So we're already onto Part 2 of the Making it Easy to Understand series! Today I will be focusing on IELTS General Training Writing Task 1.
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.
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 is a favourite of mine, not because it's easier than any other aspect of IELTS, but because it's PREDICTABLE!
One of the major issues I have found with students is that they just don't seem to understand why, even though this is the most predictable writing task in IELTS, they get low scores! They get frustrated and upset, completely exasperated because they can't quite figure out why this seemingly easy task yields lower scores than their Task 2 efforts. Here's why: they don't understand the key assessment criteria!
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 General Writing Task 1? Put simply:
So what does a candidate need to do in order to get a high band score for Task Achievement. We already know we need a letter that is at least 150 words long, but what else?
Put simply, present a letter of a minimum of 150 words. In it you must clearly explain the purpose of the letter (why you are writing), fully address and explain all 3 bullet points in the question, write in the correct tone + format (formal, semi-formal or casual).
Writing to an official body or superior? FORMAL.
Writing to someone you don't know but is not a superior/not in an official position? SEMI-FORMAL
Writing to a mate/friend/family member? CASUAL/INFORMAL.
Use the appropriate language for each of the three tones mentioned above. You'd never call a potential employer "mate" in real life or use contractions like (I'm, doesn't, couldn't) in an official letter/email so try not to forget that the same rules apply to General Training Writing Task 1!
Coherence and Cohesion in General Training Task 1
Does your letter make any sense at all? Have you organised your sentences and expanded bullet points appropriately? The letter needs to begin, flow and end in a logical, sensible manner - usually following the order of the bullet points. It's as simple as that - write a letter that makes sense! Remember not to write in bullet point form, though! A nice letter with 2-3 paragraphs will be easy and clear to follow.
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 General Training 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
[Sources: https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/ielts-web-static/production/Guides/ielts-writing-key-assessment-criteria.pdf and https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/ielts-web-static/production/Guides/ielts-writing-band-descriptors.pdf ]
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