IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Improve Your IELTS Band Score · 2020-05-17 · The IELTS Writing Task...
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Contents How This Book Helps You Understanding Band Score The IELTs Writing Task 2 9 Techniques for Better IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Score Technique 1: Reading and analysing the question Technique 2: Essay format: planning and outlining Technique 3: Brainstorming for good ideas and opinions Technique 4: The introductory paragraph: thesis statement Technique 5: The body: topic sentence; major and minor details Technique 6: Time Management Technique 7: Linking devices and expressions Technique 8: The conclusion: restatement or summary Technique 9: Common mistakes: syntax and lexis How to get the band scores you need IELTS Preparation Checklist Helpful Resources
Transcript of IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Improve Your IELTS Band Score · 2020-05-17 · The IELTS Writing Task...
Contents
How This Book Helps YouUnderstanding Band ScoreThe IELTs Writing Task 29 Techniques for Better IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Score Technique 1: Reading and analysing the questionTechnique 2: Essay format: planning and outliningTechnique 3: Brainstorming for good ideas and opinions Technique 4: The introductory paragraph: thesis statement Technique 5: The body: topic sentence; major and minor detailsTechnique 6: Time ManagementTechnique 7: Linking devices and expressionsTechnique 8: The conclusion: restatement or summary Technique 9: Common mistakes: syntax and lexisHow to get the band scores you needIELTS Preparation ChecklistHelpful Resources
How This Book Helps You
This book gives you, the IELTS Test candidate, detailed guidance on howyou can improve your IELTS Writing Task 2 Test band score.
The IELTS Writing Task 2 Test is no different from any other exam or testtype. There are techniques, which can be practised and which will placecandidates in a better position to answer each given question type.
This book teaches you those techniques for the IELTS Writing Task 2 Test.
Both Task 1 and Task 2 are rated based on four criteria: TaskAchievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, andGrammatical Range and Accuracy.
Scores range from 0 to 9, and a 0.5 rate may also be given.
To better understand each criterion, carefully study the descriptors below.
The four criteria are of equal weight. So there must also be an equalamount of preparation.
During your practice and preparation, don’t miss to keep referring backand forth to this descriptor. This will thoroughly guide you as youprogress.
This knowledge is the icing on your IELTS preparation cake. In afavourable way, of course.
The next table shows a comprehensive description of the English languagecapabilities required in each band score.
The second question in the IELTS Academic Writing Test asks you tomake an essay of at least 250 words.
The question may ask you to agree or disagree on a particular idea oropinion; sometimes, the question may directly ask your stand on aparticular issue. It may also ask you to cite some advantages anddisadvantages of a particular idea, action, or event.
The advisable amount of time to accomplish this task is 40 minutes.
9 Techniques for Better IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Score
The techniques are listed below, and each links to a chapter in this bookwhich teaches IELTS Test candidates the necessary skills.
Technique 1: Reading and analysing the questionTechnique 2: Essay format—planning and outliningTechnique 3: Brainstorming for good ideas and opinionsTechnique 4: The introductory paragraph—thesis statementTechnique 5: The body—topic sentence; major and minor detailsTechnique 6: Time managementTechnique 7: Linking devices and expressionsTechnique 8: The conclusion—restatement or summaryTechnique 9: Common mistakes—syntax and lexis
CHAPTER ONETechnique 1: Reading and analysing the question
What are the really effective ways of ‘reading the question’?
Firstly, you should make sure you understand every word in the question.That’s why it is important to familiarise yourself with the most possibletopics in IELTS. To name a few, they could be related to education,environment, leisure, entertainment, technology, etc. You may refer tothose practice materials by Cambridge, British Council, and/or IDPAustralia, for they usually present the most common themes or topics usedin the IELTS exam.
Secondly, you need to study the question itself. Does it ask one or twothings? Does it ask you to discuss something, give your opinion about atopic, agree or disagree with an argument, or suggest some solutions to acertain problem?
Finally, it is a good strategy to keep asking yourself, what am I beingasked with the question? What are the exact things to do? You should keepreferring to these questions every now and then so as to maintain focus.
Why is ‘analysing’ an important step in Writing task 2?
Being able to analyse the question fully is one great way to start withWriting task 2. Do not attempt to start writing if you are not confident thatyou have totally understood the question. So give yourself some time forthis stage—5 minutes of understanding the question very well before youproceed to the planning stage is a good idea. After reading and fullyunderstanding the question, you should be straightforward in giving youranswer. So focus on what is being asked for before you start brainstormingfor ideas.
You should know that one criterion examiners consider is how you answerthe questions. Just as in Speaking, we could always relatively expressanything without really thinking deeply. Yet again, in this kind of exam,it’s about writing down what you are being asked to. Don’t waste yourtime on ideas that won’t succinctly answer the question, albeit related.Focus is the key, and you are bound with a standard number of words andtime to finish the task.
How do we read and analyse the question?
