The 4 Scoring Criteria
What grading criteria checks if you answered all parts of the prompt and gave a clear opinion?
Task Response
Which paragraph must contain your clear position or thesis statement?
The Introduction
In your introduction, you should never copy the exact prompt. Instead, you must rewrite it using your own words. What is this called?
Paraphrasing
How many minutes should you spend on Writing Task 2?
40 minutes
Words like "However," "Furthermore," and "Therefore" are used to connect ideas. What are they called?
Linking words (or transition words)
What criteria grades how well you organize your paragraphs and use linking words?
Coherence and Cohesion
How many main ideas should you ideally discuss in a single body paragraph?
One main idea (fully explained and supported)
If the prompt asks "To what extent do you agree or disagree?", can you discuss both positions (agree & disagree)?
Normally not.
What is the absolute minimum number of words you must write for Task 2?
250 words
Should you use informal words like "gonna", "wanna", or text-message slang in Task 2?
No, you must use formal/academic language
To get a high score in this criteria, you must use a wide range of vocabulary and avoid repeating words. What is it?
Lexical Resource
Every good body paragraph should start with this type of sentence to introduce the main point.
A topic sentence
For a "Discuss both views and give your opinion" essay, what must you do in the body paragraphs?
Write about both sides of the argument (not just the side you agree with)
What happens to your score if you write 240 words?
And under what assessment criterion?
You will lose points (penalized under Task Response)
What punctuation mark must usually follow introductory linking words like "Firstly" or "In conclusion"?
A comma
To get a high score in Grammatical Range and Accuracy, you must use a mix of simple sentences and what other type of sentence?
Complex sentences
What must you NEVER include in your conclusion paragraph?
New ideas or new arguments
If a prompt asks for the "Causes and Solutions" to a problem, what must you provide for every cause you list?
A matching solution
How many minutes is it recommended that you spend planning your essay before you start writing?
5 to 10 minutes
When the prompt asks you to use your own knowledge or experience to support an argument, is it acceptable to use the word "I" or "my"?
Yes (e.g., "In my experience...")
If the examiner realizes you have completely memorized your essay before the test, what band score will you receive for that essay?
Band 0
From what you have learnt in this class, what is the ideal number of paragraphs for an IELTS Task 2 essay?
4 paragraphs
"Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" To answer this properly, your essay must clearly state what?
Which side is stronger/more significant
If you write 350 words, will you get a higher score just for writing more?
No (quality is more important than quantity, and you risk making more mistakes)
Instead of writing "very bad," a student uses the word "detrimental." This helps improve their score in which of the 4 criteria?
Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)