IELTS Writing Task 2: how to answer any question Today | want to show you what happens in my brain when | see any IELTS Writing Task 2 question. Here are my thinking steps: 1.1 read the question very carefully, maybe three times. | ask myself "What's the topic? What is the question asking me to write about?" 2.1 underline the key things that must be included in the essay. | always answer every part of the question. 3.Now | think about my 4 paragraph structure. | can write any type of essay in 4 paragraphs; | just need to decide what to put in each paragraph. 4.If | need to give my opinion, | think "What is the easiest opinion to explain? What good vocabulary could | use?” 5.Then | write down some vocabulary ideas that are related to the topic. 6. try to write 2 sentences for the introduction: | introduce the topic, then give a simple answer (including my opinion if the question asks for it) 7.1 write short ‘topic sentences’ to start each paragraph, then develop my ideas by explaining and supporting with examples. 8.1 look at the question from time to time in order to check that I'm answering every part of it 9.1 know that | write about 10 words per line; | can quickly check the approximate number of words that I've written. 10.If | need more words (to reach 250), | expand one of my examples in the main body paragraphs. If necessary, I draw an arrow to show where | want to add the extra words. “asta” leltsMaterials.ir TP ee,* Is it acceptable to use "I" or "my" in IELTS writing? As an ex-examiner, my advice is that you should use phrases like "I believe" or “in my opinion” when the question asks for your opinion e.g To what extent do you agree or disagree? Some teachers tell students not to use "I" in academic essays, but this advice is really for university academic writing, not IELTS. * Do you AGREE? If the question asks whether YOU agree or disagree, don't write a paragraph about what other people think. The whole essay should be about YOUR views * IELTS Writing Task 2: the confidence to be ‘simple’ For many of the students I've taught, a breakthrough (or big improvement) came when they found the confidence to write in a more ‘simple! way. When you stop worrying about whether you need to include passives, conditionals or ‘difficult academic words' in your essays, you are free to focus on answering the question and explaining your ideas coherently. It takes confidence to change your approach and to believe that the ‘simple’ way will work Note: Remember that ‘simple’ is not the same thing as ‘easy’! * IELTS Writing Task 2: agree, disagree or partly agree? Here's some advice for people who are still confused about "agree or disagree" questions If you completely agree or completely disagree: + Make your opinion clear in the introduction and conclusion + Explain one reason for your opinion in paragraph 2 and another in paragraph 3. Imagine that you are persuading the examiner that your opinion is right. + Don't write a paragraph about what ‘other people’ think. If you do that, you are in danger of writing a “discuss both views" essay. If you mention the opposite argument, make sure that you refute it (explain why you think it's wrong), like | did in paragraph 2 of this essay If you partly agree: + Make it clear in the introduction and conclusion that you have a balanced view i.e. that you accept both sides of the argument to some extent, like | did in last week's lesson, + Write one paragraph about each side of the argument. But do this from your point of view e.g. On the one hand, | accept that... / On the other hand, | also believe that. “asta” leltsMaterials.ir TP ee,+ Don't write a discussion essay e.g. some people believe / other people argue. PS. This week's (free) video lesson will also help with this "agree, disagree or partly agree” problem. It will be ready tomorrow. “ap Steg” @ leltsMaterials.ir Pee