IELTS Writing consists of two tasks- Task 1 and 2. The latter requires candidates to write an essay responding to a given statement. For writing task 2, candidates must write an essay of a minimum of 250 words and within 40 minutes. However, writing lower than the stipulated word count will hamper one’s band score.
Furthermore, the examiner evaluates the essay on different parameters, including coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy and task achievement. The assessment criteria are almost the same for Academic and General Training.Besides, the topics are of various types, the most common being studying abroad essay IELTS. That is why we have compiled a detailed guide on approaching Writing Task 2, sample questions and answers, vocabulary, tips and much more.
How to Approach Writing Task 2?
Many candidates find writing task 2 the most challenging, often due to the time constraint and the kind of approach towards this task. However, they can follow the below-mentioned pattern to achieve a higher band score. It is always best to break the essay into the four-step approach:
- Analyse the question
First and foremost, students must analyse the question and whether it falls in any of the categories:
- Double Question
- Opinion- Agree or Disagree
- Problem Solution
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Discussion
- Decide the position
Candidates must decide the perspective they would be presenting in the essay. For example, if it is an opinion essay, students must state whether they agree or disagree with the statement.
- Brainstorm
It is important to brainstorm ideas during the essay. Candidates can ask themselves questions like:
- What is the reason behind this development?
- What is unifying cultures?
- What is more important in people’s lives today?
If one cannot link their ideas logically and sequentially, one may end up losing marks in coherence and cohesion.
- Linking ideas
After the process mentioned above is complete, students should develop their ideas in-depth. They can do this by explaining and elaborating each of their ideas and supporting them with examples.
Vocabulary for Writing Task 2
Candidates are marked on their lexical resource which in simple words, refers to the usage of vocabulary. This includes using collocations, linking words etc. Here, we have underlined the vocabulary candidates can use in studying abroad essay IELTS: Introduction
- It appears that
- The essay will show that
- The essay will argue
- To examine this issue, the article will examine
- Many people claim that
- It is often said
- It is universally accepted
- However, it should not be forgotten that
- There is ample evidence
- Numerous studies have consistently found that
Listings
- Firstly, this essay will explain
- Secondly, this essay will describe
- First of all
- Second of all
- For instance
Consequently As a result
- However
- As a result
- Consequently
- As an effect
- The reason why
Example
- For example
- For instance
- To illustrate
- To paraphrase
- The best example is
- A perfect example
Conclusion
- Finally
- To summarise
- In the end
- To sum up
- As such, it can be concluded that
CollocationsCollocations are the proper arrangement of words in a sentence or combining words that appear natural. They can be paired in this manner:
- Verb & noun
- Verb & adverb
- Adverb & adjective
- Adjective & noun
- Noun & noun
For easier understanding, some examples are listed below:
- I prefer reading
- Make someone’s bed
- I have a preference for continental cuisine
- Parents can assist their children with financial responsibility
- I have to take the test if I want to take the course
Candidates should use this list while writing for studying abroad essay IELTS.
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Sample Question with Answers for Study Abroad Topic
Studying abroad essay IELTS is one of the most common topics in the exam. However, often students lose marks on this topic because they feel it to be straightforward and easy and hence, do not feel the need to prepare for it. Subsequently, this approach hampers the overall band score of students. Hence, following underlined samples and answers below is essential that candidates can practise before their exam.
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Question:
Many students now have the opportunity to study in other countries. Studying abroad may bring some benefits to some students, but it also has a significant number of disadvantages. Discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion.Write at least 250 words.
Explore all countries
Answer:
In the current era, globalisation has had a huge impact on the field of education. Learners now have the choice of studying in a different country and while studying overseas may have certain drawbacks for some students, it also has a substantial number of advantages. In the imminent paragraphs, I will justify why the merits of studying abroad offset the demerits associated with it.One advantage of studying abroad is the opportunity to interact with people from different cultures and to learn about their customs, cuisine and language. To illustrate, when a student travels abroad for study, he will be exposed to the traditions and festivals of the people and have a complete immersion into their language which can be very useful. Moreover, it is undoubtedly true that developed countries have better academic staff and resources through which one has access to a better quality of education. If the student, decides to return to this home country post completion of studies, the immense knowledge and experience that he has acquired will dramatically contribute to the growth and development of his country.
Tips on Writing Task 2
One can achieve success in Writing Task 2 by implementing the proper techniques. Therefore, candidates must follow the below-mentioned tips diligently to help candidates improve their IELTS scores.
- Respond to all parts of the task.
The candidate must respond to all parts of the task to score well in task achievement. However, to be able to do this, one must practice beforehand.
- Practice, practice and practice.
It is always beneficial to practice the common essay topics before the examination. Then, even if the same themes do not appear, the candidate will know how to approach them.
- Do not memorise an essay.
Candidates at all costs must avoid memorising essays. For instance, if the same topic does not appear, then the candidate would not be able to write on it. Unfortunately, this can also result in losing marks as well.
- Use a wide range of vocabulary.
Candidates must try to use transition sentences in the studying abroad essay IELTS. They can refer to the vocabulary outlined above and describe their ideas.
- Follow the stipulated word count.
As mentioned above, Writing Task 2 is 250 words. Candidates must not write lower than this. However, they must not also exceed more than 270 words either. Candidates must employ the correct vocabulary, techniques, sample questions and answers to score well in Writing Task 2. This detailed guide on the studying abroad essay IELTS with vocabulary, structure, and tips will help students nail writing tasks with ease. Pursuing a dream abroad comes with a lot of expenses. However, financing foreign Education now can be hassle-free and uncomplicated with Leap Scholar. Aspiring candidates can get financial assistance with low-interest rates, minimum documentation and convenient terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I retake the IELTS Writing?
Ans: No, individual sections of IELTS cannot be retaken. However, if you are dissatisfied with the score, you can retake the test or submit an application for a rechecking of the score.
2. How is the Writing Task 2 assessed?
Ans: Writing Task 2 is assessed on four criteria:
a. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
b. Task Achievement
c. Lexical Resource
d. Coherence and Cohesion
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