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Academic Writing IELTS TestTask 1 requires you to write a description of at least 150 words. This is based on material given in a chart, table, graph or diagram, and demonstrates your ability to:
- Present information
- Summarise the main features of the information
Task 2 requires you to write a short essay of at least 250 words responding to an opinion or question. The topics used are appropriate for and easily understandable by candidates who are planning to enter undergraduate or postgraduate courses. You are expected to demonstrate your ability to:
- Discuss abstract issues
- Present a solution to a problem
- Present and justify an opinion
- Compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications
- Evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument
Sample Academic IELTS Task 2 AnswersExample 1Example 2Example 3Example 4Example 5Example 6Example 7Example 8Example 9
How is the IELTS Writing test scored?In Task 1 you are asked to describe some given visual information (graph/chart/table/diagram) in your own words. Depending on the type of visual information and the specific task given, you are assessed on your ability to organise, present and compare data; describe the stages of a process or procedure; describe an object or event or sequence of events; or explain how something works.
There are two sets of criteria which are used to in the assessment of writing. However, there are some differences in how the General Training and the Academic Writing tasks are evaluated.
-General Training Writing Task 1: You are expected to write a letter, the purpose of the letter will depend on the task instructions. Your answer should contain all the necessary information according to the information given in the task. Depending on the task instructions, you should write your letter using either formal or informal language or style.
- Academic Writing task 1: You are asked to produce a short report based on the information given in a table, diagram or graph. You must identify and compare key features of the information and report the data accurately.
- General Training Writing and Academic Writing Task 2: You are given a question or statement, and are expected to form and express your own point of view or opinion on a topic. Your ideas must be supported by relevant examples based on your own experience or knowledge.
In addition to the above, the General Training Writing and Academic Writing tests are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Coherence and cohesion: Your response should be organized logically into paragraphs with your ideas clearly connected. Paragraphs should have a central theme as well as including supporting evidence/statements and examples.
- Vocabulary: To achieve a high score for your writing, you need to show a wide and varied vocabulary. The words you use should be appropriate and with correct spelling.
- Grammatical range and accuracy: A high score requires the use of varied grammatical structures, both of simple and complex type, and accurate use of them. You will be evaluated on the standard of punctuation in your writing also.
You will be given two answer sheets – one for Task 1 and one for Task 2. Answers must be written in full, not in note form. Currently you can choose to write your answers in pen or pencil. You should therefore take a pen, pencil and eraser with you to the exam.
Task 1 carries on-third of the total marks. You have to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and are recommended to spend no more than 20 minutes on it.
Task 2 carries two-thirds of the marks. You have to write at least 250 words for Task 2 and are recommended to spend no more than 40 minutes on it. You will lose marks if you write less than the minimum number of words for each task.
Writing Task 1You are given a visual input (a chart. Graph, table or diagram) and have to transfer the visual information onto text using your own words.
For example, you may have to consider a set of statistics presented in a graph, and then summarise it by selecting and reporting the main features. Alternativley, you may have to study a diagram of a device and explain how it works, or you may have to look at a flow chart and describe the main stages in a process.
The target skills in this task are:
- presenting, describing, interpreting, and comparing data
- describing a process or how something works
- Using appropriate and accurate language
Writing Short Descriptive reportsIn Task 1 of the IELTS Academic Writing module, you are expected to write a short descriptive report based on visual information or data. This visual information is most commonly presented as line and bar graphs,pie charts or tables.
You might be asked to describe two graphs or charts. If this is the case, you need to compare and contrast and make onnections between the two.
|image courtesy of jscreationzs Freedigitalphotos.net|
Pie charts are circular charts divided into sectors or ‘pie slices’, usually illustrating percentages. The size of each pie slice shows the relative quantity of the data it represents. Together, the slices create a full circle. They are commonly used in business world and the mass media, and are less common in scientific or technical publications.
|image: anankkml Freedigitalphotos.net|
Line graphs can be used to demonstrate how something has changed over a period of time. They consist of an x-axis (horizontal) and a y-axis (vertical). Usually the x-axis shows the period of time and the y-axis shows what is being monitored. Line graphs are often used to show trends.
|image: ddpavumba Freedigitalphotos.net|
|image: posterize Freedigitalphotos.net|
Tables contain words and numbers, displayed in columns and rows to illustrate a set of facts and the relationship among them.