essay writing skills for ielts

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT , with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the question. Note that these are paraphrased - you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out the what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does). The writer clearly agrees as he/she thinks there will be more negative impacts.

View this lesson for more advice on writing IELTS essay introductions.

2) Body Paragraphs

For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

Here is the first body paragraph:

On the positive side, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster. This has resulted in numerous benefits for commerce and business as there is no need to wait weeks for letters or take time sending faxes, which was the case in the past. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. These developments have made life far easier and more convenient for many.

The controlling idea in this first paragraph is the ' benefits of IT ', and there are two supporting ideas, which are underlined. No drawbacks are discussed as the paragraph would then lose coherence.

Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and the spread of computer viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe that these are outweighed by the drawbacks. In the future these will need to be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts on individuals and society.

The full IELTS Essay:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT , with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, I strongly believe that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis.

(290 Words)

The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion.

The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the third paragraph is a qualifying statement ( Nevertheless, not all the effects. ..), so the writer can now focus on the negative elements.

The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples ( lack of regulation, viruses ). Both paragraphs suggest that these problems will continue in the future.

The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement.

Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation (... this has made life ...) but importantly, also refers to the future of IT (... likely to increase. .., might get worse ...).

Have you found this page useful?

Then you may be interested in IELTS buddy's Task 2 eBook , full of tips and strategies for quickly achieving a high score in the IELTS test.

Now you know the basics of writing an IELTS Essay, you can go on and look at further sample essays or if you prefer, check out the next lessons for Writing Task 2.

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6 ways to improve your writing skills for IELTS

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Many people struggle with the IELTS exam preparation , it’s well-known for being tough, and will test anyone’s language abilities to the limit. For a lot of people, the writing part of the test can be the most stressful, but don’t worry, we have some top tips for anyone who might be finding it tough. Take a look at some of our insights and advice, and you’re sure to ace the IELTS writing test.

1. Understand the prompt

Whether you’re writing for the Academic or General Test, or you’re on Task 1 or Task 2, make sure you understand exactly what the prompt is asking you to do. If you are writing a letter, make sure you identify the register (formal or informal) and know what salutations and closings are acceptable. If you are writing an opinion essay, make sure you can identify both sides of the issue. If you are describing graphs or processes, first identify what the graphs show, then identify the main trends and useful features to compare. Once you wrap your mind around the task, you can begin the outline for your paper.

2. Always make an outline

Before you start writing, you should make an outline. Students sometimes argue that because it is a timed test, they shouldn’t spend precious minutes making an outline. This is simply not true! An outline will save you time by keeping you focused as you write, so you don’t deviate from the topic. An outline will also help you organise your ideas and put them in the best order before you start writing. Most importantly, having a good outline means you can focus on the language you are using (vocabulary and sentence structure) rather than the ideas you will present.

So how detailed should your outline be? You should start by writing a thesis statement (Writing Task 2) or important points to include in your introduction. Your thesis statement is the driving force behind your entire essay, and every paragraph will relate back to and support it. For Writing Task 1, organise your introduction by writing down the answer to the question: “What information should someone know about these charts/graphs/diagrams?” (Academic Task 1) or “What is the purpose of this letter?” (General Task 1).

For the body paragraphs, your outline only needs to reflect the main topic for the paragraph, the evidence to be used, and, if appropriate (Task 2), how it supports your thesis statement. It is not necessary to write anything in the outline for your conclusion, as the conclusion is a restatement or summary of your argument, and you will not be presenting any new ideas. In the case of letter-writing (General Task 1), a formal conclusion may or may not be necessary.

3. Put your best foot forward

When organising the opinion essay during the outline stage, determine the order in which you will present your ideas. Your strongest body paragraph should come first, as this will create your reader’s first and most important impressions. If you have three body paragraphs, put the best one first, followed by the weakest one in the middle, and lastly the second-strongest. This way your reader will leave your essay with a good impression.

4. Keep it simple (Your idea, that is)

It is important to remember that the IELTS writing tasks are not testing how well you know the subject, or how smart you are. They assess your ability to present ideas clearly and cohesively in English. Therefore, it is important to structure paragraphs and sentences so that they present one idea per sentence and one controlling idea per paragraph. Support your arguments with evidence (an example or explanation), then conclude your paragraph by linking the support to your thesis.

5. Focus on language, not length

IELTS writing does not need to be long, although you do need to aim for the required word count (150 and 250 words). Task 2 essays need only have two strong body paragraphs, although three is certainly a plus if you can manage it. You score points for using complex sentence structure and strong vocabulary accurately and naturally. Rather than worrying about the length of your essay, take the time to include interesting vocabulary and avoid repeating words. As you prepare for the IELTS exam, you should be working to build your vocabulary for a variety of topics. In addition, you may want to group synonyms or related words together on flashcards. This will help you think of synonyms to use while writing.

Also make sure that you are familiar with and comfortable using cohesive words and phrases naturally. Again, avoid repeating the same cohesive devices. You will impress the reader by presenting clear, concise, and cohesive arguments, so this should be your focus while writing.

6. Proofread!

This can be a challenge for timed tests, but it is essential to reserve a couple of minutes after each writing task to proofread. You should look for small mistakes in spelling and grammar. This is not the time to decide that your argument is not effective and write a new paragraph (that’s what your outline is for!). Read your essay and make sure that it is cohesive, and add sentences or phrases to make stronger connections between ideas if you need to.

If you’re looking for more help with the IELTS exam, it might pay to read our previous blog post focusing on IELTS speaking test tips .

6 Important Ways Of How to Improve Writing Skills for IELTS

Writing is a complex skill and not just for someones who are learning English or doing the IELTS test but also for an inborn English speaker. We don’t often have to write essays or describe graphs in our everyday life. They are more habitual of writing text messages or emails. But there are things you can do to practice and enhance your writing.

For many students, the writing section of the IELTS test can be one of the most challenging parts. Students research ways to improve their English writing skills quickly and look for how to improve writing skills for IELTS and find easy ways to learn them.

Here, we discuss tips for improving writing skills for IELTS and some IELTS writing topics for students.

Lets’ begin!

What is the purpose of IELTS?

The purpose of IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is to measure how proficient writing and language are of those who want to study or work in a country where the primary language is English.

6 Ways of how to improve writing skills for IELTS

Understand the statement .

Understanding the statement is necessary for both task 1 and task 2. You should first identify whether it’s formal or informal to write the proper starting and closing. You can only write in the correct method if you know what the question demands.

Make an outline

Before you start writing, you should make an outline. An outline will help you save your time by keeping focused as you write to avoid shifting from the topic. An outline will also help you organize your thoughts and put them in the best order before writing. It is one of the good ways of how to improve writing skills for IELTS.

Put your best foot forward

When organizing an outlook essay during the outline stage, determine the order in which you will present your thoughts. Your strong body paragraph should come first, as this will create your reader’s first and most important impressions.

Keep it simple

IELTS writing tasks judge your ability to write your ideas and views in English, and they don’t see your knowledge about the given topic. It is important to clarify your thoughts and ideas and make a well-structured essay. You should provide relevant supporting points and examples.

Focus on language, not length

IELTS does not need to be lengthy, while you must aim for the required word count (150-250 words). You score points for using complex sentence structure and strong vocabulary correctly and naturally.

Proofread

Proofreading is one of the main tasks. You should reserve some time to recheck what you have written at the end of the exam. This helps to identify and correct any spelling or grammar mistakes done by you.

Techniques for improving IELTS writing skills-

Know your weakness and strength.

It is to identify where you stand in terms of the English language. It is senseless to learn tips to write the IELTS exam if you do not know where you stand. Take a diagnostic test to identify your weakness and strengths. Take multiple diagnostic tests to learn the pattern of your mistakes.

Learn and improve your vocabulary

It shows how well you can express your thoughts and emotions in different situations. Learn ways to use vocabulary in different situations. Practicing using these words in sentences and phrases.

Improve your English writing skills

Pick a storybook, newspaper or magazine journal, article, and practice reading. As you progress, challenge yourself with tough reading articles and underline all the difficult words you overlook while reading and look for their meaning.

Practice communication in English

Speaking and listening to English will help you improve your vocabulary and enhance your grammar understanding. Also, watching English movies will help you understand how to use words and phrases in a particular context.

Practising writing regularly

Practice writing short essays, letters, reviews, writing about your days and experiences, etc. It will help you enhance your writing skills and as well reduce mistakes. Practice rewriting your sentences and organizing your answer in the word limit.

Tips for How to improve writing skills for IELTS

Use your time wisely .

The one tip for how to improve writing skills for IELTS is to use your time wisely. You get 50 minutes to complete the whole section. Task two contributes more to your score, so I recommend spending no more than 20 minutes on task one and 30 minutes on task two. Involves time for planning and checking what you’ve written.

Check the number of words

You are required to write at least 150 words for the first task and 250 words for the second task. If you write less than the required words, then you will lose marks.

Understand the task

Read the instructions carefully and underline or highlight the keywords. Know what questions you need to cover and what information you need to include.

Organize your ideas

Spend up to five minutes on the imagination of ideas and select what information you’re going to include. Organize your thoughts logically and include linking words and cohesive devices between paragraphs, sentences, and phrases.

Know your approach

Each task requires a specific approach. It analyzes the question, brainstorms ideas using bullet points, plans the paragraph, addresses your bullet points, and writes the letter.

Think about style

Each task type requires an appropriate manner, determining your choice of grammatical structures and verbal resources.

List of IELTS writing topics for students-

Environment.

Final words

We discussed some techniques and tips for how to improve writing skills for IELTS. We provide many IELTS writing topics on environment, culture, education, health, etc. Do the practice of writing tasks and read newspapers or magazines to improve your writing and reading skills. Writing is the hardest task, and even good writers can make errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

The best thing is that you can speak to an expert who can provide you with feedback to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

For more updates, stay tuned with Iwin blogs!

Is 7 band score good in writing tasks.

Yes, 7 is a good band score. But scoring 7 bands in a writing task is not easy for many IELTS aspirants. The way to achieve this band score is to practice daily.

How can I improve my IELTS writing score from 6.5 to 8?

IELTS General Writing Task 1 – Effective Way to Write a letter

How to Crack the IELTS Exam in First GO in just 15 Tips

How to improve your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay (2023)

To improve your writing score in IELTS Writing Task 2 you need to

Here are my 9 best tips to improve your IELTS Essay-writing techniques.

1. How to answer the question

There is no correct way to answer an IELTS Writing Task 2 question. You can answer the question in many different ways, and they could all achieve a high score.

But there are some things that you can do to get the highest score possible .

Answer the question very closely and specifically.

For example, if the question is about the benefits of mobile phones, make sure that your arguments relate to mobile phones and not just the internet or computers. The argument that they are useful in emergencies is better than the argument that you can chat with your friends.

Underline key words and keep looking back at the question to check you’re still answering it as you write.

For every point you make, tell the examiner how it relates to the question, for example by using a ‘so what’ sentence or a PEEL paragraph (Point, Explanation, Example, Link back to the question).

Give your own opinion strongly and clearly

Don’t ‘sit on the fence’. Make your opinion clear in the introduction (e.g. ‘This essay will argue in favour/against…) and summarise it again in the conclusion.

This gives you a good opportunity to use linking words of concession and balance (‘Although others might argue that…. I believe that…’)

2. How many words should I write?

IELTS Writing is about quality, not quantity.

The minimum word count guide is 250 words so it is important not to go UNDER this limit.

Don’t be afraid to go over the word limit , especially if you’re a confident writer, aiming for a Band 7 or above.

Even if you’re a strong writer, try not to go over 300-320 otherwise the examiner might not read your final paragraph, and you risk losing focus/going off topic.

Make sure that you leave a full 40 minutes for Task 2, as it is worth more than Task 1.

3. How formal should my language be?

The IELTS exam tests your ability to write Academic English, so it has to be formal. For example, you

should NOT use contractions ( don’t/ isn’t/ won’t ) – always write two words ( do not/ is not/ will not )

should NOT use ‘spoken’ language like ‘I’m gonna/ I wanna’ – always write ‘I am going to/ I want to’ or slang words like ‘kids’ .

should avoid personal stories such as ‘Me and my friend text each other all the time, so mobile phones are really useful’ . It’s better to use more general examples: ‘One of the major benefits of having a mobile phone is the ability to get a message to the recipient without having to disturb them with a phone call’.

I do NOT recommend inventing research articles to make your essay more ‘academic-sounding’.

Here is the best way to refer to research in an IELTS Task 2 essay.

How to make writing more formal in IELTS Writing Task 2

4. Should I use a ‘template’ for IELTS Writing Task 2?

Template essays are very unnatural and almost always fail to answer the question directly.

Memorised sentences are often empty and meaningless, as you can see in the example below:

‘This controversial topic has become a heated debated recently. In my essay I will firstly discuss the advantages and then I will go on to discuss the disadvantages. Finally I will summarise my opinion and conclude that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages’.

(46 words which say almost nothing )

The questions are designed to test your ability to analyse and express your ideas about a topic clearly.

This will not be possible if you try to use ‘template’ essays, as these cannot be made to fit each topic.

It is much better to spend time developing your language so that you can tackle ANY question with confidence.

5. What essay structures should I use for Task 2?

There’s a difference between a template (see point 4) and a structure.

An essay structure is a way of organising your ideas so that they are logical and easy for the examiner to follow.

It is very simple to structure an IELTS essay based on the question types, for example:

Structure your essay into 4 clear paragraphs like this:

6. How to write the introduction

Many teachers recommend that you paraphrase the question in the Introduction.

This option is popular because it is an easy option.

It is not difficult to substitute words and follow the structure that the question has already given you.

However, I believe this option is dangerous for two main reasons:

I recommend that you write a General Statement that reflects on the issue, followed by a VERY clear statement of your opinion.

7. How to organise your writing logically

Writing a quick plan, and structuring your essay into 4 or 5 paragraphs will help the reader follow the logic of your argument.

There are a few more things you can do.

8. How can I make my writing more complex?

Examiners would much prefer to read an essay that is clear and easy to understand, than one where the writer is trying to be complex.

So you should not try to use language that is more complex than you are comfortable with.

But there are some simple changes you can make to improve your writing if you tend to use very simple structures. You can

9. How to write accurately

According to the Official Band Descriptors , you do NOT need to write perfect English to get a high score.

Having a good teacher and getting regular practice and feedback will obviously help you write accurately, but there are lots of ways you can help yourself too e.g.

Do you need motivation, high-quality materials, a roadmap, feedback, guidance and an IELTS specialist teacher?

Join the Members Academy today.

Get instant access to all courses, challenges, boot camps, live classes, interactive and engaging classes, 1:1 support, and a friendly tight-knit community of like-minded learners to get you to Band 7+ .

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