IELTS writing task: Time and sections

Section 1	30 minutes	Listening
Section 2	60 minutes	Reading
Section 3	60 minutes	Writing
Section 4	Under 14 minutes	Speaking

The test is marked using band scores, 1 – 9. Each section is marked and the marks are converted into bands. A score of 7 or higher is expected in all top ranking colleges. IELTS writing task The main skills assessed are how well you can:

• Organize your ideas
• Write a response to a prompt
• Use a range of vocabulary and grammar accurately

IELTS writing task 1 format

You will be given a graph, table, chart or diagram. Based on the representation, you’ll be asked to describe, summarize or explain the information in your own words. For example, for a graph you might have to explain and describe the data or you might have to describe an object or event in a diagram. You are expected to spend 20 minutes of the 60 minutes on task 1. The expected word limit is at least 150 words. IELTS writing task 2 format Task 2 is an essay question. You will have to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. 10 most common topics:

• Health
• Environment
• Education
• Development
• Globalization
• Public Transport
• Criminal Justice
• Youth Crime
• Technology
• Government Spending

You are expected to spend 40 minutes of the 60 minutes on task 1. The expected word limit is at least 250 words. You can also take a free IELTS writing practice test. How to do well on IELTS writing task 1 1.   The marks distribution You receive a score for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. The scores are then averaged which gives the overall score. Scores are always rounded up to the nearest half score. For example, if you get 5.75, it will be rounded up to 6. Getting a 7 or above shows that you can cope with complex situations in English. Getting a band 7 is a basic requirement by most colleges to study in an English-speaking country. The four criteria used to judge the writing section:

• Task achievement – ability to present relevant ideas, explain them and support them.
• Coherence and cohesion – ability to clearly express your ideas and link different ideas together.
• Lexical resource – the quality of language, mainly focused on vocabulary.
• Grammatical range and accuracy – ability to write a combination of complex and simple sentences and use a variety of appropriate structures.

Now, that you know the four criteria, you have to frame an answer that does well in these areas. 2. Structure your answer Even in 150 words, you need to have an introduction, body and conclusion. You can start with paraphrasing the question in the first paragraph and introduce your main idea. Don’t include the supporting evidence. You can add the supporting evidence in the body and finally sum up your thoughts in the last paragraph. A rough division could look like 25 (intro) – 100 (body) – 25 (conclusion) 3.  Answer according to the representation Depending on what you have been asked to describe, your answer will vary. For example, if you have been asked to describe two maps and outline the changes, you will focus on asking key questions about the changes and answering them in your essay. If you have been asked to describe a diagram that depicts the process of photosynthesis, you will focus on the relationship among the different stages in the same diagram rather than focusing on comparison.