Pointers to keep in mind to crack the writing section in IELTS

Of all the four modules of IELTS, Writing is considered one of the toughest modules. The limited time makes this section appear difficult to students wherein they have to write an article, study a graph (academic module) and a letter (general training module) in an hour.

The format of the IELTS writing test module depends on the type of IELTS test one is sitting.

IELTS Academic

Task one consists of a particular graph (bar, line or pie graph), table, chart, or process (how something works, how something is done). The word limit for task one is 150 words and Task two contains a word limit of 250 words which involves writing an essay.

IELTS General

In this exam, task one consists of a letter that demands a word limit of 150 words. Task two is supposed to be a 250-word essay.

IELTS Academic Writing Test

IELTS Academic task 1

The task focuses on summarising an image provided that could be a graph or a chart. The questions could be of two types: fill in the blanks or in-depth explanations. The summary is derived from essential information that you have derived from the graph. You will have to describe the chart in at least 150 words. A few examples of the visual information that you can be asked to understand and answer include a line graph, a pie chart, a process, a table, or a map. It is recommended not to spend more than 20 minutes on this section.

IELTS Academic Task 2

Task 2 is an essay question. Statement with agree or disagree will be provided on which you will be required to put forth your views on that statement with relevant reasoning and examples in 250 words. You must first understand the question before starting with the answers. It will be beneficial to give reasons and examples supporting your answer. The topic of questions will be of general interest. It is recommended to spend 40 minutes on the task

IELTS General Writing Test

IELTS General Task 1

This part of the exam measures your communication skills and how you apply them to the practical issues of everyday life. The time limit for completing this section is 20 minutes. Since it involves letter writing, the prompts would be about identifying the type of letter, the purpose of the letter, correct closing statement etc. This section carries a good weightage of marks but is graded separately from task 2.

IELTS General Task 2

The second part of the writing test entails essay writing with a prescribed length of 250 words. The student will be presented with an argument or a point of view. They are required to form a response. One should use a formal writing approach to write the essay for this part of the test and complete the essay within 40 minutes.  Keep these tips in mind each time you practice essays and graphs for the exam, as with more practice, you will get used to the test pattern, and the same won’t appear extremely difficult on the exam day.