IELTS Writing Practice Tips For Friday Writing Practice Classes
How You Write The Practice Tests In Class
Week One - Write it Open Book Style
- This means you can use your computer, dictionary and notebook.
- Please double-space your writing.
Week Two - Write it Closed Book Style
- This means you cannot use your computer, dictionary and notebook.
- You may single space your writing.
Trust yourself.
= You’re intelligent, have been doing great work,
have been improving and know how to write.
Now, trust yourself and show your writing ability.
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Say what you want to say.
= Put your thoughts directly down on the paper.
= Get clear on your thoughts / ideas / opinions
and then write them down exactly as you think them.
Be clear.
Be organised.
Be direct.
Remember:
If you don’t write it,
the reader can’t understand your writing.
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The Writing Process
1) Think.
= Think about the question, look at the chart / graph / table / diagram.
= 1-2 minutes.
2) Plan.
= Plan what you want to write and the organization of your writing.
= Do it in your head and maybe make a few notes.
= 2-3 minutes.
3) Write.
= Write your thoughts down exactly as you think them.
= 15 minutes for Task 1 and about 30-35 minutes for Task 2.
4) Check.
= Check you have the correct writing for grammar (grammar tense, subject-verb agreement singular/plural nouns), vocabulary (appropriate vocabulary, correct word form) and spelling.
= Check that your writing is organised and clear.
= 2-5 minutes.
Task One
= 20 minutes (suggested).
= 150 words minimum, 160-165 recommended.
- Describe, don’t explain.
- Your introduction comes from the instructions, but don’t copy it exactly or too closely.
- Use signposting vocabulary and expressions.
Task Two
= 40 minutes (suggested).
= 250 words minimum, 260-265 recommended.
- Academic essay style.
- Use signposting vocabulary and expressions.
- Introduction = introduce the topic, restate the question and give your opinion.
- Two body paragraphs = with topic sentences and examples.
- Conclusion = end with a suggestion, recommendation or prediction.
Important Things In Your Writing
Remember: Your not marked on your ideas. However, the information in Task One must be accurate and your ideas and examples in Task Two must be connected to and support your opinion.
You are marked on how well and completely you completed the writing task, your organization and clarity, your spelling, your vocabulary variety and accuracy, and on your grammar variety and accuracy.
Word Count
- Don't count every word because it takes too long.
- Instead, count the number of words in each of three lines and calculate the average number of words for these three lines.
- Then count the total number of lines.
- Then take the average and multiply it by the total number of lines.
- This will give you a good estimate.
