How to Get a High Band Score for Academic Writing Task One

💭Essay Task of IELTS Academic Writing Section – Part One

Tips and Tricks to Get a High Band Score:

Task 1 requires you to distill and report the information from a graph or table. And all this in your 2nd or 3rd language.

However, once you understand how to respond to the questions and what the IELTS examiners are looking for, then things become a little more straightforward.

Follow these 10 tips below and you’ll be on your way to a better mark. Maybe you will even write the perfect IELTS essay!

👉TIP 1: REMEMBER HOW THE IELTS WRITING IS ASSESSED
Each of the two IELTS writing tasks are marked using 4 criteria. Each one of the criteria is worth 25% of the total mark for that task. Only two of the criteria cover grammar and vocabulary so you need to also focus on how you answer and structure your essays.

These are the criteria that the examiner will use with a brief explanation of what you need to do:

Task Response: You need to address every part of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Your essay is structured logically. You have used appropriate paraphrasing and synonyms. You have used linking and connecting words and phrases correctly.

Lexical Resource: Wide range of vocabulary and phrases. Good use of less-common vocabulary. No or few spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Uses a wide range of advanced grammar structures. Sentences contain no or few errors.

TIP 2: DON’T START WRITING IMMEDIATELY. THINK AND PLAN
You will have one hour to write two IELTS essays. You should allocate 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. Use the question paper to make some notes before you start to write the report/essay.

Allocate 2 to 3 of your 20 minutes of task 1 for planning. Finish after 20 minutes. Do not eat into your Task 2 time.
Allow a minute or 2 at the end of each of the tasks to check for errors.

TIP 3: MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER EXACTLY WHAT THE QUESTION ASKED FOR
Read the question carefully and underline all the information you need to include. Plan your response and only then begin to answer the question exactly as it asks for.

25% of your mark is on Task Achievement. You are required to address every part of the chart/graph/table/diagram. Re-read the instructions to make sure you have answered everything asked for.

For Task 1, all the information you need to include is in the chart/graph/table/diagram. Identify the key points before you start writing.

It is a good idea to mark them on the question paper. Look for the main trends and comparisons. Do not describe the details but the key points and main trends. Give a fully developed response.

📑Do not use the data to give opinions or develop ideas. Report the data as it is presented only!!

TIP 4. USE CLEAR PARAGRAPHS AND SPACING
The examiner will be looking at the organization and structure of your work. Remember, 25% of the marks are for coherence and cohesion. This means clear and obvious paragraphs and logical sequencing of the information.

Leave white space between each paragraph. The examiner will expect to see clearly separated paragraphs with paragraph one as the introduction and the last paragraph a conclusion or summary.

For Task 1 use three paragraphs as a rule, maybe four. Paragraphs two and three will be the description of the chart/graph/table.

TIP 5: WRITE AT LEAST THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF WORDS ASKED FOR
Task 1 requires a MINIMUM of 150 words. Ideally aim for 170 to 190.

If you don’t write enough words, you could lose up to 25% of your mark. Ensure you don’t write too many words as this is just a waste of your time.

Make sure you know what 150+ words looks on the pages. Do not waste your time counting them in the exam.

TIP 6. DO NOT COPY AND PHRASES FROM THE QUESTION
Remember coherence and cohesion. You need to demonstrate an ability to paraphrase and use synonyms.

You will receive no marks for any phrases copied from the question; the examiner will ignore this text. The copied text will be deducted from the word count and may leave you with fewer words than the minimum required meaning you haven’t achieved the task.

TIP 7. USE FORMAL LANGUAGE
You must use formal language for tasks 1 and 2 in the Academic IELTS. However, this does not mean you should try to use overly complex language.

💡What is means is do not use contractions and try to use Latin-based verbs over phrasal verbs where possible. For example use continue rather than carry on or enter rather than go in. Never use slang or colloquial idioms.

TIP 8. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR GRAMMAR, VOCABULARY, COLLOCATIONS AND SPELLING
Ensure you use a wide range of grammar structures. Practice the use of grammar such as 1st and 2nd conditionals, inversions and perfect tenses, for example, before your exam.

Use sophisticated vocabulary and lexis (common word chunks). You will lose marks for incorrect spelling, punctuation or word order.

Remember to use collocations, for example: a fundamental problem, a complex issue, addressing the problem, experiencing difficulties, significant improvements, gradual decline/increase, extensive research and so on.

TIP 9. SIGNPOST YOUR ESSAYS WITH LINKING WORDS
Remember that you need to demonstrate coherence and cohesion with linking words for a perfect IELTS essay.

Task 1: use linking words such as respectively to show a sequence, whereas to show a contrast, furthermore to give more information or since to give a reason.

Finish with a summary paragraph signposted with in summary or overall.

TIP 10. REMEMBER THAT THE IELTS IS A LANGUAGE EXAM
👉The point of the IELTS writing task exercise is to for you to show the examiner your abilities in the English language in grammar, lexis, structure, and task achievement.

You will receive no marks for original ideas or for demonstrating an extensive knowledge of the subject area. Your opinions can be dull and obvious but that is unimportant as long as you have an opinion and are able to support it with good English.