IELTS Academic Writing. Test format

The IELTS Academic Writing module lasts for a total of 60 minutes and consists of 2 tasks (you will have NO extra time to check your work, so make sure you allocate enough time for it within the 60-minute period). You shouldn’t spend more than 20 minutes on Task 1 or more than 40 minutes on Task 2, including planning, writing, and checking it. Also, you shouldn’t change the order of the tasks, so begin with Task 1. Otherwise, if Task 2 takes up too much of your time, you might not have any left for Task 1.

You should stick to a formal writing style, so stay away from contractions (write “do not” instead of “don’t”, “information” instead of “info”), don’t use colloquial language (write “children” instead of “kids”), try to avoid phrasal verbs (write “postpone” instead of “put off”), and be moderate in your use of punctuation marks (forget about exclamation marks (!), brackets and dashes).

You will be given separate answer sheets for the two writing tasks, and they are usually more than enough to meet the word count criterion. You’ll be given an extra answer sheet if one isn’t enough, but I always advise my students against going down this road (unless their handwriting is sprawling). You’d better not allow this to happen, even if you have lots of great ideas. Remember: too many words equal more chances of mistakes plus spending extra time, and this isn’t the maths that’s good for you.

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 you will be asked to report the facts presented in a picture, diagram, table, graph, chart, or a combination of these. You are NOT to analyze it or express your opinion on any issue, but your task is to show that you can understand, interpret and describe the data given. You shouldn’t mention everything illustrated in the visual(s), so skip irrelevant or unimportant details.

You should write at least 150 words for this task. A little warning: don’t write more than 180 words. If you do, you won’t get any credit for writing more, you might make more mistakes, and it’ll take up valuable time.

The following time management scheme is commonly advised for Task 1:

• 2 to 3 minutes planning time;
• 15 minutes writing time;
• 2 to 3 minutes for checking your work.
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Similar to a typical essay, you should have three sections in your Writing Task 1:

1. Introduction (1-2 sentences). You’ll need to say what information is presented in the visual content; basically, you should restate your task. However, be careful not to repeat it word by word – you won’t be given any credit for it and the words you copy will not be included in the total word count.
2. Main body (1-3 developmental paragraphs). Depending on the task, you might need to talk about a process depicted in a diagram, point out the main features illustrated in the visual(s), compare data, and/or link ideas in different charts.
3. Conclusion (2-4 sentences). In the conclusion, sum up the information reported in the main body.

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 your task will be to write a 250-word essay to address a particular issue. You might be asked to express your opinion, argue or defend a point, and/or compare and contrast certain ideas. In addition, you’ll most likely be asked to support your point of view with relevant examples. Again, be sure to write the required number of words, but don’t write more than 290.

Here’s a time management scheme for Task 2:

• 5 minutes planning time;
• 30 minutes writing time;
•  5 minutes for checking your work.

As regards the organization of an essay for Writing Task 2, you should stick to the following structure:

1. Introduction (2-4 sentences). You should begin with introducing the general topic of your essay; describe the setting, so to speak. Then, move onto the specific issue raised in the task; present the problem, an opinion, or the opposing views you’re required to discuss.  
2. Main body (2-3 developmental paragraphs). This is where you should fully address the question(s) presented in the task. Every paragraph should have a key point, related to the specific issue of your essay, and relevant supporting details. If it’s appropriate, make sure to include some examples.
3. Conclusion (4-5 sentences). In the conclusion, summarize the key points expressed in the main body, and finish up with your personal opinion on the given matter.

Grading

Your writing will be graded according to four criteria:

• Task Achievement (Task 1) and Task Response (Task 2) – to what extent you managed to address the questions and issues raised in the task;
• Coherence and Cohesion – to what extent your piece of writing is logical and consistent and how skillful you are at organizing and linking your ideas throughout the answer;
• Lexical Resource – how wide the range of your vocabulary is and how accurately you use it;
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy – how wide the range of grammar structures you use are and whether they are used accurately.

Although it may sound like a lot to take, and what is more, to do, it’s not that bad. You don’t have to be perfect in your writing and even band 9 allows minor “slips”, let alone the lower ones. But it means that you have to approach preparation for Academic Writing quite seriously: study the writing paper format, find out exactly what you’re supposed to do and learn what it takes to create a piece of writing that is clear, well-organized, cohesive, and accurate regarding vocabulary and grammar (our writing tips is a good place to start). With this purpose in mind, you should consider finding a person who will be able to provide feedback on your practice writing pieces, ideally a tutor who has a solid background in IELTS preparation.