The first task in the writing section for Acacdemic IELTS is the writing task 1. This task involves some kind of visual information that you will be given. You must describe this information in your own words. You have 20 minutes to complete task 1 and need to write down around 150 words.
In this task, the visual information can be given in the form of:
- Either one or more charts, tables and graphs
- A diagram or a picture of some kind of object, process or event occurring.
You must write down all the important key information that you notice from the graph. This task requires that you respond in an academic/semi-formal style of writing.
This task is the easier of the two tasks you will be asked to do, so of the 60 minutes you are given for the entire writing section, you must spend less than 20 minutes on the task 1. This will ensure that you are leaving enough time to give the answer for task 2, which carries more marks than task 1. Your marks will be affected if you write less than 150 words for task 1, however there is no penalty for writing more than 150 word. It would still cause you to lose time for task 2, so it is advised that you stick to the 150-200-word limit.
STRATEGIES
- When starting the essay, begin with one or two sentences that simply paraphrase the information provided by the chart or graph that you are seeing. Write down the meaning of the graph in one line, including a time frame if it is provided. For example, in the graph shown above, a good sentence to start the essay would be “The line compares the average salaries in 3 different spheres of employment from 1970 to 2010, a period of 40 years.”
- After you have paraphrased the question itself, provide a broad overview of the information you are seeing. Highlight something that stand out or a point that requires additional attention.
- Go further into the details of the information provided. Provide specific information but remember to connect it to the data accurately. In task 1, everything must be connected to the information provided in the question. Provide you data in a systematic manner and group together any similar patterns that you see. Highlight the similarities and differences.
- Task 1 of IELTS does not require a conclusion. The overview is very important for this task, and the conclusion would be repeating everything mentioned in the conclusion, so it is advised that you skip it. You can do a brief comparison or summary at the end but do not repeat anything you have already mentioned.
- If your response is not related to the topic or information provided, you will lose marks. Do not add your own ideas, or copy from another piece of writing
that is not yours. Do not use any notes or bullet points either.
Based on the type of visual information you provided with in this task, you will be awarded marks bases on how well you can:
- Organise and compare the data given in the question
- Describe any process given in the question
- Describe events or objects given in the question
- Explain the workings of an object given in the question
Scoring
Suggested text: If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location
You are marked based on 4 measures:
- Task achievement – This standard assesses if you meet the 150-word limit provided by the question.
- Coherence and cohesion – Coherence and coherence evaluates the clarity and fluency of your writing, as well as how you organise ideas and information. It judges your ability to put your thoughts in a logical order and use a variety of cohesive techniques (such as linking words, pronouns, and conjunctions) as needed.
- Lexical resource – The range and variety of vocabulary you have used in your response as well as how accurately you have used them.
- Grammatical range and accuracy – The range and variety of grammar you have used in your response as well as how accurately you have used them.
For IELTS Writing mock tests, practice questions and practice tests online, please visit https://oneaustraliagroup.com/ielts-coaching/.
For further assistance and training in PTE, you can get in touch with us by contacting us(link to contact us page) or leave a message with your name on WhatsApp on +61466466603, and we will get back to you!
ACADEMIC WRITING TASK 2
In the second task in the writing section of the Academic IELTS, you will be given an argument, problem, issue or a certain point of view as a question. You will need to discuss this statement further, offering an introduction, body and a conclusion. You have around 40 minutes to answer this question and need to write 250 words.
You answer must include all the important issues or key points raised in the topic you have to write about. It needs to be highly relevant to the topic, and you must not go off topic. Be specific in your response. For example, if the topic of the question is about Facebook and its impact on society, then you must not talk about the how Facebook was founded and go into the details of the organisation. You must stick to talking about its impact on society.
This task requires that you respond in an academic/semi-formal style of writing. Use examples that are directly related to the topic and have enough information to support your arguments.
This task requires more attention than the first task, as it is more challenging and contributes more to your overall writing score. You should try to complete this task in under 30-35 minutes, so you can leave 5-10 minutes to do a final check of both your writing responses. Do not write less than 250 words, this will lead to a loss of marks. There is no penalisation for writing more than 250 words, but it will be futile to write a lot and not be able to check the answer.
STRATEGIES
- Read the question very well before you start your response. You must know exactly what the question is asking from you, so you can write according to what the examiner will be looking for. If you answer the question partially or write without understanding what is needed, then you will be unable to score anything higher than a band 5 or 6.
- Identify what kind of question it is; whether it is asking you to discuss a topic, or provide details about it or argue for and against a topic etc. After you are clear on that, look at the different keywords in the question.
- Spend the first 2-3 minutes in analysing the question, then spend 5 minutes on planning your response. Students you write without planning tend to get lower marks as compared to those who write strategically and in an organized manner. This can save you time so you don’t have to go back and correct anything.
- Make sure to write it in a normal essay format. This includes an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. The introduction paragraph is just telling the examiner what you plan on writing about. In the body paragraphs, you must provide more detail. Write down your main points and add any supporting detail to these points, including examples. The conclusion must be a short summary of everything you highlighted in your body paragraphs.
- The best way to get high scores for IELTS writing task 2 is by practise. You will need to provide excellent structure, vocabulary and grammar to get a good score. You must also get relevant feedback on your practise so you know where you need to work harder.
Based on the type of question you are asked in this task, you will be awarded marks bases on how well you can:
- Provide a solution to the question
- Justify any point of you make
- Compare all the evidence, information and opinions you have.
- Provide evidence for and be able to challenge and evaluate any argument
Scoring
Suggested text:
You are marked based on 4 measures:
- Task response – This standard assesses if you meet the 250-word limit provided by the question. It also assesses if you are able to develop your arguments well in accordance with what is asked in the question.
- Coherence and cohesion – Coherence and coherence evaluates the clarity and fluency of your writing, as well as how you organise ideas and information. It judges your ability to put your thoughts in a logical order and use a variety of cohesive techniques (such as linking words, pronouns, and conjunctions) as needed.
- Lexical resource – The range and variety of vocabulary you have used in your response as well as how accurately you have used them.
- Grammatical range and accuracy – The range and variety of grammar you have used in your response as well as how accurately you have used them.
For IELTS Writing mock tests, practice questions and practice tests online, please visit https://oneaustraliagroup.com/ielts-coaching/.
For further assistance and training in PTE, you can get in touch with us by contacting us(link to contact us page) or leave a message with your name on WhatsApp on +61466466603, and we will get back to you!
