The internet (and YouTube/TikTok) is full of well-meaning experts, teachers and learners themselves sharing everything they can find about IELTS but the only REAL way to know what is right is to head straight to the source.
So, you head to the source - which in this case is the IELTS website and YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND what it all means because sometimes it just seems far too complicated. This series of blog entries will be titled “Making It Easy to Understand” and I will breakdown the key assessment criteria and explain what is expected of the candidate in the most simple, easy-to-understand language so that you can start preparing for IELTS the right way.
Remember, there are no shortcuts, hacks, tips, tricks. It takes work, commitment and true effort to not just ace an IELTS test, but to improve your general command of English.
I find that many students just don’t seem to understand what is really expected of them when it comes to Academic Writing Task 1. There is confusion about how it is scored, how they get higher band scores, what exactly they need to write about, how they need to organise the information and so on.
Head to the IELTS website to read about Key Assessment Criteria and obtain the latest Band Score Descriptors.
So, let’s break it down into simple sections and then discuss each one!
What are the 4 criteria that are used to mark IELTS Academic Writing Task 1? Put simply:
Academic Task 1: What does Task Achievement mean?
So, to get a high score in Task Achievement, what do you need to do?! All you need to do is have an introduction that has an overview then select, present and explain key features of whatever image is thrown at you into an essay of just over 150 words.
Now to Coherence and Cohesion in Academic Writing Task 1
Coherence? What is being assessed is how well you organise the information! Cohesion? What is being assessed is how well you link the information together! In a nutshell, paragraphs must be used to logically arrange the information and appropriate words need to be used to “connect” the information and signal relationships.
WHAT NOT TO DO: Write some random sentences containing data from the image you have been given, then compile the sentences into a giant, single paragraph and expect the reader to understand the SOUP OF WORDS you have given them.
The reader needs to be able to read a proper essay with at least 2-3 paragraphs, fully understand the content and follow what has been written without getting confused!
Now let’s move onto Lexical Resource
Basically: VOCABULARY! Use the right words and use them well. Try not to repeat yourself too much, don’t make spelling mistakes and Voila! High band scores for everyone! Easier said than done - I know - but that’s basically all there is to it.
Finally, Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Basically: Write good sentences. Write different types of sentences; simple, compound and complex. Write them well and again, VOILA! High band scores for everyone!
You will find that 2 of these criteria are IELTS SPECIFIC (required and predictable format) and the other 2 strongly connected to general command of the language. You could argue that Coherence and Cohesion is also strongly connected to academic essay writing in general but for the sake of all IELTS students, let’s keep it simple and say C & C is IELTS specific!
This means that test takers must work on BOTH! Preparation for IELTS goes hand in hand with general improvement in your command of the language.
I hope this has simplified and made Key Assessment Criteria for Academic Writing Task 1 easier to understand. Now you know:
· What is expected of you.
· How you are going to be scored for each criteria
· What needs to be done to get a high score (very simplified, I know, but that’s where your tutor/mentor/course providers come in and help!)
Keep checking back for more in the “Making It Easy to Understand” series!
Love,
Reena
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