IELTS Writing : Avoid These 5 Mistakes and Get a Higher Score
Preparing for the IELTS exam requires careful attention to detail, especially in the Writing section. It's common for candidates to make errors that can affect their scores. Let's look at five common mistakes and learn how to avoid them.
Using overly complex grammar and vocabulary:
Many IELTS students think they can increase their writing score by using very complicated sentences or difficult words. But sometimes, these sentences become too hard to understand, or the words are used in the wrong way. If the examiner can’t understand your writing, you will receive a lower score.
Instead of making things too complicated, focus on expressing ideas clearly. Use sentences and words that you know well and can use correctly. It's better to be clear than to confuse the reader with difficult sentences or words used in the wrong way.
2. Repeating the question:
In IELTS Writing, a common mistake is repeating (or recycling) the exact words from the question in the introduction. To improve your score, try using varied words and phrases to display a wider range of vocabulary.
Task 1 example question:
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The charts show the proportion of British students at one university in England who were able to speak other languages in addition to English in 2000 and 2010. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant |
You could write, “The pie charts illustrate the percentage of students at an English university who could speak languages other than English during the years 2000 and 2010.”
show = illustrate
proportion = percentage
British students at one university in England = students at an English university
speak other languages in addition to English = speak languages other than English
Task 2 example question:
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Online education is increasingly prevalent in today's learning landscape. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online education? |
You could write: “Our learning environment has changed and nowadays, it is becoming more and more common to access education through virtual learning. In this essay I will examine the benefits and drawbacks of this development.”
online education = virtual learning
increasingly prevalent = more and more common
today’s = nowadays
landscape = environment
advantages = benefits
disadvantages = drawbacks
3. Overusing the same linking words and phrases:
Linking words and phrases are like puzzle pieces in writing. They connect ideas and help thoughts flow smoothly in a text. They're important for making sure everything fits together well. The mistake students sometimes make is using the same few words to connect their ideas in writing, like "however," "moreover," or "in addition," which can make their writing sound repetitive. Overusing these types of words will lower your score. To avoid this, it's helpful to learn new words that mean the same thing:
However, although, but, in contrast
Moreover, in addition, furthermore
Look at example writing tasks and write down the different linking words and phrases they use. Then practice using a variety of these in your writing.
4. Not supporting your statements or ideas:
When you write, making general statements without giving supporting information is like building a house without strong beams or pillars - it won’t work well. If you don’t give supporting information when you write, your ideas will not be strong enough and this will lower your score.
How can you support your ideas?
For the academic task 1, you need to provide data to support your description. Instead of writing “The number of sales went up”, you should say “The number of sales went up from 200 units to 1000 units”.
For the task 2 essay, each paragraph should have a main idea which is supported with examples and explanations. Try not to say general things without giving specific proof. Let’s look at some examples:
Bad Example - "Pets are nice to have. They make us happy and give us company. Also, they are fun to play with."
This paragraph lacks detail and specific examples. This will get a low score.
Good Example - "Having pets brings joy and companionship into our lives. They provide emotional support and are always there to comfort us. For instance, when we feel lonely, a pet's presence can instantly uplift our mood. Moreover, pets encourage physical activity through play and exercise, contributing to our overall well-being. Their loyalty and unconditional love create strong bonds that enrich our lives in meaningful ways."
This improved paragraph offers specific details and examples to support its points. This will get a higher score.
5. Not proofreading or editing:
Some feel that it is a waste of time to proofread their writing but it is very important that you do. The examiner is looking at your vocabulary and grammar and if you have a lot of errors, it will negatively impact your score, especially if it makes it difficult for the examiner to understand.
Give yourself a few minutes at the end of the task to check your writing for mistakes and fix them. Check for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. By fixing your mistakes you might just improve your score!
So what have we learned? Well, to avoid these common mistakes and significantly improve your performance in the IELTS Writing test, you need to
- Avoid using grammar and vocabulary that you don’t know how to use correctly
- Paraphrase your introduction
- Learn and use a variety of linking words and phrases
- Support your task 1 statements with specific data, and your task 2 ideas with specific examples and explanations
- Take the time to check your writing for mistakes and fix them
Remember, practice is key. Regularly practicing writing tasks, getting feedback, and learning from mistakes will strengthen your writing skills and boost your confidence for the IELTS exam.
