IELTS Writing Task 1: avoiding common mistakes

Here's some advice to help you avoid common mistakes in IELTS writing task 1:

1. Don't copy the question for your introduction. You should paraphrase the question (i.e. rewrite it using some different words).
2. Don't forget to separate your paragraphs clearly.
3. Don't forget to write a good summary/overview of the information. A quick one-sentence conclusion is not good enough. I prefer to put the overview straight after the introduction, and I try to write 2 sentences describing the information in general. You won't get a high score if you don't write a good overview.
4. Don't describe items separately (e.g. 2 lines on a graph). You should always try to compare things if it is possible to do so. Instead of describing 2 lines separately, compare the 2 lines at key points.
5. Don't try to describe every number on a chart or graph (unless there are only a few numbers). A key skill in task 1 is being able to choose the key information and describe or compare it well. I usually mention around 6 or 7 numbers in my main paragraphs.
6. Don't spend longer than 20 minutes on task 1. Practise spending 5 minutes on each of your 4 paragraphs. Stop yourself after 20 minutes; remember that task 2 is worth more marks.

Comments

[Crescencio G. Gabijan Jr.]

Hi Simon, indeed, your information or data about the ielts is well above the statistics and I am very thankful for what you did... I am moved by your presence and hopefully I will pass the exam on this coming 18th of Feb... Keep it up because there will be more person like me that will discover your site sooner or later... It helped me lot... And I really do encouraged that... Thank you very much! I appreciated and very much satisfied... Keep it up!

[Anar]

Hi,simon. Today İ have taken an ielts exam and faced a problem. İ always was best at reading, mostly did more than 30 correct answers out of 40. But in the exam I stuck and couldn't focus on the reading section.As a result, several questions were left and I couldn't finish section on time. By the way, it was my first exam. Could you probably guess the cause?

[Clement]

Hi Simon , I have been a quite follower of your Web-site . It is very informative and of course helpful. I had my exam today and as always I m not sure of reading and writing both.

I would like to share my writing task twousting you . Hope you will give an idea how it should be written.The way I wrote today feel like absolutely mess.

Q. It is not necessary to travel to other place to learn other people's culture. We can learn from books, films and internet. To what extent do you agree or is agree?

[nayna]

hi clement can u write ur speaking questions too?

[nayna]

anar i guess u gave exam in baku .and wht type questions were in writin task and speaking .please write it i will take exam too

[Simon]

No problem Crescencio. Good luck on the 18th!

...

Hi Anar,

I think you were probably just nervous because it was your first time taking the test. Use it as experience, and I'm sure you'll do better next time!

...

Hi Clement,

That seems like quite a nice question. Maybe you could try preparing it at home without worrying about a time limit. Do some research or plan some ideas in your own language before you write the essay.

Try not to worry too much about your score. It's all good experience, and you'll improve with practice.

[Anar]

Thank you,Simon, very much. I followed your advice and jumped to 2nd section, but unfortunately, the same problem occured once again and I got lost. Thank you, Simon. You are great motivator.

[Anar]

Nayna, writing task 1 was little complicated table. It was the result of the survey that tells us people's opinion across several ages groups and genders about how the government should allocate its budget on various fields. As clement mentioned, here is question of task 2 "It is not necessary to travel to other place to learn other people's culture. We can learn from books, films and internet. To what extent do you agree or is agree?"
Could you nayna and Clement be in touch with me on facebook? I'm looking for local test takers. In my opinion, two months later I have to take the exam again.

[Anar]

Nayna, forgive my, I forgot to talk about speaking section. In fact, speaking exam is on the 12th February. I'm sorry.

[Clement]

Hi nayna, of course I can !!
1. What is your full name?
2. What do you do, study or work?
3. Do you think learning language is good? Or may be difficult ?here I m quite not sure , means forgot.
4. Why do we learn language?

Part 2
Talk about old person you have met
a. Who is he?
b. where he is from?
C. Can't remember third one...
d. Explain why do you like him?

Part 3

1. Do you think old people should be living with family ? Why or why not?
2. What can u learn from them?
3. What can u teach them?
4. What are the benefit in living with them?

Thats all was in my speaking.

God bless me hehehe

Waiting for the result !!

Good luck to you guys who is appearing exam soon.

[nayna]

clement and anar thanks guys .it s my first exam and i must take very good band .that s why it s very important .and my friend took exam one week ago .and she says that one of questions was likme this :would governments should protect old buildings?simon wrote some arguments about this topic .
and where would u like to visit ? good luckss all of u

[A.T.M.Nooman]

Thanks.But in no 4 u said not to describe 2 lines separately,rather to compare.Don't u think it is quite bit tuff for the students?

[Simon]

Thanks for sharing guys.

...

Hi A.T.M.

Yes, I agree that it would be easier to describe each line separately, but unfortunately you'll get a lower score if you do it that way.

[Lei]

Hi Simon,

I have two questions below:-

1. When I describe the overview of the information, I prefer to use 'on the whole'. Does it has the same meaning as 'in the whole' or 'as a whole'?

2. 'France's and Italy's spending(s) on consumer products is(are) ....' In this sentnece, I am confused about using plural or singular.

Thank u in advance.

[Simon]

Hi Lei,

'on the whole' is ok, but don't use the others.

You can't write 'spendings' - it's an uncountable noun.

[Lily]

Hi, Simon,
Can I ask you a question?!
My homework question is like this: " The chart below shows the number of students enrolled in T&D university from 1997 to 2006"
Can I rewrite it like this: " The chart indicates changes in the number of student enrollment in T&D university from 1997 to 2006"?
Thank you.

[Simon]

Hi Lily,

Yes, but I wouldn't use "indicates" for writing task 1, and you should write 'enrollments' (plural).

[AzKad]

Dear Simon,
I have got a question regarding the listening module, in which I stumbled across a problem. To be more precise, according to the recording XXX was born in 1987 and moved to England in 1912.

Questions 28-30:

28 ________ XXX was born.
29 ________ XXX moved to England.

So, my answers were (28) 1987; (at age 25). Is it not an error to write 'at age 25', this also makes sense by the way, instead of '1912'.

Thank you very much in advance, dear Simon.

[Simon]

Hi AzKad,

Yes, I suppose "at age 25" would have to be accepted, although it would be easier to write '1912'.

PS. I think you meant '1887'.

[Afag]

Hi Simon. I have difficulty with time management. I do a lot of practice, but i can't finish the reading part in time. It takes more than 20 minutes. and also i have problem with the last section of the listening. I underline key words, but again most of the wuestions remain unanswered. What can be another wayout to elminate these problems?

[Jenzky]

Hi Simon,
Could you please help me in writing an introduction? I is my only dilemma that is hard for me to start in my task 1 :(