Preparation
guide
We’re here
to help boost
your score.

Real help.
Real support.
Real people.
And real results.

Help you boost
your IE
LTS score
and prepare you forreal-world suc
cess.

Preparation
guide

04 Discover how IELTS can help
you succeed
05 IELTS preparation planner
06	Test format: IELTS Academic
or IELTS General Training?
07 How is IELTS scored?
08 Listening test: Question types and tips
11

Reading test: Question types and tips

15

Writing test: Question types and tips

20 Speaking test: Tips and advice
22 Official support to help you succeed
24 Test day tips to help you succeed
25 Receiving your results
26 Appendix — Assessment criteria
for each band score

04

IELTS Preparation Guide

Discover how IELTS
can help you succeed

IELTS is the world’s
leading English test
for work, study andmigration, and we’rehere to support you
to achieve your goals.

Computer-delivered IELTS:
Fast and flexible

Real help forthe real world

IELTS takes advantage of the best
technology available through our optionof computer-delivered Reading, Listening
and Writing tests. With up to three test
sessions available per day, 7 days a week,
this approach offers you fast results andmore convenience and flexibility than the
traditional paper-based tests.

Our real-world assessment approachhelps to prepare you for life beyond thetest. We offer real support from real people
to set you up for success on the day andwe work together to build your language
skills. Whether your goal is study, a career,or migration, IELTS unlocks that ambition.

We offer extensive preparationmaterials to build your skills
and combine technology withhuman-based testing to provide
the best possible test conditions.

Face-to-face Speaking
tests to put you at ease

Respected and accepted
worldwide, IELTS prepares
you for real-life success.

When it comes to speaking, we are proud
to still provide person-to-person testingin a comfortable, quiet room. Unlike
a computer, you can trust a person
to put you at ease, to pick up on yournative accent and guide you towards
your best performance.

Expert support to help
you reach your goals
Our official IELTS experts can coach you
through the process to help you succeed.
Whether it be giving you feedback on
official practice tests, answering yourquestions in free Masterclasses, orproviding you with a personalised action
plan — we’re here to help you boost
your score and achieve your goals.

“IELTS makes the world
a bigger, more open placeand it allowed me to become
a citizen of the world.”
Pavel Kachaolov
Analyst at a large
accounting firm

Available from more than
1,200 locations in 140 countries.
Scan the QR code to find out
test dates in your area andtest centres near you.

Preparation planner

05

IELTS preparation planner
Get ready to get results
There are so many great ways to prepare for IELTS, which can help you
to achieve your best on test day. By taking advantage of our step-by-stepguide and planning well, you can boost your confidence and your score.
01 First steps

04 Practise with sample questions

Register for the test: To find a test centre near you
or to book your test, visit IELTSessentials.com

Free support tools

Set your ‘score goal’: Confirm the IELTS scorerequired by your chosen university, institution, employer
or organisation. Knowing your ‘score goal’ gives you aclear target to work towards. You can look up the criteria
for each score here: IELTSessentials.com/results/about-ieltsscores so you understand what you need to prepare for.

Free test sample: The free IELTS test sample gives youa chance to see sample test questions and practise yourresponses: IELTSessentials.com/prepareFree computer-delivered IELTS practice materials:
Know what to expect on the day with videos, FAQs andsample questions to help guide you through the computerdelivered Listening, Reading and Writing tests:
IELTSessentials.com/oncomputer
Additional support options

02 Boost your English skills
The best way to succeed in any English language test
is to improve your English. Here are two great ways tobuild your skills.
An English language course: This is one of the best
ways to improve your English. The feedback you receivefrom your teacher will help you improve the specificskills involved in Listening, Reading, Writing andSpeaking English.
An IELTS preparation course: This can help you
familiarise yourself with the types of tasks included in
an IELTS test. Ask your local IELTS test centre for more
information about a preparation course near you.
Book your IELTS test and get FREE access to an online
preparation course for 30 days!*

03 Use your English every day
Practice makes perfect, so use your English as muchas you can well in advance of the test.
Listen: Listen to English language radio, television andfilm. You should try to listen to a variety of English accents
including American, Australian, British, Canadian and
New Zealand.
Read: Read English publications such as newspapers
and magazines regularly.
Write: Write letters, emails or notes in English
whenever possible.
Speak: Speak English with your friends and family.

*Only available with participating test centres

IELTS Progress Check: Take a full practise test, which
gives you an indicative band score plus personalised
feedback from an official IELTS marker — so you can identify
your weaknesses and improve for the real test. You canpractise anytime, anywhere: IELTSprogresscheck.com
Official IELTS Practice Material books: Available inVolume 1 and Volume 2, the Official IELTS Practice Material
books give you a chance to try sample questions. They
include example responses and examiner comments to
help guide you, plus there are CDs and DVDs to assist
with the Listening and Speaking tests. These are available
online or from your local test centre.

05 The day before the test
Recap on the rules: Re-read information provided byyour test centre to ensure you understand the test format
and rules.
Plan your journey: Ensure you know how to get to the test
venue so that you arrive on time. Also get plenty of rest thenight before your test to help you feel more relaxed on the day.

06 Test day
Allow time: Allow plenty of time to travel to the test venue
to ensure you arrive on time.
Bring your passport/national identity card: Please
make sure you bring the same identification that you
provided on your IELTS Application Form, as we needto match these for you to be able to sit the test.

06

IELTS Preparation Guide

Test format: IELTS Academic
or IELTS General Training?

Before booking
your test, understandif you need IELTS
Academic or IELTS
General Training.
IELTS is available in two different versions:
Academic and General Training. Eachorganisation that accepts IELTS will
normally specify which version of IELTS
you will need for your application. In somecases either IELTS Academic or IELTS
General Training may be accepted. If you
are in doubt as to which to take, you should
contact the organisation you are applying
to in order to check their requirements.
In both IELTS Academic and IELTS
General Training tests, you are testedon all four language skills — Listening,
Reading, Writing and Speaking — unless
you have an exemption due to a disability.
Everyone takes the same Listening andSpeaking tests. There are different Reading
and Writing tests for IELTS Academic and
IELTS General Training.

IELTS Academic

IELTS General Training

Listening* (30 minutes)

Listening* (30 minutes)• Four recorded monologues
and conversations• Four recorded monologues
and conversations

Reading (60 minutes)

Reading (60 minutes)• Three reading passages with tasks• Section 1 contains two or three
short factual texts• Texts may include diagrams,
graphs or illustrations• Texts are taken from books,
journals, magazines andnewspapers• Section 2 contains two short,work-related factual texts• Section 3 contains one longer text
on a topic of general interest• Texts are authentic and taken fromnotices, advertisements, company
handbooks, official documents,
books and newspapers

Writing (60 minutes)

Writing (60 minutes)• Writing task of at least 150 words
where the test taker must summarise,describe or explain a table, graph,chart or diagram• Letter writing task of at least
150 words• Short essay task of at least
250 words• Short essay task of at least 250 words

Speaking* (11–14 minutes)

Speaking* (11–14 minutes)• Face-to-face interview without
disruptions or distractions• Face-to-face interview without
disruptions or distractions• Includes short questions,speaking at length about afamiliar topic and a structured
discussion• Includes short questions, speaking
at length about a familiar topic anda structured discussion*T he Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

How is IELTS scored07

How isIELTS scored?

IELTS nine-band scaleYour performance on test day in each language skill — Listening, Reading,Writing and Speaking — is reported as a band score on a scale of 1 (thelowest) to 9 (the highest). All parts of the test and the overall band scoreare reported in whole or half bands (e.g. 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, etc.).

9

Expert user

Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate,accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

8

Very good user

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic
inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar
situations. Handles complex, detailed argumentation well.

7

Good user

Has operational command of the language, although with occasional inaccuracies,
inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles
complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

6

Competent user

Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies,
inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly
complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

5

Modest user

Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in mostsituations, although is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle
basic communication in own field.

4

Limited user

Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems
in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

3

Extremely limited user

Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

2

Intermittent user

No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using
isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediateneeds. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.

1

Non-userEssentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

0

Did not attempt the test

No assessable information provided.

08

IELTS Preparation Guide

Listening test
Question types and tips

Listening test format: 30 minutes
The Listening section is thesame for both IELTS Academic
and IELTS General Training.
There are four parts. You willhear the recording only once.
A variety of voices and nativespeaker accents are used.

Section 1: A conversation between
two people set in an everyday social
context (e.g. a conversation aboutaccommodation).
Section 2: A monologue set in an
everyday social context (e.g. a speech
about local facilities or about arrangements
for meals during a conference).

Section 3: A conversation between
up to four people set in an educationalor training context (e.g. a university
tutor and a student discussing an
assignment, or a group of people
planning a project).
Section 4: A talk (e.g. a university lecture).

Tips

01 At the beginning of each section readthe questions for that section carefully,
before the recording starts. This will
help you to follow the recording andidentify the answers.

03 You will sometimes have a list of
options to choose from as answers.
The possible answers may be listed inalphabetical order and not necessarily
in the order you will hear them.

02 After completing a section, it is betterto look ahead and read the questions
for the next section than to worry
about the last section.

04 Be careful to note word limits. If there
is an instruction: Write no more than
two words, writing more than two
words will mean you will receive nomarks at all for your answer, even
if some of the words are correct.

05 Try to listen for key words or synonyms(words that have the same or nearly
the same meaning as another word)from the question to help you identify
the answer. For example, in therecording you might hear: “She likes
going to the gym and playing tennis”.
On your answer sheet/screen (incomputer-delivered IELTS), this could
appear as “She is an active person”.

Listening test

09

Question types

A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram
labelling, form/note/table/flowchart/summary completion, sentence completion.
Multiple choice
In multiple choice questions, there isa question followed by three possible
answers, or the beginning of a sentence
followed by three possible ways tocomplete the sentence. You are required
to choose one correct answer — A, B
or C.
Sometimes, you are given a longer listof possible answers and told that you
have to choose more than one. In thiscase, you should read the question
carefully to check how many answers
are required.
How it works

Multiple choice questions are used
to test a wide range of skills. You
may be required to have a detailed
understanding of specific points
or an overall understanding of themain points of the listening text.

Matching
You are required to match a numbered listof items from the listening text to a set of
options on the question paper. The setof options may be criteria of some kind.

How it works

Matching assesses the skill oflistening for detail and whether
you can identify information given
in a conversation on an everyday
topic, such as the different
types of hotel or guest houseaccommodation.
It also assesses the ability to follow
a conversation between two people.
It may also be used to assess yourability to recognise relationships
and connections between facts
in the listening text.

Plan, map, diagram labelling
You are required to complete labels ona plan (e.g. of a building), map (e.g. ofpart of a town) or diagram (e.g. of a pieceof equipment). The answers are usually
selected from a list on the question paper.
How it works

This type of task assesses theability to understand, for example,
a description of a place, and to
relate this to a visual representation.
This may include being able tofollow language expressing spatial
relations and directions (e.g.
straight on/through the back door).

Form, note, table, flowchart,summary completion
You are required to fill in the gaps inan outline of part or of all of the listening
text. The outline will focus on the mainideas/facts in the text. It may be:
1.	A form: often used to record
factual details such as names.
2.	A set of notes: used to summarise
any type of information using thelayout to show how different items
relate to one another.
3.	A table: used as a way of summarisinginformation which relates to clear
categories — e.g. place/time/price.
4.	A flowchart: used to summarisea process that has clear stages,
with the direction of the process
shown by arrows.
You may have to select your answers
from a list presented or identify the missing
words from the recording, keeping to
the word limit stated in the instructions.
You do not have to change the words
from the recording in any way.
You should read the instructions very
carefully as the number of words or
numbers you should use to fill thegaps will vary. A word limit is given,for example, ‘NO MORE THAN TWOWORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’.

10

IELTS Preparation Guide

Question types continued

You will be penalised for writing morethan the stated number of words, andyou should check this word limit carefullyfor each task. Contracted words will not
be tested. Hyphenated words count assingle words.
How it works

This question type focuses on
the main points that a listener
would naturally hear in this typeof situation.

Short-answer questions
In this question type, you are required
to read a question and then write a shortanswer using information from the listening
text. A word limit is given, for example,‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER’. You will be penalised forwriting more than the stated number ofwords. You should check this word limit
carefully for each task. Contracted words
will not be tested. Hyphenated words
count as single words. Sometimes test
takers are given a question that asks themto list two or three points.
How it works

Sentence completion
In this question type, you are required
to read a set of sentences summarising
key information from all the listening text
or from one part of it. You will then fill a
gap in each sentence using informationfrom the listening text. A word limit isgiven, for example, ‘NO MORE THAN
ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER’.
You will be penalised for writing morethan the stated number of words. You
should check this word limit carefully foreach task: the limit is either ONE, TWO
or THREE words. Contracted words will
not be tested. Hyphenated words countas single words.
How it works

Sentence completion focuseson the ability to identify the key
information in a listening text.
You must understand functional
relationships such as cause
and effect.

Sentence completion focuses on
the ability to listen for concrete
facts, such as places, prices ortimes, within the listening text.

Reading test

11

Reading test
Question types and tips

Reading test format: IELTS Academic, 60 minutes
There are three sections,each containing one
long text.

The texts are all real and are takenfrom books, magazines and newspapers.
They have been written for a non-specialist
audience and are on academic topics
of general interest, which means you do
not need specialist knowledge to do well.

Texts range from the descriptive andfactual to the discursive and analytical.
Texts may contain non-verbal materials
such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations.
If texts contain technical terms,
then a simple glossary is provided.

The texts are appropriate to, andaccessible to, candidates entering
undergraduate or postgraduate courses
or seeking professional registration.

Reading test format: IELTS General Training, 60 minutes
There are three sections.

Section 1: Contains two or three
short factual texts, one of which may becomposite (consisting of 6–8 short texts
related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements).
Topics are relevant to everyday life in an
English-speaking country.

Section 3: Contains one longer, more
complex text on a topic of general interest.
You will be reading real passages takenfrom notices, advertisements, company
handbooks, official documents, books,
magazines and newspapers.

Section 2: Contains two short factual
texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g.
applying for jobs, company policies, pay
and conditions, workplace facilities, staff
development and training).

Tips
01 To improve your performance in theReading test you need to practise
reading a variety of English texts.
This will help you develop the ability
to read quickly.
02 Read every question carefully
first before reading the passages.
This will make it easier for you tofind the answers. Underline possible
answers as you go. In computerdelivered IELTS, you can highlightor make notes on a section of text.

03 When you come to reading thepassage, read it quickly the first timein order to get a general idea of what
it’s about. Don’t worry about words
you do not understand. Then read eachquestion again to remind yourself whichparts of the passage you will need toread again in detail.
04 The Reading passages always containthe information you need to answer
the question. You won’t have to use
your own knowledge of a topic.

05 If you are copying words froma question or reading passage
to use in your answer, rememberthat your spelling must be accurate.
In computer-delivered IELTS, you
can use Copy (Ctrl C) and Paste(Ctrl V) on your keyboard to moveyour answers to the answer box,
reducing room for mistakes.

12

IELTS Preparation Guide

Question types

A variety of question types may be
used, chosen from the following:
multiple choice, identifying
information, identifying thewriter’s views/claims, matching
information, matching headings,
matching features, matchingsentence endings, sentencecompletion, summary completion,note completion, table completion,
flowchart completion, diagram
label completion and short-answer
questions.

Identifying information

Matching information

In this question type, you will be given
a number of statements and asked:“Do the following statements agree with
the information in the text?”. You arethen required to write ‘True’, ‘False’or ‘Not given’ in the answer boxes.

In this question type, you are requiredto:

It is important to understand the difference
between ‘False’ and ‘Not given’. ‘False’means the passage states the oppositeof the statement in question. ‘Not given’
means that the statement is neither
confirmed nor contradicted by the
information in the passage.

Identifying writer’s views/claims
Multiple choice
For this question type, you are required
to choose:• the best answer fromfour alternatives, or• the best two answers fromfive alternatives, or• the best three answers
from seven alternatives.
The questions may involve completinga sentence, where you are given the firstpart of a sentence and then choose thebest way to complete it from the options.
There could be complete questions, where
you will be asked to choose the optionthat best answers them.
The questions are in the same order as theinformation in the reading text: that is, theanswer to the first question in this question
type will be located in the text before theanswer to the second question, and so on.

In this question type, you will be given a
number of statements and asked: ‘Do thefollowing statements agree with the views/
claims of the writer?’. You will then select‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Not given’.
It is important to understand the difference
between ‘No’ and ‘Not given’.
• ‘No’ means that the views or claimsof the writer explicitly disagree withthe statement, i.e. the writer somewhere
expresses the view or makes a claimthat is opposite to the one given in
the question.
• ‘Not given’ means that the view or claim
is neither confirmed nor contradicted.
Any knowledge that you bring from outside
the passage should not play a part when
deciding on your answers.
How it works

This question type assesses
your ability to recognise opinions
or ideas and is often used withdiscursive or argumentative texts.

• locate specific information within
the lettered paragraphs/sectionsof a text, and• to select the letters of the correct
paragraphs/sections in the answer
section.
You may be asked to find: specific details,
an example, a reason, a description, acomparison, a summary or an explanation.
You will not necessarily need to findinformation in every paragraph/section of
the text, but there may be more than one
piece of information that you need to locate
in a given paragraph/section. When this is
the case, you will be told that you can use
any letter more than once.
This question type can be used with any
text as it tests a wide range of reading
skills, from locating detail to recognising
a summary or definition.
How it works

Matching information assesses
your ability to scan for specificwords and phrases.

Reading test

Matching headings
In this question type, you are given a listof headings. A heading will refer to themain idea of the paragraph or section of
the text. You will then be asked to matchthe heading to the correct paragraphs
or sections. There will always be moreheadings than there are paragraphs or
sections, so that some headings will
not be used. It is also possible that someparagraphs or sections may not be
included in the task. This question type
is used with texts that contain paragraphs
or sections with clearly defined themes.

How it works

Matching features will assess yourability to recognise relationships andconnections between facts in the
text and your ability to recognise
opinions and theories. It may be
used with factual information or
opinion-based discursive texts.
You will need to be able to skimand scan the text in order to locate
the required information and toread for detail.

How it works

Matching headings will test yourability to recognise the main ideaor theme in the paragraphs or
sections of a text, and to distinguishmain ideas from supporting ones.

Matching features
For this question type, you are required
to match a set of statements or pieces
of information to a list of options. The
options are a group of features fromthe text and are identified by letters.
For example, you may be required tomatch different research findings to a listof researchers, or characteristics to age
groups, events to historical periods, etc.
It is possible that some options will not be
used and that others may be used morethan once. The instructions will inform you
if options may be used more than once.

Matching sentence endings
In this question type, you are given the firsthalf of a sentence based on the reading
text and asked to choose the best way tocomplete it from a list of possible options.
There will be more options to choose
from than there are questions. You willthen have to choose the correct option
to complete the sentence. The questions
are in the same order as the informationin the passage: that is, the answer to thefirst question in this group will be found
before the answer to the second question,and so on.
How it works

Matching sentence endings willassess your ability to understandthe main ideas within a sentence.

13

Sentence completion
In this question type, you will complete
sentences in a given number of words takenfrom the reading text. You must type youranswer in the answer box. The instructions
will make it clear how many words/numbers
test takers should use in their answers, e.g.
‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage’, ‘ONE
WORD ONLY’ or ‘NO MORE THAN TWOWORDS’.
If you write more than the number of words
asked for, you will lose marks. Numbers
can be written using figures or words.
Hyphenated words count as single words.
The questions are in the same order as
the information in the passage: that is,
the answer to the first question in thisgroup will be found before the answer
to the second question, and so on.
How it works

Matching sentence endings
assesses your ability to locate
detail/specific information.

14

IELTS Preparation Guide

Question types continued
Summary, note, table,
flowchart completion

Where a list of answers is provided, they
most frequently consist of a single word.

In this question type, you are given asummary of a section of the text andare required to complete it with information
drawn from the text. The summary willusually be of only one part of the passage
rather than the whole.

Because this task type often relates toprecise factual information, it is often
used with descriptive texts.

The given information may be in
the form of:• several connected sentences of text
(referred to as a summary)• several notes (referred to as notes)• a table with some of its cells empty or
partially empty (referred to as a table)• a series of boxes or steps linked byarrows to show a sequence of events,
with some of the boxes or steps empty
or partially empty (referred to as a
flowchart).
The answers will not necessarily occur
in the same order as in the text. However,they will usually come from one section
rather than the entire text.
There are two variations of this task type.
You may be asked either:1.

to select words from the text or;

2. to select from a list of answers.
Where words have to be selected fromthe passage, the instructions will makeit clear how many words/numbers test
takers should use in their answers, e.g.
‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage’, ‘ONE
WORD ONLY’ or ‘NO MORE THAN TWOWORDS’. If you write more than thenumber of words asked for, you willlose marks.
Numbers can be written using figures
or words. Hyphenated words count assingle words.

How it works

Summarising assesses your ability
to understand details and/or themain ideas of a section of text. In
the variations involving a summaryor notes, you will need to be awareof the type of word(s) that will fit into
a given gap (for example, whether anoun is needed, or a verb, etc.).

Diagram label completion
In this question type, you are required
to complete labels on a diagram, which
relates to a description contained in the
text. The instructions will make it clear
how many words/numbers test takers
should use in their answers, e.g. ‘NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage’,‘ONE WORD ONLY’ or ‘NO MORE THAN
TWO WORDS’.
If you write more than the number of words
asked for, you will lose marks. Numbers
can be written using figures or words.
Hyphenated words count as single words.
The answers do not necessarily occur inorder in the passage. However, they willusually come from one section rather thanthe entire text.
The diagram may be of some type ofmachine, or of parts of a building or of
any other element that can be represented
pictorially. This task type is often usedwith texts describing processes or withdescriptive texts.

How it works

Diagram label completion assesses
your ability to understand a detailed
description and to relate it to
information presented in the formof a diagram.

Short-answer questions
In this question type, you will answer
questions that usually relate to factual
information about details in the text.
This is most likely to be used with a textthat contains a lot of factual informationand detail.
You must then type your answers in words
or numbers, using words from the text.
The instructions will make it clear how
many words/numbers test takers should
use in their answers, e.g. ‘NO MORE THAN
THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER fromthe passage’, ‘ONE WORD ONLY’ or ‘NO
MORE THAN TWO WORDS’. If you write
more than the number of words asked for,you will lose marks.
Numbers can be written using figures
or words. Hyphenated words count assingle words. The questions are in thesame order as the information in the text.

How it works

Short-answer questions will assessyour ability to locate and understandprecise information in the text.

Writing test

Writing test

15

a b c

Question types and tips

Writing test format: IELTS Academic, 60 minutes
There are two parts. Responses
to Task 1 and Task 2 should be
written in an academic, semiformal or neutral style.

Task 1: You are presented with a graph,table, chart or diagram and are asked
to summarise and report the information
in your own words.

Task 2: You are asked to write an essay
in response to a point of view, argument
or problem. Task 2 contributes twice asmuch as Task 1 to the Writing score.

You may be asked to select andcompare data, describe the stagesof a process, describe an object
or how something works.

The issues raised are of general interest
to, suitable for and easily understoodby test takers entering undergraduate
or postgraduate studies or seeking
professional registration.

Writing test format: IELTS General Training, 60 minutes
There are two parts.
Topics are of general interest.

Task 1: You are presented with asituation and are asked to write a letter
requesting information or explaining thesituation. The letter may be personal,
semi-formal or formal in style.

Task 2: You are asked to write an essay
in response to a point of view, argument
or problem. The essay can be less formal
in style with a more personal responsethan the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.
Task 2 contributes twice as much as
Task 1 to the Writing score.

03 Notice the minimum word limit. If you
write less than 150 words for Task 1
and less than 250 for Task 2, you willlose marks. In computer-delivered
IELTS, the screen shows your word
count automatically.

05 You must write both your answers
in full, not in note form or in bullet
points. You must arrange your ideas
in paragraphs to show the examinerthat you are able to organise yourmain and supporting points.

Tips
01 In your Writing test there are no rightor wrong answers or opinions. The
examiners are assessing how well
you can use your English to report
information and express ideas.
02 Analyse the questions carefully tomake sure your answer addresses all
the points covered by the question.

04 Be careful to use your own words
because the examiner will not include
words copied from the question in
the word count.

16

IELTS Preparation Guide

Question types

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Length: Write at least 150 words.

Time: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarising facts or figuresfrom graphic information

Showing comparisons of data at one moment in time

If you are doing the Academic test, yourfirst job may be to compose a report
identifying the most important and relevant
information and trends using the facts
or figures presented in a chart, graph,table or a combination of such graphics.
It is also possible that you will instead
be given a diagram of a machine, device
or process and be required to explain
how it works.
Other graphics that can sometimes appear
on the test are two maps or structural
drawings of an area from different times
showing changes that have occurred.
You will need to summarise the majorchanges or differences between them.
The key to responding successfully to
any of these Task 1 visuals is to showthat you understand the big picture byidentifying the main trends, major partsor stages and/or important differencesthat are evident in the graphic. So, rather
than mechanically describing all the data,
select and report on the most importantand the most relevant aspects that appear.
As you can probably guess, there are
specific kinds of details you should be
looking for in the different graphics thatappear on the test. Here is a more detailed
breakdown of question types with sometips for how to interpret and complete
each of them.

Charts, graphs or tables
Generally, the charts, graphs and tables
can either show comparisons of dataat one moment in time or compare dataover a fixed period of time.

When you are reporting on a graphic you
will need to show that you understandexactly what data is about. Using thisexample, you can see a comparison
between the percentage of men andwomen living in poverty in 10 different
age groups in the USA in 2008.
Besides giving a general summary of what
the data shows about men and women inpoverty at this time and in this place (morefemales were in poverty than men at allages with lower rates for men and womenin the mid ages), you should note any
outstanding highs (highest rates were
under the age of 5, for both males andfemales at 20% and 21% respectively) andlows for each (lowest poverty rate for men

were those aged 75 and over at just over
5%, and for women it was between
the ages of 45-54 at about 9%).
Look also at similarities (the higher rates
of poverty for both men and women were
under the age of 24) and/or differences(females had higher rates of poverty
throughout, especially those over 75)
and data that stands out as exceptional(higher rates of poverty in women aged
18-24 and 75-up).

For more question types andadvice on how to best organise
your essays, see:
IELTSessentials.com/prepare/preparation-course/writing

Academic writing test

17

IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Length: Write at least 250 words.

Time: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Writing an essay

If you complete only part of the task,
you will lower your score. Here are someexamples of some of the different essay
types and a breakdown of what needs
to be addressed in each.

If you are doing the Academic test, youwill be presented with an idea or premiseabout a subject and you will be asked
to respond in some way to it. Topics
can include a wide range of commonly
discussed subjects such as theenvironment, immigration, technology,
or culture.
Your response to the prompt will be in oneof various ways. You might be asked toanswer by:• agreeing or disagreeing• discussing two given opposing views• writing about whether the advantagesof a given development outweigh thedisadvantages• explaining a given problem or thecause of the problem and offeringsolutions.

Organisation
You are required to organise yourresponse into an essay. Essays arecomposed of several paragraphs.
The first paragraph should introduce
the topic, your main idea (thesis) andgenerally outline how you propose topresent your argument or discussion.
The body or middle paragraphs
are divided into separate points
with explanations and examples
to support them.
The essay closes with a conclusionthat summarises your points andbrings your arguments or discussion
to a reasoned closing.
Aim to write 4 – 6 paragraphs including
an introduction and conclusion.
Remember that you have only 40 minutes
to write the essay because you also needto complete the Task 1 report in the 60
minutes you are given for this sectionof the test.

Addressing the Academic
essay completely
It’s very important that you readand respond to the prompt carefully.

Agree/disagree
Some people believe that it is wrong for
professional athletes to compete in the
Olympics because their strong financial
backing and training give them an unfair
advantage over the other athletes.
To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Look carefully and you will see that there
are two premises that you will needto address if you want your response
to be complete. It’s easier to see them
if you look at them as questions:• Do professional athletes have an
unfair advantage over other Olympic
athletes because of their financial
support and training?
• Is it wrong for the professionals
to compete in the Olympics forthis reason?
NOTE: It is possible for you to agreewith one and disagree with the other.
For example, you could say that you
agree that they have an advantage butthat it isn’t wrong for them to compete
in certain circumstances.

Discussion
Successful sports professionals canearn a great deal more money thanpeople in other important professions.
Some people think this is fully justified
while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give
your opinion.
There are three parts that you needto address in this prompt:• Why do some believe it is justifiable thatsports professionals earn a great deal
more money than others?
• Why do others think it isn’t justifiable
that they make these earnings?
• What is your opinion in this matter?

Problem/solution
Here are two different variations of
essays about problems that often appear.
The questions related to these prompts
are usually given to you so it’s easy to
see that there are two parts that need
to be addressed.
However, take care to notice the plurals(reasons, problems, solutions). Be sureto pay attention to these instructions andprovide more than one reason, problem orsolution if you are aiming for a high score.
• More and more wild animals are on
the verge of extinction and others areon the endangered list. What are thereasons for this? What can be done
to solve this problem?
• An increasing number of professionals,
such as doctors and teachers, areleaving their own poorer countries
to work in developed countries.
What problems does this cause?
What solutions can you suggest
to deal with this situation?

Advantages vs. disadvantages
Here are two different possible question
formats you could see about advantages
and disadvantages.
Today more and more people are working
from home.
a) Does this trend have more advantages
or more disadvantages?
b) Do the advantages outweighthe disadvantages?
Whether you are given question (a) or(b) above, to respond completely, youneed to consider both the advantages
and disadvantages.
You can write more about one sidethan the other, especially if you have astrong opinion going one way. However,a one-sided argument in these typesof questions is not complete and you will
lower your score if you forget to consider
both advantages and disadvantages.

18

IELTS Preparation Guide

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
Length: Write at least 150 words.

Time: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write a short letterfor a specific purpose

The formal letter

Task 1 in the General Training Writing
section is a letter of correspondence
where you demonstrate your ability tocommunicate using English letter-writing
conventions.
You will be given a common, everyday
situation such as writing to apologise formissing a friend’s party, or complaining to
a company about bad service, writing togive advice to a friend about where to go
on holiday, or writing to express yourinterest in a new job.
In addition to being given the situation,
three bullet points will outline exactly what
information you need to include in yourletter. You might, for example, have todescribe details, give reasons, express
likes and dislikes, or make suggestions or
recommendations.
You will need to choose and use thecorrect tone in your letter. Tone is the way
you communicate with people that shows
the kind of relationship you have with them.
In letters it is clearly indicated by a proper
salutation and closing and it should also
be conveyed by your choice of words orphrasing as well as the kind and amountof details you include.
Different relationships require different
levels of respect which is probably true inyour language as well. IELTS letters areusually either formal, or informal in tone.
Generally, if the letter is to friends, people
you know well, or family, and the reason
for writing is positive, the tone is informal.
Letters to everyone else and for allcomplaints or negative messages should
be more formal.
Here are examples of the two main kindsof letters that can appear on the test withadvice on how to create tone for each.

You live in a room in college that you
share with another student. However, there
are many problems with this arrangement
and you find it very difficult to work.
Write a letter to the accommodation
officer at the college. In the letter,• describe the situation

Use polite, formal language and
DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONSOR SHORT FORMS:“I am writing to thank you . . . ”“I apologise for missing thebirthday celebration . . . ”“I would like some more
information about . . . ”• explain your problems and why
it is difficult to work

“Would it be possible for us to meet . . . ”• say what kind of accommodation
you would prefer

The informal letter

Begin your letter as follows:A friend has agreed to look after yourhouse and pet while you are on holiday.

Dear Sir or Madam,Write a letter to your friend. In the letter:

A key indicator of a formal letter is when
you are given the salutation of “Dear Sir
or Madam,” which shows that you do notknow the person you are writing to.

• give contact details for when
you are away,

The following are some suggestions
for how to create and keep a formal
tone in your letter:• describe other household duties.

Openings and closings:

Dear . . .

• Begin with: Dear Sir or Madam, or
Dear Mr. Smith, or Dear Mrs. Jones

Notice that you have to choose thesalutation, unlike the previous task sample.
This does not automatically mean it isan informal letter. You should look to
see who you are writing to and why.
This example is a letter to a friend andthe situation is a positive one (not acomplaint or a serious apology), so
an informal tone can be used.

• End with: Yours faithfullyor Yours sincerely
Kind and amount of detail:Get to the point or purpose of your letterright away, include the necessary andrelevant information only and make sure
you cover the three bullet points in thequestion accurately (if you are asked to
explain your problems (plural), give morethan one and stick to the facts).

• give instructions about how
to care for your pet

Begin your letter as follows:General writing test

19

IELTS General Training Writing Task 2
Length: Write at least 250 words.

Time: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Writing an essay

Analysing the essay task

Essays in the General Training test
are about general interest topics suchas whether it is better to homeschool
children, whether the drinking age shouldbe raised, who is responsible for thecare of the elderly or how families could
be brought closer together.

Force yourself to look carefully at the
prompt by underlining key words. Then
identify exactly what the questions areasking you to do. For example:

Given a statement about a topic, you
may be asked to agree or disagree or
you may be required to answer one or twoquestions about the topic. For example,
given the statement that families are notas close as they were in the past, you
might be asked to respond to the following
questions: Why do you think this is so?
What can be done to bring families closer
together again?

Organisation

Traditionally, elderly people have lived
with and been cared for by younger
family members. In modern society,more and more elderly people areliving in special homes for the elderly.
Why do you think families choose tohave their elderly relatives live in
special homes away from family?
What do you think is the best way
for modern families to care for
their elderly relatives?
This essay has two parts:

An IELTS essay is usually composedof 4 – 6 paragraphs.

1. E xplain why modern families send
their elderly relatives away to livein special homes.

The first paragraph introduces the subjectof your essay and what you plan to say
about it. The last paragraph summarises
your point and restates your main findings
about this topic.

2. Say whether you think it is betterfor elderly parents to be cared forby younger family members at homeor to be sent away or whether you
have an even better alternative.

The body or middle paragraphs should
answer the main questions you haveidentified in the task with a clear
explanation for your response andexamples to support your thinking.
If you have analysed the task before
writing, you will know exactly what
to write in these body paragraphs.
The following example will illustrate how.

If you fail to answer either one of thesequestions, you will lower your score.
You could use a paragraph to answer
each part in the body of your essay. Notethat if you had two very good reasons,for example, for why families send theirrelatives away, you could devote aparagraph to each, which would allow you
to provide further extension and support.

High-level essays do not simply list
possible answers; they make a coupleof good points and provide reasoning
and examples to support them.
Here is an example of a point being
effectively developed. This is a sample
body paragraph that might appear inan essay responding to the first question.
Modern families today often do not havethe time or energy to care for the elderly
at home. In most places today people
have demanding jobs and can barely
take care of themselves let alone anolder relative who may be sick or infirm.
In most countries, special residences forthe ageing are designed to care for theneeds of those who have medical issues
related to getting older and they provide
wholesome activities and social stimulation
for the elderly who otherwise might besitting alone at home while their younger
relatives are off working. That is why somefamilies feel their relatives are safer andhappier living away in these care centres.
Notice that the paragraph begins withthe answer to the question and is followed
by further explanation, an example anda concluding sentence.

For more question types
and writing tips, visit:
IELTSessentials.com/prepare/preparation-course/writing

20

IELTS Preparation Guide

Speaking testaTips and advice

The Speaking test is a short,face-to-face interview with an
examiner that lasts between
11 and 14 minutes.

Part 1: Introduction andquestions on familiar topics
Length: 4–5 minutes

There are three parts to complete and they
become progressively more challenging.

Next, you will be asked general questions about yourself
such as where you live or what you are currently doing(working or studying).

The examiner will start by introducing him or herself andasking you to state your name and show your identification.

The remaining questions in this section are of a personal natureand topics will be familiar, for example, about the music you like,cooking, the weather, or movies you prefer. Usually you cover
one or two more topics and you may get two or three questions
about each of them.
The examiner will ask the question and then just listen, although
you may be prompted to extend your response with a “why” or“why not” if your answer is too short. This is not a conversation
though; it happens in a question-answer format.

Tips for doing well in Part 1:• Be prepared to answer questions using different verb
tenses and forms.
	If you listen carefully to what the examiner asks, it will help
you formulate your answer using the appropriate tense.
	If you are asked: Did you like the same movies when
you were a child?
	You could say: “When I was a child, I liked cartoons
more because…”• Don’t give one or two word answers. Give at least one
or two sentences. This is your chance to show off yourEnglish and holding back is not going to help your score.
• Prepare for this section by reviewing vocabulary about
work, school, your home, hobbies, the weather, etc.

Speaking test

21

Part 2: Individual long turnLength: 3–4 minutes

Part 3: Two-way discussion
Length: 4–5 minutes

After Part 1, the examiner will give you a topic and ask
you to talk about it for one to two minutes.

The questions in Part 3 will be loosely connected to the topic
that you spoke about in Part 2. They will become more complex
and abstract as you go along. You will need to be able to express
and justify your opinions, analyse, discuss and speculate on
given subjects.

The topic will be handed to you on a card and you will also
be given a piece of paper and a pencil for making notes.
On the card, you will see the speaking prompt and somepoints you can cover in your talk relating to this.
You will have exactly one minute to prepare and makenotes before you speak.

Here is a sample Part 2 task:
Describe a beautiful place to visit in your city.
You should say:

If your long turn was about a beautiful place to visit in your city,
this section might begin by talking about beautiful places andthe first question might be, “Do you think it’s important tomaintain beautiful places in cities?”
The examiner will speak more with you in this section andmay challenge your opinions to see how well you are able
to converse about abstract ideas versus the personal
topics contained in Parts 1 and 2.

• where it is• how to get there• what there is to do when you are there andexplain why you recommend this place.
After the one-minute preparation, you will be asked to
begin and the examiner will listen to you for two minutes.
They may ask you a couple of follow-up questions when
the time is up before going on to the next section.

Tips for doing well in Part 2:• Take notes! The initial thoughts you jot down will help
you remember what you have to say.
• Try to structure your talk with a simple beginning,
middle and end.
	You can use key words from the prompt to form
an introductory sentence:	For example, take the words “beautiful place” “visit” and “city”
from the above prompt and begin your talk with: “I would liketo talk to you today about an area of my city that everyone
should go see because its beauty is outstanding.”	Then, use the three bullet points to help you organise themiddle of your talk and conclude by explaining why this is
the place you most recommend.
• Extend each part of your answer with some details. You have
two minutes to fill and you need show that you can enlarge on
a topic and use a range of expressions, grammatical structuresand vocabulary.
• Use the full two minutes. Practise talking in front of a mirror
on a subject for two minutes so you get a sense of the timing.

Tips for doing well in Part 3:• Support and extend your answers. State your opinions clearlyand provide examples and reasoning as you talk.
	You do not have to believe your opinion, or you might nothave one, so turn to what you think others are saying about
the subject and create a line of reasoning from that.
	Remember the more you say, the more you show how
you can use English to communicate.
• Avoid long pauses. It is okay to pause to think but don’t
let too much time pass without speaking.
	It is good to have some fillers or stalling phrases that will give
you time to formulate your answer. Phrases such as, “That’s
an excellent question…”, “Where should I start, let me see…”,“I need a couple of seconds to think about that but…”• Ask for clarification. Be sure you understand the question
before you answer so that your response is relevant. It’s okay
to say something like — “I’m sorry, can you please repeat
that?”, or “If I understand you correctly, you want to know…”,
or “Do you mean…?”• Paraphrase or explain what you are trying to say instead ofgiving up if you forget a word in English. If you forget the word
for “iron”, for example, you could say, “the tool you use to takethe wrinkles out of your clothing, you know, it heats up andyou press it on the material, oh yes, it’s called an iron”. You
will be rewarded for finding ways to express what you arethinking rather than penalised if you just say that you don’tknow how to say it.

22

IELTS Preparation Guide

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24

IELTS Preparation Guide

Test day tips tohelp you succeed

Know what to expect
to perform at your best.
Here is some handy advice tohelp you understand how a test
day is run — so you can arrive
prepared and can focus onachieving your goal.

Arrive early

BreaksArriving early is a great way to set yourself
up for success on the day. Remember thatyou’ll need to allow time to register, checkin your belongings and get seated forthe test — so double check your booking
confirmation for timings and plan to arrivein advance.

If you need to go to the bathroom
during the test, raise your hand anda staff member will assist you. Please
note that no one is able to leave theroom while the test supervisor is giving
instructions, as we don’t want you to missout on any important test information.

Check in your personal items

Asking for help

All of your personal items will need to bechecked in before you can enter the test
room. This includes all mobile phones,
wrist watches, handheld computers,
headphones, cameras, hats, scarves,
wallets, books, notes and food. Our staff
will collect and safely store all of yourbelongings in secure lockers, unless you
specifically need them for religious reasons.

If you have a problem (e.g. if you think
you have been given the wrong paper,
you cannot hear the instructions, or you
feel ill) raise your hand to attract theattention of the invigilators. Please notethat the supervisor will not provide any
explanation of the questions.

ID check
When you register on test day, you’ll
be greeted by test centre staff who
will check your identification (ID).
Please make sure your ID:• is the same ID you used when
you booked your test
• is current and valid• has a recognisable photo of yourself
Before you enter the test room, your finger
will be scanned to verify your identity as
part of our standard security procedure.

End of the test
Congratulations — you’ve finished yourtest! Everyone does need to stay in theirseat for the full duration of the test, so
if you finish early make the most of yourtime and review your answers until thetest invigilator advises everyone to leave.
Please leave any notes and materials fromthe test on your desk and remember tocollect your checked belongings before
you leave.

Getting your results
You can view your test results online
as soon as they are available at:results.ieltsessentials.com

Entering the test room

Your results will be available within:

When you enter the test room, an IELTS
test invigilator will guide you to your seat.
You’re able to bring in a drink of waterin a transparent bottle, but as it is a test
environment you’re not able to speak
to other test takers or write notes. If you
do have a question, raise your hand andsomeone will help you.

• 5–7 days for computer-delivered IELTS• 13 days for paper-based IELTS.
You can collect your Test Result Form —which is the formal transcript of your result— from the test centre or have it mailed
directly to you, depending on what you
specified when you registered for the test.

Receiving your results

25

Receiving
your results

You will receive a Test
Report Form, which
reports a score foreach of the four skills(Listening, Reading,Writing and Speaking),
as well as an overallband score.
To find out more about
your IELTS scores, visit:
ieltsessentials/results/
about-ielts-scoresYour Test Report Form is theofficial record of your results onthat test day, so make sure you
keep this document safe. If you
do need a replacement due tounforeseen circumstances, speak
to your test centre.
You can request copies ofyour Test Result Form to besent directly up to five recognisingorganisations per application. This
includes, academic institutions,
government agencies, professional
bodies and employers. It doesn’t
include migration or education
agents.

Preview your results online
We know you have a lot riding on your
IELTS test, so you can preview your results
online as soon as they become available.
Your results will be available within:• 5–7 days for computer-delivered IELTS• 13 days for paper-based IELTSYour results will remain online for 28
days at: results.ieltsessentials.com
Please note that this online preview should
be used for guidance only. Your Test Report
Form remains the official confirmation ofyour results and you’ll need to supply that
document to recognising organisations.

Your scores explained andadvice to improve your scores
When you log on to results.ieltsessentials.
com to see your results, you will be able
to receive feedback on your performancefor each of the skills. You will also receive
advice on how to improve yourperformance in order to reach the nextlevel. This advice should be used for
guidance only.

Retaking IELTSIn the event that you don’t get the result
you’re hoping for, you can take the test
again and there are no restrictions on
the number of times you can sit the test.
Before resitting IELTS, it can be helpful
to take some extra steps to make sure
you’re ready.

IELTS Progress Check is an official practicetest that gives you an indicative bandscore and personalised feedback on
your performance.
You can also look in more detail at themarking criteria so that you know what
you’re aiming for. Our IELTS preparation
planner (see page 5) provides a range oftips for improving your skills and boosting
your score.

Results validity period
Organisations decide how long they
will accept your Test Report Form.
The IELTS Test Partners recommend
you check with your organisation todetermine its particular validity period
for IELTS results.

Enquiry on Results
If you are unhappy with your test result,
you can apply for a re-mark (Enquiry on
Results) at the centre where you took thetest. You have up to six weeks to apply fora re-mark and you can choose which test
sections are reviewed. There is a fee forthis service, but that fee does get refunded
if your score on any section is increased.

To find out more, visit:
ieltsessentials.com/results/
request-a-remark

26

IELTS Preparation Guide

Appendix — Assessment
criteria for each band score
Speaking assessment criteria
Lexical resource

Grammatical range andaccuracy

Band

Fluency and coherence

Pronunciation9• speaks fluently with only rare
repetition or self-correction; any
hesitation is content-related rather
than to find words or grammar• speaks coherently with fully
appropriate cohesive features• develops topics fully andappropriately• uses vocabulary with full flexibility
and precision in all topics• uses idiomatic language naturally
and accurately• uses a full range of structuresnaturally and appropriately• produces consistently accurate
structures apart from ‘slips’
characteristic of native
speaker speech• uses a full range of pronunciation
features with precision and subtlety• sustains flexible use of features
throughout• is effortless to understand8• speaks fluently with only occasional
repetition or self-correction;
hesitation is usually contentrelated and only rarely to search
for language• develops topics coherently
and appropriately• uses a wide vocabulary resource
readily and flexibly to convey
precise meaning• uses less common and idiomatic
vocabulary skilfully, with occasional
inaccuracies• uses paraphrase effectively as
required• uses a wide range of structures
flexibly• produces a majority of error-free
sentences with only very occasional
inappropriacies or basic/
non-systematic errors• uses a wide range of pronunciation
features• sustains flexible use of features,with only occasional lapses• is easy to understand throughout;
L1 accent has minimal effect on
intelligibility

7• speaks at length without noticeable
effort or loss of coherence• may demonstrate language-related
hesitation at times, or some
repetition and/or self-correction• uses a range of connectives anddiscourse markers with someflexibility• uses vocabulary resource flexibly
to discuss a variety of topics• uses some less common andidiomatic vocabulary and showssome awareness of style andcollocation, with someinappropriate choices• uses paraphrase effectively• uses a range of complex structureswith some flexibility• frequently produces error-free
sentences, though somegrammatical mistakes persist• shows all the positive featuresof Band 6 and some, but not all,of the positive features of Band 8

6• is willing to speak at length,
though may lose coherence attimes due to occasional repetition,
self-correction or hesitation• uses a range of connectives anddiscourse markers but not always
appropriately• has a wide enough vocabulary to
discuss topics at length and makemeaning clear in spite of
inappropriacies• generally paraphrases
successfully• uses a mix of simple and complex
structures• may make frequent mistakes withcomplex structures, though theserarely cause comprehension
problems• uses a range of pronunciation
features with mixed control• shows some effective use offeatures but this is not sustained• can generally be understood
throughout, thoughmispronunciation of individual
words or sounds reduces clarity
at times

5• usually maintains flow of speech but
uses repetition, self-correction and/or slow speech to keep going• may over-use certain connectives
and discourse markers• produces simple speech fluently,
but more complex communication
causes fluency problems• manages to talk about familiar andunfamiliar topics but uses
vocabulary with limited flexibility• attempts to use paraphrases with
mixed success• produces basic sentence forms
with reasonable accuracy• uses a limited range of more
complex structures, but theseusually contain errors and may
cause some comprehension
problems• shows all the positive featuresof Band 4 and some, but not all,of the positive features of Band 6

4• cannot respond without noticeable
pauses and may speak slowly, withfrequent repetition andself-correction• links basic sentences but withrepetitious use of simple
connectives and some breakdowns
in coherence• is able to talk about familiar topics
but can only convey basic meaningon unfamiliar topics and makes
frequent errors in word choice• rarely attempts paraphrase• produces basic sentence forms andsome correct simple sentences but
subordinate structures are rare
• errors are frequent and may lead tomisunderstanding• uses a limited range ofpronunciation features• attempts to control features
but lapses are frequent• mispronunciations are frequentand cause some difficulty forthe listener3• speaks with long pauses• has limited ability to link simple
sentences• gives only simple responses
and is frequently unable to convey
basic message• uses simple vocabulary to convey
personal information• has insufficient vocabulary forless familiar topics• attempts basic sentence forms butwith limited success, or relies onapparently memorised utterances• makes numerous errors except
in memorised expressions• shows some of the features ofBand 2 and some, but not all,of the positive features of Band 42• pauses lengthily before most words• little communication possible• only produces isolated word ormemorised utterances• cannot produce basic
sentence forms• speech is often unintelligible1• no communication possible• no rateable language0• does not attend

Appendix: Assessment criteria for each band score

27

Writing assessment criteria — Task 1
Band

Grammatical range andaccuracy

Task achievement

Coherence and cohesion

Lexical resource

9• fully satisfies all the requirementsof the task
• clearly presents a fully developed
response• uses cohesion in such a way that it
attracts no attention• skilfully manages paragraphing• uses a wide range of vocabulary withvery natural and sophisticated controlof lexical features; rare minor errors
occur only as ‘slips’• uses a wide range of structures withfull flexibility and accuracy; rare minor
errors occur only as ‘slips’

8• covers all requirements of the task
sufficiently• presents, highlights and illustrates key
features/bullet points clearly andappropriately• sequences information and ideas
logically• manages all aspects of cohesion well• uses paragraphing sufficiently andappropriately• uses a wide range of vocabulary
fluently and flexibly to convey precise
meanings• skilfully uses uncommon lexical items
but there may be occasional
inaccuracies in word choice andcollocation• produces rare errors in spelling and/or
word formation• uses a wide range of structures• the majority of sentences areerror-free• makes only very occasional errors or
inappropriacies

7• covers the requirements of the task
• (A) presents a clear overview of main
trends, differences or stages• (GT) presents a clear purpose, withthe tone consistent and appropriate• clearly presents and highlights key
features/bullet points but could be
more fully extended• logically organises information andideas; there is clear progression
throughout• uses a range of cohesive devices
appropriately although there may besome under-/ over-use• uses a sufficient range of vocabulary
to allow some flexibility and precision• uses less common lexical items withsome awareness of style andcollocation• may produce occasional errors inword choice, spelling and/or word
formation• uses a variety of complex structures• produces frequent error-free
sentences• has good control of grammar andpunctuation but may make a few
errors6• addresses the requirementsof the task
• (A) presents an overview withinformation appropriately selected• (GT) presents a purpose that is
generally clear; there may be
inconsistencies in tone
• presents and adequately highlights
key features/bullet points but details
may be irrelevant, inappropriate or
inaccurate• arranges information and ideas
coherently and there is a clear
overall progression• uses cohesive devices effectively,
but cohesion within and/or between
sentences may be faulty ormechanical• may not always use referencing
clearly or appropriately• uses an adequate range of vocabulary
for the task
• attempts to use less common
vocabulary but with some inaccuracy• makes some errors in spelling and/or
word formation, but they do not
impede communication• uses a mix of simple and complex
sentence forms• makes some errors in grammar andpunctuation but they rarely reduce
communication

5• generally addresses the task; theformat may be inappropriate in places• (A) recounts detail mechanically withno clear overview; there may be nodata to support the description• (GT) may present a purpose for theletter that is unclear at times; the tone
may be variable and sometimes
inappropriate• presents, but inadequately covers,
key features/bullet points; there may
be a tendency to focus on details• presents information with someorganisation but there may be alack of overall progression• makes inadequate, inaccurate
or over-use of cohesive devices• may be repetitive because of lackof referencing and substitution• uses a limited range of vocabulary,
but this is minimally adequate forthe task• may make noticeable errors in spelling
and/or word formation that may causesome difficulty for the reader• uses only a limited range of structures• attempts complex sentences but
these tend to be less accurate thansimple sentences• may make frequent grammaticalerrors and punctuation may be faulty;
errors can cause some difficulty forthe reader

4• attempts to address the task but
does not cover all key features/bullet
points; the format may beinappropriate• (GT) fails to clearly explain the
purpose of the letter; the tone may
be inappropriate• may confuse key features/bullet
points with detail; parts may beunclear, irrelevant, repetitive or
inaccurate• presents information and ideas but
these are not arranged coherently
and there is no clear progression in
the response• uses some basic cohesive devices
but these may be inaccurate or
repetitive• uses only basic vocabulary which may
be used repetitively or which may beinappropriate for the task
• has limited control of word formation
and/or spelling• errors may cause strain for the reader• uses only a very limited range ofstructures with only rare use ofsubordinate clauses• some structures are accurate but
errors predominate, and punctuation
is often faulty

3• fails to address the task, which may
have been completely misunderstood• presents limited ideas which may belargely irrelevant/repetitive• does not organise ideas logically• may use a very limited range ofcohesive devices, and those used
may not indicate a logical relationshipbetween ideas• uses only a very limited range ofwords and expressions with very
limited control of word formation
and/or spelling• errors may severely distort themessage• attempts sentence forms but
errors in grammar and punctuation
predominate and distort the meaning

2• answer is barely related to the task

• has very little control oforganisational features• uses an extremely limited range ofvocabulary; essentially no control
of word formation and/or spelling• cannot use sentence forms
except in memorised phrases

1• answer is completely unrelated
to the task

• fails to communicate any message• can only use a few isolated words• cannot use sentence forms at all0• does not attend• does not attempt the task in any way• writes a totally memorised response

28

IELTS Preparation Guide

Writing assessment criteria — Task 2
Task response

Coherence and cohesion

Lexical resource

Grammatical range andaccuracy

9• fully addresses all parts of the task
• presents a fully developed positionin answer to the question with
relevant, fully extended and well
supported ideas• uses cohesion in such a waythat it attracts no attention• skilfully manages paragraphing• uses a wide range of vocabulary
with very natural and sophisticatedcontrol of lexical features; rare
minor errors occur only as ‘slips’• uses a wide range of structureswith full flexibility and accuracy;rare minor errors occur onlyas ‘slips’

8• sufficiently addresses all partsof the tasks• presents a well-developed responseto the question with relevant,extended and supported ideas• sequences informationand ideas logically• manages all aspects ofcohesion well• uses paragraphing sufficiently
and appropriately• uses a wide range of vocabulary
fluently and flexibly to convey
precise meanings• skilfully uses uncommon lexical
items but there may be occasional
inaccuracies in word choice andcollocation• produces rare errors in spelling
and/or word formation• uses a wide range of structures• the majority of sentences areerror-free• makes only very occasional
errors or inappropriacies

7• addresses all parts of the task
• presents a clear position
throughout the response• presents, extends and supports
main ideas, but there may be atendency to over-generalise and/or
supporting ideas may lack focus• logically organises informationand ideas; there is clear
progression throughout• uses a range of cohesive devices
appropriately although there may
be some under-/over-use• presents a clear central topic
within each paragraph• uses a sufficient range ofvocabulary to allow someflexibility and precision• uses less common lexical itemswith some awareness of styleand collocation• may produce occasional errors
in word choice, spelling and/or
word formation• uses a variety of complex
structures• produces frequent error-free
sentences• has good control of grammar
and punctuation but may makea few errors

6• addresses all parts of the task
although some parts may be
more fully covered than others• presents a relevant position
although the conclusions may
become unclear or repetitive• presents relevant main ideas
but some may be inadequately
developed/unclear• arranges information andideas coherently and there
is a clear overall progression• uses cohesive devices effectively,
but cohesion within and/or
between sentences may be
faulty or mechanical• may not always use referencing
clearly or appropriately• uses paragraphing, but notalways logically• uses an adequate range ofvocabulary for the task
• attempts to use less common
vocabulary but with someinaccuracy• makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not
impede communication• uses a mix of simple and complex
sentence forms• makes some errors in grammar
and punctuation but they rarely
reduce communication

5• addresses the task only partially;
the format may be inappropriate
in places• expresses a position but thedevelopment is not always
clear and there may be no
conclusions drawn• presents some main ideas
but these are limited and not
sufficiently developed; there
may be irrelevant detail• presents information with someorganisation but there may be
a lack of overall progression• makes inadequate, inaccurate
or over-use of cohesive devices• may be repetitive because of lackof referencing and substitution• may not write in paragraphs, orparagraphing may be inadequate• uses a limited range of vocabulary,
but this is minimally adequate forthe task• may make noticeable errors inspelling and/or word formationthat may cause some difficulty
for the reader• uses only a limited range ofstructures• attempts complex sentences but
these tend to be less accurate
than simple sentences• may make frequent grammaticalerrors and punctuation may be
faulty; errors can cause difficulty
for the reader

4• responds to the task only ina minimal way or the answer
is tangential; the format may
be inappropriate• presents a position but thisis unclear• presents some main ideas but
these are difficult to identify andmay be repetitive, irrelevant or
not well supported• presents information and ideas
but these are not arranged
coherently and there is no clear
progression in the response• uses some basic cohesive
devices but these may beinaccurate or repetitive• may not write in paragraphs
or their use may be confusing• uses only basic vocabulary which
may be used repetitively or which
may be inappropriate for the task
• has limited control of word
formation and/or spelling; errors
may cause strain for the reader• uses only a very limited rangeof structures with only rare useof subordinate clauses• some structures are accurate
but errors predominate, andpunctuation is often faulty

3• does not adequately address
any part of the task
• does not express a clear position• presents few ideas, which arelargely undeveloped or irrelevant• does not organise ideas logically• may use a very limited range ofcohesive devices, and those used
may not indicate a logicalrelationship between ideas• uses only a very limited range ofwords and expressions with very
limited control of word formation
and/or spelling• errors may severely distort
the message• attempts sentence forms
but errors in grammar andpunctuation predominate
and distort the meaning

2• barely responds to the task
• does not express a position• may attempt to present one or two
ideas but there is no development• has very little control oforganisational features• uses an extremely limited range ofvocabulary; essentially no control
of word formation and/or spelling• cannot use sentence forms except
in memorised phrases

1• answer is completely unrelated
to the task

• fails to communicate any message• can only use a few isolated words• cannot use sentence forms at all0• does not attend• does not attempt the task
in any way• writes a totally memorised
response

BandNotes

Notes

29

30

IELTS Preparation Guide

Notes

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