IELTS WRITING Compound, Complex & Conditional sentences

Writing Task 1
It consists of different types of graphs:
-Maps – Process diagram – Bar charts – Line graph – Pie chart – Tables – Life cycle
This task 1 consists of 3 steps
1. Introduction and overview
2. Body paragraph1
3. Body paragraph2

Introduction and overview

Introduction: Paraphrase the topic
(what+where+when): Ex- The diagram presents the information on the percentage of teachers who have
expressed their views about the different problems they face when dealing with children in three Australian
schools from 2001 to 2005.
What: the percentage of teachers
Where: three Australian schools
When: from 2001 to 2005

Introduction must be written as below:

Starting + presentation type + verb + description
Starting Presentation type Verb Description Time period
The given Diagram Represents The number of... From 1985 to 1995
The presented Table Illustrates Differences … Between 1985 and 1995
The shown Graph Depicts Information on... In the year 1985 and 1995
The provided
Illustration Shows The data on … In 1995
Pie chart Outlines The number of... In the year 1995
Line graph Describes The trend of … In 1985 and 1995
Flowchart Enumerates The percentage of. Over a five-year period starting from 1985
Process diagram Denotes/indicates The ratio of ...
Shows data on
Presents info about
Compares In terms of ...
Contrasts

Examples:,
1. The diagram shows employment rates among adults in four European countries from 1925 to 1985.
2. The given pie chart represents the proportion of male and female employees in 6 broad categories,
dividing into manual and non-manual occupations in Australia, between 2010 and 2015.

IELTS notes 1 Omkit Neupane 1

 3. The chart gives information about consumer expenditure on six products in four countries namely
Germany, Italy, Britain and France.
4. The supplied bar graph compares the number of male and female graduates in three developing
countries while the table data presents the overall literacy rate in these countries.
5. The bar graph and table data depict the water consumption in different sectors in five regions.
6. The bar graph enumerates the money spent on different research projects while the column graph
demonstrates the fund resource over a decade, commencing from 1981.

Overview: key features without details (highest- lowest point, main feature, trends)
Vocabulary for writing overview:
Overall, ….. In general, …. In common, ….
As a general trend, ….. It is clear that, …. It is observed that, ….

Examples:
1. In general, employment opportunities increased till 1970 and then declined throughout the next
decade.
2. It is observed, the figures for imprisonment in five mentioned countries show no overall pattern, rather
shows the considerable fluctuations from country to country.
3. Generally speaking, more men were engaged in managerial positions in 1987 than that of women in
New York this year.
4. Overall, the number of crimes reported increased fairly rapidly until the mid-seventies, remained
constant for five years and finally, dropped to 20 cases a week after 1982.

Body Paragraph (main features with details, comparison of data, most striking feature)
But don’t give all figures and data.
Vocabulary for body paragraph:
Trends Verb form Noun Form
Increase rise / increase / go up / uplift / rocket(ed) / a rise / an increase / an upward trend / a growth /
climb / upsurge / soar/ shot up/ improve/ jump/ a leap / a jump / an improvement/ a climb.
leap/ move upward/ skyrocket/ soar/ surge.
Decrease fall / decrease / decline / plummet / plunge / drop a fall / a decrease / a reduction / a downward
/ reduce / collapse / deterioriate/ dip / dive / go trends /a downward tendency / a decline/ a drop
down / take a nosedive / slum / slide / go into / a slide / a collapse / a downfall.
free-fall.
Steadiness unchanged / level out / remain constant / remain a steadiness/ a plateau / a stability/ a static
steady / plateau / remain the same / remain stable
/ remain static
Gradual an upward trend / an upward tendency / a ceiling
IELTS notes 2 Omkit Neupane 2
 increase ------------ trend
Gradual a downward trend / a downward tendency / a
decrease ------------ descending trend
Standability/ level(ed) off / remain(ed) constant / remain(ed)
Flat unchanged / remain(ed) stable / prevail(ed) No change, a flat, a plateau.
consistency / plateaued / reach(ed) a plateau /
stay(ed) uniform /immutable / level(ed) out/
stabilise/ remain(ed) the same.
Examples:
1. The overall sale of the company increased by 20% at the end of the year.
2. The expenditure of the office remained constant for the last 6 months but the profit rose by almost 25%.
3. There was a 15% drop in the ratio of student enrollment at this University.
4. The population of the country remained almost the same as it was 2 years ago.
5. The population of these two cities increase significantly in the last two decades and it is expected that it will
remain stable during the next 5 years.

Tips:
1. Use 'improve' / 'an improvement' to describe a situation like economic condition or employment status. To
denote numbers use other verbs/nouns like increase.
2. Do not use the same word/ phrase over and over again. In fact, you should not use a noun or verb form to
describe a trend/change more than twice; once is better!
3. To achieve a high band score you need to use a variety of vocabulary as well as sentence formations.

IELTS notes 3 Omkit Neupane 3

Vocabulary to represent changes in graphs:
Type of Adverb form Adjective form
Change
Rapid change dramatically / rapidly / sharply / quickly / dramatic / rapid / sharp / quick / hurried / speedy /
hurriedly / speedily / swiftly / significantly/ swift / significant / considerable / substantial /
considerably / substantioally / noticably. noticable.
Moderate moderately / gradually / progressively / moderate / gradual / progressive / sequential.
change sequentially.
Steady change steadily/ ceaselessly. steady/ ceaseless.

Slight change slightly / slowly / mildly / tediously. slight / slow / mild / tedious.

Example:
1. The economic inflation of the country increased sharply by 20% in 2008.
2. There was a sharp drop in industrial production in the year 2009.
3. The demand for new houses dramatically increased in 2002.
4. The population of the country dramatically increased in the last decade.
5. The price of oil moderately increased during the last quarter but as a consequence, the price of daily
necessities rapidly went up.

Vocabulary to represent frequent changes in graphs:

Type of Change Verb form Noun form
Rapid ups and wave / fluctuate / oscillate / vacillate / waves / fluctuations / oscillations / vacillations /
downs palpitate palpitations

Example:
1. The price of the goods fluctuated during the first three months of 2017.
2. The graph shows the oscillations of the price from 1998 to 2002.
3. The passenger number in this station oscillates throughout the day and in the early morning and evening, it
remains busy.
4. The changes in car production in Japan shows a palpitation for the second quarter of the year.
5. The number of students in debate clubs fluctuated in different months of the year and rapid ups and downs
could be observed in the last three months of this year.
Tips:
1. 4. DO NOT try to present every single piece of data presented in a graph. Rather pick 5-7 most
significant and important trends/ changes and show their comparisons and contrasts.

IELTS notes 4 Omkit Neupane 4

2. The question asks you to write a report and summarize the data presented in graphs(s). This is why you need
to show the comparisons, contrasts, show the highest and lowest points and the most striking features in your
answer, not every piece of data presented in the diagram(s).
Types of Changes/ Differences and Vocabulary to present them:
Great change / Huge difference: Big change / Big difference:
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Overwhelming Overwhelmingly Significant Significantly
Substantial Substantially Considerable Considerably
Enormous Enormously
Medium change / Moderate difference: Minor change / Small difference:
Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs
Somewhat Somewhat Fractional Fractionally
Moderate Moderately Marginal Marginally
Slight Slightly

Dates, Months & Years related vocabulary and grammar:

» From 1990 to 2000, Commencing from 1980, Between 1995 and 2005, After 2012.
» By 1995, In 1998, In February, Over the period, During the period, During 2011.
» In the first half of the year, For the first quarter, The last quarter of the year, During the first decade.
» In the 80s, In the 1980s, During the next 6 months, In the mid-70s, Next 10 years, Previous year, Next year,
Between 1980 - 1990.
» Within a time span of ten years, within five years.
» Next month, Next quarter, Next year, Previous month, Previous year.
» Since, Then, From.

Percentage, Portion and Numbers:

Percentages:
10% increase, 25 percent decrease, increased by 15%, dropped by 10 per cent, fall at 50%, reached to 75%,
tripled, doubled, one-fourth, three-quarters, half, double fold, treble, 5 times higher, 3 timers lower, declined to
about 49%, stood exactly at 43%.

Fractions: Proportions:
4% = A tiny fraction. 2% = A tiny portion, a very small proportion.
24% = Almost a quarter. 4% = An insignificant minority, an insignificant
25% Exactly a quarter. proportion.
26% = Roughly one quarter. 16% = A small minority, a small portion.
32% Nearly one-third, nearly a third. 70% = A large proportion.
49% = Around a half, just under a half. 72% = A significant majority, A significant
50% Exactly a half. proportion
51% = Just over a half.
73% = Nearly three quarters.
77% = Approximately three quarter.
IELTS notes 5 Omkit Neupane 5
 79% = Well over three quarters.

Words/ Phrases of Approximation - Vocabulary:

» Approximately » Nearly » Roughly
» Almost » About » Around

Writing Task 2
Score criteria
1. Task response: Answering question, point of opinion, conclusion
2. Grammar range: Grammar and sentence structure, spelling
3. Lexical resources: Range of words, synonyms, vocabulary
4. Coherence and cohesion: Organizing ideas into paragraph, one idea each paragraph, linking sentences
Task response  sufficiently addresses all parts of the task
 presents a well-developed response to the question
with relevant, extended and supported ideas
Coherence and cohesion  sequences information and ideas logically
 manages all aspects of cohesion well
 uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately
Lexical resource  uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and
flexibly to convey precise meanings
 skillfully uses uncommon lexical items but there
may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice
and collocation
 produces rare errors in spelling and/or word
formation
Grammatical range and accuracy  uses a wide range of structures
 the majority of sentences are error-free
 makes only very occasional errors or
inappropriacies

Question type How many parts? Opinion required?

To what extent do you agree or 1-part question Yes, agree or disagree, or decide why
disagree with this statement? you agree/disagree equally.
Discuss both views and give your 3-part question - discuss both views Yes, present your opinion, it may be
own opinion. as stated one of the views or a combination of

IELTS notes 6 Omkit Neupane 6


Why is this so? Give reasons for this
and solutions?
Do the disadvantages of international
tourism outweigh the advantages?
Why is this so? What effect does it
have on the individual and society?
Do:
both.
3-part question A position is presented on why this is
so, the reasons for this issue and
solutions to solve the issue.
2-part question Yes, you must clearly say if there are
more advantages or more
disadvantages.
3-part question Yes, you must give reasons for the
statement and then present the effect
it has on 1) the individual and 2)
society.

 Read the question carefully and decide how many parts are in it
 Present your opinion and support it throughout the whole essay
 If asked to present both views, make sure each view is presented equally (similar paragraph length)
 Watch for plurals. If you are asked to give ‘advantages’, you must present a minimum of 2
 Watch for ‘and’. You may need to comment on more than one element
 Write more than 250 words.

Don’t:

 Ignore parts of the question

 Assume that your opinion is clear, use the first person to ensure the examiner knows it’s your opinion ‘I think’
 Tell the examiner what you are going to say and what you have said
 Produce a short essay.

How many
Question type Paragraphs
paragraphs?
To what extent do you agree or 4/5 P1: Introduction
disagree with this statement? P2: Reason why I agree/disagree
P3: Another reason why I agree/disagree
P4: Concession paragraph reason why I don’t agree/disagree
P5: Conclusion
Discuss both views and give your 5 P1 Introduction
own opinion. P2 One view
P3 Other view
P4 Your opinion
P5 Conclusion
Why is this so? Give reasons for this 5 P1 Introduction
and solutions? P2 Reason why it is so
P3 Reasons for this
P4 Solutions for this
P5 Conclusion
Do the disadvantages of international 4 P1 Introduction (more advantages)

IELTS notes 7 Omkit Neupane 7

 tourism outweigh the advantages? P2 Advantages (3)
P3 Disadvantages (2)
P4 Conclusion
Why is this so? What effect does it 5 P1 Introduction
have on the individual and the P2 Why this is so
society? P3 Effect/s on individual
P4 Effect/s on society
P5 Conclusion

Types of essays
1. Agree or Disagree
Many children these days have an unhealthy lifestyle. Both schools and parents are equally
responsible for solving it. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement?
2. Advantage or disadvantage
In some countries, government are encouraging business and industries to move to regional areas outside the
big cities. Do advantages of this trend outweigh disadvantages?
3. Discuss view + opinion
Some people think that best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences.
Others, however, believe there are better ways to reduce crimes. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Discuss views only
Some people think that the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. Others believe
there are much wider benefits of university education for both individual and society. Discuss both views.
5. Cause/problem and solution
Crimes rate tend to be higher in cities than in towns. What are causes for it and suggest some solutions.
6. Two questions
To some people, studying the past has some value in modern world. Why do you think it is important to do
so? What will be the effect if children are not taught history?
7. Opinion
Research indicates that we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development
than other experiences may have in life. Which do you consider to be major influence?

Task 2 Writing Templates

1. Advantage or disadvantage essay
P1: Introduction P2: 1 advantage with example
P3: 1 advantage with example P4: 1 disadvantage with example
IELTS notes 8 Omkit Neupane 8
 P5: 1 disadvantage with example
Template with example
Q. These days more and more people are going abroad, either to study or for a job. There are benefits of this,
but people living abroad can also face some difficulties. Discuss its advantages and dis advantages.
Template
P1 Nowadays, (general sentence about topic).
For many people, (extra sentence to support
first sentence). However, there are both pros
and cons to deciding to do this. In this essay
it will be discussed some of the reasons why
(topic) and some challenges to overcome it.
P2 Let's begin by looking at advantages of
(topic). One of the main positive sides is (1st
adv). What it meant by this is that (explain
1st adv further). For instance, (example).
This can make you (conclude 1st adv).
Secondly, (2nd adv). Take (example) for an
example. In addition, (conclude).
P3 Turning to other side of argument, (1st dis
adv). To be more precise (explain 1st dis
adv). Let's use (example) as an example.
This often leads to (conclusion).
Another issue is that (2nd dis adv).
P4 All things considered, (one sentence
summary of topic). You need to weigh up
pros of (2 adv mentioned above) and cons of
(2 dis adv mentioned above). Personally, I
believe the benefits in term of (2 adv)
eventually outweigh negative.
2. Problem and solution essay
P1: Introduction
P3: cause2 and solution2
3. Opinion essay
P1: Introduction
P3: point 2(agree, disagree)
IELTS notes 9 Omkit Neupane 9
P6: conclusion + opinion
Example
Nowadays, taking a here out to live or study abroad is
becoming increasingly popular. For many people,
especially young adults, the chance of spending an
extended period of time overseas is an attractive one.
However, there are both pros and cons to deciding to do
this. In this essay it will be discussed some of the reasons
why moving abroad is so popular and some of the
challenges to be overcome.
Let’s begin by looking at advantages of moving abroad.
One of the main positive sides of moving overseas is that
it broadens peoples’ horizon. What is meant by this is that
you have a chance to meet people from different cultural
background and learn to cope with foreign customs and
food. This can make you rounded it as a person.
*Second adv ...example
Turning to other side of argument, cultural shock is a
major problem. Many people who take a year out find it
hard to cope with language barrier, the food and general
cultural differences. This often leads to homesickness and
in some cases a sense of isolation.
*Second dis adv... example
All things considered, starting life in foreign country in
never easy. You need to weigh up pros of better life,
weather and so on and the cons of cultural shock and
language barrier. Personally, I believe that benefits in
terms of personal growth eventually outweigh any
negatives.
P2: cause1 and solution1
P4: conclusion
P2: point 1(agree, disagree)
P4: conclusion
 4. Discuss view only essay
P1: Introduction P2:
P3: P4: conclusion

5. Discuss view + opinion essay

P1: Introduction P2:
P3: P4: conclusion

6. Agree/ Disagree essay

P1: Introduction P2: Point 1 (agree/disagree)
P3: Point 2 (agree/disagree) P4: conclusion

7. Two questions essay

P1: Introduction P2: Question 1
P3: Question 2 P4: conclusion

IELTS notes 10 Omkit Neupane 10