IELTS ESSAY STRUCTURE ACADEMICS & GENERAL TRAINING IELTS
IELTS 8+ Band structure
There are two types of IELTS essays:-
1. General Training IELTS (Immigration purpose)
2. Academics IELTS (Student university entry)
Listening and Speaking is the same for both IELTS But, Reading and Writing are slightly different
There Are Two Tasks In IELTS Writing:-
Task 1
Academics: Summarize graph, table or diagram
General Training: Write a letter
Word count: 150
Duration: 20 mins
Task 2
Write an essay
word count: 250
Duration: 40 mins
8+ IELTS Band Tips
TIPS for writing an introduction
• Start with a general statement or a hook to grab the reader’s attention.
• Provide background information on the topic.
• The key to success on the IELTS test is to keep everything as simple as possible.
• Always write formal words in IELTS just keep it simple
• State your position or thesis statement, which presents the main argument or viewpoint of your essay.
• In an IELTS essay, they will always give you three bullet points. and this is so useful when you write a letter.
• firstly, keep in mind while writing the letter forget about the number of words. when you will write just rather than the quality of the paragraph.
• Your first priority should be writing a good paragraph with good uses of lexical resources and grammar.
• Task 1 anything between 50-60 words is appropriate for only each bullet point paragraph there are three bullet points in an IELTS essay.
• Find out formal and informal letters in IELTS.
• If you see the word “friend”, then that is an informal letter or an email.
• Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea or argument.
Four parts of Essay structure Task 2
1. Introduction
2. Main Body Paragraph 1
3. Main Body Paragraph 2
4. Conclusion
IELTS Essay Writing Task 2
Types of essays
1. Opinion Essays
2. Discussion Essays
3. Problems Essays
4. Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
5. Double Questions Essays
1. Opinion Essays
Opinion essays in IELTS are also called ‘agree and disagree ‘ or ‘argumentive’ essays.
Typical wording in the Opinion Essay:
• What is your opinion?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Opinion essay structure
(a) Introduction
• Paraphrase the questions
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons
(b) Main body Paragraph 1
• Topic sentence (outline 1st reason)
• Explanation
• Example
(c) Main Body Paragraph 2 (outline 2nd reason)
• Topic sentence
• Explanation
• Example
(d) Conclusion
• Summarize opinion and main points to conclude.
Tips for Opinion Essays
• Choose only one side of the argument.
• Give reasons why you hold this view.
• Keep the same opinion throughout the essay.
• State your opinion clearly
Discussion Essay
Discussion essay you either need to discuss both sides of a topic and give your opinion, or only discuss both sides and leave out your opinion.
Discussion Essay structure
(a) Introduction
• Paraphrase the question
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons
(b) Main Body Paragraph 1 (Negative Viewpoint)
• Topic sentence
• Explanation
• Example
• Your opinion
(c) Main Body Paragraph 2 ( Positive Viewpoint)
• Topic sentence
• Explanation
• Example
• Your opinion
(d) Conclusion
• Summarize the viewpoints and State your opinion.
Tips for Discussion Essays in IELTS
• Develop both sides of the argument
• Talk about the view you don’t agree with for
3. Problems Essays Structure
It’s important to link the problems and solutions together well in these essays.
(a) Introduction
• Paraphrase the question
• State 1 key point
(b) Main Body Paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause
• Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
• Explanation – give detail explaining the solution
• Example
• give an example
(c) Conclusion
• Summarize the key points and state your opinion.
Tips for problems essay questions
• Don’t list many causes and solutions.
• Keep it simple.
• Choose just one or two and develop them fully.
• Be sure to link each problem and its solution.
4. Advantages and Disadvantages Essays
Stick to the topic and focus on the pros and cons and don’t get sidetracked with the general topic.
Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Structure
(a) Introduction
• Paraphrase the questions
• Outline the view or views stated in the statement
(b) Main body Paragraph 1 – Advantage
• Topic sentence – state 1 advantage
• Explanation – give details explaining the advantage
• Example – give an example
• Result – state the result
(c) Conclusion
• Summarize the key points
5. Double Questions Essays
Since you need to answer two questions in one essay, summarizing your information is very important here.
Double Questions Essays structure
(a) Introduction
• Paraphrase the questions
• Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions
Main body paragraph 1- Answer question 1
• Topic sentence – state your answer
• Explanation – explain why you think this
• Example – give an example
Conclusion
• Summarize both questions and answers
Tips for Double Questions Essays
• Be careful that you don’t end up with too many ideas to write about
•You must answer both questions fully
•Don’t confuse it with an opinion or a discussion essay
IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary Words For Graphs & Pie charts Academics vocabulary Words To Use:-
• Go down – Decrease, fall, drop, decline, plunge (big change), plummet (big change, downturn, a downswing.
• Go up: Increase, rise, grow, double (2x), treble (3), climb, rocket (big change).
• Constant change:- Fluctuate, be unstable, volatile, instability.
• Position:- Reach a high/peak of reach a low, stood at, start/begin at, end/finish at.
• No change:- Level off, stabilize, remain the same, remain stable, remain unchanged.
IELTS Writing Phrases that you should use in IELTS Writing Structure for both Academics and general training:-
• Expressing Opinion:- In my opinion, From my point of view, As far as I’m concerned, To my mind.
• Listing Points:- First, To begin with, First and foremost, In the first place, First of all, Second, Third, Finally, Lastly, Last but not the least.
• Referring and giving examples:- When it comes to, Concerning, As far as, Regarding, For instance, For example, Such as, Like, Among others.
• Adding more points:- What is more, In addition, Furthermore, Moreover, Besides, On top of that, In addition to, Besides, Not only, Besides, But also, As well, Too, Also.
• Adding emphasis:- It goes without saying that, Needless to say, Clearly, Obviously, There is little doubt that.
• Contrasting points:- Although, Even though, Though, Despite/even though, However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Even so, But, yet, On the hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, meanwhile, while.
• Expressing effect and reason:- So, therefore, consequently, as a consequence, as a result, for that reason, due to, owing to, on account of, because of.
• Clarifying or rephrasing:- In other words, to put it another way, to put it simply, that is to way.
• Conclusion:- To conclude, all things considered, In conclusion, In summary, all in all.
✖Avoid these mistakes in IELTS Writing:-
• Don’t use contractions. (e.g. I don’t)
• Avoid informal language.
• Don’t forget to summarize and conclude your essay in the last paragraph.
• Don’t use arguments or examples unrelated to the topic.
• Don’t repeat the same vocabulary.
• Don’t write less than 250 words.
• Don’t use emotive language.
• Don’t use simple vocabulary avoid writing simple words.
• Don’t forget to answer all the questions.