IELTS Writing: Not too long, Not too short

In the writing test in IELTS (International English Language Testing System), you’re required to write at least 150 words in task 1 (describing a graph or diagram, or writing a letter) and at least 250 words in task 2 (the essay).

If you don’t write the minimum number of words in either task, your answer will automatically lose marks and your band score will be reduced. Your overall band score may then be too low for you to enter a university or to migrate to another country.

Note that although a minimum number of words is required, there’s no maximum. However, this doesn’t mean you should write a long answer. For one thing, you don’t get bonus marks for long answers. For another, a long answer means you’ll have to write fast. The faster you write, the more likely you’ll make errors in your grammar and vocabulary, or that you will leave out important information. Your band score will therefore fall.

A sensible goal, then, is to write only a little over the required minimum number of words. I recommend that you aim for a maximum of 170 words for task 1, and 280 words for task 2. Writing within those limits will give you more time to think carefully about your ideas, the structure of your answer, and your grammar and vocabulary. In the writing test, quality is much more important than quantity.

Let’s look at an answer that an IELTS student wrote for me. Lisa had to answer the following essay question:

In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people regard this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important for learning and taking responsibility. What are your opinions on this?

IELTS Writing Task 2 - Causes & Solutions essays

In IELTS Task 2, you could get asked to write about the causes of some problem and the possible ways to solve this problem.

You must remember to have:

1. An introduction
2. Discuss the main causes and effects of the problem
3. Suggest possible solutions to the problem
4. Give advice about who should take responsibility

For this reason, a four paragraph essay is a very good idea. This essay below will give you an example of a good 250 word essay.

IELTS Writing Task 2 - the essay

Students often need advice about how to write a good essay for the IELTS test. There are different points that it is important to consider:

1. Always write at least 250 words and not more than 300 words.
2. Always answer the question exactly.
3. Do not write less than 4 paragraphs or more than 5 paragraphs.
4. Use more formal vocabulary when possible.
5. Check your grammar.

Below is a good IELTS style essay for someone aiming for a higher score.

IELTS Writing Task 1 - Line graphs

There are many different types of Task 1 in the IELTS test, but one of the most common types is a line graph. Line graphs usually ask the writer to describe changes over a period of time.

Students often make mistake with grammatical structures when writing about the changes.

Example:

The Task 1 will probably include more than one line on the graph; however, you must start by checking that you are using good English grammar to describe the data. The best way to do this is to look at one line first.

There are 3 structures which are appropriate for describing this line: