These Tips will Surely Get You High Bands in IELTS Writing Tests

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It is the world’s number one English language test, taken by over 1 million people every year from across the world.  IELTS tests are held in over 800 centers with tests up to four times a month. Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test which is a reliable indicator of a candidate’s ability to communicate in English.

There is no pass or fail in IELTS. Candidates are graded according to their performance, using scores from 1 to 9 for each part of the test- Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The result from the four parts then produce an overall band score.

·         SEE ALSO: What is IELTS and How IELTS Band Score System Works

Before your IELTS test you must familiarize yourself with its format. It is really difficult to pass the test without going through this phase.

There are two types of IELTS Test:

1. IELTS Academic:
2. IELTS General Training:

Both IELTS test are divided into four sections.

1. Listening
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Speaking

Listening and Speaking Test for both types of IELTS is same. However, Writing and Reading Test for Academic and General Training is different. Make sure what test you are going to take and prepare according to it.

Of the all the sections in IELTS, the test you should be most worried about is writing. Because when you are speaking you don’t have to very much care about the grammar. If you make any grammatical mistake, it is usually not even considered a mistake. Most of the native English speakers violate grammatical rules all the time while speaking. It is the same in listening and reading where you need not worry about grammar. But when it comes to writing, every little mistake is counted. You can’t even make any spelling mistake.

·         SEE ALSO: IELTS Test Dates in Pakistan

 In order to be able to write in English language, you must have proper knowledge of English grammar. And when you have to write in formal language then you have to be extra careful. You should learn complete English grammar including Tenses, Parts of Speech and all other grammatical details.

Following is one of videos I recorded for Ilm Ki Dunya teaching Tenses Types and their Identification. See this and all my videos here teaching Complete English Grammar on Ilm Ki Dunya (Click the link to see). Though I recorded them for Intermediate students but the grammar is same for everyone.

Writing part of IELTS is supposed to be in formal manner and also requires the skill of creative writing. In this article, I will sharing with you the best tips to pass the writing test of IELTS. Let’s first discuss the test format of the IELTS writing test.

IELTS Academic Writing Test Format

There are two tasks in this IELTS Academic Writing Test. You will have to understand each task and after you will have to answer in accordance with below defined details.

• SEE ALSO: How to Register for IELTS Test and IELTS Fees

Task 1 - you will be given a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarize or explain the information in your own words. You need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes.

Task 2 - you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. You need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes. Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style.

·                  Here is complete Detailed Information for Format of Academic Writing IELTS Test.

Academic Writing IELTS Sample:

·                  Academic Writing sample task 1

·                  Academic Writing sample task 1

·                  Academic Writing sample task 2

·                  Academic Writing sample task 2

IELTS General Training Writing

Topics to write on in IELTS General Training Test are of general interest. There are two tasks:

Task 1 - you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation.

Task 2 - you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

·                  Here is complete Detailed Information for Format of General Training Writing IELTS Test.

Academic Writing IELTS Sample:

·                  General Training Writing sample task 1

·                  General Training Writing sample task 2

·                  IELTS Writing Answer sheet task 1

·                  IELTS Writing Answer sheet task 2

Practice Self-Writing:

This test is not something that you can memorize and write it down exactly on the paper sheet. In IELTS writing test, we don’t know how they are going to test you. Only thing that we do know is the format of it that is explained above. In order to be able to pass this test you need to a few skill in English language.

First you must develop the skill of self-writing. In school, self-writing has always been a part of English syllabus however never very much worked on. Self-writing is the ability to generate your own wordings to explain a point. It is not as difficult as it sounds. You do know how to explain something, like way, by talking. Just write those words down and there you have self-writing.

Even if you have understood the point, it is recommended to practice it to as much as you can. You should take any argument from daily life and write it down in about 300 words. For example, if you are a girl, you can write about how to certain things with all precautions. If you are a boy, you can write on favorite game or sports explaining how to play and how fun it is to play.

• SEE ALSO: How to Prepare for IELTS Test

Learn Formal Writing:

There are two ways of communication whether verbal or written defined as Formal and Informal.

Informal is the casual talk like when you are speaking or writing to a friend or family member. You can use acronyms and slang words as you like.

Formal, is contrast, means a proper respecting way of talking or writing. For example do you know the applications you write to principal or boss, they are written in formal language because you can’t talk casually to your boss or the headmaster or school or college.

In IELTS writing test, you are supposed to use only formal language. You can’t write like you are addressing casually. You have to use proper words with proper grammar in a proper manner.

1.     Do not use first-person pronouns ("I," "me," "my," "we," "us," etc.)

2.    Avoid addressing readers as "you."

3.    Avoid the use of contractions.

4.    Avoid colloquialism and slang expressions.

5.    Avoid nonstandard diction.

6.    Avoid abbreviated versions of words.

7.    Avoid the overuse of short and simple sentences

Here you can read these Tips to Formal Writing in detail.

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Written By Usama Ahmed Awan  The Editor of StudyAbroad.pk, Usama is a BZU studied Software Engineer, now  a Teacher, Article Writer, Educational Counselor and Journalist. He has been  writing to assist students selecting the right career path.