IELTS Task 1 Writing (Academic) Test: How to improve your IELTS band score: How to Improve your IELTS Test bandscores

By Steve Price and Adonis Enricuso

How This Book Helps You

This book gives you, the IELTS Test candidate, detailed guidance on how you can improve your IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Test band score.

The IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Test is no different from any other exam or test type. There are techniques, which can be practised and which will place candidates in a better position to answer each given question type.

This book teaches you those techniques for the IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Test.

• Language: English
• Publisher: www.passieltshigher.com (STMP Associates Ltd.)
• Release date: Jul 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386694779

Book preview

How This Book Helps You

This book gives you, the IELTS Test candidate, detailed guidance on how you can improve your IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Test band score.

The IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Test is no different from any other exam or test type. There are techniques, which can be practised and which will place candidates in a better position to answer each given question type.

This book teaches you those techniques for the IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Test.

Both Task 1 and Task 2 are rated based on four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

Scores range from 0 to 9, and a 0.5 rate may also be given.

The four criteria are of equal weight. So there must also be an equal amount of preparation.

During your practice and preparation, don’t miss to keep referring back and forth to this descriptor. This will thoroughly guide you as you progress.

This knowledge is the icing on your IELTS preparation cake. In a favourable way, of course.

The next table shows a comprehensive description of the English language capabilities required in each band score.

The first question in the IELTS Academic Writing Test asks you to make an essay of at least 150 words.

In the question you will see an image that is either a table, graph, chart, map, diagram or a combination of any two of them. Basically, this task requires you to succinctly report the significant (major and minor) information.

The advisable amount of time to accomplish this task is 20 minutes.

9 Techniques for Better IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Band Score

The techniques are listed below, and each links to a chapter in this book which teaches IELTS Test candidates the necessary skills.

Technique 1: Reading the given data

Technique 2: Identifying and choosing the significant details

Technique 3: Structuring the essay

Technique 4: Paraphrasing the topic question

Technique 5: Stating general trends

Technique 6: Related verbs, nouns, adverbs and adjectives: describing trends; describing proportions and approximations

Technique 7: Stating other significant details

Technique 8: Grammar: conjunctions; verb tenses; voices; sentence structures

Technique 9: Language for comparison and contrast

Chapter Technique 1: Reading the given data

What are the types of data in task 1 of the Writing test?

In task 1, where you are asked to write an essay of 150 words (minimum), the content will depend on what type of data are given in the topic question. It is presented in a graph, chart, table, diagram, or map (which is not really common). Sometimes, a combination of any of them is also used.

Why is it important to analyse the data?

Before constructing your essay, it is a prerequisite to go over the data, as it is the best way to start with the task itself. Failing to do so would cause incoherence and too much delay during the maximum of 20 minutes intended for you in this part of the exam. You should also carefully understand everything you see on the exam paper—from the instructions to the details of the given figure.

How are the data analysed?

Read and understand the heading carefully. That alone will give you an overview of the data represented by the chart or graph. Then, look at the items from top to bottom or from left to right.

For maps and diagrams, always start with the bigger or general picture, or find the starting point first and follow the whole process. These are the exact data to be interpreted.

Study how these data are presented, and take note of every pattern involved.

Finally, try to be discriminating as to which sets of information are most significant. You don’t have to pay attention to those that do not show much distinction. Follow the aforementioned steps as you take a look at a certain figure.

How is the information interpreted?

Based on the given figures, look for significant data such as the biggest or smallest number (for tables), starting point (for diagrams), longest or shortest bar (for charts), and highest or lowest point (for graphs).

Notice how these data are presented in terms of patterns and trends. Is there a decreasing or increasing movement of items (for tables)? What does the arrow suggest? Are there two or more arrows (for diagrams)? How are the points moving? Are they moving up or down, or are they fluctuating (for charts and graphs)?

Activities

Pay attention to the heading or question of each figure and underline its keywords.

Briefly state what the given items represent.

Do you see any general trends or movements of the items or data presented? What are these?

Answer the above questions with each of the figures in the following slides:

Figure 1. The Line Graph

The graph below shows global energy demand, measured in millions of tonnes oil equivalent, over a period of six decades.

Response to Activity A

The graph below shows global energy demand, measured in millions of tonnes oil equivalent, over a period of six decades.

From the underlined phrases above, you already understand the basic points to look at in the given line graph. There is a measurement of energy in a particular period.

Response to Activity B

The given items along the vertical axis represent amounts of energy required or allocated for each year shown in the horizontal axis. Hence, their range of measurement has an upward direction, while the chronological