IELTS Writing

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Task 1 & Task 2 Revision

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 Understanding Task 1

● You need to write over 150 words (if you write any less marks WILL be

deducted).
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● Write the task in 20 minutes, don’t waste too much time on this task as it
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doesn’t contribute as greatly as task 2 does to your final grade.

● Academic report on a chart or graph.

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 Marking Criteria

● Task Achievement
● Cohesion c

● Vocabulary
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● Grammatical range and accuracy

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 Introductory Paragraph

● Explain what the graph or chart represents, paraphrasing the title. The
chart/graph illustrates the…
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Pie Chart title: Holiday destinations chosen by Welsh people 1955-2005.

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Your first sentence: The pie chart shows the vacation preferences of Welsh
people over a fifty year period starting in 1955 and finishing in 2005.
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 Second+ Third Paragraph

Organize the information into two separate groups and focus on these topics:
● Major trends (with time)
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● Major groups (highest – lowest - differences)

● Exceptions
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● Group information

● Other similar ideas

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Write about this information focusing on a group at a time.

 Last Paragraph
● Two sentences summarizing your description.

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(What are the major overall trends, changes, etc.)
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 General Tips

● If you cannot compare the information of your Pie Charts, don’t panic. In such a

case giving a summary of each picture is fine.

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● Always pay attention to the time frame of your Pie Charts and use the appropriate

tense (past, present or future).

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● Focus on getting all of the appropriate data from the Pie Charts/Graphs into your

writing.
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 REVIEW GAME
● https://dashboard.blooket.com/set/61f1df53633296addd4d76a3

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 Vocabulary to Use

Written form Percentage Fraction

a half 50% 1/2

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a third 33% 1/3
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two thirds 66% 2/3

three quarters 75% 3/4

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a quarter 25% 1/4

 Verbs Example
soar the use of water soared in March
leap the prices leapt to 90% in one year
climb populations climbed to over one million by 1980
rocket use of cars rocketed in the first decade
surge a surge of migration is seen in November
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Verbs Example
sink The cost of housing sunk after 2008
slip back Use of electricity slipped back to 50 in May
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dip Divorce rate dipped in the 60s

drop A drop in crime can be seen last year
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plummet Tourists to the city plummets after September

 Adjective Example Adverb Example
Significant A significant change Significantly Changed significantly

Dramatic A dramatic shift Dramatically Sifts dramatically

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Sudden A sudden rise Suddenly Has risen suddenly
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Substantial A substantial gain Substantially Gained substantially

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Sharp A sharp decrease Sharply Had decreased sharply

 Adjective Example Adverb Example
Consistent A consistent flow Consistently Flowed consistently

Steady A steady movement Steadily Moved steadily

Constant Constant shift Constantly Shifted constantly

Adjective Example Adverb Example

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Slight A slight rise Slightly Rose slightly

Gradual A gradual fall Gradually Has fallen gradually
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Marginal A marginal change Marginally Had changed marginally

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Modest A modest increase Modestly Increases modestly

 Which Tense to Use

● Check the graph title, and the pie chart subtitles, look for dates! 

– if the year is before the present year (i.e. 2018), use the past tense

– if the year is after the present year (i.e c2026), use the future tense

– if there is no year, use the present simple tense

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● Check you don’t accidentally switch the tense half way through.

Sometimes you will get charts and graphs that will require you to use more
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than one tense, but do this deliberately and with caution.

 Changes
Exercise 1

1. increased / rose / went up (in any order),

2. fell / dropped / went down / declined
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(in any order),
3. remained steady / remained constant (in either order),
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4. fluctuated / peaked at / reached a peak of (in either order)

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 Changes
Exercise 2

1. gradually / steadily (in either order),

2. slightly,
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3. dramatically / sharply (in either order),
4. upward trend
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 Changes
Exercise 3
(1) increased / rose / went up
(2) gradually / steadily between April and June
(3) increased / rose / went upc
(4) dramatically / sharply in July, and continued to
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(5) go up / increase / rise

(6) fluctuated, but then
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(7) dropped / fell / declined / decreased / went down

(8) dramatically / sharply
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ANSWER KEYS
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 Exercise 2
1. Furthermore / In addition / In Moreover / What’s more
2. As well as / Besides (not In addition, as this would need to before the verb),
3. Likewise / Similarly / In the same way
4. As well as / Along with, c

5. Also / Furthermore / In addition / Moreover / What’s more,

6. Likewise / similarly,
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7. Likewise / In the same way / Similarly,

8. In brief,
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9. In brief / We can conclude that,

10. Therefore
 IELTS WRITING
TASK 2
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 Types of essays:
There are 5 main types of IELTS Task 2 essays:
1)  Opinion Essays 
2)  Discussion Essays
3)  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
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4)  Problem Solution Essays
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 Basic 4 part
structure for Task 2

1) Introduction
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2)  Main Body Paragraph 1 

3)  Main Body Paragraph 2 
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4)  Conclusion
 Opinion essays
Questions for this type of essays consist of two parts
●Part one :

Statement
●Part two: c
Opinion about the statement:
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●What is your opinion?

●Do you agree or disagree?

●To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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c
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 Key tips:

● Choose one side of the argument.

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● State your opinion clearly in the introduction.

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● Keep the same opinion throughout the essay.

● Give reasons why you hold this view.
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 Essay Structure:

1) Introduction
Paraphrase the question
Give your opinion
State two supporting reasons
2) Main body paragraph 1
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Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
Explanation – explain this idea
Example – give an example
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3) Main body paragraph 2

Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
Explanation – explain this idea
Example – give an example
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4) Conclusion
Summarise opinion and key reasons
 Essay structure

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 Discussion Essays
● In discussion essays, you have to discuss both sides of an argument.
Usually, you will be asked for your own opinion as well.
● The easiest way to approach this type
c of IELTS Task 2 question is to
choose one point of view to agree with and one side to disagree with.
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c
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 Key tips:
● Develop both sides of the argument.
● Talk about the view you don’t agree with first.

● A big mistake many students make is to fully develop only one point of view. This leads to an
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unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement. 

● It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons
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for your opposing view.

 Essay Structure:

1) Introduction
Paraphrase the question
Give your opinion
State two supporting reason
2) Main body paragraph 1 – Opposing Viewpoint
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Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with
Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
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Example – give an example

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Similar Viewpoint
Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with
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Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people

Example – give an example
4) Conclusion-Summarise the key points and state your opinion
 Problem solution essays
● These are sometimes called ‘causes and solutions’ or ‘problems and
solutions’ essays.
● This type of IELTS Task 2 questionc starts with a statement, then asks
you to discuss the problems or causes and the solutions.
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 Key tips:
● Don’t list lots of causes and solutions.
● Choose just one or two and develop them fully.
● Be sure to link each problem/cause
c and its solution.
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c
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 Essay Structure:

1) Introduction
Paraphrase the question
State 1 key problem/cause and related solution
2) Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause
Topic sentence – state the problem
c or cause
Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause
Example – give an example
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3) Main body paragraph 2 – Solution

Topic sentence – state the solution
Explanation – give detail explaining the solution
Example – give an example
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4) Conclusion
Summarise the key points and state your opinion
 Advantages & Disadvantages
Essays:
● The first part of the question will be a statement. You will be asked to
write about both the advantages and disadvantages
c of the idea stated.
● Here is some typical wording that might be used:
● What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
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● Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

● Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
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c
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 Essay Structure:
1) Introduction
Paraphrase the question
Outline the view or views stated the statement
2) Main body paragraph 1 – Advantage
Topic sentence – state 1 advantage
c the advantage
Explanation – give detail explaining
Example – give an example
Result – state the result
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3) Main body paragraph 2 – Disadvantage

Topic sentence – state 1 disadvantage
Explanation – give detail explaining the disadvantage
Example – give an example
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Result – state the result

4) Conclusion
Summarise the key points State your opinion if required
 Answer keys 9. The most important reason / The
main reason,
1. However, 10. As far as I am concerned / For me,
2. First of all / Firstly, 11. Many consider,
3. As well as / In addition to, 12. Secondly,
4. I believe / I think, 13. Finally,
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5. Moreover / Furthermore, 14. In other words,

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6. Although / While, 15. In conclusion / To summarise,

7. as well, 16. On the one hand,
8. Nevertheless, 17. On the other hand,
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18. In my opinion