Top IELTS Writing Task 1 Tips and Tricks

 

 

English language proficiency tests not only your language skills but also the other components attached to it. It tests your imaginative and comprehensive skills and examines how you can pen down your understanding of English. It is very easy to think and mind-talk in your native or first language but when it comes to a language you use for official purposes, you think twice before doing it. The IELTS Writing Task 1 deals with this understanding and cognitive ability and tests your knowledge of your translation accordingly.

It is well known that IELTS is divided into two major segments: 

• Academic: 

It deals with the students or aspirants who want to study abroad (in an English-speaking country) in various fields of their choice. 

• General Training: 

This is for those who want to permanently settle, work, or settle with spouses. 

Academic and General tests are held together with their respective segments of Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Both the test contents differ in the Reading and Writing sections. Reading and Writing sections under general are true of the general level that tests your level of analysis and observation. These tests under general are curated in accordance with the fact that these levels will be checked at the said educational institution as well as at the professional field for judging the academic capability of the student. 

The General Training section under IELTS has 2 sections:

Time- 1-hour

Task 1- Letter (150 words)

Task 2- Essay (250 words) 

CONTENT: 

The letter can be formal, informal, or semi-formal which can include a request, giving or asking for information, explain a problem or situation, make a request or explaining wants or needs, complain about a service or make a suggestion but universally they are categorized under formal and informal and the other categories can come under them. 

EVALUATION:

The test will be evaluated according to your: 

• Identifying the gist of the letter with available points.
• Lexical Resource.
• Task Achievement.
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Understanding the difference between formal and informal.
• Brief and effective writing.

IELTS Writing Task 1 tips: 

• Use a pencil preferably.
• Do not draw conclusions that are not supported by the information you are given.
• Spend no more than 20 minutes on this section.
• Do not leave out the data else you will lose marks.
• Do not write more or less than 150 words. 

Writing Task 1 for IELTS general writing is about letter writing and there are majorly 3 types of letter writing that are asked in question that are as follows: 

Formal Letter Writing: 

Letter addressed to official heads and staff which can include that of your office head, educational institutions, public service authorities, etc to whom you address certain problems, issues, or complaints. 

• Mention the address of the recipient as you are addressing their position in the office and not them personally. Mention the date clearly with the format- date in numerical, name the month and not the number, and the year in number.
• Address the salutation clearly so the examiner knows that you are aware of the referrals. You need to refer to them as Dear Sir/Madam.
• Describe your grievances in brief as the officials are busy, they cannot read the full letter. So make sure you start right away with the issue (you have to assume this and keep it in mind while writing).
• Underline the main points so that it is highlighted.
• Even if it is a grievance or a complaint, do not go overboard and use informal language.
• Even if you are keeping it brief, ensure a paragraph break.
• Address the problem by starting it right away rather than stretching with unnecessary formalities.
• Do not forget to end with “thanking you” at the end of the letter.
• You ought to end the letter with “yours faithfully” as you do not know whom you are referring to.
• Finally, towards the end, you sign up with your name as a signature and mention your name in block letters right under your signature. 

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Informal Letter Writing: 

The letters you refer to your contacts like your family, friends, relatives, or anyone who enjoys an informal relationship with you. 

• You need not write the recipient’s address as it is an informal letter.
• Do not miss the salutation followed by the name of the person.
• You can start with general statements of asking about their well-being but do not make it lengthy.
• Respond to the question that is instructed to you in the question of the letter and make sure you stick to the point.
• Do not use your native or mother language to express your views.
• No requirement of ending with a “thanking you”.
• Since it is informal, do not end with a “thanking you”.
• Close the letter with yours sincerely, lovingly, etc. but do not sign off with your signature and block letters, just write your name in your usual handwriting used throughout the letter. 

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The key to writing efficiently is to keep practicing and not losing the touch to write. To improve your writing skills, you need to identify what are the mistakes and loopholes you have in your writing. Recognizing the speed and regulating it when it is still time requires a lot of precision as once distracted, you can end up filling your sentences with irrelevant terms and points.

IELTS general training recognizes the efforts of the examinee who is appearing for the test as these skills will be judged in his or her workplace or the neighborhood. If someone is taking these courses online via IELTS online course, then the doubt clearing sessions aren’t that hectic as they seem to be as these classes are designed in a way that everyone’s doubt is addressed, and the student or candidate can ask without any haste. 

Creative writing is what the examiner aims to check- this will determine your interest and in-depth knowledge about the language. Creativity doe not come by using heavy or ornamental words but the trick is played by sentence formation. Sentence formation plays a key role in defining your answer and attracts the examiner to invest more time in your paper and adds to the impressive marking of your answers.