammar and vocabulary and fail to consider the primary purpose of their writing.
They aim to use complex vocabulary and grammatical structures when they are not required which leads to non-standard use of language, lower quality communication and an increased number of errors. The primary focus of students should be to communicate in a clear and concise fashion. A quality essay’s primary feature is that good ideas are well presented. An IELTS examiner will spend a very short period of time on each essay and read that essay once only.
The largest risk for any IELTS student is that the examiner becomes confused about meaning or the direction of the essay. If this occurs, the writer is unlikely to score Band 7 or above, irrespective of the quality of the language used. Similarly, an essay that the examiner can read through once and be clear on meaning and direction of the essay will usually score Band 7, even if there are many grammatical and vocabulary mistakes. Strategies and Hints for IELTS Writing The purpose of this section is to help students develop strategies to assist their writing and includes common mistakes that students make.
It is divided into three parts, Grammar, Vocabulary and Ideas Generation Strategies. The list of common grammatical and vocabulary errors is not intended to be comprehensive however it describes many common areas of weakness. Students should pay attention to each of these areas because they are likely to be able to identify weaknesses and reduce the number of errors in their writing. A section on techniques for generating ideas is also included because communicating good ideas effectively is the key aim of writing.
Many students find it difficult to generate ideas for Task 2 responses and for this reason this book includes two critical parts for improving ideas. The first, in this section, is devoted to strategies that students can use to generate further ideas. However since ideas are often culture based, the Task 2 section provides a summary of common IELTS topics including how educated Western people think about each of these topics. Grammar Hints Grammar is the conventions of presenting language and is an aid to communication.
Grammar is one of the tools of language but is not the purpose, which is to communicate well. The aim of all IELTS students should be to use the conventions of the language that are used by native speakers. Native speakers in all languages express ideas in the simplest way possible and students should do the same. Keeping language as simple as possible aids communication and helps avoid confusion.
Using unnecessarily complex grammar can confuse native speakers because it is not standard language. This is particularly true if the vocabulary used is not precise. If a student confuses the examiner, it will have a significant impact on their score. Tip: Keep grammatical structures as simple as possible 14 Use passive forms In formal writing such as an IELTS examination it is almost always best to use passive forms.
The over use of first person makes essays seem informal and is a style that is most commonly adopted by children. It is acceptable to use the first person, but it should be understood that using the first person is a literary device designed to draw the reader closer to the writer. If first person is used, it should be used rarely. For example: The environment is very important to us because it provides many of the things that we need.