IELTS Writing: Format, Important Topics, Tips to Prepare
IELTS Writing: IELTS Writing is the first segment of the IELTS examination where you have to complete two different writing tasks within 60 minutes. The writing task format of IELTS topics varies as per the type of examination you are taking and the set you have received. However, you need to remember that, it is important to complete the first writing task within 20 minutes and you should spend more time on task 2. It is recommended because task two carries more points than task one as it demands your opinion and personal view coherently.
In this article, we are going to discuss the IELTS Writing with its Format, Important Topics, and Tips to Prepare in detail.
Table of Content
- IELTS Writing Section – Overview
- Pattern of the IELTS Writing Module
- Format for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
- Format for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2
- Tips To Prepare – Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2
- Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 – Tips to Prepare
- Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips to Prepare
- Format and Tips for General Training IELTS Writing Task 1
- Format for General Training IELTS Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Section – Overview
Before we start to talk about the IELTS writing in detail, we need to know about the structure and overview of the whole segment for both types of the IELTS examination. For the Academic Writing test, you will get a picture in the form of a graph, chart, table, map, or process diagram. Your writing paper can be a bit hard when you get a mixed table in task one. On the other hand, in the Gerneral Writing test, you need to write a formal or an informal letter, based on the given situation. Writing tasks two are the same for both Academic and General Writing tests, where you need to streamline your point of view or opinion in a well-structured manner. Here is the general overview of the IELTS Writing tasks as mentioned below.
| IELTS Exam Type | Task 1 | Task 2 |
Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Report Writing (Based On Some Given Structures) | Essay Writing (Opinion Based) |
60 Minutes |
| IELTS General Training | Letter Writing (Formal, Semiformal and Informal) |
60 Minutes |
Pattern of the IELTS Writing Module
The writing module of the IELTS examination consists of three different tasks. Apart from these three, there is no other writing types present in the IELTS. These tasks generally vary based on the type of IELTS examination you are taking. For task one, you need to write 150 – 160 words only and for task two you should write 250 – 260 words where you have to discuss your view as per the given statement. Let us discuss this in detail.
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Pattern of the IELTS Writing Module |
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|---|---|
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Writing Pattern |
Explanation |
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Writing Reports For Academic IELTS Writing |
You will get a graph, table, pie chart, and flow chart. a diagram or any mixed tables of these. You need to analyze them properly and jot down the major facts and points in your words. It is recommended that you should write at least 150 – 160 words for this segment. |
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Letter Writing For General Training IELTS Writing |
You will get a situation as a statement and you need to explain it as a formal, semi-formal, or informal letter. It is recommended to write the letter in your own words with 150 – 160 words. |
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Essay Writing For Both Academic and General Training IELTS |
The essay type of the IELTS is the common section in writing. The section asks for your opinion on a certain topic which can be descriptive and argumentative. Candidates are advised to maintain a word strength of 250 – 260 for this particular segment. |
Format for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1
There is a certain format of the Academic IELTS Writing Task 1. By following that you can easily secure the higher band score in writing task one in the Academic IELTS Writing. Here is the decoded format for the Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 as mentioned below.
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Format for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 |
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|---|---|
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Paragraph Number |
Paragraph Description and Major Ways To Draft It |
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Paragraph One |
You need to paraphrase the given instruction in your way. It means you need to write the core idea of the given graph, table, pie chart, and flow chart. a diagram or any mixed tables. |
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Paragraph Two |
You need to write an overview with the most and least important facts in one line. Remember, this line will give a direction to your writing and you need to draft it as a comparison. |
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Paragraph Three |
In this paragraph, you need to focus on the most important factor or aspect and define the all related details with that factor. Focus on each small detail for this paragraph and do not mix any other facts into it. |
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Paragraph Four |
In this paragraph, you need to focus on the other facts or aspects and you need to compare them with the main factor. You need to focus on the small details of the other facts to describe them in the right way. |
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Paragraph Five |
It is an optional part of the Academic IELTS Writing Task 1. To conclude your writing you can describe the major takeaways of the given graph, table, pie chart, flow chart, diagram, or any mixed tables in a simple way. It is recommended because it will help you to balance the whole writing with the first paragraph. |
You need to remember some other general facts about Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 as mentioned below.
| Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 | Task Needs To Be Done | Words Minimum | Recommended Time To Spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Describe a graph, table, pie chart, flow chart, diagram, or any mixed tables | 150 – 160 Words | 20 minutes |
Format for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2
For Academic IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to follow some processes to draft your writing. Your response needs to be logical, structured, and coherent. For Academic IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to remember that you have to write the whole idea in one direction. If you mix up the things in your writing, it will decrease your score then and there. You need to remember that if you mix up the things in your article, there is no way to fix them. So be careful. Here is the structure for the Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 as mentioned below.
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Format for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 |
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|---|---|
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Paragraph Number |
Paragraph Description and Major Ways To Draft It |
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Paragraph One |
You need to paraphrase the given question or statement in your way. You need to describe that what are the major things you are going to discuss in your writing. |
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Paragraph Two |
In this paragraph, you need to write the first idea and also have to provide supportive examples in it. |
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Paragraph Three |
In the second paragraph, you need to add some additional views as per the context. Support those views with the proper example that satisfies your views. |
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Paragraph Four |
This paragraph is optional but recommended to include it in your writing. You need to give a view of your surroundings and the major effects on society. Do not forget to include a supporting example. |
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Paragraph Five |
In the last section, you have to give a summary of the whole writing and its effects on the human being. However, you have to regulate the section as per the instructions present in the question. |
You need to remember some other general facts about Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 as mentioned below.
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Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 |
Task Needs To Be Done | Words minimum | Recommended Time To Spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Write an opinion bsed essay | 250 – 260 Words | 40 Minutes |
Also Read: Common IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics 2024
Tips to Prepare – Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2
To achieve a higher band score in IELTS Writing is not an easy task. You need to remember certain things while you are taking Academic IELTS. Here are some major tips to secure high band scores in Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2 as mentioned below.
Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 – Tips to Prepare
As we have mentioned earlier Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 is a Report Writing task Based On Some Given Structures. So it is important to be attentive and careful with your observations. Here are some major tips for Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 as mentioned below.
Let us take an example from IELTS Cambridge Book 17. (Image Needed: Please Take The Ref. Image)
Police Budget
The table and charts detailed below give information about the police budget in 2017 and 2018 in on area of Britain. The table illustrates where the money came from and the charts show how it was distributed.
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Example Breakdown For Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 |
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|---|---|---|
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Paragraph Number |
Tips |
Writing Breakdown As Per Example |
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Paragraph One |
As you can see, it is an integrated information which includes both table and pie charts. So you need to narrate both at the same time. You need to paraphrase the whole topic line in your own words. |
The table and pie charts depict the information about the police budget of a particular area of Britain from 2017 to 2018. The attached table displays the various sources of funds while the charts show where the funds went. |
|
Paragraph Two |
You need to give an overview of the whole structure in the next paragraph with the major information. You need to be very clear while you summarise the differences present in the figures. |
Overall, the total budget of the police department increased with the national government being the highest funder in both years. In terms of expense, salaries remained the primary form. |
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Paragraph Three |
Now in the next paragraph, you need to explain the information with the particular visible facts and figures clearly. In this, you need to describe the whole figure crisply. You need to make sure that you will compare the whole thing as much as you can. Apply long and short sentences both. |
In 2017, the national government contributed 175.5 million pounds, slightly below the number for the following year (177.8m). Local taxes, in contrast, were lower overall in both years but grew considerably from £91.2 million to £102.3 million. Other sources, such as grants, were largely unchanged, rising slightly from 38 to 38.5 million. The total figure grew by 13.9m to 318.6m. |
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Paragraph Four |
In the last section, focus on the other related facts which will be the final step of the Academic IELTS Writing Task 1. Include every point of the figure which are left at last. |
In terms of budgetary allocation, 75% of the budget was devoted to salaries in 2017 and this figure declined to 69% the following year. Money for technology nearly doubled, going from 8% to 14%, while spending on buildings and transport was unaltered at 17% in each year surveyed. |
Master Tips For Academic IELTS Writing Task 1:
Use different grammatical constructions to describe diffent trends. Example: “Which Rose”, “With An Increase”, etc.
Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips to Prepare
As we have mentioned earlier Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 is a opinion based writing. So it is important to generate the ideas and aspects based on the given topics. There are almost 10 types of Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 but 4 are the major. Here are some major tips for each of those types as mentioned below.
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Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips to Prepare |
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|---|---|---|
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Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 – Types |
Example Questions |
Approach |
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Agree Or Disagree |
In today’s digital age, anyone with a smartphone can capture and share photographs. this accessibility to photography diminishes the value of professional photographers. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
Do not make the introduction too long. Paraphrase the question of the essay and present your opinion. An opinion should be consistent and you have to maintain that from introduction to conclusion. The body paragraph should explain the views with the relevant details. Do not miss the conclusion and make it short and informative. |
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What Is Your Opinion About This |
A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction. What Is Your Opinion About This? |
Spend atleast 5 minutes to analyse the question. Make sure that your answer is the complete one which addresses the all parts. Describe your opinion clearly in the entire essay. |
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Positive Or Negative Development |
Around the world, rural people are moving to cities and urban areas, so populations in the countryside are decreasing. Is this a positive or negative development? |
Clearly state your position on the topic. Remember, you can take only one side. State which side you are choosing and why. You need to maintain a balance in whatever you are describing. Do not provide any extreme opinion in the response. |
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Discuss Both Views |
Some people believe that in a city, the best way to travel is by car, while other people argue that bicycles are a better way of travelling in a city. Discuss both views and give your opinion. |
In this writing, you have to provide both opinions. You need to think about both sides and have to present the logic of your statements. You need to describe when, why, and where. No need to present any argument here but you need to describe when, why and where, what is important. |
As the IELTS Writing Task 2 is same for both IELTS General Training and Academic so you can follow the same for both.
Format and Tips for General Training IELTS Writing Task 1
There is a certain format of the General Training IELTS Writing Task 1. By following that you can easily secure the higher band score in writing task one in the General Training IELTS Writing. Here is the decoded format and related tips for the General Training IELTS Writing Task 1 as mentioned below.
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Format and Tips for General Training IELTS Writing Task 1 |
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|---|---|---|
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General Training IELTS Writing Task 1 – Type |
Example Questions |
Tips |
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Formal Letters |
You missed an international flight due to a problem at the airport. Write a letter to the airline. In your letter: Describe what happened that caused you to miss your flight Explain how missing your flight impacted you Clearly state what you would like the airline to do Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam, |
Plan the letter structure and tone with the content. Use the correct tone in the entire letter as per the instructions. Clearly write the purpose of the letter in the forst paragraph. Use the paragraphs to organise the main body of the letter. Use a formal language and good vocabulary. Do not repeat the same words again and again. |
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Informal Letters |
You live in a block of flats, your neighbor makes a lot of noise which has caused problems for you. Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter, you should: explain the situation tell him/her how you are affected by this suggest what you want the landlord to do. |
Understand the topic and write it in the subject line of the letter. Write the name of the receiver of the letter in the second sentence as per the question. Explain the proper reason why you are writing the letter. Ask the receiver about their conditions and tell them something more about you. To decorate the letter, you need to generate more ideas in a natural language. The letter should be a structured one where every data related to the question will be present. |
Expert Tips For IELTS Writing:
- Always be careful with the “Oxford Comma”.
- Do not break some particular words specifically the auxiliary verbs. Use “Don’t” not “Do Not”. It will decrease your score.
- Try to write meaningful complex sentences and compound sentences.
- Use more connecting words as much as you can but sentences have to be meaningful.
- Do not use the simple sentences too much. It will decrease the quality and score as well.
- Try to write in a single tense throughout.
- Avoid using passive voice.
Format for General Training IELTS Writing Task 1
Here is the general format for the General Training IELTS Writing Task 1 as mentioned below.
Dear Kanika, (OPENING SALUTATION)
It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. ________________ (BODY PARAGRAPH 1)
____________________________ (BODY PARAGRAPH 2)
Hope to hear from you soon. (COMPLIMENTARY CLOSURE)
Best Wishes
Deeksha (CLOSING SALUTATION)
There are some points you need to remember during the writing of the General Training IELTS Task 1 as mentioned below.
- Sender’s address: You need to mention the sender address that is usually written in the top left corner of the page.
- Date: It is written below the sender’s address.
- Recipient’s address: You need to write is it in the top right corner of the page.
- Salutation: It is usually followed by the recipient’s name.
- Body: The body of the letter is where you write the main content of your letter.
- Closing: It is the closing statement which is usually followed by your signature.
The writing task format of IELTS topics varies as per the type of examination you are taking and the set you have received. However, you need to remember that, it is important to complete the first writing task within 20 minutes and you should spend more time on task 2. For the Academic Writing test, you will get a picture in the form of a graph, chart, table, map, or process diagram. Your writing paper can be a bit hard when you get a mixed table in task one. On the other hand, in the Gerneral Writing test, you need to write a formal or an informal letter, based on the given situation. Writing tasks two are the same for both Academic and General Writing tests, where you need to streamline your point of view or opinion in a well-structured manner.
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IELTS Writing- FAQs
How can I improve my ielts writing ideas?
Do some brainstorming before you start to write. Organize your ideas well into groups. Then explain those ideas using good examples.
What is the most important thing in IELTS writing?
A few key ideas here are topic sentences, supporting ideas, and staying on topic. The IELTS speaking exam might be like chatting with your friend, but not Task 2 of the writing. You have to stay on topic and answer the question fully and directly. Not doing this will really limit your score.
Is getting 7 in IELTS writing easy?
One of the key differences between Band 6 and 7 is that a 7 needs to have frequent sentences with no errors, and this is a really difficult transition for students to make. Many students I have taught understand the structure of IELTS essays and the content needed, plus they have a good range of vocab.
Why is IELTS writing difficult?
Many candidates find the IELTS writing test difficult because they write too slowly. If you find yourself running out of time or struggling to put the pen down, it’s time to write faster! The fastest way to accomplish this is to start taking timed tests under real examination conditions.
Is 7.5 a good IELTS score?
Yes, 7.5 is a good IELTS score. Scoring 7.5 means you are a good user of the language and can handle complex usage of the language.