How To Get IELTS Writing Score 6.5

How To Get IELTS Writing Score 6.5

Okay, let me give some disclaimer first, I may have been quite fluent in English but honestly my writing skill still sucks. Despite writing a lot of research report in English, I feel my vocabularies and grammar are still limited. I still lack the ability to express my opinion in more straight-forward way with accurate or more impactful word choice. Thus in my first IELTS test, my writing score was only 6. Other skills’ score were fine but my writing score was still below the higher English standard in the major I’m applying. Hence, I retook IELTS test again September 2018 aiming to achieve 6.5 in writing. I studied IELTS book, attended IELTS Writing Seminar, watched IELTS exercise video in Youtube, and even downloaded IELTS Practice Apps in Google play store (the apps name is Complete IELTS by the way). Finally I achieved the 6,5 band.

This writing will summarize all the learning I noted during preparation for my 2^nd IELTS test. Hope it helps for anyone in the same struggle as I was!

Understanding The Task

In writing test, you will be given 2 types of task that have to be finished within 60 minutes.

In task 1, you will be given some chart/diagram/illustration that you have to describe in 150 words.

In task 2, you will be given topic in which you have to discuss in at least 250 words.

It is recommended that you spend 15-20 minutes for task 1 and spend around 35-40 minutes for task 2. Remember to always start with task 1. Well task 2 contributes more proportion to your IELTS writing score but remember task 1 still contributes 40% of your score which means it remains important!

Task 2 is more complicated and requires more time. If you start with task 2, you may lose track of time and will have limited time to work for task 1. So it is recommended to start with the easier one first, Task 1

In IELTS Writing, your work will be evaluated based on 4 factors:

Task Response/Achievement
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Thus it is important to note following points when you compose your writing

Write a response appropriately – in order to do this you are required to identify the topic, problem shown, and important aspects in your task and analyze it properly. Remember to write something that is related to the topic and chart, don’t write something off topic or your work will be meaningless. Highlight the key words in the task if required
Organize your ideas – since coherence and cohesion is important factor, it is a good idea if you structure your ideas/paragraph first before you actually start writing. Hence your idea will not be all over the place and it will be helpful for the evaluator/reader to grasp the idea you want to convey
Use wide range of vocabulary and grammar accurately – for this point there are several things you need to take note
- Use wide range of vocabulary–
  - If you wish to achieve score beyond 5 then avoid using the same vocab multiple times, if you need to use a word with the same meaning then use the synonym instead of repeating the same word over and over
  - Use the ‘right’ word – Well in the effort of using rich vocabulary resource, some people might use difficult and extensive vocab but in the wrong place. If you wish to add that difficult vocab, remember to understand the meaning/context behind the word before using it
  - Write in formal style and Don’t simplify word – well I might write ‘don’t’ in this writing, but in your writing test you have to write ‘do not’ ‘cannot’ ‘would not’ ‘going to’ there is no abbreviation in your writing or else your score will go down
  - Don’t copy word from instruction – if you need to use the word for similar meaning, then opt to use the synonym because the word copied from question will not be counted
  - Avoid using ‘very’ – instead use more accurate word such as ‘amazing/excellent’ instead of very good, ‘immense’ instead of ‘very big’ and ‘abundance’ instead of ‘very much’ et cetera
  - Use capital letter whenever required – in order to write City, States, Name, I, you need to use capital letter. If you use the small letter it will impact your score
- Use wide range of grammar
  - No room for grammatical error – If you wish to at least achieve 5 score, then you must make sure all the grammatical usage is correct. Use the right type of verb (past/present/singular/plural/gerund) in your grammar
  - Use various grammar – now if you wish to achieve score beyond 5, then you cannot only use simple present only. You can use passive sentence, simple present continues, past continues, future continues, ‘if sentence’, and et cetera.
  - Use short sentence – The sentence can be up to 15-18 words at max, keeping your sentence short will also help you avoid grammatical error. Sentence that is too long will be hard to understand and you may lose the main idea in your sentence
  - Use compound and complex sentence – while your sentence cannot be too long, it is also important to demonstrate that you are able to express your ideas in more complex form. Compound sentence refers to sentence with two independent clauses and to connect the clause you will require connecting word such as For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (FANBOYS). Whilst Complex Sentence is sentence that contain independent clause and one or more dependent clause. To connect the clause you will need subordinating conjunction such as because/after/although/before and etcetera. Remember to use at least 5 compound/complex sentence in your writing.
- CHECK YOUR WORK – Before you submit your writing, if you have time, try to check your writing to check any spelling or grammatical error as well as ensuring that your ideas flow naturally

Strategy For Task 1

In task 1 you are required to describe the stage/process/object, summarize, and explain the given information in your own words.

Identify and analyze the question properly: remember that you need to ensure your writing answer all the question so you can take your time understanding this and structuring your paragraph
Since you need to write at least 150 words, if your sentence contain 15-18 words/sentence then you need to write 10 – 15 sentences
Write 3-4 Paragraphs to describe the chart with following structure:
- Paragraph 1: it shall give the introduction to your writing and you need to write the general point of a data.

In paragraph 1, when you introduce the writing you are required to rephrase the question using synonym. For example if the question is

“ the chart below give information of the ages of populations of Yemen and Italy in 200 and projection for 2015”

then you can rephrase for introduction as follow

“the diagram in the box demonstrate the data on population’s ages in Yemen and Italy in 2000 and the estimation for 2050”

Note that very minimal change/rephrase is okay if you want to play safe, that will at least give you score 5.

After the introduction, since you need to point out the general point, these vocabularies might be useful to use in the sentence beginning: Generally, Overall, In General, On the whole, By and large

Paragraph 2 and 3: select and compare important information. Mention 3-4 features then support it with detail using accurate data from the chart. Start with the biggest or more important data
Keep your writing factual: In the 1 task, you are not asked to give your opinion, SO DON’T! Write only the fact given in the chart, you are allowed to analyze the data and compare it but only with the data given. You don’t give reason why the data say so or the solution of problem given in the chart, if you write that, then your writing will be considered as off topic and it will lower your score.
Use the right grammar – in your paragraph 1, remember to use present tense because it is the introduction. But for paragraph 2-3, usually past tense is required as the data mostly happen in the past. But note that case might be different; it depends on the question that you received.

Strategy For Task 2

In task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem

In task 2, it is recommended to write 2 sides of the topic (usually you will be asked to do that anyway)
If your writing is British style, it shall contain at least 4 paragraphs with introduction, side one, side two, and conclusion. But if your writing is American style, then it shall contain 5 paragraph with introduction, side one, side two, debate and comparison across 2 sides, then conclusion. Remember having conclusion paragraph is a must, without it your position on the topic will be unclear.
Plan your writing – use 5 minutes at max to plan and structure your writing so that your idea can flow naturally and cohesively
The topic usually is current issue thus you need to use present tense
In paragraph 1, make a general statement and follow with an example or two. Example is required to make you writing relevant and concrete.
Be concrete and not abstract with your idea hence giving example in each of your opinion will be useful
Make your position clear: you can point out your position from the very first paragraph then emphasize it again in your concluding paragraph.
Tango Verb for reference – well actually you are free to use any kind of verb. Tango verb is some verbs that you can use for your writing in any kind of question which is recommended by IELTS instructor in the IELTS seminar that I attended. Tango verb comprised of following verb: allow, stop, make it easier, enable, prevent, make it more difficult, encourage, discourage, force, save.

Okay this is so far the note that I have. I don’t give example of work for task 1 and task 2 because obviously I cannot take picture of my work during test so if you need it you can look for it, there are abundance of it in internet.

So, good luck on your IELTS test!

Author: Rahma lestari
Instagram: @rahmalaa
Email: rahmalstra@gmail.com