Why you should organize your thoughts before writing your essay

There are some strategies you should keep in mind for the writing section.

Organize your thoughts first

You get only about 40 minutes to write your IELTS essay. Because of the time limits, some students feel compelled to start writing right away. This is a mistake. Before you start writing, you have to organize your thoughts. Otherwise, you won’t be able to write spontaneously.

On the other hand, if you start writing immediately, you are more likely to get lost. As a result you will have to rewrite some sections. You will also have to edit more. This will waste time and cause you to make errors.

To avoid this problem, try to organize the essay in a note form. Your essay should be neatly divided into paragraphs. Each paragraph should discuss a supporting point. It should begin with a topic sentence that mentions that point.

Don’t spend more than 2 minutes on creating the outline. Read the given prompt carefully and decide how you will organize your paragraphs. Decide what topic you will discuss in each paragraph.

Use familiar vocabulary

You don’t have to demonstrate a high level of vocabulary to get a good band score. Yes, the examiners certainly want to assess your range of vocabulary. However, this does not mean that you have to use long and obscure words. Instead, use familiar vocabulary. While writing your essay, you can’t afford to waste time thinking of a longer word. Use words that you would use normally. This will make your writing sound natural and you will get a better band score.