Is there a quick and easy way to improve your IELTS Writing score?
Well, it probably won’t happen overnight, but there are certainly some simple changes that could make a real difference.
In this lesson, you’ll learn 14 practical ways to improve your IELTS Writing, covering:
- Academic Writing Task 1 (reports)
- Writing Task 2 (essays)
- General Training Task 1 (letters)
Academic Writing Task 1
1. Paraphrase the introduction
DON’T change every word in the introduction – that makes it sound unnatural.
DO use synonyms that you’re sure are correct (e.g. the chart shows = illustrates) as well as more complex structures (e.g. change nouns into verbs: the production of oil/how much oil was produced).
TIP: You can often group countries into regions e.g. ‘in Italy, France, Spain, Poland and Germany’ = ‘in 5 European countries’ or use the adjective form e.g. ‘a university in the UK’ = ‘a British University’.
And try to vary the way you describe the time period e.g. from 1995 to 2015/ between 1995 and 2015/ over a 10-year period/ over two decades.
2. Write a clear overview
DON’T confuse the overview with the introduction. An overview is absolutely crucial for a minimum score of 6 in Task Achievement. It can be very general and does not need to include data/numbers/figures.
DO try to see the ‘big picture’ (but don’t be afraid to say that there was no significant change, or no significant differences, or ‘no correlation between…’ if that is the big picture).
TIP: Always start your overview with ‘Overall….’ so that the examiner can see you’ve written an overview!
3. Describe the data accurately
DON’T give your opinion about why something happened. Task 1 is about reporting the information you can see, not explaining the reasons behind it.
For example, if you notice that sales fell dramatically in 2008, don’t say:
This was probably due to the global financial crisis.
You don’t know this from the data, so simply describe what happened.
DO use precise language to describe changes and differences, such as rose gradually, fell dramatically, remained stable or was significantly higher than.
TIP: Look carefully at the scale and make sure your language matches the data. Don’t say something doubled if it only increased by 50%.
📊 Learn more: How to tackle a complex bar chart (Resource Library).
4. Make comparisons
5. Select and summarise the key data
DON’T describe every detail you can see.
For example:
It went up to £513.99 in 1982, then it went down to £498.10 in 1985, then it went up again in 1990 and then it fell again in 1995.
There is no need to report every small change. Instead, select the most important features and summarise them.
DO look for significant changes, differences and relationships in the data. For example, if a figure rises from £100 to £200, you can say that it doubled. If it rises from £100 to £300, you can say that it tripled.
You can also use approximate language such as about, almost, just under and just over when exact figures aren’t important.
TIP: Imagine that you’re describing the graph to someone who can’t see it. What would they really need to know?
See an example: How to tackle complex tables (Resource Library).
DON’T just look at a graph horizontally (how things changed over TIME e.g. sales increased over a 10-year period).
DO compare the highest/lowest sales over the period – this is comparing vertically.
TIP draw on the graph to help you see these key features if you’re doing the paper-based exam.
📈 Learn more: How to describe trends in a line graph (FREE)
6. Use language that summarises the data
DON’T list lots of individual figures when you can express the relationship between them more clearly.
DO look for useful relationships in the data. For example:
£100 → £200 = doubled
2 million → 6 million = tripled
8% → 4% = halved
500 → 2,000 = four times as many
You can also use phrases such as twice as many, three times as much, four times as many and half as much.
TIP: Look for ways to express the data more efficiently. This can make your writing more precise and less repetitive.
👉 Learn more: How to use “Twice as much/many” (Resource Library).
7. Meet the word count
DON’T worry about writing exactly 150 words. You need to write at least 150 words, but there is no need to count every word during the test.
DO aim for around 160 to 190 words. This gives you enough space to describe and compare the key features without spending too much time on Task 1.
TIP: Practise writing Task 1 answers at home so that you develop a feel for how much 150 to 190 words looks like. This will save you valuable time in the exam.
👉 See how to write enough words in a Task 1 Process Diagram (FREE).
IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays
8. Answer the question
The first step to a good Task 2 answer is making sure you actually answer the question you have been asked.
DON’T write about the topic generally without making sure your ideas answer the specific question.
DO make a plan and check that every main point in your plan answers the question.
TIP: Before you start writing, underline the key words in the question and use them to check that your ideas are relevant.
Get your first line right
Your introduction should show that you understand the specific issue in the question. Your first sentence should introduce the topic, rather than simply repeating the question.
You could start with:
-
a comparison with the past: In the past, children used to play outside.
-
a recent development: Recent research has shown that childhood obesity is on the rise.
-
a general opinion: Many people believe that children spend too much time on the computer.
DON’T simply re-state the question in your own words. This can lead to mistakes and doesn’t show that you have really engaged with the question.
DO use your introduction to move towards the specific question you have been asked to answer.
Learn how to answer “To what extent do you agree?” questions (Resource Library).
See also how to write a Task 2 introduction (Resource Library).
9. Make your opinion clear throughout
DON’T wait until the conclusion to give your opinion. For a higher score, your opinion, position or stance needs to be clear throughout the essay.
DO state your position clearly in the introduction, and make sure your main ideas and arguments support it.
TIP: Don’t simply give a list of ideas. After explaining each main idea, show how it supports your position and answers the question.
One useful way to do this is to use PEEL paragraphs: make a Point, Explain it, give an Example and then Link it back to the question.
For example, the Link at the end of a paragraph can remind the reader why this particular argument supports your position.
Learn more about PEEL Paragraphs (FREE).
10. Use collocations
DON’T use language that you have never used before and are not sure is correct.
DO learn short phrases and collocations, which are words that naturally go together, such as a worrying trend and to tackle the issue. These are useful because you can adapt them to many different topics.
TIP: Avoid memorising whole sentences that sound impressive but don’t really add anything to your answer, for example:
In this essay I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages and then give my own opinion.
This kind of memorised language does not help you answer the question or demonstrate your ability to use language flexibly.
Instead, learn useful language that you can adapt to the ideas you actually want to express.
See this list of Task 2 collocations for cause and effect essays (Resource Library).
11. Use a wide range of vocabulary
To get a higher score for vocabulary, you need to show that you can use a range of words accurately and appropriately, including some less common vocabulary.
This is where preparation is crucial. You need the right words at your fingertips, so that you can express your ideas clearly without constantly repeating the same basic words.
DO build your vocabulary by reading widely and keeping useful vocabulary lists for different topics.
DO use words that you know are correct and appropriate for the context.
DON’T try to use ‘fancy words’ simply to get a higher score. A less common word is not useful if you use it incorrectly or if it doesn’t fit the context.
TIP: Focus on learning words that you can actually use accurately, rather than trying to memorise as many difficult words as possible.
12. Use clear paragraphs
DO use clear paragraphs to organise your ideas and make your essay easy to follow.
A good Task 2 essay will usually have 4 or 5 paragraphs, with each paragraph focused on one main idea or aspect of the question.
DON’T put your whole essay into one block of text. Clear paragraphing is an important part of Coherence and Cohesion, so the reader should be able to see where one main idea ends and another begins.
DON’T overuse linking words. Words such as although, in addition, moreover and besides can be useful, but you don’t need to put a linking word at the beginning of every sentence. If you use them too often, your writing can sound repetitive or unnatural.
TIP: There are many ways to connect your ideas. Sometimes a linking word is useful, but you can also create a clear connection by repeating a key word, using a pronoun, or simply making the relationship between your ideas clear.
13. Use formal language
Your IELTS Writing should use a formal, academic style. This doesn’t mean using complicated words. It means choosing language that is appropriate for a formal essay.
DON’T use slang, overly informal expressions, or contractions such as don’t, can’t and won’t. Avoid abbreviations such as etc. when a more precise expression would be better.
DO choose words and phrases that are appropriate for academic writing. For example, participate in is more formal than take part in in some contexts.
TIP: Don’t try to make every sentence sound complicated. Clear, natural and appropriate language is more important than using unnecessarily formal words.
Learn more about how to sound formal in Task 2 (Resource Library).
14. Get feedback
If you’ve never taken IELTS before, AI feedback can be a useful place to start. It can help you spot possible mistakes and give you an idea of what you might need to work on.
See my advice about the best online writing checkers for IELTS.
However, if you’ve been practising, following the advice above and still aren’t getting the score you need, it may be time to get professional feedback.
A good teacher can look beyond individual mistakes and help you understand why your writing isn’t getting the score you want and what you need to change.
TIP: Don’t just collect corrections. Make sure you understand what you need to do differently in your next piece of writing.
Task 1 - General Training Letters
DO address all the bullet points in the question.
Also make sure you:
- use the correct greeting
- use the appropriate tone and register throughout
- organise your ideas clearly into paragraphs
TIP: Your language should match the person you are writing to and the purpose of the letter. A letter to a friend will sound very different from a letter of complaint to a company.
Review:
Ready to improve your IELTS Writing score?
Knowing what you need to improve is one thing. Knowing how to improve it is another.
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About Fiona
Fiona is an IELTS trainer, ex-examiner and course creator based in the UK. She has a Master’s in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Distinction) and over 35 years of teaching experience. She has helped thousands of IELTS candidates develop the language and exam skills needed to achieve their target scores.
Hello Fiona
Your approach to ielts stands out.You give practical and evidence-based pathway to passing ielts exam.Apart from the exam,your pieces of advice have made ielts simpler and taken away my deepest ielts concerns/fear.
I would like to know whether there’s a package specifically for reading and writing. My current results: L-8 S-7.5 W-6.5 R-6.5 I’m desperate for at least a 7 in reading.
Kindly help me out.
Hi there Vitalis
I just emailed you but sometimes they go into junk so here’s my email:
Hi there
Thank you very much for your message. Wow – amazing results! With that kind of language you can easily get 7 in Reading. Writing is always a bit trickier – it’s possible some feedback would help you iron out the things that IELTS considers to be keeping you below 7.
You can get all of my courses individually (click ‘Courses’) in the menu
https://ieltsetc.com/courses/
If you join the Academy 3-month study programme in order to get the Writing lessons with feedback, I’m doing a 30% discount because there will be no feedback in August as I am doing an intensive course.
So you’ll get the 3 months’ access to all the courses, plus Writing Feedback in June and July.
Please let me know if you have any questions,
Best wishes
Fiona
Hai Fiona,
hope you are well and safe, I have gone through your IELTS writing task which is to improve our writing skills. It was amazing and too useful to understand. Could u please help me to improve my reading,listening,writing and speaking by giving homeworks? Because I am going to start my IELTS from the next week.
Best regards
Saranya
Hi Saranya. Many thanks for your comment. My homework system involves being a member of the Academy so it is easy to submit and mark,
Best wishes
Fiona
Really helpful, thanks for sharing ^^
Thank you Efix.
Hi Fiona!
Hope you are doing great with IELTS Lessons.
I have been through your website and found excellent resources for IELTS each band.
I am writing here to get some suggestions/correction/feedback from you regarding my IELTS writing Task 1 and Task 2 as well as IELTS Speaking.
My IELTS examination(Academic IELTS) will be held on 19 June 2021,
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you!
Mamun
Hi Mamun
Many thanks for your message. Are you looking for personalised suggestions/correction/feedback on your own Writing?
Best wishes
Fiona