A Complete Guide to the IELTS Writing Test - AC

A
Complete
Guide to the
IELTS Writing
Test
(Academic)

In this presentation, you will learn the following points about the IELTS
Writing test.
1. General Information
2. Test Format
3. Question Format
4. Question Types
5. Assessment criteria and its key indicators.
6. Marking

IELTS Writing
General
Information

 For both the tests, there are two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2.
 Task 2 is the same for both the tests.
 Task 1 is different for Academic and General Training.
 In Task 1 General Training test, you will be asked to write a letter; (1) A formal letter or (2) An
informal letter.
 In Task 1 Academic, you receive a graph, diagram, process or map and the task is to describe it
in 150 words.
 IELTS Academic is required for students looking for admissions in universities and colleges.
IELTS General Training is required for immigration purposes.
 IELTS Writing- General Training vs Academic
IELTS Writing - General Information

It’s the third
module of the
test.
IELTS Writing - General Information
The Writing test is the third
module of the test. It comes
right after the Listening and
Reading modules.

Task 1
&
Task 2
The module is divided into two parts known as:
Task 1 andTask 2.
Each of the task has one question.
Recommended time for task 1 is 20 minutes
and for task 2 is 40 minutes.
IELTS Writing – Test Format

Task 1
&
Task 2
In Task 1 Academic, you receive a graph, diagram,
process or map and the task is to describe it in
150 words.
In Task 2, You will be given a topic and asked to
write an essay in 250 words.
IELTS Writing – Test Format

Describe facts or figures presented in
one or more graphs or charts ,
or explain how a machine, a device or
a process works,
or describe a map.
IELTS Writing – Task 1 – Question Types
Task 1 -
Question Format
In Task 1- You will be asked to describe
some visual information like:

There will be a brief description of the
chart, diagram or map followed by a
standard question.
Task 1 has a
standard
question format.
The next slide will show you the question format of
Task 1 as it appears in the actual test.
“Summarise the information by
selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons
where relevant”

Brief description of the chart
Standard Question
Task 1 question format:
A brief description followed by a standard question (Example).

Task 1
Question
Types.
Line
Graph
Table
Chart
Bar Chart
Pie Chart
Multiple
Charts
Process
Diagram
Map
In the next few slides, you will see
examples of these question types as
they appear in the actual test.All
examples are taken from Cambridge
IELTS books.

Process Diagram
(Man-Made Process)
Example:

Process Diagram
(Natural Process)
Example:
The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon, from
egg to adult fish.

Task 1-
Task Focus
(1)To identify the most important
information and trends in a graph, chart,
table or diagram, and
(2) To give a well-organised
overview in an academic style.
Task 1 focuses on your ability to:

These are the four characteristics of an academic essay:
Planned and focused: answers the question and demonstrates an
understanding of the subject.
Structured: is coherent, written in a logical order, and brings together
related points and material.
Evidenced: demonstrates knowledge of the subject area, supports
opinions and arguments with evidence.
Formal in tone and style: uses appropriate language and tenses, and is
clear, concise and balanced.
IELTS Writing – Task 1/Task 2 Marking
 What is an Academic Essay?

In Task 2 question there will be a
topic (a point of view, an argument or a problem)
followed by a question asking for
your response.
Task 2 -
Question
Format
The next slide will show you the question format
ofTask 2 as it appears in the actual test.
IELTS Writing – Task 2 – Question Format

Topic
Question
Task 2 question format:
There will be a topic (a point of view, an argument or a problem) followed
by a question asking for your response (Example).

InTask 2, you will
be asked to
respond to:
A point of view, or
An argument, or
A problem.

In the next few slides, you will see
examples of these question types as
they appear in the actual test.
1. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
2. To what extent do you agree or disagree ?
3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages?
4. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
5. Problem and solution essay.
6 Direct question essay.
7. Double question essay.
Here is the
list of Task
2 question
types.

Example of:
“Discuss both these views
and give your opinion”
essay.

“To what extent do you
agree or disagree ?”
essay.
Example of:

“Do the advantages
outweigh the
disadvantages?”
essay
Example of:

“Discuss the
Advantages and
Disadvantages?” essay
Example of:

“Problem and Solution”
essay.
Example of:

“Direct Question”
essay.
Example of:

“Double Question”
essay.
Example of:

Task 2-
Task Focus
The task focuses on your ability to:
(1) To present a clear, relevant,
well-organised argument,
(2) to give evidence or examples
to support the idea and,
(3) to use language accurately.

Task 1 & 2
Assessment
criteria & its key
indicators.

(1)
*Task
Achievement
/Response.
(2)
Coherence &
Cohesion.
(3)
Lexical
Resource.
(4)
Grammatical
Range &
Accuracy.
Each task is assessed independently
on these four criteria:
*The first criteria for Task 1 is called Task Achievement
and for Task 2 called Task Response.
Task 1 & 2 - Assessment Criteria.

Key Indicator:
(1) Task Achievement Task 1
Presents a clear overview of main trends.
Covers all requirements of the task sufficiently.
Presents, highlights and illustrates key features appropriately.
Mistake #1: No Overview (Summary of main trends).
Mistake #2: Incorrect analysis.
Mistake #3: Reporting every detail.
Mistake #4: Not enough comparisons.

Key Indicator:
(1) Task Response (Task 2)
Full and relevant response. ( For example, if the topic is a particular aspect of computers, you
should focus on this aspect in your response. You should not simply write about computers
in general.)
Sufficiently addresses all parts/issues of the task.
Presents a clear position throughout the essay. (There can be three positions: totally in
favour, totally against or partially in favour and partially against)
Ideas should be supported by evidence, and examples may be drawn from your own
experience.

 Identify the main topic of the essay
If you incorrectly identify the main idea then you CANNOT score above Band 4.
If you present a main idea that is not sufficiently developed and supported by examples then
you CANNOT score above Band 6.
 Identify all parts of the task
If you address only some parts of the task and not others then you CANNOT score above Band 5.
Even if you identify all parts of the task correctly but fail to cover each of them fully you WILL NOT be
able to score above Band 6.
 Present a position/opinion
If you do not express a clear position then you CANNOT score above Band 5.
 Conclusion
 If you do not write a conclusion at the end you CANNOT score above Band 5.
 If your conclusion is unclear or repetitive then you CANNOT score above Band 6.
Key Indicator:
(1) Task Response - Explanation (Task 2)

Key Indicators:
(2) Coherence and Cohesion
Cohesion means sentences and paragraphs linked using linking devices (for
example, logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions)
Logical organization of information.
Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing. Appropriate
paragraphing.

Key Indicators:
(3) Lexical Resource
Correct spellings.
Wide range of vocabulary of precise meaning.
Use of less common words.

Key Indicators:
(4) Grammatical Range & Accuracy
No grammatical errors.
Wide range of sentence structures (simple and
complex sentence structures).
Propper use of tenses.

You will be penalised if…
Notes or bullet points are not acceptable as answers. Contractions (short
forms) are also not allowed.
(1) the response is off-topic (irrelevant),
(2)or, is not written as full (too short of 150 words Task 1, 250 words Task 2),
(3) or, copying from any another source.

Task 1 & 2
Marking
(Academic & general)

(1) Task
Achievement
/Response
(2)
Coherence
and
Cohesion
(3)
Lexical
Resource
(4)
Grammatical
Range and
Accuracy
 Each task is marked independently on the
same four assessment criteria:
 Each segment makes 25% of the total marks.
 Each segment carries equal weight of 1 to 9.
Task 1 & 2 - Marking

The total score of each
task is the average of the
four segments.
Task Achievement / Task Response : Band 7
Coherence & Cohesion: Band 8
Lexical Resource: Band 6
Grammatical Range & Accuracy : Band 7
Example: If you get….
Your final Band for the task will be 7. (7+8+6+7 = 28/4 = 7)

Your final band score of the
Writing test is NOT the
average of the band scores
of Task 1 and Task 2.
See its explanation on the next slide.

Final Band Task 2 is worth
approximately 2/3 (60%)
of the overall IELTS
Writing exam score.
Task 1 is worth
approximately 1/3 (30%)of
the overall IELTSWriting
exam score; and

You get twice the
points for Writing
Task 2 .
See its explanation on the next slide.

Explanation of how you get twice the points for Writing Task 2.
Estimated score calculation:
For example if you get:
Writing Task 1 - Band score 8 and
Writing Task 2 - Band score 6
Your final band score will be: 8+6+6=20/3=6.66 = 6.5
(one task 1 score and two tasks 2 scores are added and divided by 3)
(IELTS usually round the number up or down to the nearest half score)

Final score examples:
But if you get a 5.0 in task 1 and a 6.0 in task 2, your final band
score will be 6.0.
 9+0+0=9/3 = 3If you get a band score of 9.0 in task 1and nothing in task 2.
Your final band score will be only 3.0.
If you get a band score of 9.0 in task 2, and gets nothing in task
1, your final band will be 6.0.
If you get a 6.0 in task 1 and a 5.0 in task 2, your final band
score will be 5.0.
 0+9+9=18/3 = 6
 6+5+5 16/3 = 5.333 = 5.0
 5+6+6= 17/3 = 5.66 = 6.0

 The Overall Band Score is the average of the four component scores, rounded
to the nearest whole or half band. The component scores are weighted equally.
Listening Reading Writing Speaking
Total of the
four individual
component
scores
divided by four.
Band score
Example 1 6.5 6.5 5.0 7.0 6.25 6.5
Example 2 4.0 3.5 4.0 4.0 3.875 4.0
Example 3 6.5 6.5 5.5 6.0 6.125 6.0
If the average of the four components ends in .25, the Overall Band Score is rounded
up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to
the next whole band.

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A Complete Guide to the IELTS Writing Test - AC

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