IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips and Useful Languages

• Use one paragraph structure (e.g. introduction/ good things/ bad things/ conclusion) to answer all questions
• Learn model answers off by heart and just change a few sentences to fit the question in the exam
• Underline important words in the question
• Decide on the paragraph structure right away
• Brainstorm before you start writing
• Brainstorm before you decide on the paragraph structure
• Continue brainstorming or rewrite if your ideas seem silly
• Eliminate the silly ideas from your brainstorming
• Write views which you don’t really have
• Make up data to support your arguments
• Make up quotes to support your arguments
• Make up personal experience to support your argument
• Count the exact number of words
• Write as much as you can
• Spend 10 minutes planning
• Add more complex language while you edit
• Insert extra lines with an arrow to improve the structure or reach the minimum number of words
• Use lots of linking phrases (“On the other hand” etc)
• Leave five minutes for editing
• Use basically the same introduction paragraph every time
• Make sure your work is really neat
• Rewrite words that might be difficult to read because of your handwriting etc
• Choose a less obvious way of organising the paragraphs
• Always stick to four paragraphs
• Make sure the paragraphs are similar lengths
• Avoid one sentence paragraphs
• Include a sentence that explains the structure of the essay

 
Brainstorm useful phrases for giving opinions in the discussion you just had (and IELTS
Writing Part Two):
 

• Strong opinions:
• Weak opinions:
• Other opinions language:
• Your experience:
• Others opinions and experience:

 
Compare your ideas with the boxes below:
 

Strong opinions	Weak opinions		Other opinions language
I’m a firm believer in… In my honest opinion,… I strongly believe… I really think… To be frank,… Frankly,… I’m convinced that… I’m absolutely certain that… I’m positive that… Without a doubt,…	With some reservations, I’d say that… There is a lot to be said for both, but if I was asked I’d say… I would imagine that… I would guess that… As far as I know,…		It is my view that… If you ask me,… Although I can see the other side of the argument,… If you want my opinion, I’d say that… If you ask me,… The way I see it,… I would say that… As far as I’m concerned,… I am of the opinion that…
Your experience		Others opinions and experience
In my (personal) experience,… From personal experience, I would say… I have (generally) found that… Experience has shown me that…		It is commonly thought that… It is widely believed that… There is a common opinion that… Many people say that… The majority of people (who I know) (seem to) think that… I have heard that…

 
Which phrases are most suitable for IELTS Writing?
 
Use the same language to discuss the best ways of studying to improve your writing.
 

1. Possible ideas:

• Reading academic papers
• Self-study books on IELTS vocabulary/ IELTS writing/ academic vocabulary/ IELTS grammar/ general grammar
• Looking at model answers
• Learning whole model answers by heart
• Learning fixed phrases
• Learning paragraph structures
• Collecting your typical mistakes
• Doing practice tests, even when you can’t get feedback on your finished writing
• Looking back at your previous writing
• Editing your own writing, even when you can’t double check it with someone
• Online IELTS writing practice
• Learning vocabulary from IELTS readings 

Can you think of any other good and bad ideas?
Choose one of the ideas and brainstorm advantages and disadvantages of that method.
 

Advantages	Disadvantages	Switching to talking about the other
The main advantage… One thing to be said for… One thing in favour of… is…	The most negative thing about… is… Points against include… One of many disadvantages is…	On the other hand,… Looking at the other side of the argument,… Switching from the pros to the cons,…

 

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