Writing reports for Diagrams, graphs, pie charts, processes...

, including data &

evidence, no personal opinion.
At least 150 words, under 190 words (recommended).
Task 1
Introduction, unlimited body paragraphs and a concluding sentence (optional, if you have
not reach 150 words).
Tasks
Writing essays about specific topics, showing your opinions, ideas &
evidence formally.
Task 2 At least 250 words, under 290 words (recommended).
Introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph.

1. Read the question topic to get the general idea

Section 1: Dialogue (at least 2 people) -
General topic (restaurant booking,
renting hotels...)
Section 2: Monologue - General topic (map
completion, trip guiding...)
Section 3: Dialogue (at least 2 people) -
Academic topic (discussion between teachers
and students...)
Section 4: Monologue - Academic topic
(lectures, reports...)
1. Read the instruction carefully
2. Skim through the questions and have a look at
the headings to get the general idea.
3. Find key words (use your eyes because there's
not enough time to underline all of them) and
think of synonyms for those key words.
4. Predict the answers
On your test day, listening will be the 1st part.
_Check the volume condition carefully before the test begins.
_During the listening, if there's a trouble with your earphones, DO NOT
call out, raise your hand up straight until the help comes.
2. Underline the key words and look for their
synonyms so as to paraphrase the topic.
Task 1
3. Analyse the diagrams, pictures... and recognise the trends.
4. You should spend 15 mins on writing and 3 mins on
editting, correct grammar mistakes.
Strategies
Sections 1. Read the question topic to get the general idea
2. Underline the key words and look for their synonyms so
as to paraphrase the topic.
Task 2
3. Make a quick plan (spider plan is recommended instead of line plan) in
2-3 mins, but DO NOT rush. Be sure that you're not off-topic.
4. You should spend less then 35 mins on writing and 3-4 mins on editting.
Task fulfillment: Describe the main features and trends of the diagram.
Strategies Structure
Task 1
Range of vocabulary
Accuracy of rammar
Task response: to see if you can answer the question of the topic.
Cohesion: structure, logic...
Criteria Range of vocabulary

You MUST obey the instruction! (Candidates make MORE Range and accuracy of grammar.
mistakes at this point than any other aspects!): the number of Skills required:
Task 2 _Adverbs
words and numbers allowed.
_modal verbs
The order of the questions are usually also the order of the script. Listening _(reduced) relative clauses
If you can hear the words, write it, not the words
(40 mins) _reference pronouns (this, those, they...)
W riting _connective words and phrases
from your imagination!
_complex or compound sentences
(1 hour)
Write the maximum number of words that the instruction _punctuation (the use of marks such as full-stops, commas, semi-colons...)
invites you to. For example, if the instruction says "NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS", and you hear "a very nice Writing under 150 words (task 1) & 250 words (task 2) will be considered a big problem.
house", then try to write "a nice house" instead of "house". When checking your writing, the examiner's job is to count every single word until it reaches the
required number, then they can begin to check other aspects.
Numbers:
_Be careful! There may be numbers paraphrased in the
script. For example, instead of saying "250", it's "a quarter
of a thousand".
_If the unit for the numbers has already been on the
question paper, just right the numbers ONLY, do not write Attention!
the symbols. Answers' accuracy

Word form: noun/ noun

phrase, adj, adv, verb...
Singular or plural
Spelling: EXTREMELY Important! (1 letter wrong (in
numbers, codes, names...) --> dead!)
Complete all the answers! Do not leave an answer blank! It's your money to
have the right to answer the questions. (If can't think of anything, try to
make a logical guess, or even a "wild" guess! Do not wait until the end to
decide the answers, your memory is sometimes not reliable!)
Check your answers in 30 secs given between the sections. If already
IELTS
done, move on the the next section, do not wait until you're told to. NECESSARY SKILLS In writing task 1, if there are a flow chart along with a pie chart or other same situations, there
need to be a linking phrase between the jump from the flow chart to the pie chart. You can use
You have 10 mins to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet. Attention!
"Moving to/ Turning to the pie chart,..."
Therefore, at first, put it aside, write your answers directly onto the
question paper. It is strongly recommended that you write task 1 first:
_It will give you the feeling of completion for task 2.
_You can quickly finish task 1 and have more time for task 2.
Part 1: Give relatively short answers.
Avoid unbalanced length between the 2 tasks: too much for task 1
Part 2: - too little for task 2 or vice versa.
_After 1 min of outlining the speech (quick spider plan), you should talk from 1 to 2 mins
(remember to give an intro: "I'd like to talk about...", finish the body at about 1'40, then In writing task 2, with the type of extent question, do not totally agree or disagree
Parts --> no contrast language!
give a brief concluding sentence).
_If the examiner interrupt you, is does not mean you'll lose marks, just don't have a Although task 2 occupies more marks than task 1, take the same care for task 1 because
chance to show your skill for the conclusion. the average mark is not just added or divided, it is calculated with a special formular.
Part 3: Fully develop your answers. In your writing, there should be a completely blank line between paragraphs as
well as no indent at the beginning of the paragraphs.
Number and length of pauses: avoid long pauses or "a, uh, em..."; while
thinking for the answers, you can use phrases like "Give me a moment to DO NOT use the phrase "As you can see,..."
think", "Let me think", "It's quite a difficult question" (if it is), "well"... _Who is "you"?
_Not formal
_Stress and intonation (make the speech more interesting): stress on the
main ideas. Long essays does not means more marks. The examiner is looking for your skills!
Production skills
_Sometimes, it's good to use body language (not given more marks) to help If you are off-topic in your writing, you can still gain points for other aspects.
you to emphasize on the thing you're talking about. Anyway, AVOID this mistake!
Pronunciation

Fluency: do not speak too fast (easy to make mistakes) as Passages: There are 3 passages
well as pause too often. in an Academic IELTS Test.
Criteria 1. Read the instruction carefully
Clarity Speaking
Coherence: can be improved by using cohesive devices (reference (11-14 mins) 2. Skim through the questions and have a look at
Communication skills
pronoun: This, that...), linking words or phrases (sequence, logic...), and headings, pictures or diagrams to have a general idea of
even sentences to connect the ideas. the reading.
Strategies
Confidence --> Impress the examiner! 3. Find key words in the questions and
think of their synonyms.
Grammatical accuracy
4. Scan the passages and look for the same key words to
Grammatical range: Try to expand the number of match or to find the right words to fill in the blanks.
Language skills
compound and complex sentences.
ALWAYS obey the instruction! (this is the aspect that most
Vocabulary range: synonyms and suitable idioms are strongly encouraged. condidates make mistakes!):
_the number of words and numbers allowed;
Do not forget your ID card on the interview day! (You'll be ask for this at the _If you are asked to give "YES, NO, NO INFORMATION or TRUE,
beginning of the interview.) FLASE, NOT GIVEN", then write the right words, not "Y, N, NI or
No matter what your opinion is, the examiner is looking for your skills! T, F, NG".
(Pronunciation, vocabulary range...and pointing out contrast!) In the type question of "YES, NO, NO INFORMATION or TRUE,
In case you're not clear of what you've heard, don't hesitate to ask the examiner to repeat Reading FALSE, NOT GIVEN", "NO" or "FALSE" means there is opposite
or to explain more clearly so that you can find the right answer and don't go off-topic. Attention! (1 hour) information between the questions and the text, "NO
INFORMATION or NOT GIVEN" means there is no information
Vietnamese words (esp. about food): need to be translated into found or matches.
English or described clearly.
The order of the questions USUALLY follows the order of the
When showing your opinion, remember to give evidence, too! (For example, because...) passages. However, there may be "Cambodian dance", which
Do not try to speak with your sentence learned by heart. You won't get mark for this! means the answer for the 1st question is found in passage 3-4,
instead of 1-2.
The level of difficulty will increase along with the passages.
Attention!
Consequently, do the 1st one fast so that you can have more
time for the next one.
Do not stay at 1 question for too long. Make a quick
decision and move on to the next question. You can
check that answer later.
Answer all the questions! (It's your money paid for the
right to answer them!) Make a logical guess when you
can't find the answer.
In this test, you do not have extra time for transferring
your answers onto the answer sheet. Therefore, write
your answers directly onto the answer sheet.

IELTS NECESSARY SKILLS.mmap - 05/07/2010 -