THE WRITING exam, the third module in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam for aspiring migrants to English-speaking countries, starts at around 11 a.m. and takes an hour. The candidate will be asked to write 150 words for task 1 and 250 words for task 2. For both tasks, candidates need to demonstrate their ability to write a response that is appropriate in terms of content, vocabulary and the organization of ideas.
In task 1 of the Academic Writing exam you will be presented with either a graph, table, chart, diagram, map or drawing and you will be asked to write a summary or description of the information in your own words. For task 2, the candidate may be asked to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a particular idea or his or her opinion on a particular statement. The style of writing for both tasks is formal. Be sure you answer all parts of the topic as there may be sub questions in addition to the main question.
Write a letter
In the General Writing exam, task 1 will require you to write a letter either to request for something, give information or explain a situation. The letter may be personal (e.g. inviting a friend to a party), semi-formal (e.g. writing to your boss for a raise) or formal (e.g. writing to your congressman for a particular project). The style will depend on the type of letter. For informal letters you can use abbreviations (can’t, couldn’t), and colloquial terms or slang (OK!).
Read magazines
Read English language magazines and newspapers to enhance your knowledge of current events and issues. You can read a news article then choose the important words or phrases that you can use for your writing. Look for the meanings using a dictionary. Compile a list of words ( 10 a day) and read before you sleep at night and when you wake up in the morning. Use these words when appropriate every time you write a sample essay.
Structure you essay
There are three parts of the essay. The introduction, body and the conclusion First you need to analyze the question and determine what it asking you to do. It will either ask your opinion, cite the advantages and disadvantages of an option or enumerate the possible results of a particular scenario.
For questions asking your opinion, analyze the statement: Do you agree or disagree? Think of three reasons why you agree or disagree. Paraphrase the question in your first paragraph, and state your opinion. In the next three paragraphs,cite your three arguments or reasons. For your conclusion just rephrase everything you said and restate your opinion.
Use the right word
For the semi-formal and formal style it is best to stick to English words that express a higher level of sophistication (“utilize” instead of “use” or “require” instead of “need”). But usewords that you can usually read or read in a newspaper. Do not attempt to dazzle or impress the examiner with words that only you and the dictionary are familiar with.
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You can also choose an English article with at least 250 words and start copying the text. Ideally you should be able to finish the copy in your own handwriting within 40 minutes. This gives you an idea of your writing speed and familiarizes you with proper English. Most examinees cannot finish the tasks in the allotted time. They often lack the necessary word count and that gives them a lower score. You should aim to write at least 150 words for task 1 and at least 250 words for task 2.
Prioritize
The second section has a higher score value so if you feel you need more time for this section then by all means start with it. You can just start on Task 1 when you finish the second task as it requires a lower word count and is generally easier than the longer essay.
You can also get an idea of how to answer the IELTS writing exam by reading sample or model essays. These are usually available online or you can go to the IDP Australia Study Center.
The author is head coach of Queen’s English IELTS Review Center (www.qeieltsreview.com). More next week.
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