Correct Format for the IELTS Essay

by anne
(Philippines)

Do we need to use Paragraphs?

Hi,

I just got my results and am really frustrated with my writing score. I got a 6.5 and need a 7. My other scores were at 8 and 9.

But I did make a big mistake by failing to separate my essay into paragraphs. It was my first time to take the test but I wasn't able to take any review courses, hence the huge mishap.

I'm thinking of requesting for a remark. Do you think I'd have a chance of getting a higher mark given that I only have one paragraph with everything in it?

Or would it be better to just retake the entire exam?

Please help. Thanks!

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May 19, 2016
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Using Paragraphs in the IELTS Essay
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Anne,

Writing in paragraphs is a very important part of your essay, and not doing that can bring your score down quite a bit.

It says this for both a band 4 and 5 for coherence and cohesion in the IELTS public band descriptors:

"may not write in paragraphs"

So you may well have got a band 4 or 5 for this criteria.

So it's very likely that not using paragraphs brought your score down to a 6.5 so there does not seem much point in a remark.

Make sure you learn how to paragraph properly before you take the test again.

Good luck

Dec 31, 2016
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Counting the words
by: megakris

How do you count the words to be sure you write above the number of words required

Jan 01, 2017
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Counting the words in the IELTS essay
by: IELTS buddy

It's best to work out how many you average per line then just count the lines.

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Is it ok to write in all capital letters for IELTS writing task 2?

by Leon
(Sydney)

Is it ok to write in all capital letters? I need to know the answer ASAP. thank you so much.

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Apr 10, 2014
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Writing IELTS essays in capital letters
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

Yes, that is fine, you can write it all in capital letters.

I'm not sure I'd recommend it though as surely it is quicker to write in lower case?

Thanks

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Does an IELTS essay need a title?

by Noor Azad
(Bangladesh)

Is it important to write a title for the IELTS essay, just how normal academic essays have titles?

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Jul 05, 2015
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Title for IELTS essay
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

No, you don't need to put a title for the essay.

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Do we need to leave a space between each paragraph?

by Anupama
(Guntur)

hi ..
i have a doubt ..
today i had my ielts xam ..
i forgot to leave space between each paragraph in writing section ...
will it be penalised...???

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Feb 05, 2014
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Leaving a space between each paragraph
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

No you don't have to so you won't get penalised.

However, it would be a problem if it is not clear that it is a new paragraph, so I would recommend you do leave a space.

If your sentence in the last paragraph goes right to the end of the line and you do not indent the first sentence of the next paragraph, it may not be clear it is a new paragraph.

Leaving a space makes it very clear when one finishes and another begins so it won't confuse anyone.

Thanks

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Are the margin/line space important/compulsory?

by Alamgir
(Bangladesh,Jamalpur)

Are the margin/line space important/compulsory?

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Nov 09, 2015
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Formatting
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

You don't need margins.

You can just write on every line - you don't need to double space.

It may be a good idea to leave a space between each paragraph, just to make sure it is clear that you are starting a new paragraph.

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What is the affect of strike off's in writing and reading part?

by praveen
(hyderabad, india)

what is the affect of strike off's in writing and reading part.

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Jul 05, 2015
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Strike through
by: IELTS buddy

You mean crossed out like this:

~~Crossed out~~

In the writing the examiner would just ignore the word if you crossed it out, so that is fine (but try not to overdo it as your work will look messy).

I'm not sure why you would cross something out in the reading. You mean in the answer key? Again, if you did this then put another word in instead, I assume the one you crossed out would be ignored.

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Can you use capitals all the way through the IELTS writing exam?

by chris
(Bristol)

Hi IELTS forum,

Maybe a Silly question?

Can you use block capitals all the way through your writing exam?

Thanks.

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Feb 25, 2014
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Using capital letter in the IELTS Writing
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Chris,

Yes you can. There is nothing in the marking (see the IELTS pubic band descriptors online) to say you cannot use capitals so you can't get penalised for it.

It tends to take longer to write in capitals though so I'm not sure I would recommend it.

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Can I write a draft of my IELTS essay first?

Dear all,

It is a really stupid question but I don't find any proper answer on the internet.

Do you know if I am allowed to write a draft of my essay and then copy it with good hand writing to the official papers?

Would they provide me some paper sheet for the notes?

Thanks a lot

Cheers

David

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Jun 17, 2014
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draft of my IELTS essay
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

I don't think you are given any note paper - people use the question sheet to make their plan.

But even if you can get note paper, there is no way you would have time to write your essay twice. Most people struggle to write it once!

You only have 40 minutes, and in that time you also need to analyse the question and write a plan. Your time should be spent doing those things - not writing a first draft.

Thanks

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Making a draft of the Writing

by Tikang

Just want to ask if its possible or would we have enough time to make a draft for the writing task 1/2 before writing it down on the answer sheet? thank you.

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Feb 22, 2017
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First draft
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

No you won't have time to do that as you only have 20 minutes for the task 1 and 40 for the task 2.

You should though brainstorm and make a rough plan in the first 5-10 minutes before you write.

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Can we make rough notes?

by conquer ielts
(india)

Are we allowed to make rough notes in main exam

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Apr 07, 2017
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Making notes
by: IELTS buddy

Yes you can but you are not provided paper for it.

You can makes notes though on the question paper.

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Extra paper for writing section

by Moni

Hi there,

Can I use extra sheet of paper in writing section if I need?

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Aug 29, 2015
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Paper in the writing
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Moni,

They will provide you with extra paper if your essay takes up more sheets than what you have.

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Writing on only one side of the paper

by German
(Mexico City)

Writing on just one side of the page.

Hi there

I recently presented the IELTS UKVI and while writing tasks 1 and 2 I failed to realize that at the back of the writing paper I had more space to complete the writing tasks, so that I ended up writing just on one side of both pages.

I complied with the instructions, being careful about grammar, spelling and the logical expression of my ideas through the use of paragraphs, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

Is this somehow going to affect my writing band score?

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May 01, 2016
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by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

That should not affect your score, but I am assuming you are saying that you then asked for extra paper so you ended up with two pages of single sided paper for each task?

If that is the case then the invigilators would just staple them together and the examiner can mark it.

If you did not get an extra paper and you only wrote on one side for each task, it seems that your answers may be too short (unless you have very small writing). If your answer is too short (i.e. not 150 and 250 words for each task) you can be penalised for being under length.

It is possible to write a Task 1 on one side as that is shorter but a Task 2 seems unlikely.

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Extra Writing Sheets

by Brijesh
(Ahmedabad)

Hi,

Can any one tell me that in writing task 2 if I finished my answer sheet will i be able to get extra supplement for writing or will I have to manage with sheet which i am provided with?

Please help it fast as i am going to appear for the exam tomorrow which is on 27 august 2016.

Thanks in adnvance

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Aug 28, 2016
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IELTS Additional Writing Sheets
by: IELTS buddy

You can ask for extra writing paper in the test, that is fine.

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Writing the Task 1 and Task 2 on the wrong answers sheets

by WAJAHAT ALI
(UAE)

IELTS Writing: Writing on the wrong ANSWER SHEET.

Hello, I wrote my exam today on December 10th 2016, at BC.

Exam went well enough. Unfortunately I wrote writing modules on incorrect answer sheets.

I wrote Task 1 on Task 2 answer sheet and Task 2 in Task 1 answer sheet. How will that affect my band or is that ok?

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Dec 11, 2016
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wrong answers sheets
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

You should be ok. Student's occasionally do that so afterwards they rename the sheets and make sure the examiner gets the right one.

Dec 15, 2016
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Wrong answers sheets
by: Wajahat

I was a bit worried. Thank you for your response.

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I left my guideline number

by C-Game

I wrote 5, 10, 15 and 25 to guide me how much I had written on the side of the awnser sheet. Then I forgot to remove it. Will they read these number as part of an essay? Because It will not make any sense.

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Apr 03, 2017
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Writing Counts
by: IELTS buddy

No that won't matter. They will ignore it.

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Crossing out a paragraph

by Natalia
(Toronto )

Hi,

Today I took my academic ielts.

The question was about advantages and disadvantages of hiring elderly people.

I started very well but after I moved to my second body paragraph to talk about disadvantages I realized that I explained the positive aspects of hiring young people.

I crossed that paragraph and rewrote a new body paragraph on disadvantages of hiring older people

Do you lose points for cutting instead of erasing?

I was just running out of time that's why I didn't erase.

🙏🏻 Thanks

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May 02, 2017
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Crossing out a paragraph
by: IELTS buddy

No something like that won't matter.

If you cross something out then the examiner will just ignore it. They won't deduct marks.

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