IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: Key advice and common mistakes to avoid.

Jenn Author

Summary: Read this for my advice for IELTS General Training WT1 and how to avoid common mistakes students make.

Key advice:

Know how the writing section of the exam is marked:

Your writing will be marked by a trained IELTS examiner. The examiner will assess you on four key areas, each worth 25%:
• Task achievement
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy

Some questions to ask yourself for each marking criteria are:

Task achievement: Did I cover the three bullet points in the task requirement? Did I write the required number of words?
Coherence and cohesion: Are my ideas easy to understand? Did I develop ideas fully? Did I use linking words so that your writing flows well?
Lexical resource: Did I use the correct vocabulary? Did I use a range of different words? Is my spelling correct?
Grammatical range and accuracy: Did I use the correct verb tenses? Did I show a variety in your sentences? Did I use complex sentence structures?

Remember to clearly show paragraphing:

Paragraphs are VERY important! If you are taking the exam on paper, the easiest way to show another paragraph is to skip a line. Do not worry about indenting. Just skip a line to show a new paragraph clearly. If you are taking it on the computer, follow the same advice. Skip a line by clicking the enter or return key twice.

Always answer in full:

This means you will have four paragraphs for four main ideas. You will be given a reason for writing (paragraph 1) and three bullet points (each of these are your paragraphs 2, 3, and 4).

Example:

You have lost an item of value on a train.
Write a letter to the railway company. In your letter
• describe the item
• explain where and when you left it
• say what action you would like the company to take

In this example, you must mention four things: why you are writing (you have lost a valuable item on a train), describe the item, explain where and when you left it, and what action you would like the company to take.

Properly use complex grammar:

Do not overcomplicate complex grammar structures. It does not take much to create complex grammatical structures. Let’s look at two simple structures and then create a complex grammatical structure.

I’m sorry I couldn’t come to your dinner party. I was out of town for work that day. To create a complex structure: I’m sorry I couldn’t come to your dinner party because I was out of town for work that day. The complexity is not so complex, but many students overthink this and get lost in their writing.

The easiest way to make complex sentences is to think of the ideas you need to include in your letter during your planning stage and then think about how you would combine some of these as complex structures.

Use correct tenses:

The questions will be designed so that you will need to use a range of tenses. In other words, the examiner will be testing your ability to write in a variety of tenses. Don’t panic. Do not throw the kitchen sink of tenses at your writing.

If we look at the example above, you will notice that there are several different tenses we should use:

Explain you lost a valuable item (past )
Describe the item (present)
Explain where and when you left it (past)
Say what action you would like the company to take (future)

Top tip: Make your plan before you write, and mark which tenses you will use in the plan.

Keep left when signing off:

In English-speaking countries, it is customary that we sign off on the left. So do remember to stay left in your IELTS writing, even if in your culture you would do so on the right.

Address and date:

Nope. You will not need to add an address or the date of your letter in the IELTS.

Write over the word limit:

To fully answer the question correctly you must write at least 150 words. The examiner will count every word. Therefore, don’t think you can write around 150 words, it must be more or you will lose points.

You do not have time to count the words you have, so the best thing to do is practice what writing about 165 words looks like. If you are taking it on the computer learn what it looks like typed but remember you will not have the word count resources like you do on a computer software. If you are taking it on paper use an official IELTS exam paper and count how many words you write on that. Then you can see what 165 words or so looks like in your handwriting.

Top tip: Why do I say 165 words? Because that is about 10% over 150 words, so you will be sure to write over 150 without wasting precious time.

Download an Official IELTS Sample Answer Sheet

Always go with the 100% rule:

Perhaps the biggest mistake students make in the IELTS exam overall is trying to be overly complex or ‘showy’ in their grammar and vocabulary. By ‘showy’ I mean that they try to use what they think is very complex grammar and vocabulary.

However, if you are not 100% sure of the grammar and vocabulary you are using, it would be much better to simplify the language and use it correctly than to use complex words and phrases while making multiple mistakes.

So, if you are not 100% sure about the grammar or vocabulary in your letter, delete it and write it in more simple structures with zero mistakes. Remember my example above, a complex structure that was not so complex.

Practice makes perfect. So, practice, practice, and practice some more!

Students who achieve the band score they need on the IELTS practice a lot. When you practice, try to mimic exam day, so time yourself and make your practice setting like an exam room. This will boost your confidence on exam day!

Top 10 Mistakes Made in General Training IELTS Exam

1) Incorrect Tone. Is it Informal/ Formal? You must use an appropriate tone throughout the letter. *Remember, if you see the word friend that is your signal it is an informal letter, otherwise it is a formal letter.

2) Not planning. (see the strategy) If you plan, any mistakes will be minimized and easier to correct when editing!

3) Not paraphrasing. Do not use phrases from the instructions. Remember to paraphrase and use synonyms.

4) Poor development or failure to answer the entire question. You need to make sure you clearly state why you are writing and develop each bullet point properly. Use the strategy I gave you.

5) Failing to Paragraph. You must be clear in each paragraph and each one must have a separate topic. Remember to have 4 main ideas and a paragraph for each one. Skip a line!

6) Irrelevant writing. You must only write about the bullet points given. Don’t wander while writing and go off-topic about something irrelevant to the letter.

7) Grammar and Vocabulary. You must make as few mistakes as possible while displaying a good range of language.

8) Difficult to read. You did not follow the strategy for the structure and development of your letter.

9) Failing to review. As much as I have told you to plan, you must also review your writing and make any edits necessary. Don’t overlook mistakes and lose precious points.

10) Complacency. This is what I meant when I said you cannot blow off WT1 because it is a letter. You must prepare and have a strategy to complete it well. Follow my strategy and you will do very well.

There you have it! My best advice and the Top 10 Common Mistakes. I hope this information combined with my strategy in the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 Guide helps you prepare for the IELTS and achieve your success!

Wishing you all the best in your studies! Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

For additional practice:
Writing Task 1 Practice
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Question and Model Answer

Categories: : IELTS, IELTS Preparation, Writing, General