It is no surprise that many test-takers have the common fear of not performing well in the IELTS examination. Hence, the IELTS general writing task 2 is quite a complex task and completing it takes sheer determination and focus. The individuals are required to present a very well structured essay that demonstrates several skills. These skills usually include critical thinking, language proficiency and time management.
The good news here is that when equipped with the right strategies, you can have a significant improvement in your performance and achieve a high band score. In this write-up we will walk you through some of the effective IELTS writing task 2 tips focusing on scoring criteria and addressing common concerns.
IELTS General Writing Task 2: What Is It?
In the general writing task 2, the individuals are requested to write a formal essay of minimum 250 words for the prompt provided. The essay works by presenting a point of view, problem statement and argument that you need to express your opinion or even discuss both sides of the issues.
Also, the IELTS writing task 2 scoring criteria is typically broken down into 4 major areas such as coherence/cohesion, task response, lexical resources and grammatical accuracy. Knowing what the examiners are looking for in each of these areas will assist with better focus on the right aspects of the writing process and to achieve a high band score.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips for a High Band Score
If you wish to succeed in the IELTs writing task 2, then you need to have a clear plan and develop a set of skills. Here we have listed some of the tips to score exceptionally in IELTS writing:
Know the Scoring Criteria
Before you start with the writing tips you need to know how the exam is scored so that you can use these tips effectively for your assistance. Here are main assessment areas and things to check:
Response for Task: Check if you have addressed all the parts of the arguments? Is the argument presented well-supported and relevant to the prompt?
Coherence and Cohesion: Check if the essay you’ve written is logically structured and has clear paragraphs with an easy transition from one aspect to the another.
Lexical Resources: You need to ensure that you have used a variety of vocabulary in an accurate manner.
Grammatical Accuracy: Are your sentences making sense? Is the use of grammar right and have you used exemplary sentence formation techniques?
You need to focus on these aspects to assure yourself that you are meeting all the expectations of the examiners.
Practice with IELTS Writing Task 2 Common Topics
One of the most useful ways to prepare for the IELTS general writing task 2 is to make yourself familiar with the generic essay topics. These topics are around the themes such as environment, technology, education, society, and health.
Hence, with regular practice of IELTS writing task 2 common topics, you can develop the arguments and ideas in advance. All of this will make it easier for you to structure the essay at the designated time.
Plan Your Essay Before Writing
Most of the test-takers usually commit this mistake of getting straight to the writing without setting the plan to format their essay. This in turn eventually ends in a disorganized response that lacks coherence.
So, before you start writing, you need to take at least 3-5 minutes to plan the essay. Outline the main argument and decide the number of paragraphs that would be needed. Also, think about the major examples that you need to use for supporting all your points. Also, proper planning will help in not wasting any time trying to figure the next steps and stay focused.
Focus on Coherence and Cohesion
If you want to score high bands in writing task 2, then having a clear and logical structure is vital. Your essay needs to be divided into some well-organized paragraphs and each of them should focus on a specific idea.
Also, you should use transition words such as “for example”, “furthermore”, “in contrast” to have a link between senses and seamless flow. One thing that you need to remember is that coherence and cohesion weighs 25% of the total score, so it is important to ensure that your ideas are logically connected.
Conclusion
Achieving a high score in IELTS general writing task 2 is all about strategic planning and practice. This blog has outlined the steps to assist you and help you excel in the examination. Hence, if you are looking for additional support then the practice test offered by Engramm is the right bet.
With these courses, you can get access to the lexical resources, practice papers and much more. So, you can prepare yourself for the examination and get the band score of your dream.
