Important Criteria for Writing an IELTS Essay

The international English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language proficiency test used to measure the understanding and ability of test takers to communicate in English. It is synonymous to TOEFL but more British oriented.

There are two versions of this examination: the general and academic version. Understanding which one is required for you is imperative. Each of these requires adequate preparation for you to ace them. You need to understand the IELTS essay structure through adequate research in the writing format of this examination. 

What You Need to Know About IELTS Essays

Do not wait to be surprised by the exam, familiarize yourself with it through practice. Guidelines on how to write an essay in IELTS can be found online. This essay is meant to test students in all communication aspects of the English language.

Usually, it is presented in terms of a topic which you will be needed to explain or discuss. Understanding the topic will help you come up with the right approach to writing an excellent essay. If it still proves difficult, do not shy away from seeking assistance. This examination is paid for, therefore, make value for your money; failure is expensive.

Sequential Logical Criteria for Writing an IELTS Essay

Unlike most essays, IELTS should be approached with predetermined criteria that will ensure it addresses the topic under discussion comprehensively. Relevance to the topic is as important as the flow of your essay. Take some time and develop criteria on how to effectively write your essay.

1.     Do an in-depth question analysis

When given a question to respond to, analyze it critically to determine what the examiner is looking for. Identifying the keywords will help in writing a perfect essay in response to the question posed.

Merit in such an essay is awarded in terms of bands. Giving relevant answers ensures you score more than a band 5. Attaining the best scores means you must adhere to the instructions given while you correctly respond to the question with the expected answers. You can either make it or lose it at this point.

2.     Brainstorm and map out your ideas

Having understood the question, the next step is to take minimal time to think about different ideas that will help respond to the question satisfactorily. Write them down as they come to mind. Think of it as an assignment paper so that you can kick out anxiety and think freely.

Do not limit the scope of your thinking to academics; the social happenings around you could be the trigger to the much needed important ideas. As yourself questions and consider different perspectives of the query. Organize the written ideas in a sequential manner. Create a logical flow of your essay and make it coherent.

3.     Manage your time

This test is time-bound; you need to finish within the assigned time, otherwise your points will be compromised. Put your time management skill to good use. Allocate each activity a timespan. If the test takes 40 minutes, make sure the planning stage takes less than 10% of the total time.

Depending on the vastness of the points, some may need more time than others. Keep in mind that the goal is to finish in time. Since the writing will be hasty, spare some time for proofreading your work and weeding out grammatical mistakes.

4.     Explain your points

At this stage, every single point in your homework has to be dealt with separately. The first point that precedes the introduction should be given uttermost attention and be presented in a lucrative, motivating manner that will encourage the examiner to proceed. Capture the reader’s attention with grammatically correct and competent paragraphs, free of mistakes.

This test does not test your knowledge of issues but rather the presentation and explanation of the same. Give more emphasis to the quality of the language used than the strength of the points. Use relevant examples and writing styles to explain your points. Summon all your vocabulary and use them wisely.

5.     Conclude your work

Your conclusion is as important as your introduction; it should present a summary of the points discussed in the essay. A short and precise verdict should be given if the essay was argumentative. You can consult IELTS buddy essay for the most effective way of structuring and presenting your conclusion.

6.     Proofread the essay

Before handing in your work for review, do the proofreading yourself. There is a high likelihood of having mistakes since the work is hastily done within a certain limited duration. Read through it as if you were the examiner; this will aid in singling out grammatical mistakes and correcting them. A grammatically correct paper will attract a maximum score.

End note

When tasked with an IELTS test, concentrate on the examinable parts to comfortably sail through with the maximum possible score. The point of this exam is to gauge your effectiveness in communication using written the English language. Put emphasis where it matters most; do not major on the minor objectives.

As easy as it sounds, this examination should not be taken with inadequate preparation. The key to beating the time pressure that comes with this kind of essay is practice and familiarity. If the points highlighted above are considered, your essay will meet the required criteria for IELTS essay.

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.

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