IELTS Writing

IELTS writing is the module that many students find the most difficult.

This is because in a short space of time (one hour) you have to write an essay and a
graph (academic module) or a letter (general training module).

About the Writing Test

The IELTS writing module varies depending on whether you are doing the Academic
Test (for university applications) or the General Test(usually for work / general
migration).

 In IELTS Academic you have to describe a graph or diagram (Task 1) and write an
essay (Task 2).

 In IELTS General Training you have to write a letter (Task 1) and write an essay
(Task 2).
The Task 2 (essay) is actually worth more marks than the Task 1 (graph or letter) so
you should spend 40 minutes of the time on the essay and 20 minutes on the graph /
letter.

This difference in marking is represented in the number of words you have to write,
which is a minimum of 150 for the Task 1 and 250 for the Task 2.

Academic General

Task 1 Describe a Write a Letter

(150 Words) Graph or Diagram

Task 2 Write an Essay Write an Essay

(250 Words)

IELTS Writing Task 1:

Lessons, Tips and Strategies
In the IELTS writing Task 1 for academic you have to describe some kind of graph,
diagram, map or process.

Here you will get all the tips and techniques you will need for writing about the Task 1,
or to find out how to improve your score if it has been too low.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Lessons:
Overview
How to Write an Academic IELTS Task 1
This starter lessons tells you in simple steps how to structure and write a basic IELTS
Graph.

Types of Graph
Graphs Over Time
This important lesson shows you what you must do to properly describe a graph or
chart that has a period of time.

IELTS Pie Chart

In this lesson you'll learn how to write about a pie chart, with tips on how to best
organize your answer and advice on the language to use.

IELTS Process
In this lesson you'll learn how to describe an IELTS process diagram, with information
about organizing your answer and using the passive voice.

Two graphs together

Sometimes you get two graphs to describe together. This lessons shows you how to
organize your answer if you do.

IELTS Tables
This lesson provides you with IELTS practice for tables. It shows you that tables are not
that different from other types of graph.

Task 1 Language
Language of Change
This lesson explains some useful sentence structures using some common language of
change and you can practice the words with a gap fill.

Language to Compare and Contrast

Compare and contrast language is needed for most graphs and diagrams so it is
important to learn and practice it.
A Common Mistake
This lesson takes you through a mistake that is common when describing graphs in
Task 1.

Using Prepositions
Learn how to use the right prepositions when you are using the language of change in a
graph over time.

Describing graphs in the future

Sometimes you may be given a graph to describe that is predicting what will happen in
the future. View some strategies on how to approach a task 1 like this.

Organisation
Organizing a Line Graph (Part 1)
Find out about how there is more than one was to organize a task 1 graph, and learn
how to write about a graph divided into 'age groups'.

Organising a Line Graph (Part 2)

If you want to achieve a high band score for your graph you must ensure it is well-
organised. This lesson tells you more about one possible way of doing this.

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These IELTS writing task 1 lessons provide you with practice for learning about all the
various types of graph or diagram you may get.

It discusses line graphs, processes, bar charts, pie charts and tables and provides you
with many other tips, advice and practice for the types of language you will need to use.

Task 1 Gap Fill Exercises:

Gap fills are an excellent way to improve your ability to describe graphs, charts, tables
and diagrams.

You have to fill in the words that are missing from the description. This helps you to
learn and remember key language.

 Bar Chart Gap Fill Exercise

 Line Graph Gap Fill Exercise
 Table Gap Fill Exercise
 Pie Chart Gap Fill Exercise
 Process Gap Fill Exercise

IELTS Reading
Academic and General Training
If you are taking IELTS to study abroad then you will take the Academic IELTS
Reading Module.

If you are taking IELTS for other purposes such as working abroad, then you will take
the General Training Reading Module.

Either way, improving your reading for IELTS is important as you will face some
complex reading and difficult vocabulary.

The aim of these pages is to give you the skills and practice to tackle the reading
module.

Here are some resources to help you with your reading:

 Lessons, tips and strategies: All the techniques and tips you need to do well in the
test

 Practice tests: Online tests so you can make sure you are ready for the test on the
day

About the Reading Test

Both IELTS Reading Tests, Academic and General Training, aim to assess the following
skills:

1. Reading for gist

2. Reading for main ideas
3. Reading for detail
4. Understanding inferences and implied meaning
5. Recognising a writers opinions
6. Attitudes and purpose
7. Following the development of an argument
The tests vary in their content:

Academic General
  60 minutes  60 minutes
 40 questions  40 questions

3 readings  3 readings
Texts from Texts from

 journals  advertisements
 magazines  booklets
 books  leaflets
 newspapers  manuals
 notices
 newspapers
 magazines

General interest texts written for Texts related to everyday life, work &
non-specialist audience general interest

The Academic IELTS Reading Module

The Academic IELTS Reading Module takes 60 minutes and there are 40 questions to
answer. Each question is worth 1 mark.

The Reading Passages

There are three reading passages with a total of 2,150-2,750 words. Texts are taken
from journals, magazines, books, and newspapers.

All the topics are of general interest and the texts have been written for a non-specialist
audience. The readings are intended to be about issues that are appropriate to
candidates who will enter postgraduate or undergraduate courses.

At least one text will contain detailed logical argument. One of the texts may contain
non-verbal materials such as graphs, illustrations or diagrams.

If there are technical terms which you may not know in the text then a glossary is
provided. The texts and questions become more difficult through the paper.

The Questions
Instructions are clear and easy to follow and you will be provided with examples of any
unfamiliar question types. Texts and questions appear on a Question Paper which you
can write on but not take away from the test room.
You must answers all questions on an Answer Sheet during the 60 minutes - there is
not extra time at the end to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.

The position of the questions varies - some of the questions may come before a
passage, some may come after, depending on the question type.

These are the types of question you can expect to see in the test:

1. short-answer questions
2. multiple choice
3. sentence completion
4. notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion
5. choosing a heading for a paragraph
6. identification of writer's views/claims - yes, no or not given
7. identification of information - true, false or not given
8. classification
9. matching lists/phrases.
There is an answer sheet and you must enter all the questions on there during the test.
There is no extra time at the end to enter the scores.