IELTS Write Right IELTS FAQs & Writing Band Descriptors 1 Frequently Asked Questions 1. What do I have to write about in the IELTS writing section? All IELTS candidates must write two short essays: Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2. If you wish to study abroad you must complete the IELTS Academic Module, in which you will be required to write a 150-word essay describing a graph, table or diagram (Task 1) together with a 250-word essay expressing your opinion on a set topic (Task 2). If, on the other hand, you wish to migrate to an English-speaking country, you must complete the General Training Module.
This involves writing a 150-word letter (T1) along with a 250- word essay similar to that completed by Academic Module candidates (T2). A total of one hour is allowed for the completion of both writing tasks. Candidates are encouraged to spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on T2. In order to achieve a high score, it is important that both tasks be answered well.
How does the examiner decide what band score to give me? In IELTS writing the lowest band score is 1 and the highest band score is 9. Most candidates can expect to get a score of between 4 and 7. In marking your writing, the examiner will firstly check to see whether or not you have answered the question – if you are asked to write 250 words about air pollution in cities, you should not write 150 words about side issues such as traffic problems. The examiner will then check whether or not your essay is cohesive and coherent – your ideas, sentences and paragraphs must be logically organized and linked.
He/she will also assess your grammar – you must use a variety of different grammatical forms and use them accurately. Finally, the examiner will assess your vocabulary – you must use a wide range of vocabulary and ensure that it is appropriate to the task set. In most cases, you will be expected to use formal, academic English. What happens if my essay isn’t long enough? Length is certainly important; you should aim for 150 words in T1 and 250 words in T2.
However, this should not be your main focus. It is still possible to attain a high score if you write a little less than this. Your grammar, vocabulary and spelling, as well as the 2 way you organize your ideas, are more important. 230 well-written and logically organized words will get a better score than 330 poorly written words 4.
What should I do if I don’t have any ideas about the topic? One problem faced by many candidates is lack of ideas, especially in Writing T2. It is very difficult indeed to write an essay about a topic you have never considered before. While most IELTS text books will tell you that no specialized knowledge is required to complete the IELTS writing section, many Writing T2 questions are underpinned by peculiarly western cultural concepts. It is, therefore, beneficial for candidates from Asian countries to have a broad knowledge of western social issues before taking IELTS.
One thing that can help you to gain a deeper understanding of relevant issues is to research information related to known IELTS writing topics online. You might also try reading feature articles, editorials or letters to the editor in western newspapers and magazines. What happens if the examiner doesn’t agree with me? You will not get a lower score if the examiner disagrees with you. IELTS is a test of your English not your opinion, so do not be scared to say what you think.
Make sure you give reasons for your opinion, though. For example, you might write, “I think we should discourage people from driving cars because cars cause pollution”. Also, make sure your reasons are logical. Many candidates write meaningless statements like, “I think we should discourage people from driving cars because too many people drive cars”.
Finally, remember that in western countries, disagreeing with people is acceptable and, in fact, often expected. Should I try to memorise lots of model answers? No! Memorising vocabulary and sentence structures is certainly important.