Common mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic
In academic IELTS writing task 1 you are given information in the form of a table, pie chart, line or bar graph and sometimes a picture of a process. You have to prepare a report analyzing them and make comparisons where required. The word limit for this task is 150 words. You will be allotted 60 minutes to write your answers for TWO tasks in this part of the IELTS exam. Writing Task 2 an essay is longer as you are suppose to write 250 word and there are more points for it. So, you should complete writing task 1 as soon as possible. Anyhow, recommended time to complete this task is 20 minutes. Today, we will discuss some of the most Common mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic that students make.
Avoid these errors!
1. Keep an eye on time!
As I have already told you that you should spend only 20 minutes on the Writing Task 1 it is a very short amount of time to think and pen down your views but you have to do so. Many students take more than
Lots of people take more than 20 minutes for this task as a result the time for writing task 2 get shorter and they wind the second task in a speed. But for this let me remind you again that task 2 has more points available and requires more writing time to write in a structured manner.
Many students don’t know how to write task 1 and get confused and run out of time. So, to complete the task in the given time you should split your 20 minutes into 4 different and distinct sections of 5 minutes each… and stick to this rule!
Section 1 (0 – 5 mins): UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION & INTRODUCTION
First of all, read the question properly and understand the information. Underline the most important information that you think is can be the orbit for your report. Then write a one or possibly two-sentence introduction.
Section 2 (5 – 10 mins): WRITE AN OVERVIEW
Write one short paragraph that gives a summary of the information
Section 3 (10 – 15 mins): REPORT INFROMATION
The 3rd paragraph should report the detailed information that adds to what you said in section 2 above
Section 4 (15 – 20 mins): REPORT MORE INFORMATION & CHECK
The 4th and last paragraph should contain more information from the question that supports the content you have already mentioned before. Then comes the proof reading in which you should read what you wrote and check for obvious mistakes like spelling or grammar that you can correct quickly.
2. DO NOT WRITE IN THE FIRST PERSON
IELTS Writing Task 1 there is no need of your personal opinion. It requires only to report or state details of information that are shown in graph or chart. So there is no need of adding your own comments and views.
So, do NOT write sentences that start like the following:
I think that…
I believe that…
I would suggest…
It’s obvious that…
In my opinion…
3. INTRODUCTION: Do not write out the question again
As per the Cambridge exams, you should repeat the question in your opening… but it does not mean that you should copy the question as in the statement. Paraphrase the question in your own words using synonyms so that the words get changed but the meaning remain the same.
4. TOO MUCH INFORMATION: Do not report everything you see!
In the writing task 1 IELTS there is no need to detail every single information that you see in the picture. You should elaborate only the important facts and selective best information from the picture.
5. TIME!!! Do not take more than 20 minutes
I am repeating this thing again and again that you should keep an eye on time while attempting writing task 1 IELTS. This is the most common mistake that students commit and get less scores as they cannot complete task 2 in a proper manner.
With Best Wishes!
Thank You
