 Task Achievement

 Coherence and Cohesion

 Lexical Resource
 Grammatical Range and Accuracy
 Art  Language
 Business and Money  Leisure
 Communication and  Media and Advertising
Personality  Reading
 Crime and Punishment  Society
 Education  Space Exploration
 Environment  Sports and Exercise
 Family and Children  Technology
 Food and Diet  Tourism
 Government  Transport
 Health  Work
 Housing
1. Question Analysis
This is probably the most important stage.
The number one problem most IELTS
students have is not answering the question
properly. Did you know you can’t get above
a band score 5.0 if you don’t address all
parts of the question?
PROPOSITION: Some people think that men and
women have different qualities. Therefore,
some certain jobs are suitable for men and
some jobs are suitable for women.

PROMPT: To what extent do you agree or

disagree?
 Find keywords (general topic)
The keywords here are ‘men and women have different qualities’.
This is our general topic. It is important to know this, not for
what we should write about but about what we shouldn’t write
about. A common mistake is to highlight the main keywords, or
main topic, and write about this very generally. If you do this you
have not answered the question.

 Find micro-keywords (specific topic)

We therefore need to think about things more specifically and
look for what I call micro-keywords. They are ‘certain jobs are
suitable for men and some for women‘. We therefore need to
write about these but we can’t just write a general essay about
this, we must look at the instruction words next.

 Find instruction words (how to answer

question)
The instruction words are ‘To what extent do you agree or
disagree?’
2. Idea Generation
 What qualities both genders have in common?
 What qualities both genders differ?
 What are the capabilities of men that women
can’t do? Vice versa
 What jobs are suitable for men only? Women
only?
Paragraph 1- Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase Sentence
 Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
 Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Agree
 Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 5- Explanation
 Sentence 6- Example
Paragraph 3- Agree
 Sentence 7- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 8- Explanation
 Sentence 9- Example
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
 Sentence 1- Summary of main points
Paragraph 1- Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase Sentence
 Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
 Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Disagree
 Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 5- Explanation
 Sentence 6- Example
Paragraph 3- Agree
 Sentence 7- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 8- Explanation
 Sentence 9- Example
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
 Sentence 1- Summary of main points
Another common problem students have is
repeating the same words, especially words
from the question, over and over again. This
lowers our mark for vocabulary because it
shows that we can’t think of synonyms. A
solution to this problem is to identify words
in the question that we might need to use
more than once in the question.
How To Write an
Effective
Introduction
 An IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay should
have three sentences and these three
sentences should be:
 Paraphrase question
 Thesis statement
 Outline statement
Talking too generally about the topic.
 Most of these essays start off with ‘Nowadays……’ or ‘In modern life….’ followed by
general information about the topic. In my opinion, this is the worst start you can
possibly make. Remember that you are supposed to answer the question not write
generally about the topic.
Not including a thesis statement
 This is the most important sentence in the essay. Not including one will lose you marks
in several different ways.
Not outlining what you are going to do
 If you don’t include a sentence outlining what your essay will say, the examiner doesn’t
really know what you are going to write about in the rest of your essay. This will also
lose you marks. I’ll show you how to write an outline sentence below.
Trying to write a ‘hook’ or be entertaining
 Remember this is an IELTS exam, not a university essay. There are no extra points for
being interesting, in fact being boring will probably help you. This will help you avoid
‘flowery’ language.
Using an informal style
 Know your audience. You are expected to write in an academic style.
PROPOSITION: Some people think that men and
women have different qualities. Therefore,
some certain jobs are suitable for men and
some jobs are suitable for women.

PROMPT: To what extent do you agree or

disagree?
 Paraphrasing means stating the question
again, but with different words so that it has
the same meaning. We do this by using
synonyms and flipping the order of the
sentences around.

 It has been said that there should be a clear

borderline between certain occupations
appropriate for each gender.
 It has been argued that since the opposite
genders have different attributes, some
occupations are appropriate for men while
others are for women.
 One notion that has been the subject of a still
ongoing debate is the belief that men and
women have different qualities, therefore,
some jobs are more suited for a certain
gender.
 This is the most important sentence in your essay. This
is your main idea and I often describe it to students as
how you feel about the whole issue in one sentence. It
tells the examiner that you have understood the
question and will lead to a clear and coherent essay.
Let’s look at the thesis sentence from the previous
example:
 The writer of this essay strongly agrees to this claim for
a number of reasons.
 I absolutely oppose the notion that has been suggested.
 I believe in the equality between both genders and I
believe that these biases do not hold any ground.
 Now that you have paraphrased the question and told
the examiner what you think in your thesis sentence,
you are now going to tell the examiner what you will
discuss in the main body paragraphs. In other words,
you will outline what the examiner will read in the
rest of the essay. This should be one sentence only.

 Consequently, reasons for strongly disapproving this

course will be specified and the opposing opinion will
be stated.
 This essay will also discuss the different qualities of
both genders and their capabilities that will support
how certain vocations are right just for them.
Men and women have distinct qualities that
make them unique from each other. Because
of this, it has been argued that there are
certain jobs suitable only for men and others
are just for women. In this light, the writer of
this essay strongly agrees to this claim for a
number of reasons. This essay will also
discuss the different qualities of both
genders and their capabilities that will
support how certain vocations are right just
for them.
How to Write a Good
Supporting Paragraph
SAMPLE QUESTION:

Some parents think that childcare centers

provide the best services for children of pre-
school age. Other working parents think that
family members such as grandparents will be
better carers for their kids.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sample 1
Grandparents are the best people to look after
children for very obvious reasons. Grandparents
really love their grandchildren and would never
harm them. Also, the children really love their
grandparents and feel comfortable with them.
Finally, grandparents have lots of experience
taking care of children because they are old and
looked after children for many years themselves.

 has many different arguments and most of them

are very general. They have not been extended
with explanations and lack examples. This is
exactly what the examiner does not want.
Sample 2
Many parents in full-time employment prefer to leave
their children with grandparents when they are at
work because they feel their child will be safer with
someone from within the family circle. In other words
they do not trust a stranger to look after their child
and feel confident that no harm will come to the child
whilst being look after by grandma or grandpa. For
example, a 2013 study from Cambridge University
showed that 62% of working mothers prefer a
member of the immediate family to provide care
when they are at work.

 has one main argument- parents prefer grandparents

because they trust them. It stated this very clearly in
the first sentence and then explained why this is, in
the second sentence. It has also used a very specific
example to support their idea. This is exactly what
the examiner wants.
The following can be used to give examples:
 For example,
 For instance,
 This is illustrated by….
 …such as….
 ….namely….
You can make your example more specific by
adding:
 dates
 place/business/university names
 names of people
 statistics

You don’t have to add all of these things, only

one or two are required to make it more
specific.
How to Write
Effective
Conclusions
 Never write any new ideas in your conclusion. A conclusion
should always simply restate the ideas you have in the rest of the
essay. New ideas should be in the main body and not in the
conclusion.
 Make sure you answer the question in the conclusion. The
conclusion should state what you think about the question and
make it clear how you feel about the issue.
 Vary your language. Just because you are restating the ideas you
have in the rest of your essay, doesn’t mean you use the same
language. Instead you show the examiner you have a wide
vocabulary by paraphrasing.
 Don’t try to include everything. You are not required to go into
detail, you have already done that in your main body paragraphs.
Instead you will just summarize your main points.
 Always write one. It is very difficult to get a good score in task 2
if you haven’t finished your essay with a conclusion. Even if you
are running out of time, make sure you write one.
 Two sentences are enough.
Finally isn’t really suitable because it indicates that you
are making a final point and therefore a new
idea. Finally belongs in the main body of your essay,
not the conclusion.
In a nutshell is too informal and we should never use it
in IELTS conclusions.
In general tells the reader you are going to talk
generally about a topic. This is not what we are going
to do in our conclusion and we should therefore not
use it.

In conclusion and to conclude are the only two linking

phrases you should use to start your conclusion. They
tell the reader exactly what the paragraph is about
and they are formal.
There are two elements to a good conclusion:
 Restating the main points of your essay
 Varying your vocabulary by paraphrasing
Introduction
It is argued that students should be taught real
life skills, like how to look after money. This
essay agrees that they should be part of the
curriculum. The essay will first discuss how
everyday competencies benefit people later in life
and then talk about the dangers of not being
taught how to manage money at an early age.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay supports the idea that
teenagers ought to be taught functional
subjects like financial planning because it helps
them in adulthood and a lack of education
related to these topics can have serious
consequences.
Essay Types
Paragraph 1- Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
 Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
 Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Supporting Paragraph 1
 Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
 Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 3- Supporting Paragraph 2
 Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
 Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
 Sentence 1- Summary and reiteration of your opinion.
In some countries an increasing number of
people are suffering from health problems as
a result of eating too much fast food. It is
therefore necessary for governments to
impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
With this type of essay we have two choices:
 We agree with the statement or;
 We disagree with the statement

Some teachers advise that you can partly agree and

disagree but this often leads to an essay with no clear
focus and a confusing structure.

So for this agree or disagree essay you can say either:

 This essay agrees that governments should tax fast
food or;
 This essay disagrees that governments should tax
fast food
In some countries an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result of eating
too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is argued that governments should levy a tariff on junk food because the number of health risks
associated with consuming this kind of food is on the rise. This essay agrees that a higher rate of tax
should be paid by fast food companies. Firstly, this essay will discuss the fact that alcohol and tobacco
companies already pay higher taxes and secondly, discuss how higher taxes would raise prices and lower
consumption.

Higher excise on liqueur and cigarettes has proven to be successful at curbing the harm caused by these
substances. This revenue has been used to treat health problems associated with these products and has
proven useful in advertising campaigns warning people about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco abuse.
Tax from fast food could be used in the same way. The United Kingdom is a prime example, where money
from smokers is used to treat lung cancer and heart disease.

Increasing taxes would raise prices and lower consumption. Fast food companies would pass on these
taxes to consumers in the form of higher prices and this would lead to people not being able to afford
junk food because it is too expensive. Junk food would soon become a luxury item and it would only be
consumed occasionally, which would be less harmful to the general public’s health. For instance, the cost
of organic food has proven prohibitively expensive for most people and that is why only a small
percentage of the population buy it regularly.

In conclusion, junk food should be taxed at a higher rate. This is because of the good precedent set by
alcohol and tobacco and the fact that the increased cost should reduce the amount of fast food people
buy.
1. A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited
by people and that they should have the same rights as humans, while
others argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various
needs, including uses for food and research.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

2. Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As
society develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and
cruel to the helpless animals that are killed. All blood sports should be
banned.
Discuss the main arguments for this statement and give your own
opinion.

3. Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer
prison sentences. Others, however, believe there are better alternative
ways of reducing crime.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
 Sentence 2- State Both Points of View
 Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
 Sentence 3- Outline Sentence
Main Body Paragraph 1
 Sentence 1- State first viewpoint
 Sentence 2- Discuss first viewpoint
 Sentence 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint
 Sentence 4- Example to support your view
Main Body Paragraph 2
 Sentence 1- State second viewpoint
 Sentence 2- Discuss second viewpoint
 Sentence 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint
 Sentence 4- Example to support your view
Conclusion
 Sentence 1- Summary
 Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important
Computers are being used more and more in education. Some people say that this
is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.
Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

There is an ever increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the
classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others
disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an
increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers. This essay will
discuss both points of view.
It is clear that the internet has provided students with access to more information
than ever before. Moreover, learners have the ability to research and learn about
any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a
very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students
can simply type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly
and easily.
However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human
interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse,
debate and empathy. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the
internet and this essay disagrees technology should be dismissed for this reason.
For instance, Skype and Facebook make it possible for people to interact in ways
that were never before possible.
In conclusion, while the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow
students to tap in to limitless sources of information, some still feel that people
should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face to face
interaction. However, as long as we are careful to keep in mind the importance of
human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.
 The most common mistake for problem solution essays is not expanding
on your ideas and instead simply listing lots of problems and solutions.
The examiner does not want a list of all the problems and solutions you
can think of and please don’t do this in the exam. Instead, if you look
at how the exam is marked, the examiner wants you to pick one or two
problems and solutions and then expand on them with explanations and
examples.
 Another common mistake is writing about problems and solutions that
are not directly linked to the question. You should be like a sniper when
answering the question and only give very specific ideas, rather than
ideas that generally talk about the overall issue. This has a lot to do with
how you identify keywords and micro-keywords in the questions.
 Lots of people think of good ideas for problems and then fail to link
their solutions to these problems. Each problem should have a solution
that is directly linked to it, or in other words, should solve the actual
problem.
 Finally, some candidates think of really good problems and solutions
that answer the question properly and then expand their answers with
explanations and examples, but they talk too generally. Instead, you
should be thinking of specific examples and explanations.
Paragraph 1: Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
 Sentence 2- Outline sentence (say what you will discuss in the
rest of the essay)
Paragraph 2: Problem
 Sentence 3- State problem
 Sentence 4- Explain what problem is
 Sentence 5- What is the result of this problem
 Sentence 6- Example
Paragraph 3: Solution
 Sentence 7- State solution
 Sentence 8- Explain how solution will solve problem
 Sentence 9- Example
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
 Sentence 10- Summary of main points in paragraphs 2 and 3
 Sentence 11- Prediction or recommendation
Global warming is one of the biggest threats
humans face in the 21st Century and sea
levels are continuing to rise at alarming
rates.
What problems are associated with this and
what are some possible solutions.
Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and
ocean levels are increasing dramatically. This essay will first suggest that the
biggest problem caused by this phenomenon is the flooding of homes and then
submit building flood protection as the most viable solution.
The foremost problem caused by sea levels creeping up is the flooding of
peoples’ residences. Millions of people all over the world live in coastal areas and
if the sea rises by even a few feet, they will be inundated with water and lose
their property. Shelter is one of the most basic of human needs and widespread
flooding would cause millions of people to become homeless, not to mention
losing all of their possessions. The devastation brought about by this was clear
for all to see during the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions of people were
displaced.
A possible solution to this problem would be to build flood barriers. Flood
defenses, such as dikes, dams and floodgates, could be built along coasts and
waterways, thereby stopping the water reaching populated areas. The
Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and also one of the
most vulnerable to flooding and they have successfully employed various flood
defense systems.
To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global temperatures
is one of the foremost challenges we face and it will ultimately lead to many of
the worlds’ cities being left underwater. It is predicted that more and more
countries will be forced to take such measures to avoid a watery catastrophe.
Question 1
In some countries young people are encouraged
to work or travel for a year between finishing
high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for

young people who decided to do this.

 simply asks us to discuss the advantages and

disadvantages. It does not ask for our opinion or
say which side is better or worse, so we should
not include this information in our answer.
 This requires a simple structure in which the
student will look at the advantages in one
paragraph and the disadvantages in the other.
Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
 Sentence 2- Outline sentence
Supporting Paragraph 1 (Advantages)
 Sentence 3- Topic sentence (Advantage 1)
 Sentence 4- Explain how this is an advantage
 Sentence 5- Example
Supporting Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
 Sentence 6- Topic sentence (Disadvantage 1)
 Sentence 7- Explain how this is a disadvantage
 Sentence 8- Example
Conclusion
 Sentence 9- Summary of main points
Question 1 Sample Answer
In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year
between finishing high school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decided to do
this.

Before embarking on college many young people are advised that a year working
or travelling may be a good option. This essay will suggest that saving money is
the biggest advantage of this and a reduced motivation to study is the primary
disadvantage.
Third level education is very expensive and lots of students decide to work for 12
months and save up money before they begin their studies. This allows them to
pay for their living costs, tuition fees and accommodation and focus on their
studies, rather than struggle financially or have to get a part time job on top of
their academic work. The Times recently reported that the average student at a
UK university requires over $12,000 per annum just to survive and many drop
out because they cannot afford to stay.
Despite these advantages, many students often get used to working or travelling
and don’t want to return to a life of study after a year off. This short term view
can cause some to bypass university altogether and go straight into a job that is
beneath their capabilities or may not offer the same prospects their future career
might have done. For instance, a recent survey by the British Government found
that 26% of students who take a gap-year never enter tertiary education.
In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous if it allows
people to gather up savings. However, they should also be careful that it does
not lead to disillusionment with education altogether.
Question 2
Some experts believe that it is better for children
to begin learning a foreign language at primary
schools rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the
disadvantages?

We have to say if the advantages are stronger

than the disadvantages. Notice I didn’t say ‘if
there are more advantages than disadvantages’.
The question is not asking you to talk about
numbers, but comment on the overall weight of
the advantages or disadvantages.
Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
 Sentence 2- Thesis statement (state which one outweighs the other)
 Sentence 3- Outline sentence
Main Body Paragraph 1 (Stronger Side)
 Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 5- Explain why it is strong
 Sentence 6- Example
 Sentence 7- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 8- Explain why it is strong
 Sentence 9- Example
Main Body Paragraph 2 (Weaker Side)
 Sentence 10- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 11- Explain why it is not strong
 Sentence 12- Example
Conclusion
 Sentence 13- Summary of main points and restate position.
Question 2 Sample Answer
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at
primary schools rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Some authorities think that it is more favorable for pupils to begin studying languages at
primary school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages of this
outweigh the drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone learns an
additional language the more likely they are to master it and that it brings added cognitive
benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage, namely confusion with
their native tongue, is not valid.
The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases the
likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have far more
years to perfect their skills and it will seem perfectly normal to speak bilingually. For
example, in countries such as Holland and Norway where English is taught from a very
young age, more than 95% of adults speak it at an advanced level. Learning a second
language also helps to improve overall cognitive abilities. In other words it benefits the
overall development of a child’s brain. A recent survey by Cambridge University found that
children who studied a new language before the age of 5 were significantly more likely to
score higher in Mathematics and Science.
Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between their mother
tongue and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to support this view
and children from bilingual families do just as well in both languages. Children brought up
speaking two languages usually outperforms most in class.
In conclusion, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and
improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs uptake of
native languages.
Question 3
Computers are becoming an essential part of
school lessons.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and
give your own opinion.

It is more like an opinion essay and a discussion

essay at the same time. Your structure will reflect
this by having a paragraph for advantages and
disadvantages, but also having a clear position
on the statement.
Introduction
 Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
 Sentence 2- Thesis statement (your opinion)
 Sentence 3- Outline sentence
Main Body Paragraph 1 (Advantages)
 Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 5- Explain
 Sentence 6- Example
Main Body Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
 Sentence 7- Topic Sentence
 Sentence 8- Explain
 Sentence 9- Example
Main Body Paragraph 3 (Opinion)
 Sentence 10- Explain opinion
 Sentence 11- Explain or give example
Conclusion
 Sentence 12 – Summary of main points
Question 3 Sample Answer
Computers are becoming an essential part of education.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.
Information technology is becoming a ubiquitous part of learning. This essay will show that
this is a welcome development and can enhance educational practice. It will first suggest
that the instant availability of huge amounts of information is the primary advantage,
followed by a discussion of how it can sometimes lead to plagiarism.

The main benefit computers bring to learners is easy access to vast amounts resources.
Learners were once limited to the books they had and the knowledge of their teacher, now
they can learn about anything they choose at the touch of a button. Google is a prime
example, because it allows people to easily search for whatever they are looking for quickly
and accurately.

One possible drawback is that using the internet to complete academic work can sometimes
lead to pupils copying articles from the internet. As a result, students do not have to think
about their tasks and learn very little. The Sunday Times recently reported that 72% of
college graduates in the UK admitted to copying and pasting Wikipedia articles at least once.

Overall, it is a very positive development because most students will take advantage of the
power of the information superhighway to enhance their studies, rather than using it to
cheat. For example, in 2005 Cambridge University found that students who regularly used a
computer were 26% more likely to get a first-class degree than those who did not.
In conclusion, the web has provided a gateway to knowledge unlike anything seen before
and although it can sometimes lead to a few taking the easy route and plagiarizing, it is a
very positive step in the evolution of education.
The only advice you should listen to is this- If you
want to answer the question properly, you must
write at least 250 words in part 2 and at
least 150 words in part 1. If you write less than
these totals you will lose marks under ‘Task
Achievement’ because you haven’t answered the
question properly.
IELTS examiners have to sit and count all of your
words for this reason. It is really heart breaking
when a good candidate produces a great answer
and only writes 249 words in part 2.
Unfortunately, we have to mark them down.
No! This is a bad idea for a few reasons.
Firstly, you only have a set amount of time to
answer both questions. Time management is one
of the most important things to learn in the IELTS
writing exam. If you spend too much time on one
question you are sacrificing marks on the other
part.
Secondly, you are more likely to make grammar
mistakes if you keep writing over the word limit
and this will bring your overall mark down.
Finally, you are being judged on
quality, not quantity. Focus on making your
answer the best it can be, rather than the longest
it can be. Remember you should allocate time to
planning and checking, as well as writing.
In the exam you won’t have time to count all
your words. Aim to write about 10% over what
you are expected to write. In other words aim
to write around 160-170 words for task 1
and 270-280 words for task 2. If you aim for
this amount, you are far more likely to go
over the required word limit.
Unfortunately, no! Hyphenated words like
‘First-class’ or ‘State-of-the-art’ count as
one word only. Contractions like ‘I’ll’ or
‘we’re’ also count as one word. (Ideally you
should not be using contractions in academic
essays).
Words like ‘a’ ‘an’ and ‘the’ are always counted
towards the word limit.
Punctuation is not included in the word count.
You can copy single words, but you can’t copy
whole parts of the question. You should never
copy full sentences from the question.
Repeating the question will mean the examiner
subtracts these words from your word count
and is therefore the same as writing nothing
at all. You are being judged on your ability
to paraphrase using synonyms, so try to
master this skill and you will avoid copying.
Again, simply repeating yourself will lead to
the examiner not counting these words. Some
students try to repeat themselves if they are
running out of time. It is always better to
write something new than repeat the exact
words again.
 Answer the question not the topic
 Analyze the question properly
 Plan
 Use an appropriate structure
 Don’t show off
 Make your opinion clear
 Write slightly over the word limit
 Write clear topic sentences
 Explain your points and give examples
 Learn how to paraphrase and use synonyms
 Don’t memorize answers
 Only use cohesive devices appropriately
 Keep it simple