IELTS Writing: which task should you do first?

Students often ask me which writing task they should do first in the exam. Is it better to start with IELTS writing task 1 or task 2?

Personally, I would start with task 1.

You'll be feeling nervous in the exam, so it's a good idea to start with something easy: the introduction to task 1.

If you have read my advice on how to write the introduction for task 1, you will know that you can simply paraphrase the question (rewrite the question with a few changes). This gives you a fast and simple way to begin the exam.

So, don't waste any time at the beginning of the writing test. If you have practised paraphrasing task 1 questions, you should be confident that you know exactly what to do. Get started straight away; you'll feel much better.

Comments

[x-reader]

hi simon

can we write ?
The people
or
People have not the information of all products.

i wrote in my essay:
other people buying in a bulk.

please, comment on these few lines.

Thanks in advance.

[Khan]

Hi Simon. hope you are doing well.
I want to ask you a question.
I got my result today and I got...

Listening: 8.0 Reading: 7.5 Speaking: 8.0
Writing: 6.5

My question is should challenge the writing score and ask for a re-check? do think i stand a chance of getting a 7.0?
Please advice.
Thanks

[umut]

hi simon,
i have a few questions too. I got my result yesterday.it is
Listening: 7.0 Reading: 6.0 Speaking: 6.0
Writing: 5.5

it is not brilliant. especially writing section. Actually i read your blog but didn't have time to exercise. i am thinking to buy your book. And do you think can i get 7 overall from the next exam which will i take at the end of the march? Will you give me a suggestion about study plan.I will study on my own. Kind Regards.

[Leslie]

Hi Simon,

I've posted this question in your 8/17/2010 listening post, but I'm not sure if the website notices you for that....so

Can we write "green house" instead of "greenhouse"?

I met the same problem in one of the Cambridge IELTS book... a map question in the listening test (New town or Newtown)

Thanks a lot

[jawairia]

Hi Simon,
Could you please give me some idea how to answer this question from speaking part.

What you do think about Skill and Fact?

Thanks and Regards.

[dave]

Hi Simon, I have problems in the reading subtest, I've practiced so many reading passages, about 30 passages but i think i'm not yet ready to take the exam because sometimes, i lost track in the middle of the reading.maybe because some of the answers are really hard to find. can u advise me something?tnx in advance

[Elis]

Hello Simon!

Thank you for the advice you have been giving here.
I have a problem with the writing task 1. My writings are always longer than 150 words, reaching up to 250 in some cases. I think I have a problem with leaving out the unnecessary informatinon. But it seems to me that I really do have to write about everything I see on the diagram. What should I do and how can I decide what is important and what isn't?
Thank you in advance.

Elis

[siya]

hi Simon
I have the usaul problem which above already mentioned.i got my result and i got lower in writing 5.5 and i follow ur paragraph stucture and my idea are good then also why this happen with me?now i am getting too frustrate that i want only 1 favour that how many essay practise should i do everyday?like only writing of paragraphs.5 are enought?
thanks

[Simon]

Hi x-reader,

I answered here:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2012/01/ielts-speaking-part-3-rivers-lakes-sea.html#comment-form

...

Hi Khan,

Yes, you stand a chance. I can't guarantee anything, but it's worth a try.

Good luck!

...

Hi Umut,

It's not easy to improve your score to a 7 in 2 months, but it's possible if you work hard.

I think you need some help with your writing - try to find a teacher who can check and correct your work.

...

Hi Leslie,

I think I answered below the other lesson.

...

Hi Jawairia,

"skill and fact" doesn't make sense. It's not a phrase we use, so you can forget about that question I think.

...

Hi Dave,

The reading test is really difficult for everyone. There's no secret to it - you just need to keep pracising. Try analysing your mistakes carefully to see where it is that you go wrong.

...

Hi Elis,

You need to force yourself to make decisions. Otherwise you are wasting time that could be used for task 2 (which is more important).

Look through my essays and lessons to see how I choose what information to include.

...

Hi Siya,

Good structure and ideas are only half of the solution. You also need to express ideas using correct grammar and a wide range of vocabulary. I think these areas are what you probably need to improve.

It's not a question of how many essays you write, but what you LEARN by writing them. It would be better to write one essay that is checked and corrected by a teacher (who can give you tips on how to improve it) than write 10 essays that all get the same score.

[Behrooz]

Dear Simon

Thank you very much for your support which is always of immense help. I have three questions regarding the writing test of IELTS, task two, and I would only be too grateful if you could help me with them.

My first question is about including a blueprint in the essay (by blueprint I mean a brief summary of the points which are going to be discussed in the body. In other words, a combination of key words of topic sentences). Is including a blueprint in the introduction recommended since I have read in some IELTS books that including it in the introduction makes an essay boring. It was mentioned, in those books, that instead of presenting the point in the introduction and then extending it in the body, it is best to remove those points from the introduction and only discuss them in the body. I would really appreciate it if you shared your opinion on this with me.

Secondly, Is including a summary of viewpoints in the conclusion necessary or recommended? That is, since the IELTS essay is not too long, is it required to restate all the points made in the body once more in the conclusion or is it best not to do that, because it may bore the reader?

Finally, is it a good idea to use phrases such as " the aim of this essay is to identify the factors..." or " in this essay arguments surrounding ... will be examined" ? Are those phrases not cliched? Additionally, in past papers Cambridge IELTS 5-8, I have never seen such phrases being used in a sample provided by the examiner. What about the phrase " I tend to agree with the former/latter group " ? Is this also a cliche?

As always, thank you very much.

[Simon]

Hi Behrooz,

I answered your question here:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2012/02/ielts-writing-task-1-line-graph-exercise.html#comment-form

[amped]

Dear Simon,

Is it possible that i can get a band score of 7 in all categories even iam reviewing only in your site? I will be taking the ielts on 31/03 and this is my first time. I'm working and i can study only after my work and off days. Thank you for your help. God bless..

[Simon]

Hi amped,

I can't guarantee anything, but it's definitely possible. Other students have got band 7 or higher using only this site. However, I'd also recommend using the Cambridge IELTS books for test practice, and finding a teacher who can check your work.