Tips for the Writing test - Task

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In Part 1 of the General Training Writing test you are

presented with a situation and you have to write a
letter asking for information or explaining the
situation.

Read these tips to help you answer question 1.

 Make sure you answer the question completely.

In the question there will be keywords like ‘explain’,
‘suggest’, ‘say’ ‘describe’. Make sure you do
everything the question asks you to do.

Look at the keywords in this question:

You have a new job and can no longer attend your regular
English class.

Write a letter to the English school. In your letter:

- describe the situation
- explain the problem
- say what you would like to happen now that you cannot
attend the lesson.

How would you answer this question? What are the key
points to cover?

Why not try the task for yourself in the Comments section
below? The educators will be looking at your answers and
commenting but we won’t be able to correct your work or
give you a band score.
In step 4.15 this week we’ll look more closely at writing an
answer to this kind of task, but before that, we’ll look at more
tips to help you in the writing test.

More Task 1 tips - formal and

informal writing

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In Task 1 you will be asked to write a letter.

Depending on who you are writing to, you need to
decide whether to write in a more formal or a more
informal style.

Most everyday written communication in English uses a semi-

formal style, where the tone is quite friendly, but some more
formal expressions are used. However, we use a more formal
style when we’re writing for professional reasons or to people
we don’t know. We use an informal style with people we
know well, for example, family members, relatives, friends or
colleagues.

There are a number of differences between formal and

informal English. For example, sentences are generally longer
and more complex in formal writing. Language is often more
impersonal, sometimes using passive voice. Vocabulary is
often different too, with more words of Latin or French origin
and fewer phrasal verbs. We don’t use contractions in formal
writing, whereas in informal writing, we use them all the time.
Here are some features of both styles of writing:
Formal Informal

Dear Sir or Madam Dear Mala / Hi Mala beginning

I am writing with regard to… I’m writing about… purpose

I would like to invite you… Why don’t you come to … inviting

I would like to request… Do you have…? requesting

It would be great if you

Please deliver the parcel to… instruction
could send it to…

I would like to suggest that… I think you should… suggesting

Formal Informal

I am / we are / did not I’m / we’re / didn’t contractions

Therefore / However So / Anyway linking

I look forward to hearing from Hope to hear from you

closing
you. soon!

Yours faithfully Best wishes / See you soon ending

Always begin by deciding who you are writing to. Should it be

a formal or informal style? Never mix the two styles.

Tips for the Writing test - Task

2

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In Task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in
response to a point of view, argument or problem. You
can use a fairly personal (informal) style. The question
may ask you to say why you agree or disagree with
the statement in the question or ask you to outline the
advantages or disadvantages to a general statement.

It’s best to approach this task with a method to ensure you

answer the question correctly, structure it appropriately and
have enough time to write well.

Here are some tips to approach the task:

Planning and Organising

 Read the question carefully and underline the key words

 Decide what structure to use. Most Task 2 questions will

ask you to discuss or analyse an issue in terms of
advantages/disadvantages and/or take a position by
agreeing or disagreeing. This means you can almost
always use a four paragraph structure, for example:

 Advantages/disadvantages question
- Introduction: paraphrase the question and give a
general answer
that will summarise your opinion
- Main paragraph 1: what are the advantages
- Main paragraph 2: what are the disadvantages
- Conclusion: paraphrase your argument and highlight or
restate your personal opinion or position on the issue.

 Agree / disagree question

- Introduction: paraphrase the question and give a
general answer
that will summarise your opinion
- Main paragraph 1: I agree/disagree because … +
 supporting reasons
- Main paragraph 2: Another reason I agree / disagree is
…
- Conclusion: paraphrase your argument and sum up.

Make sure you note down examples and supporting details

for each paragraph. Your arguments should also clearly link
back to the position you stated in the introduction.

 Spend some time thinking of good vocabulary related to

your topic. Note it down.

Writing

 Start each paragraph with a topic sentence i.e. the

general topic of the paragraph.

 Develop your ideas in each paragraph by giving reasons

for your answer and include examples from your own
knowledge or experience.

 Keep your examples fairly short. Don’t go into too much

detail; make sure you stay on topic.

 Try using linking words like ‘firstly, secondly, finally’ to

connect your ideas within each of your main paragraphs.
This will help your writing to flow.

What tips do you have for presenting an argument

well in a Task 2 General Training essay? Share your
thoughts with other learners below.

Presenting an argument
In the previous step you learnt that planning your
essay is an important part of the writing process. In
this step you can share with other learners how you
would structure your argument for a Task 2 essay.

Choose one of the questions below, then write a brief outline

of your main arguments. Depending which question you
choose, say why you agree or disagree, or why you think
there are more advantages or disadvantages. In the
comments below, share 2 or 3 points explaining the main
argument you would use for each paragraph of your essay.

A Task 1 example

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On the previous step, we looked at the marking

criteria for the Writing test. We talked about:

 Task achievement / task response

 Coherence and cohesion
 Lexical resource
 Grammatical range and accuracy

In this step we’ll look at an answer to a Task 1 question.

For this task, students were asked to write a letter to a friend

to tell him/her about a new flat move. They need to say why
they’ve moved, what the new flat is like and to invite their
friend to visit.

Here’s the answer:

Dear Raul

How are you? I hope your doing fine. I have heard that you
already have a new job. That must be the reason why I have
not seen you lately. I would like to inform you that we have
already moved to a new apartment. We are now near the city
business district, about 15 minutes by train. You already
know that my wife, Ana, is always complaining about the long
hours spent in commuting from her work. That is the reason
why we had to move.

Our new apartment is now bigger that what we have before.

It has four bedrooms and two comfort rooms. I also installed
a new state-of-the-art air conditioning system. I know you are
concerned about this subject because it is your expertise.
Please do not worry my friend because I paid the contractor
with a hefty amount. We painted the interior with a white
color and my wife loves it. We also bought some furnitures
that will match the color with the interior.

With all these in mind, I would like to invite you and your
family to dinner party here in our new apartment this Sunday.
You can also contact me in my new telephone number 88-
2277

I hope you can come and see you soon.

Regard
Michael

What do you think about this answer? Think about the

criteria we looked at in the previous step. Share your
comments below.

A Task 2 example
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Now look at an answer to a Task 2 question. In this

question learners were asked to discuss why people
travel more these days and to think about the benefits
of travel.

Here’s one student’s answer:

Most people today would like travel in different places. A few

decades ago, only the rich can afford to travel since they can
spend more. There are several reasons why the number of
travellers have been increasing.

First, there is a healthy competition in the transport industry.

Long ago, there are only few airline companies so they
control and monopolize the industry. Today there are a lot of
airline companies and this is the reason why the price of
airfare became affordable. Airline companies, nowadays,
have their own websites so that it can entice new customers
to use their services. They also lowered the ticket prices by
developing promotional fares which is beneficial for the
customers. Another reason is convenience. People today can
use the internet to search their preferred tourist destination.
They can also view the best route to maximize the cost of
travel and time. Electronic maps are also available in the
internet.

There are several benefits that a traveller can get through

travelling. Initially, the traveller can eat some exotic foods
and see new sights. The individual can also experience new
culture and traditions. These new experiences can give the
traveller new insights on life and the environment.
In my own experience, visiting Thailand with my mother was
such a wonderful experience. I was hesitant at first because I
knew beforehand that ticket prices for that destination are
pricey. I changed my mind when I saw the promotional fare of
Cebu Pacific in their website. After we booked the flight, I
then searched the internet for our hotel accomodations. We
really enjoyed the trip when we visited some Buddhist
temple.

To sum it up, more people would like to travel because of its

advantages. Furthermore, the trend will keep on increasing in
the future.

What can I do to improve my

writing?

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Listen to Rob talking about things you can do to

improve your writing.

Add your own ideas in the comments below.

As Rob mentioned, there are many excellent online resources

you can use to develop your general writing skills. Here are
some to help you practise and develop your skills in writing
emails, letters and essays.

 An informal email - a look at the conventions and

language in informal correspondence.
 A more formal email - a look at the structure and
language of more formal correspondence.
 Writing a formal letter - an introduction to writing formal
letters.
 Try this complete IELTS writing Practice Test to help you
prepare.
 A for and against essay
 Sample Task 1 and Task 2 writing questions with sample
answers and examiner comments to help you prepare.