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IELTS WRITING TASK-2

Introduction to Writing Test

Writing module has two activities, Writing Task-1 & Writing Task-2.
You'll be given 60 minutes to complete both tasks. Response to both
writing task should be formal.
► You should spend 20 minutes on Task-1 and 40 minutes on
Task-2.
► The word limit for Task 1 is minimum 150 words. And limit for
Task-2 is minimum 250 words.
► Remember, Task-2 contributes twice as much as Task-1 to the
writing score.
► There are four marking criteria for each tasks.

Marking Criteria for Writing Task-2

Criteria (100%) Meaning

Task Response (25%) How effectively you address the
given prompt. It involves staying
on topic, providing a complete
and clear response, supporting
your ideas, and maintaining
consistency throughout your
writing.
Coherence & Cohesion (25%) Making your ideas flow logically
and smoothly by using proper
words and phrases.
Lexical Resource (25%) Having a diverse vocabulary and
using them accurately and
effectively.
Grammatical Range and Using a variety of sentence
Accuracy (25%) structure while using correct
grammar in those structure.

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Task-2 Question Type

In Task-2 you will be asked to write a formal essay in response to a

point of view, argument or problem. The issues raised are of general
interest to, suitable for and easily understood by test takers
entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking
professional registration.
Remember, Writing task 2 can be less formal in style with a
more personal response for General Training IELTS test
takers.
Here are some of the question types that makes a frequent
appearance:

► Opinion Essay
 Agree/Disagree
 …... outweigh
 Is this Positive or Negative Development
 Are there more Advantages than Disadvantages
► Discuss Essay
► Advantages/Disadvantages
► Problem/Solutions
► Direct Questions( Sometimes there might be two part
questions)

Task-2 Body Structure

The structure is very important. You should organize the information in

logical order and put it into different paragraphs. This is important
because, by doing so, you’ll be showing the examiner that you understand
the Task Response criteria by creating logical flow. You’ll need to write at
least 250 words, so dividing them properly is a smart idea.
Introduction
► General Statement
► Background Statement (paraphrasing the Question)
► Thesis Statement (Your opinion & reason, If asked)

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Easy Body 1
► Topic Sentence/Main supporting sentence.
► Secondary supporting sentences.
► Example
► Concluding line of this topic.

Essay Body 2
► Main supporting sentence/ Topic Sentence.
► Secondary supporting sentences/General ideas.
► Example
► Concluding line of this topic.

Conclusion
► Summary of views and re-statement of position.
► Final assessment with concluding line.

You can write 2-4 easy body paragraphs. Structure and

paragraphs are an essential part of the Writing Task-2

In depth Explanations

Before writing you must think about organizing your ideas. To

organize your writing follow this steps;

1. Read the given question/statement.

2. Determine the task & the topic.

3. Write a well organized main statement.

4. Add general ideas.

5. Add supporting details.

1. Introduction

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1) First line : Begin with a general statement regarding

the key topic.

2) Second line : Rephrase the question with your own

words or their synonyms.

3) The last sentence: Include the main statement. A

main statement is the your main idea. You need to give

a main statement to give a description and to support

your opinion.

To sum it up, introduction tells us the writer’s opinion but

not much about it.

2. Essay Bodies
1. Topic Sentence : A topic sentence tells us what each

paragraph is about. A topic sentence can come at the

start of the paragraph, or at the end, or at the middle.

It can summarize a paragraph or introduce it.

2. Supporting Sentences : Add 2/3 general ideas that

support the main topic. A topic sentence with

additional general ideas gives the essay clarity.

3. Example : Add general example to support your main

idea.

3. Conclusion:
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IELTS WRITING TASK-2
The conclusion briefly supports your main idea. The best

way to write conclusion is it to

include,”restatement ,generalization, prediction, and

recommendation.”

1. Restatement : In your conclusion, you can restate

your topic sentence.

2. Generalization : Use all the information you

provided and make a generalization about it.

3. Predictions : Summarize the information in your

essay and use it to suggest what might happen next.

4. Recommendation : Suggest to do something, or

take initiatives based on the information you

presented in your essay.

In essence, the conclusion should reaffirm your

main point, discuss broader implications, make

predictions about the future, and propose

recommendations for action.

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Tips for Task-2

 Read the question carefully and understand

what you need to write.
 Divide your time. Use 7 minutes to plan, 30 minutes to write
and 3 minutes to revise.
 Identify the main keywords of question.
 Brainstorm ideas and make a plan before you start writing to
organize your thoughts well.
 Use real examples, numbers, or general experiences to
prove your points. But do not give examples of your
experience, city/country, job, family/friends.
 Address all parts of the task
 Focus each paragraph on a single main idea with a clear
topic sentence and supporting details.
 If the essay asks opinion then, talk about both sides of the
issue and explain why your opinion is strong.
 Use formal language: no short forms, and use appropriate
words and sentences.
 In conclusion you must repeat your main points, say why the
topic is important, guess what might happen next, and

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suggest what people should do about it.
 Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
 Write in complete sentences.
 Use your own words; Do not copy the exact words from the
question. Use passive voice, complex/compound sentence
structures and synonyms.
 Explain your own opinion.
 Doing lots of practice essays with a time limit will help you
get better and more used to different essay questions.

Below are some of the most common essay topics

for the IELTS Writing Task 2 exam.

 Education
 Globalization
 Equality
 Environment
 Science & Technology
 Travel and transport
 Health
 Law and order
 Language and culture
 Government and society
 Sports and pastimes

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 Friends and Family
 Relationship
 TV, Music & Media
 Art
 Jobs & Employment

Expressing personal opinions:

 In my opinion, …
 Personally, I think that …
 It seems to me that ...
 I must admit that …
 I believe/suppose that ...
 I cannot deny that …
 As I see it, …
 As far as I'm concerned, …
 I would argue that …
 I'd like to point out that …
 In my experience, …

Very strong opinions:

 I am sure that …
 I am convinced that ...
 I am certain that ...

Proving your arguments

 to attest, ...
 to prove, ...
 this (fact) is attested/proven by ...
 this (fact) is evidenced by ...
 this (fact) is testified by ...
 this (fact) is endorsed/supported by...

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 this (evidence) establishes that ...

Expressing general point of view:

 It is (generally) claimed that …
 It is (generally) said that …
 It is (generally) thought that ...
 It is (generally) considered that ...
 A common opinion is that ...
 A popular belief is that ...

Outlining facts
 The fact is that …
 It is obvious that …
 It is clear that …
 There is no doubt that …
 This proves that …

Generalizing
 Generally speaking, ...
 On the whole, ...
 Typically, ...
 By and large ...

Giving examples
 For example, ...
 For instance, ...
 A good illustration of this is ...
 Evidence for this is provided by ...
 We can see this when ...

Concluding
 To summarise, ...
 In conclusion, ...
 Overall, ...
 On balance, ...

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 Taking everything into consideration, …

Linking Structures & Cohesive Devices

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Some more contextual vocabulary for Task-2

Listing Giving examples Generalising

firstly, secondly, thirdly for example in general
first, furthermore, finally for instance generally
tocomparison
begin, to conclude contrast
as follows: addition
on the wholeconsequence
almost
next the same different
that isfrom in addition
as a rule as a result
as
Reinforcement in this case for the most part
in common with
also
differ from
namely
moreoverin most cases
thus
explanation reason overview condition
correspond to
furthermore even so words
in other besides
usually so
in other words since in conclusion if
in the same way
moreover in contrast to furthermore
Result/consequence Highlighting therefore
such as as/so in summary unless
what just as
is more in opposition
so alsoin particular consequently
to clarify cause
to to sum up whether
in addition therefore particularly
likealike
like, because
less thanof astowell
conclude
as it Provided that
follows that
as a
besides
forresemble
instance due to especially
to recap for
more than what’s
result/consequence more thereby
forsimilar
aboveexample
all to owing to
accordingly
otherwise in short
mainly
additionally So that
eventually
as well
that(as)
is consequently
theslower
reason why Reformulation whether
brief
similarly than likewise then
into
the same way
illustrate because
in other of this/thatrun in
words other words Depending on
to be parallel to still/yet anddown in that case
not only ... but also thus rather
namely leads to synopsis
resemblance
Similarity however
hence moreover admittedly
to put it more simply
likewise
equally nevertheless and then
for this/that reason
Expressing an
alternative
at the same time although/even too
likewise so that alternatively
as though
similarly in that case
also unlike not only,rather
but
under these alsoon the other hand
correspondingly
circumstances
in the same way Deduction the alternative is
another possibility would
Transition to new point then
be
now, in other words Contrast
as far as x is concerned in that case instead
with regard/reference to otherwise conversely
as for ... this implies that ... on the contrary
it follows that if so/not in contrast
turning to Stating the obvious in comparison
Concession (smth
Summary obviously
unexpected)
in conclusion clearly even though
to conclude naturally however
in brief of course however much
to summarise as can be expected nevertheless
overall surely still
therefore after all IELTSyet
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IELTS WRITING TASK-2
time degree cause and effect

before most important as

after first thus

since primarily for this reason

next principally as a result

then above all because

soon in the first place since

at the same time less important due to

while second therefore

meanwhile in the place consequently

simultaneously to a lesser degree so that

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Things That Could Lower Your

IELTS Score

1. Vocabulary that should be avoided

Here's a list of some vocabulary that you should avoid and a list of
words that you can use instead.

Avoid Use instead

In the nutshell In conclusion / To conclude
A couple of several
Kind of/ sort of somewhat / to some degree
Lots of/ A lot of Many / much
You/ Your One / Passive voice
A phone a telephone
A photo a photograph
Info information
A uni university
So on / etc. / and so forth A, B, and C
At the end of the day In conclusion / To conclude
Once in a blue moon hardly ever, rarely
Since the dawn of time for centuries, throughout history
A big deal important; an important step.
Get obtain / receive
Give provide / present
So / very extremely
Show demonstrate / illustrate / reveal
Bad poor / negative
Big large / sizable
Find out discover
Think about consider
Look at examine
Point out Indicate

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Guys / Fellows / Dudes people / individuals / everyone
Stuff / Things Aspects / Issues / Ways
So Therefore
And Additionally
But However
Also Moreover

2. Some Phrases To Avoid

Many IELTS students think they have to show off to the examiner
with set phrases. Examiners are trained to spot these and they will
lower your score.These are easy to spot because the rest of the
essay may have issues with faulty wording and grammar and
suddenly there is a 'native speaker' academic type phrase that just
seems out of place.

For Examples,

 There are a plethora of reasons……………………. , Chief among

those are……………. .
 I will give reasons and argue my opinion in the following essay.
 This essay will discuss both sides and give an opinion at the end.
 With the development of science and modern technology………
 To my mind, It is an undeniable fact that….
 One outstanding reason to support my view is that…..
 From my perspective
 ….…….is, without doubt, the foremost reason for…….
 In the modern era,……/ Since the dawn of time……….
 This is a highly controversial issue.
 The crux of the discussion is …….
 Contrary to popular belief, I argue that
 For example, a recent study from the IMF showed that…./
Research indicates that
 I will argue both points and present my opinion.
 I will illustrate my view in more detail in the following essay.

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 The primary factor which contributes to this phenomenon……
 It can broaden a person’s horizons.
 There are good grounds to argue in favour of …../ It cannot be
denied that …….
 In a nutshell, ……
 ….. the aforementioned arguments offer insights into
vindications for the impression that ……
 This is a highly controversial issue that needs to be tackled
promptly
 To elucidate my point further…..

Do not use any idioms in writing task.

Examples:
 At the end of the day
 costs an arm and a leg
 a hot potato.
 landed on his feet
 I can't get my head around

3. Using pronouns such as 'you, we, us' too much

You can use personal pronouns in your writing but be very careful. If
you are using the word YOU or WE too much in your writing. it
comes across as informal, as you are personally addressing the
reader. See below for an example,
This paragraph is too informal and has grammar/wording issues
In general, therapy and medicine are more expensive than
prevention of diseases. For example, if you get a cold and have a
high fever, you have to go to see a doctor and you will pay a lot of
money for the diagnosis and medicine. However, if you would like to
keep yourself from getting a cold, you have to just wash your hands
and mouth before you enter the house or eat food. Also, its cost is
not expensive it does not cost anything so, you don't have to pay a
lot…………

From the above example, you can see how informal it

sounds. This student would need to work on using the

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passive to give it a more academic feel. See how I changed it
below.
Corrected version,
'In my view, therapy and medicine are more expensive than the
prevention of diseases. For example, if someone catches a cold and
has a high fever, they would need to see a doctor, which tends to be
very expensive for diagnosis and medicine. However, colds and flu
can be prevented by simply washing hands and exercising basic
hygiene which comes at no cost……….

However, you can use I or My to state your opinion because

many IELTS task questions ask for your opinion directly such
as: To what extent do you agree or disagree/What is your
opinion?
It is very hard to give your opinion without using I or My, but don't
use the passive voice to state your opinion.

It is believed that the consumption of too much fast food causes obesity.
The above statement does not clearly show my view, it looks like a
general opinion because it is using passive language.

In my view, the consumption of too much fast food causes obesity.

This sentence above clearly shows my opinion, it is much better. You
can, however, use they, it & their.
For examples,
 This essay agrees with.....
 This essay believes that.....
 This essay does not agree that.....

IELTS Writing Task-2 by Nafisa Alam