Как успешно подготовиться к экзамену IELTS

Writing tips

Дэрек Сандерс, преподаватель IELTS, советует:

«Although the writing tasks are designed to test a candidate's ability to write, rather than the quality of ideas, it is my experience that students that have read widely around the topic areas, which commonly crop up in all components of the IELTS exam, tend to write with greater sophistication and purpose. Students are therefore encouraged to read articles from magazines such as Time and The Economist in order to keep abreast of current issues»

Университет Кэмбриджа советует:

  1. Whether you have to describe a graph, table or chart, think carefully about what you need to include in your description. Don’t describe every detail of the information. Choose the most important and interesting features to write about.
  2. Support your description with figures, but you don’t need to give every number exactly. You can be approximate by using words like “over”, “about” and “around”.
  3. Sometimes you will have to describe a diagram showing a process. Identify all the stages of the process clearly before writing about it. Remember that if there are any difficult technical words in the diagram, chart or graph, they will be explained.
  4. Use words in your description that show the sequence of the process.
  5. Analyse the question. Think carefully about what you are being asked to do.
  6. Decide on your position and then plan your writing carefully by making notes and organizing them into paragraphs. Make sure that each paragraph has a clear focus.
  7. Include examples to support your opinion.
  8. Leave enough time to edit and check your writing. It’s important to look for grammar and spelling mistakes, which are easy to make when you are writing to a time limit.
  9. Check your work. Do you have any particular mistakes that you often tend yo make? e/g/ leaving out articles? Know your own tipycal mistakes and check youe work carefully for them.

Официальный издатель материалов по подготовке к IELTS, BARRON’s советует:

«Make sure you organize your writing before you begin. Use the back of your answer sheet to create a concept map.

The examiners judge your writing on its clarity. Make sure you have supported your ideas with specific details.

You can write more than 150 words for Task 1 or more than 250 words for Task 2, but you can’t write less. You will lose points if you have less than the assigned number of words in your essay.

In the introductory paragraph, paraphrase your ideas. Do not use the exact words in the introduction that you use in the body of the essay. This gives your writing more variety and more interest.

You must answer the question completely. Do not leave any part out or you will lose points.

Organize your time carefully. Leave time for planning, writing, revising».

British Council advises:

· «Highlight/circle key words.

· Clearly divide paragraphs.

· Don't repeat ideas in a different way.

· Stick to the topic.

· Сareful with timing - don't rush Task Two, it's longer and is worth more points.

· Paragraph simply, with one idea in each paragraph.

· Avoid informal language.

· Learn to recognize how long 150 words look in your handwriting. You don't really have time to count.

· Get used to always spending several minutes re-reading and correcting your essays.

· Don't memorize model answers, they won't fit the question and you will make more careless mistakes»

From http://www.britishcouncil.org