Writing Task One and Two Course Pack

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Ebrahim Tahasoni Cert TESOL, Academic IELTS 9.0

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Master IELTS Visuals IELTS Academic Writing Task One

Ebrahim Tahasoni Page 1 www.tahasoni.com

Understanding the Rubric

WRITING TASK 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The charts below give information about world spending and population. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The Task Tasks involve reporting the data in a visual item or a collection of data such as a table. The task is to write a report:

Summarise the information in the visual or set of data: o Select the main features o Report the main features

Make comparisons were relevant

Spend about 20 minutes on the task

Minimum 150 words 165-170 words Note: Finish task one during the first 20 minutes of your writing test and then move on to task 2. Do not swap!

The Answer Sheet

The first two pages of the IELTS writing answer sheet are dedicated to task one and have 30 lines. Although you

may ask for extra sheets to write your answer in, it is not likely to become necessary since the space you are

already provided with is way more than sufficient.



You may be given a single visual or a combination of 2 or 3 different task types.

A. Line graphs

1. Single-variable line graph 2. Multiple-variable line graph

B. Charts

1. Single-variable bar chart 2. Multiple-variable bar chart

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

1960 1980 2000 2020

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1960 1980 2000 2020

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

1960 1980 2000 2020

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1960 1980 2000 2020



3. Comparison bar chart 4. Pie chart

C. Tables

D. Process, Flowchart or Cycle Diagrams

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Germany

Maldives

Peru

1st Qtr

2nd Qtr

3rd Qtr

4th Qtr



E. Maps

1. Comparison map 2. Development map

F. Multiple Task Types



Every report is read four times by an examiner and each time, it will be marked on one of the following criteria:

Task Achievement (TA)

Coherence and Cohesion (CC)

Lexical Resource (LR)

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

Task Achievement (TA)

This criterion assesses how appropriately, accurately and relevantly the response fulfils the requirements set out

in the task, using the minimum of 150 words.

Academic Writing Task 1 is a writing task which has a defined input and a largely predictable output. It is basically

an information-transfer task which relates narrowly to the factual content of the input data or diagram and NOT

to speculated explanations that lie outside the provided diagram or data.

The examiner has the following questions in mind when assessing this aspect of your report:

1. Have you summarised the information appropriately by selecting and properly reporting the main

features?

2. Have you made comparisons properly and sufficiently?

3. Have you provided overviews of the main trends/comparisons/stages?

4. Have you written a clear overview or summary for the report?


This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response organises and

links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing.

Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example, logical connectors,

pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within

sentences clear.


1. Have you organised your information logically?

2. Is there an overall flow or progression in your report?

3. Have you used linkers correctly, properly and sufficiently?

4. Have pronouns been used correctly and do they have clear references?

5. Have you organised the text in paragraphs logically and sufficiently?




This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that

use in terms of the specific task.

The examiner takes the following points into account when assessing this aspect of your report:

1. Words

a. Range and flexibility

b. Level

c. Precision

d. Style

e. Collocation

2. Vocabulary mistakes

a. Spelling

b. Word choice

c. Word formation

Note: when evaluating mistakes, the effect each has on the reader and the intelligibility of your report is taken into

account.


This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate’s grammatical resource as manifested in the

candidate’s writing at the sentence level.


1. Have you used a variety of sentence structures?

2. How often have you used compound structures?

3. Mistakes

a. Grammar

b. Punctuation


account.



IELTS Task 1 Writing band descriptors (public version)

Band Task Achievement Coherence and Cohesion

Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy

9 fully satisfies all the requirements of the task

clearly presents a fully developed response

uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention

skilfully manages paragraphing

uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

8 covers all requirements of the task sufficiently

presents, highlights and illustrates key features/ bullet points clearly and appropriately

sequences information and ideas logically

manages all aspects of cohesion well

uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings

skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation

produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation

uses a wide range of structures

the majority of sentences are error-free

makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies

7 covers the requirements of the task

(Academic) presents a clear overview of main trends, differences or stages

(General Training) presents a clear purpose, with the tone consistent and appropriate

clearly presents and highlights key features/bullet points but could be more fully extended

logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout

uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use

uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision

uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation

may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation

uses a variety of complex structures

produces frequent error-free sentences

has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

6 addresses the requirements of the task

(Academic) presents an overview with information appropriately selected

(General Training) presents a purpose that is generally clear; there may be inconsistencies in tone

presents and adequately highlights key features/ bullet points but details may be irrelevant, inappropriate or inaccurate

arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression

uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical

may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately

uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task

attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms

makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication



5

generally addresses the task; the format may be inappropriate in places

(Academic) recounts detail mechanically with no clear overview; there may be no data to support the description

(General Training) may present a purpose for the letter that is unclear at times; the tone may be variable and sometimes inappropriate

presents, but inadequately covers, key features/ bullet points; there may be a tendency to focus on details

presents information with some organisation but there may be a lack of overall progression

makes inadequate, inaccurate or over-use of cohesive devices

may be repetitive because of lack of referencing and substitution

uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task

may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader

uses only a limited range of structures

attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences

may make frequent grammatical errors and punctuation may be faulty; errors can cause some difficulty for the reader

4 attempts to address the task but does not cover all key features/bullet points; the format may be inappropriate

(General Training) fails to clearly explain the purpose of the letter; the tone may be inappropriate

may confuse key features/bullet points with detail; parts may be unclear, irrelevant, repetitive or inaccurate

presents information and ideas but these are not arranged coherently and there is no clear progression in the response

uses some basic cohesive devices but these may be inaccurate or repetitive

uses only basic vocabulary which may be used repetitively or which may be inappropriate for the task

has limited control of word formation and/or spelling; errors may cause strain for the reader

uses only a very limited range of structures with only rare use of subordinate clauses

some structures are accurate but errors predominate, and punctuation is often faulty

3 fails to address the task, which may have been completely misunderstood

presents limited ideas which may be largely irrelevant/repetitive

does not organise ideas logically

may use a very limited range of cohesive devices, and those used may not indicate a logical relationship between ideas

uses only a very limited range of words and expressions with very limited control of word formation and/or spelling

errors may severely distort the message

attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and punctuation predominate and distort the meaning

2 answer is barely related to the task

has very little control of organisational features

uses an extremely limited range of vocabulary; essentially no control of word formation and/or spelling

cannot use sentence forms except in memorised phrases

1 answer is completely unrelated to the task

fails to communicate any message

can only use a few isolated words

cannot use sentence forms at all

0 does not attend

does not attempt the task in any way

writes a totally memorised response





Line Graphs



A) Verbs and nouns for describing trends and changes:

Trend Verbs Nouns

rise (rose-risen) [to/by]

increase [to/by]

go (went-gone) up [to/by]

climb [to/by]

grow (grew-grown) [to/by]

double

treble/triple

boom

surge

soar

rocket [to/by]

a rise [of]

an increase [of]

a growth [of]

an upward trend

a doubling in + n.

a trebling in + n.

a boom

a surge

fall (fell-fallen) [to/by]

decline [to/by]

decrease [to/by]

dip (dipped) [to/by]

drop (dropped) [to/by]

go (went-gone) down [to/by]

plummet [to/by]

plunge [to/by]

dive [to/by]

deteriorate

slump [to/by]

a fall [of]

a decline [of]

a decrease [of]

a drop [of]

a reduction

a slump

a plunge

do (did) not change

remain/stay + stable/steady/static/unchanged [at]

maintain the same level

no change

Position

stood at/was

level (levelled) off [at]

plateau (plateaued) [at]

level (levelled) out [at]

stabilise [at]

peaked [at]

reached

a levelling off [at]

a plateau [at]

reached a high/peak of

reached a low of

Constant Change

fluctuated [around]

a fluctuation



B) Adjectives and adverbs for degree of change:

Degree Adjective Adverb

Very extensive change

dramatic dramatically

huge n/a

enormous enormously

tremendous tremendously

Extensive change

substantial substantially

considerable considerably

significant significantly

remarkable remarkably

Average change

noticeable noticeably

marked markedly

moderate moderately

Small change

slight slightly

small n/a

minimal minimally

C) Adjectives and adverbs for speed of change:

Speed Adjective Adverb

Quick change

rapid rapidly

quick quickly

sharp sharply

swift swiftly

steep steeply

Slow change

steady steadily

gradual gradually

slow slowly

Unexpected change

sudden suddenly

unexpected unexpectedly

abrupt abruptly



1. Past:

Simple past (to report actions happening after each other)

2. Present:

a) If the task represents changes or actions which happen regularly (such as a process or a chart displaying general average values):

Simple present (for graphs, charts and tables)

Simple present and present perfect (for processes and cycles)

b) If the trend starts in the past, reaches now and has a break point at the present time:

Present perfect for the trend that begins in the past

Simple present for reporting its present value

Example:

It stood at 20 in 1983 and doubled over the next 10 years to level off at 40, after which it remained

constant until 2003. Since then, there has been a considerable increase and it now stands at 50.

However, there will probably be a rapid fall in the last 10 years and it is expected to reach 30.

1983 1993 2003 2013 2023



c) If the trend start in the past, passes now into the future and has a breakpoint sometime

in the future

Present perfect for the trend that begins in the past

Future structures (look at number 3 below) to report the value it will reach in

the first future breakpoint

Example:

In 1985 it stood at 20 and doubled over the next 10 years to level off at 40 and remained constant

until 2005. Since then, it has experienced a considerable increase and is expected to reach 50 in

2020 (or: …and predictions show that it will reach 50 in 2020). However, there will be a rapid fall in

the last 10 years and it will reach 30.

1990 2000 2010 2020 2030



3. Future:

“Will” future and other academic structures for predicting the future

Generally, use “will” future for future events. Structures like “should”, “be likely to”, “seem

likely to/that” and the following can also be used:

Structure set 1:

Predictions Expectations Anticipations Forecasts Estimates Evaluations Calculations

show reveal indicate

[that] it will drop dramatically.

Structure set 2:

It is

predicted expected anticipated forecast estimated evaluated calculated

that gold prices will drop dramatically.

Structure set 3:

Gold prices are

predicted expected anticipated forecast estimated evaluated calculated

to drop dramatically.



Notice how the verbs in the following paragraphs have been changed from past forms into

future forms:

In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA was about 20%.

The figures for Canada and Mexico were lower, at about 10% and 5%

respectively. In 2005, Internet usage in both the USA and Canada rose to

around 70% of the population, while the figure for Mexico reached just over

25%.

In 2015, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA is expected to

be about 20%. The figures for Canada and Mexico are likely to be lower, at

about 10% and 5% respectively. In 2025, it is predicted that Internet usage in

both the USA and Canada will rise to around 70% of the population, while the

figure for Mexico should reach just over 25%.



1. First event: At/In the beginning,

At first,

In the first year,

In the first month,

In 1999,

In January,

In the first year, 1999,

In the first year (1999),

2. Middle events: …and…

…but…

However, Nevertheless,

Then,

Next,

After this/that,

Following this/that,

Afterwards,

This is followed by + <n/n.p>

…following which…

…after which…

…which is followed by… + <n/n.p>

…until…after which…

…until…following which…

…until…when…

…before… + <sentence or n.p.>

during/over the next…years

…years later,

3. Final event: Finally,

Ultimately,



1. x y

2. x ± Δ

3. Proportional changes

4. Rounding

– For Trends:

relatively

rather

almost

– For Values:

Roughly

Almost

About

Approximately

Around

Just about

Well/just below

Well/just above

A little/slightly more than

A little/slightly less than

5. Referencing



Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below gives information about Dubai gold sales in 2002.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Sample answer by E. Tahasoni: The diagram illustrates how gold sales in Dubai changed over a period of 12 months. It is observed that in the first month of 2002, gold sales stood at 200 million dirhams and rose slightly to reach about 225 million in February. This was followed by another increase, although much steeper, in March when sales were almost 125 million dirhams higher than February. However, this upward trend was suddenly broken and sales plummeted dramatically over the next 4 months to reach a little over 100 million dirhams in July. August sales saw a significant rise back to January levels as figures nearly doubled, but this was not to last since they dropped again in September to the same level as they were in July. October came with a small increase of about 100 million dirhams in sales, after which sales figures levelled off and remained relatively static over the last two months of 2002. Overall, gold sales in Dubai remained relatively unchanged in 2002. Besides, they were at their highest in March while the weakest sales figures could be observed in July and September. (184 words)



Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below gives information about the number of cases of diarrhea in Mashhad between 1983 and 1992.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.





The diagram below gives information about the number of parcels delivered by two major mail services companies from 1920 to 2000.



Parcels delivered by Federal Express and TNT Mail Services

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

FedEx

TNT




The chart below gives information about the number of books rented in a British local library in 2009.


Malton Town Library: Books Rented 2009



Writing Task 1


The chart below gives information about birth and death rates in Switzerland from 1970 to 2020 according to United Nations statistics.



Switzerland birth and death rates 1970-2020

mill

ion

s

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Births

Deaths



Comparison Bar Charts



A. Introducing Differences

Generally, there is a significant difference between a and b.

a wide disparity in + n.

B. Comparative Structures

1 In contrast (to B), In comparison (with B),

A is larger/smaller by a narrow margin. by x.

2 A is [just]+[under/over] [approximately]

x larger/smaller than B.

3 A is [under/over] twice two/three times

as large/great/high as B.

4 A produces/consumes/… more/less + uncountable n. more/fewer + countable n.

than B.

5 A is considerably/substantially marginally/slightly

greater/higher/smaller than B.

6 A is [almost/roughly /…] As large/high as B.

C. Superlative Structures

1 A is the [second/third] largest/smallest/most significant/most productive/ … + n.

2 A has the [second/third] greatest/widest/ most significant/most productive/ … + n.

3 A uses produces consumes

the largest/highest/smallest/lowest

proportion of + n. quantity of + n. amount of + uncountable n. number of + countable n.




The charts below give information about travel to and from the UK, and about the most popular countries for UK residents to visit.



Answer by E. Tahasoni: The first diagram compares changes in the number of British tourists who travelled abroad with that of foreign visitors to the United Kingdom over the last 20 years of the previous century. According to the graph, the former initially stood at more than 12 million and grew six-fold at the end of the survey. In comparison, the latter number was slightly less than that of the British tourists at the beginning of this period and experienced similar yet less intensive trends, reaching approximately half as high by the end of the century. The bar chart reveals the top 5 countries visited by the British in the last year of the above survey. It can be observed that while France and Spain absorbed the largest numbers of British tourists with about 11 and 9 million visits respectively, Turkey was the least popular among the five, visited by only about 30% as many British as France. Overall, tourism from and to the United Kingdom boomed in the 1980s and 90s. Moreover, most of the trips made by the British abroad were to 5 countries only. (185 words)



Sample answer by E. Tahasoni:

The diagram compares the spending habits of shoppers in five European countries on six consumer

products, namely personal stereos, tennis racquets, colognes, compact disks, toys and photographic film.

It can be observed that in Britain, the highest amount of money was spent on photographic film (more than

170 million pounds), while similar amounts were spent on personal stereos and tennis racquets. The

French spent the second highest amount of money on the first three products while they stood last in the

latter three. It is also revealed that Italians spent more money on toys than on any other product (a bit less

than £160 million), but they also paid a lot for photographic film. Finally, Germans spent the least overall,

having similar spending figures for all 6 products compared in the chart.

Overall, more money was spent on toys and photographic film than on any other product. Also, the British

were the biggest spenders in all six categories among the nations compared in the bar chart while the

lowest spending levels were attributed to the residents of Germany.

(178 words)




The chart below shows the different levels of post-school qualifications in Australia and the proportion of men and women who held them in 1999.



Post-school qualifications in Australia according to gender 1999



Pie Charts



The pie chart shows how electricity is used in an average English home.

(Cambridge IELTS 4, page 54)

Fill the gaps below using words from the following list.

appliances remaining account proportion for largest household

In an average English home, the ______ ______ of electricity, 52.5%, is used for heating rooms

and water.

Three kitchen ______, namely ovens, kettles and washing machines, ______ ______ 17.5% of

______ electricity use.

The ______ 30% of electricity is used for lighting, televisions and radios (15%), and vacuum

cleaners, food mixers and electric tools (15%).

Heating rooms, heating water

52%

Ovens, kettles, washing machines

18%

Lighting, TV, radio 15%

Vaccum cleaners, food mixers, electric tools

15%

What the electricity is used for



Writing Task 1


The charts below give information about world spending and population.



Sample answer by E. Tahasoni (166-182 words):

The first pie chart compares the shares of four major items in global expenditure. It is observed that the most significant amounts are paid for food (almost a quarter of global expenditure) and transport (almost 20%), while housing also accounts for a considerable proportion. The least among the four is spent on clothing (merely 6 percent) and the remaining 40% is spent on a variety of other items.

The second diagram illustrates how global population is distributed. According to this chart, there is a significant difference between the population of Asia and that of other continents since 3 out of every 5 human beings live in Asia. Europe and the Americas share similar proportions and together are host to roughly one-third of the world’s population, while the inhabitants of Africa form a mere one-tenth.

To sum up, four items are responsible for three-fifths of the overall spending around the world, the most prominent share being that of food. Moreover, the largest group of humans populates Asia, the population of which outnumbers that of the rest of the world by 3 to 2.

Please note: The words in gray background have been added for a higher TA score; yet without them, the writing

would probably still score around 8.5-9.

Food 24%

Clothing 6%

Housing 12%

Transport 18%

Other 40%

World Spending

Europe 14%

Americas 14%

Africa 10%

Asia 57%

Other 5%

World Population



(Source: Cambridge IELTS 8, Test 2, Writing Task 1)

Sample Answer by E. Tahasoni: The charts compare changes in the shares of five different items which comprised the yearly expenses of a British school between 1981 and 2001. According to the diagrams, wages paid to the teaching staff accounted for the most significant proportion of expenditure in 1981 (40%) and went up by a quarter before declining slightly. In comparison, the share of furniture and equipment was initially as high as that of educational resources (15%), but while the former dropped by 2/3 before rising fivefold, the latter experienced a marked rise after which it halved, reaching just below 10%. The salaries of non-academic employees were responsible for less than a third of all expenses in 1981 but their share dipped substantially by 13% over the course of these 20 years. Lastly, the contribution of insurance remained constant at an insignificant level (2%) until 2001 when it climbed fourfold. Overall, while the shares of three items experienced rises, there were declines in the remaining two. Moreover, academic staff salaries contributed the largest proportion of expenditure throughout the survey, whereas insurance had the smallest share. (180 words)



Tables



Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The table below shows social and economic indicators for four countries in 1994, according to United Nations statistics.



Indicators Canada Japan Peru Angola

Annual income per person (in $US)

11100 15760 160 130

Life expectancy at birth 76 78 51 47

Daily calorie supply per person 3326 2846 1927 1749

Adult literacy rate (%) 99 99 68 34



Process and

Cycle Diagrams



Process:

Cycle:

…and the process/procedure/cycle starts over again.

A. Tenses:

Generally, the present simple tense is used to report actions which regularly happen in a process. Sometimes, the present perfect may also be used to signify the completion of a stage

B. Passive vs. Active form I. Natural events

For events which happen autonomously in nature, such as rain, formation of clouds or erosion o

f mountains, generally use the active form unless you need to shift focus from the subject to the

object of the stage.

II. Artificial events

In artificial stages, the human subjects are usually ignored so use the passive to focus on what is

being done. If the subject has also been mentioned in the diagram, add it as an "agent".

A B C

A

B C



When you need to report the means or tool used to perform a stage, avoid using "by":

For tools: It is done using/through the use of a...

For methods: It is done through/via...

… is used to <inf.>

The role of … is to <inf.>

The … prevents/stops/protects/avoids … from <+ing/n>

The … allows … to <inf.>

A. The first stage

First,

Firstly,

First off,

First of all,

In the first stage,

At/In the beginning,

The first stage is when

The process begins/starts/commences when

The process begins with +<n./n.p.>



B. Middle stages:

Next,

Then

After this/that,

Following this/that,

Afterwards,

In the following stage,

In the stage after/following this,

In the stage that follows,

Over the course of/During the next/following/second/third stage,

This is followed by +<n./n.p.>

When/After/Once <stage A>, <stage B>

<stage A>. When/Once this stage is complete, <stage B>

<stage A> before <stage B as n./n.p. or clause>

Before <stage B>, <stage A>

<stage A> after/following which <stage B>

<stage A> which is followed by <stage B as n./n.p.>

C. Last stage:

Finally,

Ultimately,

Eventually,

The last/final stage is when

The process ends when

The process ends with

<stage A> before finally <stage B as n./n.p.>



Model Answer by E. Tahasoni:

The first diagram illustrates the process through which cement is produced. The process begins when the initial

raw materials, namely limestone and clay, are crushed using two rotating drums to make a fine powder which is

then mixed in a cylindrical mixer. The next stage involves a tube-like rotating heater with a blowtorch mounted

at its bottom opening. The mixed powder is fed from the top and simultaneously heated and blended, after

which it is transferred to a grinder using a conveyor belt. There, it is milled to yield the final cement product

which is eventually packed in bags.

This cement is used as raw material in the production of concrete in a second, rather simpler process illustrated

in the second picture. An initial mixture comprising 15% cement, 10% water, one-quarter sand and half gravel is

fed into a rotating concrete mixer where they are stirred until the concrete mix is ready for construction

purposes.

To sum up, there are 5 stages in the production of cement. Moreover, cement and a few other simple

ingredients are used to produce concrete through a single-stage procedure.

(184 words)



Writing Task 1


The diagram below shows the process of using water to produce electricity.




The picture explains the process through which water is used to produce electrical power.

The process begins when seawater is heated by the sun and evaporates to form small clouds in the sky. Next,

they merge into a storm could, which then rains over the mountain. This rainwater is gathered in the reservoir

behind a dam. To following steps involve a pipe which connects the reservoir to a turbine as well as a pump, and

is controlled using a valve. Once this valve is opened, water flows into the turbine and rotates it to produce

electrical current, following which it is pumped back into the reservoir. After this, the electricity produced by the

turbine is transferred to the transformer station though high voltage cables. The last stage is when the electrical

power being delivered to domestic and industrial consumers as well as educational and medical facilities.

Overall, hydroelectric power is generated using water from the sea through a relatively sophisticated procedure

which comprises over ten stages.

(169 words)



Writing Task 1


The diagram below shows the life cycle of the honey bee.



Nymph: immature form of an insect

Moult: shed or lose old feathers, hair or skin

to allow for new growth


The chart illustrates the stages in the life of honey bees. All in all, this life cycle is comprised of six stages from

egg to full maturity, and takes approximately five weeks (34 to 36 days to be exact) to complete.

The first stage is when the female bee lays up to a couple of oval eggs once every 72 hours. These eggs hatch

between nine and ten days later, and immature bees, called nymphs, emerge which lack the typical bee stripes.

Over the next 3 weeks nymphs experience three moulting stages, that is, they shed their skins to allow further

growth to occur: The first moulting happening 5 days after the eggs hatch, a week after which the second one

takes place. Nine days later nymphs moult for a third time and young adult honey bees emerge, identified by

their horizontally striped backs. These take four more days to mature into larger adult bees whose backs are

marked with bolder and darker stripes, and the cycle starts over again.

(170 words)



Writing Task 1


The diagram below shows the process of producing construction broicks.



Model Answer by A. Tootoonchi (TA: 9 | CC: 8 | LR: 7 | GRA: 8 | Overall: 8)

The picture illustrates how bricks are produced.

The process begins when clay is dug out through the use of a digger, which is followed by clay passing through a

metal grid. Fine clay is then carried by a roller after which sand and water are added to it. In the next stage,

either this mixture is pressed through a frame and cut into bricks using a wire cutter, or it is put into moulds and

formed into bricks. Following that, the bricks are dried in a drying oven for one to two days. The next three

stages involve two kilns connected to a cooling chamber. The dried bricks are first heated from 200 to 980

degrees centigrade, before being exposed to high temperature (870 to 1300 degrees). They are then cooled

within 48 to 72 hours. Eventually, they are packed and delivered to customers by trucks.

Overall, the procedure of producing bricks is comprised of ten stages which are rather simple.

(161 words)



Writing Task 1


The diagram below shows the process of producing construction broicks.



Model Answer by E. Tahasoni (Band 9):

The chart illustrates the procedure through which bricks are produced for construction work.

It commences when raw clay is dug using a digger machine following which it is sifted through a metal grid into

finer fragments which then fall onto a conveyor belt. In the next stage, water and sand are added and the

resulting mixture is either pushed through a frame and cut into simple bricks, or is moulded into specially-formed

bricks. These are then placed in a special oven for two to three days in order to minimise their moisture content.

The following three stages involve the use of a couple of kilns and a cooling chamber: bricks are first heated

moderately in the first kiln to reach a temperature of between 200 and 980 degrees centigrade before being

subjected to higher temperatures (870 to 1300 degrees) in the second one. Next, they are allowed to cool down

for two to three days in the cooling chamber. The process ends with the bricks being packed on palettes and

delivered to end users on trucks.

Overall, the process of producing bricks is comprised of ten relatively simple stages during which clay, sand and

water is used to produce baked bricks.

(201 words)



Maps



at the top /bottom

on the right/left side

in the right/left hand corner

in the middle

Along

Across [from]

Opposite

Close to

Adjacent to

Next to

Beside

10 miles from

10 miles to the right of

10 miles north of

… is situated/located/sited/positioned + around/above/below/inside/next to …

… is situated/located/sited/positioned + to the right of/to the north of

… is covered with …

… is connected to … via/through/by means of …



Residential area: an area that has lots of houses and some schools.

Industrial area: an area that has lots of factories

Commercial area: an area that has lots of stores

Hospital: a health facility where patients receive treatment

Zoo: a place where people can go and see many kinds of animals

Post office: a place where you can send mail (letters and packages)

Fire station: a station housing fire apparatus and firemen

Airport: an airfield equipped with control tower and hangers as well as accommodations for passengers and cargo

Park: a recreational area where people can play football and have picnics

Skyscraper: very tall buildings

Warehouse: a building where things are kept until they are sold.

Parking lot: an area where people can park cars

Museum: a place that displays things of scientific or historical or artistic value

Supermarket: a large store that sells mostly food but sometimes other items such as clothes and furniture.

Factory: an industrial plant, a production facility,

Woodland: an area with lots of trees

River: a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

Street: the place where cars drive

Intersection: the point where several streets meet.

Remove: remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, taking off, etc.

Develop: to make

Change: modify

Construct: to build

Demolish: to destroy a building or other structure completely

Replace: to take the place of or substitute for somebody or something

Expand: to become or make something become larger

Recreation: an activity that is exciting, stimulating or relaxing. For example, bike riding and playing football are recreational activities.

Proximity: closeness



The map below is of the town of Garlsdon and shows two possible sites for a new supermarket.


Model Answer by an Examiner (from Cambridge IELTS book 5):

The first potential location (S1) is outside the town itself, and is sited just off the main road to the town

of Hindon, lying 12 kilometres to the north-west. This site is in the countryside and so would be able to

accommodate a lot of car parking. This would make it accessible to shoppers from both Hindon and

Garlsdon who could travel by car. Since it is also close to the railway line linking the two towns to

Cransdon (25 km to the south-east), a potentially large number of shoppers would also be able to

travel by train.

In contrast, the suggested location, S2, is right in the town centre, which would be good for local

residents. Theoretically the store could be accessed by road or rail from the surrounding towns,

including Bransdon, but as the central area is a no-traffic zone, cars would be unable to park and access

would be difficult.

Overall, neither site is appropriate for all the towns, but for customers in Cransdon, Hindon and

Garlsdon, the out-of-town site (S1) would probably offer more advantages.

(179 words)



Writing Task 1


Chorleywood is a village near London whose population has increased steadily since the middle of the nineteenth century. The map below shows the development of the village.



Model Answer by E. Tahasoni (173-206 words):

The map shows how a village called Chorleywood developed over a period of 126 years.

From 1868 to 1883 there were only two main roads in the region with Chorleywood covering a small area along one of them. Over the next 40 years, the village grew southward alongside the road and a railway was built in 1909 passing through this part. Chorleywood station is also located in this area of the village.

Over the period between 1922 and 1970, the railway was the line along which Chorleywood expanded, both towards the east and west. However, a motorway was constructed in 1970 parallel to one of the main roads and further development of the village occurred around its intersections with the other main road and the railway between 1970 and 1994. Furthermore, Chorleywood Park and Golf course is now located in an area enclosed by the two main roads, the railway and this motorway.

Overall, the village saw considerable growth in the development of new inhabited areas during this period which increased

in volume as well as speed towards the end of the 20th century. Furthermore, the developments, both in the establishment

of new populated areas and transportation routes, occurred over four phases.



Writing Task 1


The diagrams below show the site of a school in 2004 and the plan for changes to the school site in 2024.



Model Answer (211 words):

The maps illustrate how a school site is planned to be developed over a 20-year period.

In 2004, there was only one car park to the west of the site where the main entrance to the school was located. There were

also two school buildings, accommodating 600 students altogether, separated by a path running from the main entrance to

the sports field in the east. The school was surrounded by woodland in the north, south and east.

There are plans to increase the number of students served by the school is by 400 in 2024. As a result, a new school building

will replace the old sports field, and the two original buildings are going to be joined together. The old path will then

connect these to the new building number 3, no longer running to the main entrance. Furthermore, a part of the woodland

in the east is planned to be deforested and replaced by a new car park as well as a new, smaller sports field. Finally, a new

road will be paved passing south of the school building, which will connect the two car parks.

Overall, there will be extensive developments with regards to construction of buildings, facilities and roads in the school

site during these 20 years.

Course Material and

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Master IELTS Essays IELTS Academic & General Training Writing Task Two


Understanding the Rubric

WRITING TASK 2


Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that television programmes are of no real value for children.

How far do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.


The Task Task 2 involves writing an essay on the given topic. You have to

answer the question(s) asked clearly and completely;

give reasons for your answer;

include relevant examples o from your knowledge o from your experience

spend about 40 minutes on the task

write at least 250 words 265-270 words

Note: Finish task 2 during the second part of your writing test after you have finished writing task 1. Do not swap!

The Answer Sheet The last two pages of the IELTS writing answer sheet are dedicated to task two and together have 40 lines.

Although you may ask for extra sheets to write your answer in, it is not likely to become necessary since the

space you are already provided with is way more than sufficient.

Focus on Academic Register Use longer sentences (about 20-30 words)

Use subordinate clauses

Use formal linkers (subordinators and transitions)

Use academic words (see “The Academic Words List” at www.tahasoni.com/resources)

Avoid contractions

Avoid “get” phrases where possible

Avoid personal tone except when giving personal opinions or talking of personal experiences

Avoid phrasal verbs where possible

Avoid over-generalisation

o Non-absolute statements

o Introducing probability/possibility



A. Opinion-led:

Some people believe that television programmes are of no real value for children.

How far do you agree or disagree?

B. Argument-led:

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

C. Advantage/Disadvantage (Discussion Type):

In some countries, it is usual for young people who graduate from high school to spend a year working or travelling before going to university.

What are the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this?

D. Advantage/Disadvantage (Opinion Type):

While some people prefer to live in apartments, others do not think an apartment is a suitable form of accommodation.

Do you think the advantages of living in an apartment outweigh the disadvantages?

E1. Problem/Issue (Causes + Solutions):

Housing and accommodation has become a major problem in many countries around the world.

What are some of the main factors that have contributed to this problem?

What can be done to help reduce the number of homeless people?

E2. Problem/Issue (Consequences + Solutions):

While mobile phones have many advantages, a number of problems have also resulted from them or the ways in which they are used.

What are some of these problems?

What solutions can you suggest for solving these problems?

E3. Problem/Issue (Causes + Consequences):

In many countries today insufficient respect is shown to older people

What do you think may be the reasons for this?

What problems might this cause in society?

E4. Mixed:

Universities should provide students with the skills they will require in order to succeed at their future jobs.

How far do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?

What are some of the job skills that employers look for in new employees?



Every report is read four times by an examiner and each time, it will be marked on one of the following criteria:

Task Response (TR)




Task Response (TR)

In both Academic and General Training Writing tests, Task 2 requires the candidates to formulate and develop a

position in relation to a given prompt in the form of a question or statement. Ideas should be supported by

evidence, and examples may be drawn from the candidates’ own experience. Responses must be at least 250

words in length.


1. Have you sufficiently addressed all parts of the task?

2. Have you presented a clear response to the questions asked?

3. Have you presented well-developed ideas by presenting, extending and supporting them?

4. Have you avoided over-generalisation and absolute statements?

5. Have you avoided repetitive conclusions or vague/under-developed ideas?


This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response organises and

links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing.

Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example, logical connectors,

pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within

sentences clear.


1. Have you organised your information logically?

2. Is there an overall flow or progression in your report?

3. Have you organised the text in paragraphs logically and sufficiently?

4. Have you used linkers correctly, properly and sufficiently?

5. Have pronouns been used correctly and do they have clear references?

6. Have you avoided linker over-use/under-use?




This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that

use in terms of the specific task.

The examiner takes the following points into account when assessing this aspect of your report:

1. Words

a. Range and flexibility

b. Level

c. Precision

d. Style

e. Collocation

2. Vocabulary mistakes

a. Spelling

b. Word choice

c. Word formation


account.


This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate’s grammatical resource as manifested in the

candidate’s writing at the sentence level.


1. Have you used a variety of sentence structures?

2. How often have you used compound structures?

3. Mistakes

a. Grammar

b. Punctuation


account.



Band Task Response Coherence and Cohesion

Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy

9 fully addresses all parts of the task

presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas

uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention

skilfully manages paragraphing

uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

8 sufficiently addresses all parts of the task

presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas

sequences information and ideas logically

manages all aspects of cohesion well

uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings

skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation

produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation

uses a wide range of structures

the majority of sentences are error-free

makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies

7 addresses all parts of the task

presents a clear position throughout the response

presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to over-generalise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus

logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout

uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use

presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision

uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation

may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation

uses a variety of complex structures

produces frequent error-free sentences

has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

6 addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more fully covered than others

presents a relevant position although the conclusions may become unclear or repetitive

presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/unclear

arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression

uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical

may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately

uses paragraphing, but not always logically

uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task

attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms

makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication



5

addresses the task only partially; the format may be inappropriate in places

expresses a position but the development is not always clear and there may be no conclusions drawn

presents some main ideas but these are limited and not sufficiently developed; there may be irrelevant detail

presents information with some organisation but there may be a lack of overall progression

makes inadequate, inaccurate or over-use of cohesive devices

may be repetitive because of lack of referencing and substitution

may not write in paragraphs, or paragraphing may be inadequate

uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task

may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader

uses only a limited range of structures

attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences

may make frequent grammatical errors and punctuation may be faulty; errors can cause some difficulty for the reader

4 responds to the task only in a minimal way or the answer is tangential; the format may be inappropriate

presents a position but this is unclear

presents some main ideas but these are difficult to identify and may be repetitive, irrelevant or not well supported

presents information and ideas but these are not arranged coherently and there is no clear progression in the response

uses some basic cohesive devices but these may be inaccurate or repetitive

may not write in paragraphs or their use may be confusing

uses only basic vocabulary which may be used repetitively or which may be inappropriate for the task

has limited control of word formation and/or spelling; errors may cause strain for the reader

uses only a very limited range of structures with only rare use of subordinate clauses

some structures are accurate but errors predominate, and punctuation is often faulty

3 does not adequately address any part of the task

does not express a clear position

presents few ideas, which are largely undeveloped or irrelevant

does not organise ideas logically

may use a very limited range of cohesive devices, and those used may not indicate a logical relationship between ideas

uses only a very limited range of words and expressions with very limited control of word formation and/or spelling

errors may severely distort the message

attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and punctuation predominate and distort the meaning

2 barely responds to the task

does not express a position

may attempt to present one or two ideas but there is no development

has very little control of organisational features

uses an extremely limited range of vocabulary; essentially no control of word formation and/or spelling

cannot use sentence forms except in memorised phrases

1 answer is completely unrelated to the task

fails to communicate any message

can only use a few isolated words

cannot use sentence forms at all

0 does not attend





Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics



WRITING TASK 2



Some people think newspaper is the most effective way to obtain the latest information because it has more influence than other forms of media.

Do you agree or disagree?





WRITING TASK 2



In some countries, it is illegal for companies to reject job applicants for their age.

Is this a positive or negative development?





Some people argue that it is not wise for an industry to replace its experienced but old workers with new and young yet inexperienced individuals.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Answer by E. Tahasoni:

In the past people often worked in their businesses until they died or were no longer able to

continue, whereas today most industries have set a definite retirement age for their employees. I

personally disagree that replacing elderly staff with young recruits would be unwise. (45 words)

First and foremost, a large majority of workers lose their strength as they become older. This is

mainly because the human body has limits and working for a long time, say, 30 or 35 years, can

affect it negatively. For example, young industrial workers tend to work for five to six hours

before they take breaks while older ones usually need to rest every one or two hours. This means

that productivity levels would certainly decline. (76 words)

Furthermore, new employment opportunities for young people are very limited. Most companies do

not offer more than a few new jobs every year and try not to increase their staff members

dramatically to keep expenses low. Consequently, they should definitely lay off some of the older

personnel to make room for youths, especially those around 20 to 30 years old who are about to

form families and support them. (69 words)

Finally, although some people might argue that the experience and skills of old workers would be

lost when they retire, they should remember that this experience is mostly with old or outdated

equipment and technologies. As a result, it is less likely that their employers will need their

abilities in the long run and younger workers can be trained to work with modern machines such

as computers and lasers. (69 words)

In conclusion, I believe companies need to force their elderly workforce to retire and employ

younger workers to replace them. (20 words)

Total: 279 words



WRITING TASK 2



Some people think secondary school students should study international news as one of their subjects. Other people say this is a waste of valuable school time.






WRITING TASK 2



Developing countries require international organization’s help. Some people prefer financial aid while others think practical aid and advice are better.






Some people think secondary school students should study international news as one of their subjects. Other people say this is a waste of valuable school time.



The world today has become quite dynamic and news stories develop almost every minute. Some

people think reviewing the news need to become a high school subject while another group

disagrees. (31 words)

Reviewing global news could have a number of benefits for students. Firstly, this would definitely

improve their general knowledge in areas like geography, since the news come from around the

world and often include lots of details about different locations, their customs and manners.

Therefore, they would possibly gain a better understanding of the world and its features. Secondly,

studying the news can develop the students’ ability to analyse sophisticated situations because when

they follow a story, say, about a political rift between two countries, they could observe how it

develops or escalates, how the parties involved act and what consequences are. (102 words)

Nevertheless, there are some arguments against teaching international news at high schools. Most

importantly, the violence portrayed in many of today’s news stories could affect students’ conduct.

For instance, almost every newspaper and news website these days is filled with images and stories

of the Syrian civil war, which are likely to make youngsters feel insecure or make unreasonable

judgements about any Arab friends they might have. Furthermore, reading and analysing the news

would probably be a time consuming activity which could lead to less time remaining for more

important subjects and activities like sciences, math or physical education. (99 words)

In conclusion, I personally believe it is wise for secondary school students to study global news at

school, but it would be wise if stories are chosen and adapted for the class by a group of

educational experts and psychologists to avoid the negative effects discussed above. (47 words)

Total: 279 words



Some people support modern developments in agriculture such as factory farming and creation of new types of fruits and vegetables. However, other people oppose this view.



Recently, there have been extensive developments and improvements in various aspects of agriculture,

including genetically modifying plants to create new types or factory farming. While a group of

people think these developments are reasonable, others reject them. (37 words)

One advantage of modern farming improvements is that they can provide more food for the growing

populations, especially in the developing world, since many new types of plants can produce heavier

fruits or more seeds. For instance, I recently read that Iranian scientists had created a new kind

of wheat plant that yielded over two times as much wheat as ordinary types. Furthermore, new

methods like factory farming would certainly make many demanding agricultural tasks like milking

cows and feeding various farm animals easier since they rely on automatic machines for doing such

farm duties. (95 words)

Nevertheless, some people argue that changing the genetic structure of plants is highly likely to be

dangerous, as it would be almost impossible for scientists to fully predict the results of such a

change. For instance, a new plant that is supposed to be more productive might become poisonous

for humans or animals. Also, many animal rights activists think factory farming and similar modern

agricultural methods are cruel to animals because they are usually kept in closed buildings, fed by

machines and sometimes even killed in painful ways using automatic slaughtering systems. (92 words)

Personally, I think modern farming and agricultural methods are inevitable and necessary to meet

the urgent need for more food worldwide. Therefore, governments should invest in agricultural

research and development to increase farm yields and develop farming sufficiently to match the

needs of today’s world. (45 words)

Total: 269 words



Some people think that strict punishments for driving offences are the key to reducing traffic accidents. Others, however, believe that other measures would be more effective in improving road safety.



Road accidents claim the lives of large numbers of drivers and pedestrians every year and have

turned into a matter of distress in many countries, including my own. It has been argued that

drivers who ignore the law should be fined severely to reduce the number of accidents, whereas

some believe in other solutions. (54 words)

One could hardly cast doubt on the effectiveness of penalties and fines in the reduction of

accidents. One reason is that many crashes are due to drivers driving carelessly and ignoring laws

like speed limits, threatening the lives of other, law-abiding citizens. If such drivers are

incarcerated or heavily fined, it is highly likely that they and others will observe driving regulations

more closely and fewer accidents would occur. Furthermore, the government could use the fines it

collects from noncompliant drivers to provide better transport facilities such as standard roads or

offer rewards to those who drive properly. (98 words)

However, there are various other means of decreasing the number of traffic accidents. First of

all, driving license candidates could be required to sit courses aiming at educating them on the

virtues of heeding the law while on the road. As a result, they are more likely to realise why

driving carefully could benefit both themselves and the people around them. Moreover, new cars

could be built in such a way that they restrict the drivers’ ability to commit traffic offences

like illegal speeding or turns. For instance, the car’s computer could decrease its maximum speed in

residential areas or near intersections. (102 words)

In conclusion, I personally think that both fines and other actions like educational schemes and

smart automobiles can have strong impacts on reducing driving accidents and need to be

implemented. (30 words)

Total: 284 words



WRITING TASK 2



After graduating from high school, some young people decide to start working right away instead of going to university.

What are the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this?





WRITING TASK 2



In some countries, governments are encouraging industries and businesses to move to regional areas outside big cities.

Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?





WRITING TASK 2



Housing and accommodation has become a major problem in many countries around the world.

What are some of the main factors that have contributed to this problem?

What can be done to help reduce the number of homeless people?





Nowadays, we are producing more and more rubbish.

Why do you think this is happening?

What can government do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced?


Today, many cities around the world face an increasing amount of garbage produced by citizens.

This essay aims to investigate the causes of this and also put forward a number of solutions. (18

words)

There are many reasons why so much rubbish is produced. One important factor is the

consumerist lifestyle of many people today which has led to them buying and consuming more

products such as food, clothes and home appliances. As a result, more packaging is thrown away

everyday which creates a lot of rubbish. Furthermore, many families do not separate reusable

garbage like cans or glass jars from the rest since they are too tired or busy. The main reason

for this is that a majority of parents have to work long hours out of home to make enough

money for their families. (102 words)

Governments can do various things to decrease the amount of garbage. Firstly, they can legislate

laws to limit the garbage produced by households to a certain level, say, a kilogram every day. As a

result, people would definitely try to buy only the things which they need to avoid throwing away

too much. This is likely to be very effective although it might not be so popular, especially in

large cities. Also, governments could invest in building recycling plants so that more garbage is

reused to produce new products. For example, they could use plastic bottles to make new plastic

balls or computer parts. (104 words)

In conclusion, the reasons behind the rise in waste production include consumerism and people not

recycling, and possible solutions are laws to restrict household garbage as well as building recycling

centres. (31 words)

Total: 269 words



WRITING TASK 2



While mobile phones have many advantages, a number of problems have also resulted from them or the ways in which they are used.

What are some of these problems?

What solutions can you suggest for solving these problems?





Source: Official IELTS Practice Materials 2, page 29

Brainstorming:

Causes: - Fast technological progress youngsters know more about everyday stuff than the

elderly they don’t think they should learn from older people less respect - The problems that old people have experience in solving are different from today’s

issues old people no longer act as respectable problem solvers less respect

Effects: - Less respect Young people may think old people are jobless parasites young

people think pensions are not justified - Less respect Experience shared by the elderly will not be appreciated many

problems will no longer be easily solved through that experience




In many modern communities, young people no longer appreciate old age as a symbol of reverence.

This essay will try to identify the factors contributing to this and also explain some of the

issues it is likely to create in modern communities. (42 words)

One could think of various reasons why the youth of today do not respect the elderly much. First

and foremost, the rapid pace of technological progress in today’s world has led to youngsters

knowing more about commonly used technologies such as email or internet television. Consequently,

they seldom feel the need to learn from the elderly whose knowledge and experience might seem

rather outdated so their respect for them would decline. Moreover, many youngsters do not view

old people as respectable and experienced problem solvers because the problems they face now tend

to be quite different from those experienced by the older generation. (103 words)

The social problems this new attitude is likely to create cannot be ignored. Most importantly,

youths might start to question the justifiability of high pensions for old people because they would

think there is no reason for supporting those who stay at home watching the news rather than

work like younger people have to. In addition, the younger generation is likely to find issues like

effective and successful child rearing very difficult to handle since many may start to neglect the

advice and experience shared by the elderly. (88 words)

To conclude, I think disrespect towards the elderly has been caused by advances in technology as

well as changes in social problems, and in turn could lead to reductions in pensions and challenges

for the youth. (36 words)

Total: 269 words



WRITING TASK 2



Universities should provide students with the skills they will require in order to succeed at their future jobs.

How far do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?

What are some of the job skills that employers look for in new employees?



Example paragraph 3 (“items” body paragraph):

There are various abilities that new employees today are required to have. Firstly, they need

to have good communicative skills like letter writing so that they can communicate their

ideas while understanding what their colleagues or clients think. Secondly, employees should

be able to manage their time efficiently because they have to finish various tasks before

their respective deadlines. Finally, many companies seek workers who can use computers

effectively to handle office and business tasks. For instance, almost all modern construction

companies require new engineers to know how to design buildings or manage projects using

software like AutoCAD or Microsoft Project. (101 words)



Course Hand-Outs



A Quick Guide to Punctuation in IELTS

Basically, the two punctuation marks you will need to use in IELTS reports, letters and essays are the

full stop and comma. Exclamation (!) and question marks (?) might also be used in General Training

letters, while parentheses could be used in Academic reports as well as in letters.

You are advised to avoid using the colon (:), semi-colon (;) and dashes (–) if you do not know where

they need to be used, since they are unnecessary.

Full Stop (.)

Full stops are generally used to mark the end of a sentence:

There has been a dramatic increase in the population of urban regions.

Comma (,)

Commas are used in longer sentences to separate information into readable units. They also often

separate clauses in a sentence and sometimes come before a coordinator (e.g. “and”, “but”, etc.)

- A single comma ensures correct reading of a sentence which starts with a long introductory

element:

Following efforts by pioneering scientists in the field of ecology, it has now been generally

accepted that the world is gradually becoming warmer.

- A single comma is used after many starting linkers like “however”, moreover”, “basically” and

such:

In contrast, water levels in Africa and Australia declined to reach an all-time low.

- Pairs of commas help in the middle of a sentence to set off any string of words which is either a

parenthesis, or in contrast, to whatever went before:

A student, whether at school or university, needs to receive guidance and instructions on how to

use resources effectively and efficiently.

- Sets of comma act as a means of separating items in a list:

Workplaces like business offices, banks and schools would certainly require a more formal dress

code.

Note: do not add a comma after “that” at the beginning of a clause:

It has been known for some time that many flaws in children’s behavior have roots in their genes.



Giving an opinion

Use the following ideas to formulate sentences which represent your personal view on

a given subject. Please note that this is only a small portion of the possible structures,

as you may find a great deal more in vocabulary/grammar books written for the IELTS

as well as in sample essays and other authentic IELTS resources.

Agreeing/disagreeing with a view

With/without a background statement:

I [tend to/personally/strongly/firmly] agree/disagree with the view/opinion/point of

view/idea/viewpoint that…

I [tend to/personally/strongly/firmly] agree/disagree that…

I [tend to/personally/strongly/firmly] support/oppose the view/opinion/point of

view/idea/viewpoint that…

Preferably without a background statement:

Agreeing:

I, like many others, think…

My view, like many other people, is that…

Disagreeing:

Whereas/While/Although/Even though some might believe that…, I personally think …

Whereas/While/Although/Even though some might believe that…, I personally think

otherwise/disagree.

Despite many people’s view that…, I tend to think…

Giving an original view

I [tend to/personally/strongly/firmly] think/believe/feel that…

I am [personally/strongly/firmly/fully] convinced that…

I am [personally/strongly/firmly] of the opinion that…

I [personally/strongly/firmly] hold the opinion that…

To me, …

As far as I am concerned, …

From my [personal] point of view, …



Synonyms for Advantages & Disadvantages

advantages and disadvantages

benefits and drawbacks

upsides and downsides

pros and cons

strengths and weaknesses/shortcomings

positive and negative

welcome and unwelcome

favourable and unfavourable

desirable and undesirable

beneficial and detrimental

Consequences

results

impacts

effects



Synonyms for Causes

the factors/issues responsible for …

the reasons behind/for …

the factors/issues which have contributed to …

the causes of …

the issues which have resulted in/led to …

Synonyms for Effects

consequences/effects/impacts

the issues it has resulted in /which have resulted from …

the problems which follow /have followed …

the problems/issues that … could/may/might/is likely to result in/lead to

the problems/issues which could/may/might/are likely to result from/follow/ensue …

…’s possible/potential/probable/prospective consequences/effects/impacts

Synonyms for Solutions

Solutions for …

means/ways to solve …

means/ways to resolve/deal with/tackle/improve …



Discussing Causes

Approach A:

Presentation: Cause 1 Issue

Extension: Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3

Approach B:

Presentation: Cause 3 Issue

Extension: Cause 3 Cause 2 Cause 1

Note: = consequence linker = cause linker

Example:

Hole in the ozone layer more heat less water fewer natural resources

…Moreover, scientists have discovered that there is a hole in the ozone layer, as a result of which

there is increasing heat in the world. This means that we are losing huge quantities of water, especially

in oceans and lakes.

OR

…Moreover, we are losing huge quantities of water, especially in oceans and lakes, because there is

increasing heat in the world. The reason for this is that scientists have discovered that there is a hole in

the ozone layer.

Cause 3 Cause 2 Cause 1 Issue



Discussing Effects

Approach A (Short):

Issue Effect 2 because Effect 1

Approach B (long):

Issue Effect 3 because issue effect 1 effect 2 [ effect 3]

Note: = consequence linker = cause linker

Example:

Overpopulation more demand for food food shortages widespread hunger

Overpopulation can lead to widespread hunger in many parts of the world, particularly in countries like

India and China which have very large populations. This is because when there are more people in an

area, the demand for food is highly likely to rise as a result of which there may not be enough food

available for everyone.

Issue Effect 1 Effect 2

Issue Effect 1 Effect 2 Effect 3



Discussing Solutions

Development

Include:

Mechanism

Advantages over other solutions

Any possible disadvantages

How to introduce advantage and disadvantage:

Approach A:

Although

Even though -------- disadvantage (sentence) -------- , -------- advantage (sentence) --------.

-------- advantage (sentence) -------- although

even though -------- disadvantage (sentence) --------.

Approach B:

Despite

In spite of -------- disadvantage (n./n.p.) -------- , -------- advantage (sentence) --------.

-------- advantage (sentence) -------- despite

in spite of -------- disadvantage (n./n.p.) --------.

Some possible advantages and disadvantages

Advantage Disadvantage

Effective

Efficient

Cost-effective, economical, reasonable

Does not rely on/require many financial

resources

Time-efficient

Popular

Does not rely on/require many resources

Easy to implement

Might not be very reasonable

Could be time-consuming

Might not be very time-efficient

Might not be very popular

Might not be favoured by the public

May rely on/require significant resources

Could be difficult to implement

Might not be very easy to implement



Connectors: Usage and Meaning

To Add Another Idea

Coordinators Subordinators Transitions

and furthermore

moreover

besides

also

in addition

To Restate, Explain or Emphasize an Idea


that is

in other words

in fact

actually

namely

To Give an Example


for example

for instance

to illustrate

To Show a Choice


or

nor

To Show a Difference


But while

whereas

though

in contrast

on the contrary

on the other hand

instead

however

still

otherwise



To Show the Opposite of What You Might Expect


yet although

though

even though

nevertheless

admittedly

even so

nonetheless

To Show a Similarity


just as

as

similarly

likewise

in the same way

To Show a Cause or Reason


for because

since

as

now that

as long as

To Show a Result or Effect


so so + adjective + that

such + …noun + that

as a result

consequently

as a consequence

therefore

thus

hence

accordingly



To Show a Time Relationship


before

after

when

whenever

while

as soon as

until

as

since

the moment that

once

previously

subsequently

finally

afterward

meanwhile

first, second, etc.

after that

next

since then

then,

at first,

To Show a Condition


or if

even if

unless

when

whenever



The Academic Word List

Sublist 1 analyze • approach • area • assess • assume • authority • available • benefit • concept • consist • constitute

• context • contract • create • data • define • derive • distribute • economy • environment • establish •

estimate • evident • export • factor • finance • formula • function • identify • income • indicate • individual

• interpret • involve • issue • labor • legal • legislate • major • method • occur • percent • period • policy •

principle • proceed • process • require • research • respond • role • section • sector • significant • similar •

source • specific • structure • theory • vary

Sublist 2 achieve • acquire • administrate • affect • appropriate • aspect • assist • category • chapter • commission •

community • complex • compute • conclude • conduct • consequent • construct • consume • credit •

culture • design • distinct • element • equate • evaluate • feature • final • focus • impact • injure • institute

• invest • item • journal • maintain • normal • obtain • participate • perceive • positive • potential •

previous • primary • purchase • range • region • regulate • relevant • reside • resource • restrict • secure •

seek • select • site • strategy • survey • text • tradition • transfer

Sublist 3 alternative • circumstance • comment • compensate • component • consent • considerable • constant •

constrain • contribute • convene • coordinate • core • corporate • correspond • criteria • deduce •

demonstrate • document • dominate • emphasis • ensure • exclude • framework • fund • illustrate •

immigrate • imply • initial • instance • interact • justify • layer • link • locate • maximize • minor • negate •

outcome • partner • philosophy • physical • proportion • publish • react • register • rely • remove • scheme

• sequence • sex • shift • specify • sufficient • task • technique • technology • valid • volume

Sublist 4 access • adequate • annual • apparent • approximate • attitude • attribute • civil • code • commit •

communicate • concentrate • confer • contrast • cycle • debate • despite • dimension • domestic • emerge

• error • ethnic • goal • grant • hence • hypothesis • implement • implicate • impose • integrate • internal •

investigate • job • label • mechanism • obvious • occupy • option • output • overall • parallel • parameter •

phase • predict • principal • prior • professional • project • promote • regime • resolve • retain • series •

statistic • status • stress • subsequent • sum • summary • undertake

Sublist 5 academy • adjust • alter • amend • aware • capacity • challenge • clause • compound • conflict • consult •

contact • decline • discrete • draft • enable • energy • enforce • entity • equivalent • evolve • expand •

expose • external • facilitate • fundamental • generate • generation • image • liberal • license • logic •

margin • medical • mental • modify • monitor • network • notion • objective • orient • perspective • precise

• prime • psychology • pursue • ratio • reject • revenue • stable • style • substitute • sustain • symbol •

target • transit • trend • version • welfare • whereas



Sublist 6 abstract • accurate • acknowledge • aggregate • allocate • assign • attach • author • bond • brief • capable

• cite • cooperate • discriminate • display • diverse • domain • edit • enhance • estate • exceed • expert •

explicit • federal • fee • flexible • furthermore • gender • ignorant • incentive • incidence • incorporate •

index • inhibit • initiate • input • instruct • intelligence • interval • lecture • migrate • minimum • ministry •

motive • neutral • nevertheless • overseas • precede • presume • rational • recover • reveal • scope •

subsidy • tape • trace • transform • transport • underlie • utilize

Sublist 7 adapt • adult • advocate • aid • channel • chemical • classic • comprehensive • comprise • confirm •

contrary • convert • couple • decade • definite • deny • differentiate • dispose • dynamic • eliminate •

empirical • equip • extract • file • finite • foundation • globe • grade • guarantee • hierarchy • identical •

ideology • infer • innovate • insert • intervene • isolate • media • mode • paradigm • phenomenon • priority

• prohibit • publication • quote • release • reverse • simulate • sole • somewhat • submit • successor •

survive • thesis • topic • transmit • ultimate • unique • visible • voluntary

Sublist 8 abandon • accompany • accumulate • ambiguous • append • appreciate • arbitrary • automate • bias • chart

• clarify • commodity • complement • conform • contemporary • contradict • crucial • currency • denote •

detect • deviate • displace • drama • eventual • exhibit • exploit • fluctuate • guideline • highlight • implicit

• induce • inevitable • infrastructure • inspect • intense • manipulate • minimize • nuclear • offset •

paragraph • plus • practitioner • predominant • prospect • radical • random • reinforce • restore • revise •

schedule • tense • terminate • theme • thereby • uniform • vehicle • via • virtual • visual • widespread

Sublist 9 accommodate • analogy • anticipate • assure • attain • behalf • bulk • cease • coherent • coincide •

commence • compatible • concurrent • confine • controversy • converse • device • devote • diminish •

distort • duration • erode • ethic • format • founded • inherent • insight • integral • intermediate • manual

• mature • mediate • medium • military • minimal • mutual • norm • overlap • passive • portion •

preliminary • protocol • qualitative • refine • relax • restrain • revolution • rigid • route • scenario • sphere

• subordinate • supplement • suspend • team • temporary • trigger • unify • violate • vision

Sublist 10 adjacent • albeit • assemble • collapse • colleague • compile • conceive • convince • depress • encounter •

enormous • forthcoming • incline • integrity • intrinsic • invoke • levy • likewise • nonetheless •

notwithstanding • odd • ongoing • panel • persist • pose • reluctance • so-called • straightforward •

undergo • whereby

References:

Coxhead, A. (2000). A new academic word list. TESOL Quarterly, 34(2): 213–238. http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/academicwordlist/information.aspx Kinsella (2003). The academic word list: A list of 570 high-incidence and high-u



Hand-outs from ‘IELTS Graduation’ (Macmillan)



Editing your writing – Answer Key



Suggested Answers: 1. a large number of 2. many people believe, often 3. would probably 4. certain, is highly likely to be 5. certain, the majority of accidents involve



Synonyms for People – Answer Key

Exercise 1:

People (in general) People and work People and power People (specific groups)

everyone the general public individuals human beings entrepreneurs workers employers

the unemployed employees managers manufacturers representatives

politicians national/religious leaders consumers voters celebrities home owners teenagers

the old/young senior citizens students the middle-aged parents

Exercise 2:

1. voters 2. entrepreneurs 3. consumers 4. individuals 5. the unemployed 6. everyone (or similar) 7. manufacturers 8. politicians/national leaders 9. workers 10. celebrities

Writing Task One and Two Course Pack

Documents

Transcript of Writing Task One and Two Course Pack