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IELTS General Training Writing Practice Tests

The document summarizes the IELTS General Training Writing test. It consists of two tasks - a 150-word letter for Task 1 and a 250-word essay for Task 2. Task 1 assesses one's ability to engage in personal correspondence, while Task 2 evaluates how well one can formulate and develop a position on a given topic. Both tasks are scored based on criteria like task achievement, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar. The document provides advice on managing time and writing effective responses for the test.

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224 views3 pages

IELTS General Training Writing Practice Tests

The document summarizes the IELTS General Training Writing test. It consists of two tasks - a 150-word letter for Task 1 and a 250-word essay for Task 2. Task 1 assesses one's ability to engage in personal correspondence, while Task 2 evaluates how well one can formulate and develop a position on a given topic. Both tasks are scored based on criteria like task achievement, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar. The document provides advice on managing time and writing effective responses for the test.

Uploaded by

edscott66
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IELTS General Training Writing Practice Tests

The General Training Writing test is 60 minutes long. It has two writing tasks of 150 words and 250
words. In Task 1, candidates are asked to respond to a situation, by writing a letter, for example,
requesting information or explaining a situation. In Task 2, candidates write an essay in response to a
point of view, argument or problem.

Depending on the task suggested, candidates are assessed on their ability to:
 engage in personal correspondence
 elicit and provide general factual information
 express needs, wants, likes and dislikes
 express opinions (views, complaints etc.)

Task 1

Task 1 scripts are assessed on the following criteria:


• Task Achievement
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Task Achievement
This criterion assesses how appropriately, accurately and relevantly the response fulfils the requirements
set out in the task, using the minimum of 150 words. Task 1 is also a writing task with a largely
predictable output in that each task sets out the context and purpose of the letter and the functions the
candidate should cover in order to achieve this purpose.

Coherence and Cohesion


This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response
organises and links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through
logical sequencing. Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example,
logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential
relationships between and within sentences clear.

Lexical Resource
This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy
of that use in terms of the specific task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy


This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate’s grammatical resource as manifested
in the candidate’s writing at sentence level.

Task 2

Task 2 scripts are assessed on the following criteria:


• Task Response
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Task Response
Task 2 requires the candidates to formulate and develop a position in relation to a given prompt in the
form of a question or statement. Ideas should be supported by evidence, and examples may be drawn
from the candidates’ own experience. Responses must be at least 250 words in length. Writing scripts are
marked by trained and certificated IELTS examiners. Scores may be reported as whole bands or half
bands.

Writing test advice

Follow this Writing test advice, and make sure you know how to manage your time.

Write your answers in pen or pencil. You may write entirely in capital letters if you wish. You may make
notes on the question paper, but nothing you write on the question paper will be marked.

Make the most of your Writing test:

 analyse each task properly and spend some time making notes

 highlight or underline key words in the tasks to make sure that you focus on what you have to do

 plan your answers

 use paragraphs clearly; put one idea in each paragraph

 do not repeat ideas using different words

 do not copy whole sentences from the question – you will receive no marks for this

 keep to the topic; do not write about unrelated subjects

 manage your time; remember, Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1

 spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and approximately 40 minutes on Task 2

 pay attention to the number of words required for each task; you will lose marks if you do not
write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2

 learn to recognise how long 150 and 250 words look in your handwriting; you will not have time
to count during the test

 you must write your answers in full; answers written in note form or in bullet points will lose
marks

 pay attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation; you will lose marks for mistakes

 avoid informal language

 do not memorise model answers; examiners are trained to recognise them and your test will be
invalid

 spend several minutes re-reading and correcting your answers

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