IELTS Tips: Writing High-Scoring Essays – Part 2

Today we’ll look at the next 5 steps on how to improve your essay writing skills for the IELTS test.

This article was first published on IELTS.IDP.com

Step 6: Plan how you will connect your ideas

Connecting your ideas clearly and correctly is critical to achieving a high essay score. Try to use a range of linking words to make your essay easy to read. You can use connecting devices and phrases to:

List connected ideas:

  • ‘Firstly, secondly, thirdly’

  • ‘Furthermore’

Provide more information:

  • ‘Also’

  • ‘Furthermore’

Compare ideas:

  • ‘On the other hand’

  • ‘Alternatively’

  • ‘However’

*Don’t fall into the trap of trying to put a linking word in every sentence. Essays will score higher when the writer uses linking words only where necessary and appropriate.

 

Step 7: Write your first draft

Now that you’ve planned your essay, it’s time to write your first draft. Follow the outline you’ve created and expand on the notes and ideas you included there.

  • Avoid informal language unless it is appropriate.

  • Avoid spelling and grammatical errors where possible.

  • Use a mix of sentence structures such as simple sentences, complex sentences and compound sentences.

Step 8: Proofread your essay

When you have completed the first draft of your essay, it’s important to proofread it. Read your essay from start to finish.

You can read it silently, but it may help to read it out loud if you can do so without disturbing others. Make a mental note or mark your paper anywhere that you may need to fix an issue.

 

Step 9: Edit your essay

Carefully go through the issues you noted while proofreading. Edit or rewrite these until they look and sound correct. Examples of issues and how to edit them may include:

  • The sentence is too long. A sentence is probably too long if you need to take a breath in the middle of reading it. Try splitting this up into smaller sentences.

  • A sentence sounds strange when you read it out loud. Try using different words or punctuation until it sounds right. It may need to be connected to another sentence.

  • The same word appears many times. Think about any other words you could use instead.

  • There is more than one main idea in each paragraph. Move any unrelated sentences to the correct paragraph. Each paragraph should address one issue only.

 

Step 10: Proofread your essay again

After your edits and before submitting your essay, give it one final proofread. Make sure you have:

  • Included all the points you highlighted in step three

  • Followed your outline from step four

  • Used good connecting words from step six

  • Fixed any errors or issues in step nine

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