IELTS

Writing
Review
 Writing Task 1
• A 150-word summary of information
presented in graphic or diagrammatic
form
• Suggested time: no more than 20 minutes
• assessed on a nine-band scale for content,
coherence, vocabulary and grammar
Bar Chart
Pie Charts
Line Graph
Table
Process Diagram
Maps
 COMMON MISTAKES
• Do not write below
• Not UK (England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland). Also not Great Britain
(England, Wales and Scotland)
• January to August of 2014
• Write numbers 1 – 10 out fully, e.g. one, eight
• Spelling mistakes of given words e.g. Wales,
UNACCEPTABLE!
 COMMON MISTAKES

• Do not write articles (the/a/an) in front of

general (naming) nouns e.g. oats
• Do not write articles (the/a/an) in front of
proper (naming) nouns e.g. England
• The currency symbol comes before the
amount e.g. £20
 Suggested Structure (2 Graphs)
This structure can be used for EVERY QUESTION in which you are given
two different graphs.
Paragraph 1
Sentence 1 - Paraphrase question sentences.
Paragraph 2
Sentence 2 - Overview of TWO of the main features from graph number 1
Sentence 3 - Overview of TWO of the main features from graph number 2
Sentence 4 - Overview of any comparisons if necessary (optional)
Paragraph 3
Sentence 5 - Details of FIRST main feature of graph number 1
Sentence 6 - Details of SECOND main feature of graph number 1
Paragraph 4
Sentence 7 - Details of FIRST main feature of graph number 2
Sentence 8 - Details of SECOND main feature of graph number 2
Sentence 9 - Details of any comparisons (if any)
 Suggested Structure (Map) 1
Paragraph 1 Paraphrase question sentences
Paragraph 2 Make two general statements about the map
Sentence 2 - Write a general description of the maps
Sentence 3 - Write about the most noticeable differences
between the two maps.
1. Is the map more or less residential?
2. Is there more or less countryside?
3. Are there more or less trees?
4. Were the changes dramatic or negligible?
5. Were there any major improvements in infrastructure?
6. How have the buildings and leisure facilities changed?
 Suggested Structure (Maps) 2
Paragraph 3:Describe specific changes
• Write three to four sentences about specific changes that
have occurred
• Group information by time or location depending on what
the question asked
Paragraph 4: Describe further specific changes
• Further three to four sentences about specific changes that
have occurred
• Group information by time or location, depending on what
the question asked without repeating what was covered in
paragraph 3
(Note: You can group information together in paragraph 3 and 4
by time or location, depending on the question asked)
 Suggested Structure (Process)
Paragraph 1 Introduce the Diagram: paraphrase
the question
Paragraph 2 Highlight the Main Points: (must
give overview)
e.g. the number of stages & how it beings &
ends
Paragraph 3 Give the Detail: State all the stages
a) Time connectors
b) The Passive Voice
1. As / Whereas/ While X verb, Y verb (at the same
time).
While the figure for factories in Japan went
up dramatically to 120,000 in 2010, the quantity in
Korea plummeted to 12,000 at the same time.
2. Clause, followed by + Noun Phrase
There was a dramatic growth in the number of factories
in Japan to 120.000 in 2010, followed by a sharp
decrease to 1,000 in 2015.
3. Clause, prior to/before Verb-ing
The number of factories in Japan experienced an increase
to 120,000 in 2010, before hitting a free fall to 1,000 in
2015.
4. Clause, after Verb – ing
The figure for factories in Japan hit a free fall to 1,000
in 2015, after undergoing an increase to 120,000 in
2010.
5. In comparison to/with X, which verb, Y verb
In comparison with the number of factories in Japan,
which witnessed a dramatic increase to 120,000 in
2010, the quantity in Korea plummeted to 12,000 at
this time.
6. X verb, Verb-ing, (which verb)
The quantity of factories in Japan went
through a period of dramatic increase to 120,000 in
2010, exceeding the number in Korea, which had only
12,000.
 Writing Task 2
• A 250-word summary of essay
presenting an argument on a given topic
• Suggested time: no more than 40
minutes
• assessed on a nine-band scale for
content, coherence, vocabulary and
grammar
 Time Allocation
Minutes
Question Analysis 2
Planning 8
Writing 25
(average 12 sentences
long) (2 mins X 12 sentences)

Check your work 5

TOTAL 40
 Common Types of Task 2 Essay
1. Opinion
2. Discussion
3. Advantages & Disadvantages
4. Direct Questions
5. Cause/Problem & Solutions
Common Mistakes
1. Not expanding on ideas
2. List lots of problems and solutions
3. Write about problems and solutions that
are not directly linked to the question
4. Fail to link the solutions to the problems
5. Talk too generally
Solutions
1. Pick one or two problems & solutions and
expand on them with explanations &
examples
2. Only give very specific ideas, rather than
ideas that generally talk about the overall
issue
3. Provide specific examples & explanations
Analyze the Question
• Think & plan BEFORE you start writing
• Analyze the question by thinking about three
things:
1. Keywords - What is the general topic?
2. Micro-keywords – What part of the general
topic does the question require you to talk
about?
3. Action words – What does the essay question
require you to do?
The first thing we need to do is to identify which type
of question (essay) it is and look at the action words.

Question: There is a good deal of evidence that

increasing car use is contributing to global warming
and having other undesirable effects on people’s
health and well-being.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Opinion Essay

We therefore need to tell the examiner clearly

whether we agree or disagree and this will influence
our thesis statement.
Let’s look at other essay examples:
1. Computers are being used more and more in
education.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and
give your own opinion.
Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
2. Computers are being used more and more in
education. Some people say that this is a positive
trend, while others argue that it is leading to
negative consequences.
Discuss both sides of this argument and then give
your own opinion.
Discussion Essay with opinion
3. Students are becoming more and more
reliant on computers.

What are some of the problems associated

with reliance on computers, and what are some
of the possible solutions?
Problem and Solution Essay
How do I write a thesis statement for each
question?
1. Opinion Essay
Some aspects of celebrity culture have a bad
influence on young people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?

We have three choices with this kind of question:

I agree,
I disagree or
I both agree and disagree – NOT recommended
 All of your thesis statements for the Opinion Essay
can start with:

This essay agrees/It is agreed that…..

or
This essay disagrees/It is disagreed that…..

We should try to avoid using personal pronouns like

‘I’ and we therefore use ‘This essay….’ instead.

Also remember that we should paraphrase the

question, i.e. This essay agrees that some famous
people’s lifestyles have a detrimental effect on the
youth of today.
2. Discussion & Opinion Essay
Computers are being used more and more in
education. Some people say that this is a positive
trend, while others argue that it is leading to
negative consequences.
Discuss both sides of this argument and then give
your own opinion.

Some argue that the increased use of computers

by schools and universities is a beneficial trend,
while others are opposed to this view. This essay
agrees that the growing use of technology by
educators is a positive development.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
There are three different types of advantages
and disadvantages essays and they each require
a different approach.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Type 1 – In some countries young people are

encouraged to work or travel for a year between
finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young

people who decided to do this.

Before embarking on college many young people are

advised that a year working or travelling may be a
good option. This essay will suggest that saving
money is the biggest advantage of this and a reduced
motivation to study is the primary disadvantage.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Type 2 – Some experts believe that it is better for
children to begin learning a foreign language at primary
schools rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Some authorities think that it is more favorable for
pupils to begin studying additional languages at primary
school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue
that the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks by
firstly explaining that the earlier someone learns an
additional language the more likely they are to master
it, followed by an analysis of how confusion with their
native tongue is not a valid disadvantage.
3. Advantage and Disadvantages Essay
Type 3 – Computers are becoming an essential part of
school lessons.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give
your own opinion.
Information technology is becoming a ubiquitous part of
learning. This essay will show that this is a welcome
development and can enhance educational practice. It
will first suggest that the instant availability of huge
amounts of information is the primary advantage,
followed by a discussion of how it can sometimes lead
to plagiarism.
4. Problem and Solution Essay
Students are becoming more and more reliant on
computers.
What are some of the problems associated with
reliance on computers, and what are some of the
possible solutions?

These days students rely on computers much more

than before. The principal problem is students
allowing machines to do all the work for them
without thinking for themselves and a possible
solution is to have stricter supervision from teachers
and parents.
5. Cause and Solution Essay
In some countries, the average weight of people is
increasing and their levels of health and fitness are
decreasing.

What do you think are the causes of these problems

and what measures could be taken to solve them?

In some nations, people are getting heavier and

standards of health and well-being are falling. The
principal cause of this problem is peoples’ sedentary
lifestyles and a possible solution is to educate society
about the dangers of not keeping fit.
 General Statements
Statement
Thesis Statement

A.Topic Sentence
1.Support
2.Support

Essay
3.Support
(Concluding Sentence)

Structure B. Topic Sentence

4.Support
5.Support
6.Support
(Concluding Sentence)

Restatement or summary of
the main points; final
comment
 Discussion Essay (Both Views) w/ opinion
Suggested Structure (1)
1. Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question and/or state both viewpoints(1 or 2 sentences)
Sentence 2&3- Thesis Statement & Outline Statement
2. Body Paragraph 1 – First viewpoint
Sentence 4- State first viewpoint
Sentence 5- Discuss first viewpoint
Sentence 6- Reason why you agree or disagree with first viewpoint
Sentence 7- Example to support your view
3. Body Paragraph 2 – Second viewpoint
Sentence 8- State second viewpoint
Sentence 9- Discuss second viewpoint
Sentence 10- Reason why you agree or disagree with second viewpoint
Sentence 11- Example to support your view
4. Conclusion
Sentence 12- Summary of main points in body paragraphs 2 and 3
Sentence 13- State which one is better or more important
 Discussion Essay (Both Views) w/ opinion
Suggested Structure (2)
1. Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrae Question and/or state both viewpoints (1 or 2 sentences)
Sentence 2&3- Thesis Statement & Outline Statement
2. Body Paragraph 1 – First viewpoint
Sentence 4- State first viewpoint
Sentence 5- Discuss first viewpoint
Sentence 6- Example
3. Body Paragraph 2 – Second viewpoint
Sentence 7- State second viewpoint
Sentence 8- Discuss second viewpoint
Sentence 9 - Example
4. Body Paragraph 3 – Your view
Sentence 10- State your opinion on first view
Sentence 11- Reason why you agree or disagree with first viewpoint
Sentence 12- State your opinion on second view
Sentence 13- Reason why you agree or disagree with second viewpoint
5. Conclusion
Sentence 14- Summary of main points in body paragraphs 1 and 2
Sentence 15- State which one is better or more important
 Advantages & Disadvantages
Essay Structure
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Sentence 1 – Paraphrase Sentence – The results of an
improved health care system are numerous: not only
does the average person nowadays live until an older
age than before but that person’s life span has also
increased.
Sentence 2 – Thesis Statement (main idea of essay, states
your attitude/opinion) – The advantages clearly outweigh
the disadvantages …
Sentence 3 – Outline Statement (organisational guide of
written essay) – Advantages, like the happiness a longer
life span brings, and disadvantages, like the demand for
more food, will be examined in the paragraphs below.
 Advantages & Disadvantages
Essay Structure
Paragraph 2 – Why advantages are strong
Sentence 4 – Topic Sentence – happiness
Sentence 5 – Explanation – death causes unhappiness and longer
lives lead to happiness
Sentence 6 – Example –Okinawa and Sardinia

Paragraph 3 – Why disadvantage are weak

Sentence 7 – Topic Sentence – technology
Sentence 8 – Explanation – technology can solve any of the
drawbacks
Sentence 9 – Example – GM crops and renewable energy

Paragraph 4 – Conclusion
Sentence 1 – Summary of main points
 Problem & Solution Essay Structure
(only requires one problem and one solution)
1. Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2- Outline Statement
2. Body Paragraph 1 - Problem
Sentence 3- State the problem
Sentence 4- Explain what the problem is
Sentence 5- What is the result of this problem
Sentence 6- Example
3. Body Paragraph 2 - Solution
Sentence 7- State the solution
Sentence 8- Explain how the solution will solve the problem
Sentence 9- Example
4. Conclusion
Sentence 10- Summary of main points in paragraphs 2 and 3
Sentence 11- Make a prediction or recommendation
 Cause & Solution Essay Structure
(only requires one problem and one solution)
1. Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Sentence 2- Outline Statement
2. Body Paragraph 1 - Cause
Sentence 3- State the cause
Sentence 4- Explain what the cause is
Sentence 5- What is the result of this cause
Sentence 6- Example
3. Body Paragraph 2 - Solution
Sentence 7- State the solution
Sentence 8- Explain how the solution will solve the problem
Sentence 9- Example
4. Conclusion
Sentence 10- Summary of main points in paragraphs 2 and 3
Sentence 11- Make a prediction or recommendation