The IELTS writing test takes one hour.
In this time, you are --> then include the inclusive dates: between the years of 1965
required to complete 2 tasks.
WRITING EXAM HAS 2 PARTS
We have the first task and the second task.
FIRST TASK
The first task is a report based on some graphic information
provided on the
question paper. With few exceptions, the graphic information
will come in
one of five forms – a line graph, bar graph, pie chart, table or
diagram
illustrating a process. You are required to describe the
information or the
process in a report of 150 words. This task should be
completed in 20
minutes. It is important that you are familiar with the language
appropriate
to report writing generally and to each of the five types of
report.
Task one is not worth as many marks as task two and so you
should make sure that you
keep within the recommended twenty minute time frame.
What is being tested is your ability to:
¨ objectively describe the information given to you --> when
we say objectively, it means accurately and it can be verified
by looking at the presentation
report on a topic without the use of opinion--> inserting your
own opinion assumptions and even intelligent interpretations.
just state what is reflected on the graphic information given.
¨ use suitable language to describe the graph --> use a words
in their formal context, Do not use slang words or idioms in
this first task. What you need is a variety of adjectives or
describing words.
illustration
Before you start you must always remember the different
guidelines in writing:
1. Does your report have a suitable structure
does it have 3 parts or does it follow the 3 part reporting.. the
introduction, the body and the conclusion
INTRODUCTION: For the introduction, always read the first
sentence before the diagram or the graph. What's your
technique? Understand and rephrase the words. FOr
example,The graph below shows the incidence of Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever in San Fernando, La Union. Write a 150
word report about the figure below.
Rephrase by choosing the specific words from the sentence.
Another word for shows would be illustrates or features.
whereas for incidence is prevalence and lastly for DHF would
be a mosquito related disease.
So you can say that the The graph illustrates the prevalence of
a mosquito related disease in one of the places in Philippines,
specifically in San Fernando, La Union.
to 1990 in a 5 year interval.
--> then what's next: give a general overview of the
graph..when was the year that the disease was most prevalent.
how many cases were there or give the general trend of the
graph. Like in this case a plateau shape was formed. instead of
saying that it went up in the year like this then had a steady
trend then a downward trend at these years. Simplify. Give a
vivid picture.
The graph shows the number of cases of X disease in
Someland between the years 1960 and 1995. As an
overalltrend, it is clear that the number of cases of the disease
increased fairly rapidly until the mid seventies, remained
constant for around a decade at 500 cases before dropping to
zero in the late 80s.
BODY OF THE WRITING TASK: Describe in detail, but
first group or classify the data reflected on the graph and give
relevant comparisons. Group those that are similar or almost
similar. Like for instance in this case, the years of blank and
blank there were roughly a hundred thousand cases registered.
whereas in the years of ___ there were about 200,000.
In the Sample Task, the graph shows four main trends:
¨ first, a gradual increase from 1960 to 1968
¨ second, a steeper increase from 1968 to 1977
¨ third, a plateau from 1977 to 1983
¨ fourth, a drop from 1983 to 1988
Use words for approximations. Like what i've mentioned a
while back describe the graphs or the figures in detail.In this
case the figures were not exactly presented so you might as
well use approximations. like approximately, nearly, more
than or less than and many other words.
--> aNother tip when you are writing the body of your task is
that use descriptive words.
Describing trends or express the movement
Trends are changes or movements. These changes are
normally expressed in numeric items, for example, population,
production volumes or unemployment. There are three basic
trends:
Describing the degree of change
Adjectives Adverbs
dramatic dramatically, sharp sharply, huge, enormous
enormously, steep steeply, substantial substantially,
considerable considerably, significant significantly, marked
markedly, moderate moderately, slight slightly, small,
minimal minimally
Describing the speed of change
Adjectives Adverbs
rapid rapidly, quick quickly, swift swiftly, sudden suddenly,
steady steadily, gradual gradually, slow slowly
-->One thing more, if the graph is so simple and it contains
limited data, you can describe it comprehensively or you can
mention every detail reflected or presented however if the
figure given is more complicated like for instance having
given multiple bar graphs or even double line graphs, then you
might just only choose the most notifiable figures. the highest
ones, the lowest or the most noticeable changes in trends or
patterns that were noticed. But, do not forget that if you're
doing this you do not forget to mention the general or the over
all trend like for instance if there were 3 graphs given and the
second graph looks this way : then think of a way where in
you can just mention one specific detail in one to two
sentences and the other sentence would be your generalization.
Like for instance in this case, mention that the highest number
of cases of DHF in 2-5 year old females were recorded in this
year, having almost 300,000 cases whereas the lowest was on,
and in what specific place. Then in the next sentence, You can
say that, it was further illustrated that both years have the
same pattern of fluctuations only dissimilar in terms of the
specific times of the rise and falls.
In 1960, the number of cases stood at approximately 100. That
number rose steadily to 200 by 1969 and then more sharply to
500 in 1977. At this point the number of cases remained stable
until 1984 before plummeting to zero by 1988. From 1988 to
1995 Someland was free of the disease.
CONCLUSION--> for the first task, we always reiterate that
you should not conclude in the first task. You can only give a
summary or use cohessive devices in ending your writing
tasks. Like for example the use of the word lastly, to end with,
As a whole and so forth and so on. ANd see to it that you are
not redundant.
In conclusion, the graph shows that the disease was
increasingly prevalent until the 1980s when it was eradicated
from Someland.
One thing more under this guideline is that you should use
connective words to make your writing cohessive and when
we say cohession, it means that all your sentences are related
with each other. Either they are expounding something about
the topic or giving examples in relation to the topic. In short,
you're only talking about one thing: and in this case, all your
sentences should be about the graph or the figure given.
2.Next guideline: does the report use suitable grammar and
vocabulary
you should be using a variety of sentence structures. In this
case, the use of active and passive voices.
or another would be see to it that not all your sentences only
have a simple subject or even a simple predicate. See to it that
you also have those with compound ones. And we say simple,
you only have one subject or one predicate. Like for example,
YEar 1996 garnered the highest number of cases.
--> another thing,, you should have a wide range of
vocabulary. Refrain from using the set of words over and over
again. Like for instance: there was a decrease number in this
year followed by another decrease in the year of... THere are
still a lot of words that means the same thing as decrease. We
have decline or even fall. and always remember that if it was
used as a noun, it has no past or even future tense. Remember
only verbs have tenses and I assume that you already know the
difference between a verb and a noun.
3. Does the report meet the requirements of the task?
FIrst see to it that you meet the minimum required number of
words. In this case, the minimum number is 150. Next if it
really describes the whole graph adequately which means that
you mention an overall observation and at the same time you
have mentioned noticeable details and relevant comparisons.
Lastly, does it focus on the important trends presented in the
graphic information.
SECOND TASK
5 basic rules in having an effective writing
Writing task two
Description of task
You will be given a discussion topic. Your task is to write a
250 word essay
on that topic. You should spend around 40 minutes on the
task.
What is being tested is your ability to:
Present a point of view with convincing evidence
Challenge an alternate point of view
Focus on the topic and avoid irrelevancies
Communicate in a style that is easy to follow and
cohesive.
Use English accurately and appropriately
Strategies for improving your IELTS score
The style of essay required for Task 2 of the IELTS writing
test is standard to academic courses.There are several
published textbooks available to assist you to improve your
writing skills for this part of the test. Structure and cohesion
should be evident at the essay level, within and
between paragraphs and within and between sentences.
Structure and cohesion have a very important effect on the
readability and clarity of your essay as a whole.
The structure of your essay should show a clear development
from introduction, through your points and on to the
conclusion. Your essay needs to have an introduction, body
and conclusion.
Structure and cohesion should also be apparent within and
between paragraphs. Each paragraph will typically contain a
topic sentence which states the main point of your paragraph.
The topic sentence is usually the first one. This will be
followed by the evidence which supports the point of the
paragraph. The final sentence will typically lead into the point
of the following paragraph. A good essay will also have
structure and cohesion within and between sentences. It is
important that you are confident using linking devices such as
relative clauses, connectives and transition signals.