IELTS General Training Writing Task Tips

IELTS has become the buzz words for students recently graduating. The abundance of opportunities available abroad has turned the education sector to almost a 360 degree. While there are ample numbers of institutes preparing students for the IELTS exam, it all reduces to how well a student can devote time to self study so as to ace the exam.

In this article, we shall tell you about some useful IELTS General Training Writing Task tips. Make sure you take a close look at the blog since these tips have been suggested by some of the well known experts in the field.

Before we begin, let us know about the pattern of the writing section.

There are 2 questions divided into 2 tasks which have to be completed within a time frame of 60 minutes.

In the first task, the test takers are required to respond to a particular situation by say, writing a letter or requesting information. In the second task, examinees are required to write an essay with respect to an argument or problem.

The tasks are marked on the basis of coherence, grammatical accuracy and overall comprehension of the question.

So here is the much awaited IELTS General Training Writing Task Tips:

1. Be precise in your approach:

Often, students get swayed with the question and tend to write much more than required. One of the keys to ace the IELTS writing section is to ensure brevity of thought and clarity in writing. This ensures that the examiner reads only what is relevant. This is being said with respect to the letter that is to be written in the first task. Make sure that you use bullets to explain your argument or situation. In the first paragraph, describe your situation. In the second paragraph, explain the kind of problems or issues that the question suggests and in the final paragraph, jot down the kind of solutions that you desire or wish to be offered. Your approach towards the question should be free from unnecessary arguments.

2. Formal or informal:

One of the biggest problem test takers face is deciding whether the letter to be written is formal or informal. Well, here is the tip if the question mentions the word ‘friend’, the letter is surely going to be informal. If the question asks you to write to any other person, it is a formal letter. This is the best way to decide the kind of letter that you are going to write. Remember, there is no third type of letter except these two. Follow this simple advice and you will never go wrong.

3. Salutations:

In order to write a good letter, apart from writing a good body, you also need to focus on salutations. There are a few set phrases that you can use in an informal letter. These are easily available in training manuals. Use them to enhance the structure of your letter. At the end, do not forget to write ‘Yours Sincerely’ or ‘Yours Faithfully’. Relevant details look all the more appealing along with the right kind of salutations. You may skip such formal salutations while writing an informal letter.

4. Word limit:

It is advisable that you write a minimum of 150 words in your letter. Writing less than this word limit can entail subtraction of marks. 150 words might sound a herculean job for those beginning with the test prep but as you progress, it will seem a small number to you. Here is another useful IELTS General Training Writing Task Tip- you will not lose marks if you write more, however, you need to gauge the time constraint and then formulate your decision accordingly.

5. Formulate your argument:

Talking about the second task of the IELTS exam, one great IELTS General Training Writing Task Tip is to formulate your argument before you start writing. Remember, perspectives may differ. There is never a correct stance; it is only how you conceive it is what defines your score. If you feel that a particular line of thought might fetch you better arguments, go ahead and write them down. Avoid detracting from the decided stance in the middle of the essay.

6. Use illustrations:

Illustrations are the best way to ensure that the paper checker stays hooked to your written piece. To give examples is not rocket science, given the type of topics on which you are supposed to write an essay. For instance, if the essay is about the use of smart phones, quote examples from your daily life such as the use of maps, sending emails or maybe sending texts to your loved ones at the click of a button. Examples should be short and precise. Don’t write long paragraphs containing mere examples. Well, use illustrations to only SUPPORT your argument.

7. Conclusions:

Conclusions shouldn’t be more than a couple of sentences long. Don’t spend too much time concluding your argument. Only alter keywords from the body of your essay rewrite it with a different style to form a conclusion. Reiterate your stance in the concluding lines to that the paper checker has a fair idea of how you maintained your stance on a particular topic.

8. Grammatical range and accuracy:

Here is the most important IELTS General Training Writing Task Tip- Use grammar wisely and use it with utmost care. Your grammar is what is going to make you win the game. In fact, grammar is one of the key criteria that are used to determine your test score. It is all about using the right kind of English. Invest in a good grammar book and read it often. The more you practice writing, the better you are going to be over time. In addition, we also suggest that you first write short and simple sentences before moving to long and complex ones.

9. Vocabulary:

Well, we are sure you must be tired of reading this tip probably all over the internet. Even though it sounds trite, a good vocabulary is always a savior. Avoid using the same words again and again in your writing. Use synonyms instead. In addition, we advise you to buy a thesaurus since it is an extremely handy tool to improve your vocabulary. For instance, use ‘decline’ instead of ‘falling’, ‘examine’ instead of ‘checking’, etc. a good writer always uses terms that beautify the presence of any written piece.

10. Revise your paper:

Isn’t it something you have been hearing since you started school? Isn’t it the best way to ensure success in an exam? It surely is! The best way to present an error free paper is to scan its contents once you have finished writing. You might find spelling errors or tense errors in the simplest of sentences. It occurs with all of us due to exam pressure. Correct these in time so you don’t lose precious marks.

Well, this was all about the best IELTS General Training Writing Task Tips. If you have any query or wish to share more such tips, feel free to contact the Studydekho team. We will be more than happy to accommodate your opinion. You can also take a tour of our website to grab useful tips about other courses as well.