Introduction to IELTS Writing Test: Task 1 and Task 2 (IELTS Academic and IELTS General)

IELTS Writing Test - Everything You Need To Know about IELTS Academic and General Training Test

Hello, future test takers. I'm happy to welcome you to today's article. If you don't know much about the IELTS writing module, then this article is just for you. You will find all the important information you need about writing here. So, let's start.

What is the purpose of IELTS Writing Test?

To begin with, let's understand what the writing section is for. Why is there a writing section in the IELTS exam? The answer is simple. The writing section of the IELTS aims to check your ability to clearly communicate your ideas in writing. This is important because when you move to an English-speaking country, you will need to understand written materials such as assignments or write letters to officials. To do well, you must be able to express your thoughts through writing.

Like the other sections, your writing skills are judged by IELTS examiners on a scale from Band 0 to 9. However, it's important to know that for many students, this scale goes from six to nine. A score of Band 6 is the lowest requirement, and depending on your goals, you may need to reach a score of Band 7, 8, or 9. A score of 6 shows that you can express your ideas clearly. Scores of 7, 8, or 9 show that you can share more complex ideas. If a student scores below 6, it is because they find it hard to share their message clearly.

The Two Tasks: Task 1 and Task 2

You should also know that there are two types of tasks in IELTS: Task 1 and Task 2.

There are differences between the IELTS academic and IELTS general training test here. Task 1 can be either describing a graph or writing a letter, depending on whether you're taking the Academic or General test. You're expected to spend about 20 minutes on task 1 and write at least 150 words. But this isn't a strict rule. More importantly, if your response is over 120 words, you won't be penalized.

For Task 2, it's the same for both the General and Academic tests - you are asked to write an essay. You need to write at least 250 words in 40 minutes. Again, the 250 word count isn't critical; being above 220 words is okay. And it's fine if you take a little more or less than 40 minutes. What matters most is the quality of your essay, not the length. Therefore, while you would be asked to write about 400 words in the 60 minute time limit, don't worry too much about meeting the minimum word count for either Task 1 or Task 2.

Now, let's go a bit deeper. I'll explain what Task 1 Academic, Task 1 General, and Task 2 involve.

IELTS Writing Task 1 - IELTS Academic Writing

Starting with Task 1 Academic, as I mentioned, you'll need to describe a graph. However, calling it simply a graph description isn't completely correct because there are four types of tasks that involve graphs, but two types that do not.

Commonly Asked Questions (Task 1 Types)

Let's look at the first type.

The first type is a table, which you can see in the image below.

Next is the pie chart. You're likely familiar with pie charts, which are often shown in pairs.

Then there's the bar chart, which you can also see below.

Bar charts, pie charts, and tables are often called simple numerical graphs because they usually don't have too much data. However, sometimes a table might be large, a pie chart might have three sections instead of two, or a bar graph might have many columns, but this isn't common.

The fourth type is the line graph, which is usually more complex. That's why I call it a complex numerical graph. You can see an example of a line graph below.

Remember, I mentioned there are two types that don't fall under graphs? These involve visual information without numbers.

The first of these is a map, where you might be shown two maps of the same place and asked to compare them to find changes. See the example below.

The next type involves processes, where you're shown how something is made, like how a product is created from raw materials, as shown below.

At one time, there were even diagrams in writing task 1, but they are no longer asked, so do not include them in IELTS writing practice tests.

Regardless of the type of Task 1, your task is always to summarize the information given by selecting and reporting main features in an organized way.

Now you have a basic understanding of Task 1.

IELTS Writing Task 1 - IELTS General Training Test

Moving on to "Task 1 General," as I've already said, you'll be asked to write a letter. First, you need to understand what the letter is about. If you read the example letter below, you'll see a few things. The letter shows a situation, identifies the receiver, and includes bullet points outlining what you need to discuss.

Unlike graphs, letters can't be easily sorted into types. However, they can be divided by tone or purpose. Formal letters are written to someone you don't know personally, like a newspaper editor or an authority figure you're making a complaint to. These letters have a serious tone.

Informal letters, on the other hand, are written to people you're close to, like friends or family, and have a more casual tone.

You may hear about another tone, the semi-formal one, but you should know that there is no such tone. You need to decide between a formal and an informal tone.

If we sort letters by purpose, we find five types: apology, invitation, complaint, thank you, and work-related letters.

Knowing both tone and purpose is key to preparing well for letter writing. You should be comfortable with both formal and informal styles and familiar with the five types of letters.

IELTS Writing Task 2 - Write An Essay

Now, let's talk about Task 2. There's not much difference between the general and academic versions, although the academic test may sometimes have more difficult topics. The easiest way to explain Task 2 is by its four types: Discussion, Agree-Disagree, Advantage-Disadvantage, and Problem-Solution essays. Let's look at each type.

Commonly Asked Questions (Essay Types)

First is the discussion essay, where you're given two different viewpoints on an issue and asked to discuss both and give your own opinion. See the sample topic below.

Some people think that newspapers are the best way to learn about current events. However, others believe that they can learn news better through other media. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Next is the agree-disagree essay, which many find hard. You're given a statement and asked whether to give arguments in favor of or against it. You can see a sample topic below.

It is better for young people to get advice from old people than young ones. Do you agree or disagree?

Then there's the advantage-disadvantage essay, where you discuss the good and bad sides of a situation. You might be asked which one is more important. Below is a sample topic.

Smaller families are becoming more common in today's society. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Lastly, the problem-solution essay asks you to find the causes of a problem and suggest solutions. Sometimes you might also discuss the effects of the problem. Below are two examples.

Students leave high school without learning how to manage their money. What are the reasons and solutions for this issue?

The generation gap is a major cause of misunderstanding between the old and young. What effects does this have on society? What solutions can you suggest?

There's also a fifth type of essay that combines parts of the other four, but there's some debate about whether it should be seen as a separate category.

Some people think that governments should try to reduce air traffic by taxing it more heavily. Do you agree or disagree? What other methods could be used to reduce air traffic?

Needless to say, good preparation means mastering each essay type. Also, you need to learn how to stay on topic, and use examples to support your points with logical information. To add to this, you also need to show a good grasp of grammar and vocabulary. For this, you need to not only take practice tests but also read good IELTS writing samples.

Free IELTS Band 9 Sample Answers

The good news is that you do not need to search for good sample answers. I have around 300 freely available band 9 sample answers here: [Link to sample answers]

Everything You Need To Know About the Writing Module Of The IELTS Test - Covered!

This has been an introduction to the basics of IELTS writing. I hope you found this article interesting and that it provided all the necessary information you needed about writing. If you are ready to make your mark, feel free to move on to the more advanced chapters where we explore the tips and strategies to improve your score.