In our last blog post, we talked about what is the IELTS and what makes it different from other English language tests. Now, we’re giving you a deeper overview of the components of the IELTS exam specifically the writing section. 

The International English Language Testing System or better known as IELTS is composed of four writing sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Out of all these sections, writing can be the most challenging for test-takers given the time limit. 

The writing component is composed of two tasks which you are supposed to accomplish for 60 minutes only. In both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training writing exams, the second task would be essay writing. In this task, you will be asked to come up with an argument based on the specified topic. You are only given 40 minutes to write a good argumentative essay and reach the established word count of 250 words for this section. 

Provided these guidelines, we understand how the writing component of the IELTS can be overwhelming for anyone which is why we devised a few tips that can help you write a good argumentative essay and help you ace your IELTS writing exam! 

Start with planning 

We know that given the time limit, answering the test right away would be the usual course of action. However, taking around 2 to 3 minutes to organize your thoughts and plan makes a huge difference. 

After making sure you have completely understood the topic, start making an outline of your arguments. Write down your major points specifically your reasons for choosing that position in the topic (i.e. why do you agree or disagree on parents allowing children to watch television unsupervised, etc.). 

Allotting a couple of minutes for planning will make your writing process go smoothly and because of this, trust us, it will save you a lot of time! 

Establish a good thesis statement/main point

This may sound more complex than it really is. However, a thesis statement would just refer to the main point of your argument. Having a strong main point would help you defend your supporting ideas better. 

Presenting this at the start of your essay would also provide a clear picture of your stance on the topic. It would help your panelist understand the flow of your essay and your arguments. 

One body paragraph is to one supporting idea

In writing an argumentative essay, the usual flow and number of paragraphs would be the introduction (1), body (2-3), and conclusion (1). 

In the introduction, that’s where you’ll introduce your topic and your thesis statement or main point. The conclusion should summarize your arguments and restate why they should believe your stand or position on the topic. The body would then showcase your supporting ideas to your thesis statement or main point. In this, you’ll explain your reasons for choosing your stand. 

Limiting one paragraph to one supporting idea would make your essay readable and concise. 

Present your arguments logically

This is in relation to the previous tip. Presenting your arguments logically is extremely important because ultimately, when someone reads your essay as a whole, everything has to make sense. Hence, making sure that everything in your essay transitions smoothly from one paragraph to another is a must. 

These are just some of the learning hacks that you could use in writing your best argumentative essay. Remember all of these and soon we know you’ll be acing your IELTS test! 

I Speak Better also offers guided lessons to help you prepare for your English language exams including the IELTS. Learn more about our IELTS course here. 

Sources: 

IELTS Writing preparation by the Global IDP IELTS via https://www.ieltsessentials.com/prepare/preparation-course/writing
Argumentative essays by Purdue University via https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html