IELTS Writing Module

Test Format and Tasks
Format and Tasks
Strategies and Examples
Further Help
References
Questions

Test Format
Test Format
– Writing Module lasts 60 minutes.
– Two tasks:-
Task 1 – 20 minutes, 150 words.
Task 2 – 40 minutes, 250 words.
Words are counted by the examiners, so don’t write
too many or too few words.
Tip - learn how many words you usually write on a
line, and how many lines = 150 and 250 words, so
you don’t waste time counting words in the test.

Test Format and Tasks - Answers
Answers
– Must be written on the answer sheet.
– Must be written in full.
– Notes are not acceptable as answers.
– Notes may be made on the question
paper, but cannot be taken from the
test room.

Test Format and Tasks – Task 1
Task 1: (20 minutes, 150 words)
– Interpret a diagram or table, and present the
information in your own words.
Organise, present and possibly compare data
– e.g. money people spend on different forms of
entertainment.
Describe stages of a procedure or process
– e.g. the stages of human evolution.
Describe on object or event or series of events
– e.g. How the water cycle works.
Explain how something works
– e.g. How a car engine works.

Task 2 (40 minutes, 250 words)
– presented with a point of view or argument or
problem.
Present and justify an opinion
– e.g. Do you think trial by jury should be used in all
criminal cases?
Compare and contrast evidence, opinions and
implications
– e.g. How effective is it to reward good work with extra
money?
Evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an
argument
– e.g. ‘Failure shows desire wasn’t strong enough’. To
what extent do you agree?

Test Format and Tasks:
Assessment Criteria
General Points
You must respond appropriately in terms
of:
Register – formality and politeness; e.g. no
short forms
Organisation – clear and logical
Style – academic; e.g. no rhetorical
questions, no exclamations, no extreme
opinions, use tentative expressions such as
‘this appears to be…’ ‘this is probably due
to…’
Content – relevant and complete

Test Format and Tasks - Topics
Example Task Topics:
– Recommended Materials in CILL
Issues in English CD-ROM
Time, Newsweek and The Economist
magazines (also on the Internet)

Considerations for Task 1 include:
Task Fulfillment – answering the
question completely
Coherence – e.g. Firstly, Secondly,
Finally
Cohesion – e.g. ‘this’, ‘it’, ‘he’, ‘and’,
‘but’ and synonyms
Vocabulary – good range, appropriate
Sentence Structure – concise but not
simplistic; e.g. correct use of relative
clauses.

Example of Task 1
You should spend
about 20 minutes
on this task.
The graph below
shows the
different modes of
transport used to
travel to and from
work in one
European city in
1950, 1970 and
1990.
Academic Writing - Writing Task 1
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information
shown. You should write at least 150 words.

Example of Task 1
With a partner:
1. Identify the main
trends for each
mode.
2. Identify any large
increases or
decreases.
3. Are there any
clear and
consistent
directions?
4. Does anything
seem surprising?
5. Are there any
clear
relationships
between modes
or percentages?
Academic Writing - Writing Task 1

Possible Answer for Task 1
Full Answer
The graph shows the percentage of travellers in a European city
who used bus, car, bike and foot to commute to and from work in
the years 1950, 1970 and 1990.
The amount of people using cars grew considerably, rising from
just over 5% in 1950 to 25% in 1970, and then climbing to
almost 40% by 1990.
However, the amount of people using bikes decreased. Over 25%
of commuters cycled in 1950, but this had fallen to less than 10%
by 1990. Similarly, the amount of people who walked to work fell
from more than a third in 1950 to about 10% in 1990.
The amount of people using buses initially rose in 1970 to about
30%, but had dropped to about 17% by 1990.
The graph indicates the growing use of cars for commuting and
the corresponding fall in the popularity of other modes of
transport since 1950.

Possible Answer for Task 1 -
Introduction
Answer:
The graph shows the
percentage of
travellers in a
European city who
used bus, car, bike
and foot to commute
to and from work in
the years 1950, 1970
and 1990.
Instructions:
The graph below
shows the different
modes of transport
used to travel to and
from work in one
European city in 1950,
1970 and 1990.

Possible Answer for Task 1 - Cars
Answer:
The amount of
people using
cars grew
considerably,
rising from
just over 5%
in 1950 to
25% in 1970,
and then
climbing to
almost 40%
by 1990.

Possible Answer for Task 1 – Bikes
and Walkers
Answer:
However, the
amount of
people using
bikes decreased.
Over 25% of
commuters
cycled in 1950,
but this had
fallen to less
than 10% by
1990. Similarly,
the amount of people who walked to work fell
from more than a third in 1950 to about 10%
in 1990.

Possible Answer for Task 1 - Buses
Answer:
The amount
of people
using buses
initially rose
in 1970 to
about 30%,
but had
dropped to
about 17%
by 1990.

Possible Answer for Task 1
Conclusion
Answer:
The graph
indicates the
growing use
of cars for
commuting
and the
corresponding
fall in the
popularity of
other modes
of transport
since 1950.

Task 2 is assessed on:
Quality of Arguments – logical, well-
considered
Ideas and Evidence – support your points
Communicative Quality
Vocabulary and Sentence Structure

Example of Task 2
Read the question carefully and read it several
times. Decide what the focus of the task is?
The first sentence is sometimes background
information, the focus of the essay and the
question come after. For example:
‘Some businesses now say that no one can
smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some
governments have banned smoking in all
public places.
This is a good idea but it takes away some of
our freedom.
Do you agree or disagree?’
– Decide what the task requires you do.

Strategies - Organisation
Organisation
– After you have produced your ideas, you
need to organise them.
– Do not produce a list of ideas without
development.
– Decide on the key ideas. How many ideas
can you cover in 150 or 250 words?
– Select some supporting points for each key
idea in your list.
– Think about your own experience – do you
have any further points to add.

Strategies – Content
Respond to each point mentioned in
the task.
– Your answer must be complete.
– Make sure you do not:
misunderstand the question;
e.g. smoking in Government offices
write about something not required in the
question; e.g. banning smoking completely
answer only half of the topic;
e.g. you write about is it a good idea, but
don’t write about freedom.

Strategies - Planning
Allow some time to think about the question.
– note down clear and relevant ideas
– make a brief plan of the organisation and content of
your answer. For example:
Intro – smoking in businesses & Govt. - good idea, freedom?
Smoking in businesses
– Good idea?
Smokers may work better if they can smoke
Passive smoking – objections from other staff
– Takes away freedom?
Businesses have the right to limit staff activities
Govt. limitations on smoking in public places
– Good idea?
Costs to society - Passive smoking, litter, health care
Benefits to society – tax revenue, pleasure of smokers
Pressure groups – smokers, tobacco companies, sponsors
– Takes away freedom?
Govt. has the right to regulate citizens’ activities
Will citizens support regulation?
Conclusion

Strategies – Content - Introduction
The Introduction
– Important: gives first impression.
– A few sentences.
– Introduce the topic.
– Preface the main points.
– Define what you understand by the task
– Show how you intend to approach the task.

Strategies – Introduction - Example
Limitations on smoking in businesses and
public places are a controversial topic as,
although they may be a good idea, they
may also interfere with people’s freedom.
Non-smokers are likely to think that
banning smoking is a good idea, but
smokers naturally may not. Different
cultures may have varying attitudes to
whether businesses or governments have
the right to ban smoking in certain places.

Strategies – Body - Example
Banning smoking in businesses may not be a good idea
because smokers may work better if they can smoke.
However, passive smoking can cause objections from
colleagues.
Although such bans may reduce freedom, businesses are
widely seen as having the right to regulate staff activities.
Governments may also ban smoking in public. This may be a
good idea due to the costs to society of smoking such as litter
and health care. However, smoking in public may also benefit
society, for example in tax revenue and the pleasure of
smokers. Also, pressure groups such as tobacco companies
may discourage limitations on smoking.
As for freedom, in many cultures the government has the
right to regulate citizens’ activities. It is also increasingly
possible that citizens would support such bans.

Strategies – Content - Conclusion
The Conclusion
– Important: Opportunity to leave a
good impression.
– A few sentences.
– Summarises your key ideas and your
main ideas.
– If appropriate, a final decision,
statement, or recommendation.

Strategies – Conclusion - Example
As a non-smoker I believe that limiting
smoking in workplaces and in public is
a good idea. I can also understand the
opinion of smokers that banning
smoking in such places limits their
freedom. If the effects of smoking
were limited to smokers I would
oppose bans, but as smoking affects
the health of others, I support them.

Let’s look at an example of
IELTS writing task
Big salary is much more important
than job satisfaction.
Do you agree or disagree?
Provide relevant examples if
necessary.

Steps
Choose your opinion & generate ideas
Agree or disagree question asks you
to clearly determine whether you
agree or disagree with the statement.
Unlike questions that ask you to what
extent do you agree or disagree, this
question asks you to have a super-clear
opinion. After you’ve decided your
opinion, generate 2-3 supporting
points for it.

Conti…
For the task above you have two
possible options:
1. You fully agree that big salary is
more important than job satisfaction
2. You completely disagree that big
salary is more important than job
satisfaction

How to generate supporting
points
Big salary is more important
– Having a job with a high salary makes
people feel satisfied no matter what
kind of job they do
– Money is essential for survival and good
living

Conti…
Job satisfaction is more
important
– Job satisfaction gives you a sense of
fulfillment
– Doing what you like keeps you
motivated and therefore leads to a
career growth
– Money can’t buy happiness and it’s
more pleasant to pursue what you’re
interested in

Answer Structure
After you’ve decided whether you
agree or disagree it’s time to start
writing your essay.
Band-9 essay structure:
Introduction
Body paragraph 1 - the 1st
reason you agree/disagree
Body paragraph 2 - the 2nd
Conclusion

Introduction
Sentence 1 - paraphrase the
statement
It is often argued that it is more
advantageous to choose a job with
high wage, even if it doesn't appeal
to you at all.

Conti…
Sentence 2 - say whether you
agree or disagree with it and
extend your opinion
I completely disagree with this
opinion and think that job
satisfaction is much more important
than salary.

Body paragraph 1 - the 1st
First of all, I believe that job
satisfaction gives people a sense of
fulfillment that no money can
guarantee.

Sentences 2-3 - explain the
reason.
Even if someone is earning a high
salary, but feels tensed and
compromises with his conscience,
this person won’t enjoy his life. While
pursuing one’s interests will always
bring pleasure and feeling of
satisfaction.

Sentence 4 - example
For example, a lot of famous
researchers made their career
choices not because of appealing
wages, but because they were
passionate about science.

Sentence 5 - a short summary of your
ideas in this paragraph:
That’s why it’s more important to
choose the kind of work that makes
you happy than to look only at a high
salary.

Body paragraph 2 - the 2nd reason
you agree/disagree
Sentence 1 - state the second
reason you agree/disagree.
Secondly, doing what you like keeps
you motivated and therefore leads to
a career growth.

Sentences 2-3 - explain the
reason
In other words, there is a strong
relation between job satisfaction and
productivity. People who love their
jobs can easily excel in their fields of
work and achieve better results than
those, who put salary on the first
place.

Sentence 4 - support your
idea with an example:
For instance, Henry Miller decided to
leave his everyday job despite a
good wage and ventured to become
a writer. And after enduring years of
ups and downs he became one of the
most famous and well-paid authors
of the twentieth century.

Sentence 5 - a short summary of your thoughts
in the 2nd paragraph
Thus, advantages of jobs that keep
you satisfied outweigh the drawback
of a low salary in a long-term
perspective.

Conclusion
You can write the conclusion in one
sentence that summarizes your
opinion + 2 reasons for it:
To conclude, I strongly believe that
job satisfaction is more beneficial
than high salary because it makes
people happy and motivated.

IELTS agree/disagree model answer
It is often argued that it is more advantageous to choose a job
with high wage, even if it doesn't appeal to you at all. I
completely disagree with this opinion and think that job
satisfaction is much more important than salary.
First of all, I believe that job satisfaction gives people a sense of
fulfillment that no money can guarantee. Even if someone is
earning a high salary, but feels tensed and compromises with his
conscience, this person won’t enjoy his life. While pursuing one’s
interests will always bring pleasure and feeling of satisfaction. For
example, a lot of famous researchers made their career choices
not because of appealing wages, but because they were
passionate about science. That’s why it’s more important to
choose the kind of work that makes you happy than to look only
at a high salary.

Conti…
Secondly, doing what you like keeps you motivated and therefore
leads to a career growth. In other words, there is a strong relation
between job satisfaction and productivity. People who love their
jobs can easily excel in their fields of work and achieve better
results than those, who put salary on the first place. For instance,
Henry Miller decided to leave his everyday job despite a good
wage and ventured to become a writer. And after enduring years
of ups and downs he became one of the most famous and well-
paid authors of the twentieth century. Thus, advantages of jobs
that keep you satisfied outweigh the drawback of a low salary in a
long-term perspective.
To conclude, I strongly believe that job satisfaction is more
beneficial than high salary because it makes people happy and
motivated.
(277 words)

IELTS Writing Module

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