IELTS Academic Writing Tasks Comparison

Comparing IELTS Academic Writing Part One and Two tasks

What things can be the same between your IELTS Academic Writing Part One answers
and your IELTS Academic Writing Part Two answers? What things must be different?

What things should you never do in your answers to either Part One or Part Two tasks?

Write “1”, “2 or “1/2” next to the things below the fold depending on which part or parts
each one is useful for. Put “X” for anything you should never do in either part. You can also
use “?” for things which are not necessary but might be okay.
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1 Underline important words in the instructions
2 Underline important words in the question
3 Brainstorm
4 Three or four minutes for planning
5 Six or seven minutes for planning
6 Two main paragraphs (in the body)
7 Three main paragraphs
8 Try to think of a clever way of splitting it into paragraphs
9 One-sentence introduction
10 Two-sentence introduction
11 Three-sentence introduction
12 Rephrase the question in the first sentence of the introduction
13 Explain the structure of the essay in the last sentence of the introduction
14 Explain the relevance/ importance of the topic in the introduction
15 Start the main paragraphs with “First…” and “Second…”
16 Compare and contrast
17 Use “On the other hand” to contrast
18 Speculate
19 Give your own opinion
20 Support your opinions in different ways
21 Use your own experience
22 Use your own knowledge
23 Use “I”
24 At least 250 words
25 At least 150 words
26 Final summary
27 Final conclusion
28 Count every word to make sure you are over the word limit
29 Use an eraser every time you edit
30 Also add higher level/ more impressive language when you edit
31 Much more important for people looking for a high mark such as IELTS 7.5

Compare different IELTS Academic Writing Part One tasks in the same way.

Do the same thing for different kinds of IELTS Academic Writing Part Two.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2014

Suggested answers

1 Underline important words in the instructions – 1/ 2
2 Underline important words in the question – 1/ 2
3 Brainstorm – 2?
4 Three or four minutes for planning – 2?
5 Five or six minutes for planning – X
6 Two main paragraphs – 1/ 2?
7 Three main paragraphs – 2?
8 Try to think of a clever way of splitting it into paragraphs – X
9 One-sentence introduction – X
10 Two-sentence introduction – 1/ 2
11 Three-sentence introduction – 2
12 Rephrase the question in the first sentence of the introduction – 1/ 2
13 Explain the structure of the essay in the last sentence of the introduction – 1/ 2
14 Explain the relevance/ importance of the topic in the introduction – 2
15 Start the main paragraphs with “First…” and “Second…” – X
16 Compare and contrast – 1/ 2?
17 Use “On the other hand” to contrast – 2?
18 Speculate – 2
19 Give your own opinion – 2
20 Support your opinions in different ways – 2
21 Use your own experience – 2
22 Use your own knowledge – 2
23 Use “I” – 1?/ 2
24 At least 250 words – 2
25 At least 150 words – 1
26 Final summary – 2?
27 Final conclusion – 2?
28 Count every word to make sure you are over the word limit – X
29 Use an eraser every time you edit – X
30 Also add higher level/ more impressive language when you edit – 1/ 2
31 Much more important for people looking for a high mark such as IELTS 7.5 – 2

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2014