IELTS Writing 6 – Tips And Tricks To Improve Beyond Band 6 in IELTS

Getting a high score (more than 6 Band) in the IELTS exam is easier said than done. Aspirants attempting to give the IELTS test find it easier to read, speak, and listen than write because writing requires high-scoring penmanship and the ability to think clearly.

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It isn’t easy to express your thoughts in a foreign language. But the real irony is that you will be able to think about the content you need to write like an expert, but when it comes down to processing them and writing on paper, things get complicated. 

In this guide, we will share some tips and tricks for IELTS writing 6 that will help you write quality and high score-worthy answers. 

Tips to Score IELTS Writing 6 Band

Writing good answers in IELTS is not exclusively about using powerful words or high-level vocabulary. While these things matter, you also need to understand and use the basics of writing good English. The following tips will make this clearer for you and help you achieve an IELTS writing 6 band score. 

Punctuation: One of the first things you need to brush up on is using the right punctuation. Plus, be clear about using capitalisation, spacing, and where to use these components. If you are using a colon or a semicolon, be sure about its usage. Unnecessary and misplaced spacing or punctuation means your basics are unclear and grounds for a low score. 

For example; Moving on; we will talk about the benefits of studying online . 

The sentence above is wrong punctuation wise. 

Instead, write – Moving on, we will talk about the benefits of studying online. 

Keep the Sentences Short: Using short sentences might be a trivial thing to take care of in IELTS preparation, but it is extremely important. Your sentences should be concise. Usually, students write long sentences to prove that they can write complex sentences. 

Writing long sentences is good, but only if you can control its flow, tonality, and structure. So, practice and master the art of writing short sentences. 

For instance: The students can build and learn English speaking and writing skills according to the country they are migrating to, which will be different from the system they have in their home country. 

The sentence above is right, but since it’s too long, it can get confusing. Here’s a better and shorter version of the same. 

The students can learn English communication skills as per the country they are visiting. The new system can be different from the current one in their home country. 

Brush Up your Tenses: Nothing can ruin a perfect sentence than the wrong tense. So, you need to make sure that you use the tenses and its form accurately. 

Even the most common understanding of the tenses will set you up for a 7 band IELTS score if you don’t make a lot of other mistakes. Learn where and how to use the past, present, and future tense. Learn and practice the words you must use with the tenses. 

Pick One Format: While writing the answer or essay, you must understand what is asked and then write the answer accordingly. That said, you must choose whether to use formal, casual, or informal language. 

In any case, don’t overdo it. This means that if you are writing in formal language, refrain from using words like, therefore, on the other hand, whereas, even though too frequently. The same goes for informal writing. Express your ideas while remaining within limits. 

Stick to the Topic: The last tip you should follow is understanding the topic and sticking to it. You will write answers and essays in the exam. While the answers are self-limiting, it’s the essay where you need to work harder. 

Always understand the topic clearly and make sure not to deviate from the same. For this, take the first five minutes to build an outline and follow it strictly. 

Sample outline:

• Introduction – Introduce the topic and highlight the overview of the topic. 
• Main Content Body – This is where you need to talk about the core points to highlight in the topic. You can use bullets to write the pointers. 
• Point 1
• Point 2
• Point 3

• Conclusion – Add takeaways or summarise your main points.

With these 6 IELTS writing tips, you can improve the way you write in the exam. To prepare well, focus on your weak section. If your speaking and listening are good, work on writing and reading. 

Getting a 6 band score is also not easy, but it’s not enough. So, in writing too, make sure to identify the areas where you are lacking and concentrate on them. Are you weak in tenses or sentence formation, or presenting your ideas, and so on? You can improve the final score by improving the individual components. 

IELTS Assessment Criterion (With Tips to Improve your Score in Each Segment)

The IELTS writing task marking criteria has four components:

• Task Achievement
• Cohesion and Coherence
• Lexical Resource or Vocabulary
• Grammatical Range

Here are a few things the IELTS examiner will particularly notice in the writing module. So remember them for improving your outcome in each of the band score descriptors. 

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Task Achievement

• Give a clear overview in the introduction. 
• Write and present relevant information while avoiding opinionated writing. 
• Make sure to cover the stipulated word count. Writing fewer words is penalising. 
• Present both sides of the story. One-sided opinions and answers can create misunderstandings, which can reduce the score.
• Justify your point and give evidence to support your perspectives.

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Coherence and Cohesion

• Write multiple paragraphs (at least four). 
• Connect every paragraph and section with the relevant content. 
• Use effective and appropriate linking words. 
• Use correct referencing throughout the writing. 

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Lexical Resource and Vocabulary

• Always use a range of vocabulary but keep it simple and specific to the subject. 
• Work on collocations, which means learning how to match verbs with nouns correctly. 
• Don’t make any spelling mistakes. 
• Use the right word because you cannot make corrections. This means that you must know the meaning of the word before writing it to convey your ideas. 

Grammatical Range

• Create the right sentence structures. 
• Use the right form of tenses in every place. 
• Your word order should be right. Understand how to present information while focusing on the subject. 
• The communication part should be clear and must not confuse the reader. 

What’s the Difference between a Writing Task that got Band 6 and Band 8?

The examiner will evaluate the writing task based on the four criteria we have talked about in the previous section. As the assessment criteria do not change, it is up to the students to write and present information appropriately. 

Traits of IELTS writing 6 band

• The introduction is inadequate in terms of words and presentation of the information. In other words, it fails to introduce the topic appropriately. 
• The content has grammatical errors. These can be for using the wrong punctuation, tense, preposition, conjunctions, etc. 
• The language used is inappropriate for an 8 band score and needs more diversity. 

Traits of IELTS writing 8 band

• The introduction of an essay worthy of getting an 8 band score is more developed and specific to the topic. It references the main topic and touches on the points to be discussed in the sections ahead. 
• The sentences are well structured, and the student has control of grammar, including tense, syntax, and other aspects. 
• The student has used the linking words correctly. 
• Overall, the content is coherent and covers every aspect of the topic while presenting the information in a readable manner. 

You will receive a Band score of 6 or higher if you use a more sophisticated vocabulary and more developed sentences. Getting IELTS writing 6 band scores or higher means you need to use proper linking words and a diverse vocabulary and do not overuse the same.

A candidate who receives a higher band than 6 will adequately handle all components of the writing task in at least 250 words. You must respond to the questions with a well-thought-out response that includes concrete examples to back up the points mentioned.

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