IELTS Academic Writing Syllabus

Give examples of location language used in map descriptions.

Compass points: 'in the north/south-east of the town', 'to the west of the river'; plus 'adjacent to', 'opposite', 'on the outskirts', 'in the centre', 'alongside'.

What kind of statement makes a good overview for a map comparison task?

A general statement of the overall transformation, e.g., 'Overall, the town became significantly more urbanized, with green spaces replaced by residential and commercial developments' — without listing individual changes.

What is paraphrasing in a Task 1 introduction, and why must you do it?

Rewriting the question statement in your own words (same meaning, different wording). Copying the prompt word-for-word is not counted toward your word count and lowers your Lexical Resource score.

Name three techniques for paraphrasing the Task 1 question statement.

1) Synonym substitution (shows → illustrates, proportion → percentage); 2) changing word forms (consumption → the amount consumed); 3) changing sentence structure or word order (e.g., active to passive).

How long should a Task 1 introduction be and what must it avoid?

One to two sentences that paraphrase what the visual shows, the place, and the time period; it must avoid specific data, opinions, and copied wording from the prompt.

What is an 'overview' in Task 1 and why is it critical?

One or two sentences summarizing the main trends or most striking general features without specific figures. A clear overview is required to score Band 7 or above for Task Achievement.

What word conventionally signals the overview in a Task 1 answer, and should the overview contain data?

Begin with 'Overall,'. It should contain no specific numbers or details — only the biggest general patterns (e.g., which category was highest, the dominant trend).

What are 'key features' in Task 1, and give four examples of what to select.

The most significant, noteworthy aspects of the data: the highest and lowest values, the largest changes, overall trends, turning points, and striking exceptions or anomalies.

How should you group information into body paragraphs in a Task 1 report?

Group data logically — e.g., rising categories vs falling categories, or one time period/chart per paragraph — typically producing two body paragraphs after the introduction and overview.

Give adverbs describing large, moderate, and small degrees of change in data description.

Large: dramatically, sharply, significantly, considerably. Moderate: steadily, gradually, moderately. Small: slightly, marginally, modestly.

Contrast the verb+adverb and adjective+noun structures for describing a trend, with an example.

Verb form: 'Sales increased sharply between 2000 and 2005.' Noun form: 'There was a sharp increase in sales between 2000 and 2005.' Both mean the same; varying them shows grammatical range.

What language is used to make multiplicative comparisons in Task 1?

'Twice as high as', 'three times as many as', 'doubled/tripled', 'half the amount of' — e.g., 'Car ownership in 2010 was three times as high as in 1990.'

Give approximation expressions for describing figures that are not exact.

'Approximately', 'roughly', 'around', 'just under', 'just over', 'nearly', 'well over' — e.g., 'just under $50\%$' for $48\%$ (i.e., $\approx 50\%$).

Name the five main IELTS Task 2 essay question types.

1) Opinion (agree/disagree); 2) Discussion (discuss both views and give your opinion); 3) Advantages and disadvantages; 4) Problem/cause and solution; 5) Two-part (double) question.

How does an opinion essay differ from a discussion essay in what you must do?

An opinion essay asks for and argues your own view throughout ('To what extent do you agree?'), while a discussion essay requires you to present both sides ('Discuss both views') and usually also state your own opinion.

What must you do in a 'double question' (two-part) Task 2 essay?

Answer both questions fully — typically one body paragraph per question — because ignoring either part severely limits your Task Response score.

When analyzing a Task 2 question, what two elements should you identify before writing?

The topic words (the subject matter, e.g., 'online education') and the instruction/task words (what you must do, e.g., 'discuss both views and give your opinion'), plus any limiting words that narrow the scope.

What happens to your Task Response score if you answer only part of the question or drift off topic?

It is capped low (typically Band 5 or below for that criterion), because Task Response requires addressing all parts of the task with a clear, relevant, consistently maintained position.

For an agree/disagree essay, where and how should your position appear?

State your position clearly in the introduction (thesis), maintain the same position consistently in every body paragraph, and restate it in the conclusion — never leave the reader guessing.

How much time should you spend planning a Task 2 essay, and what should the plan include?

About 5 minutes: decide your position, choose 2–3 main ideas (one per body paragraph), and note a supporting explanation or example for each before you start writing.

Name two brainstorming techniques for generating Task 2 ideas, and the rule for selecting ideas.

Listing (e.g., pros vs cons columns) and mind-mapping around the topic. Select the few ideas you can best explain and support — depth of development beats number of ideas.

What are the two essential components of a Task 2 introduction?

1) A paraphrase of the essay question (background statement); 2) a thesis statement giving your position or outlining how you will answer. Optionally a brief outline sentence.

What is a thesis statement and where does it go?

A sentence, usually the last in the introduction, that directly states your answer/position on the question (e.g., 'This essay argues that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks') and controls the whole essay.

What is a topic sentence and what is its function in a body paragraph?

Usually the first sentence of a body paragraph; it states the paragraph's single main idea and links it back to the thesis, telling the reader exactly what the paragraph will argue.

What is the recommended internal structure of a Task 2 body paragraph?

Topic sentence → explanation of the idea → specific example or evidence → (optional) link back to the question. Each paragraph should develop one central idea only.

What does the PEEL method stand for in paragraph development?

Point (topic sentence), Explain (develop the reasoning), Example (support with a specific case), Link (connect back to the thesis or question).

How can you support an argument in Task 2 if you don't know real statistics or studies?

Use logical explanation, plausible hypothetical examples, or general real-world observations (e.g., 'in many large cities...'). Ideas are not fact-checked, but they must be relevant, developed, and believable — never invent fake precise statistics unnecessarily.

What should a Task 2 conclusion contain, and what must it never do?

It should restate your position and briefly summarize the main arguments in fresh words, typically starting 'In conclusion,'. It must never introduce new ideas, new examples, or a changed opinion.

Does Task 1 require a conclusion like Task 2 does?

No. Task 1 needs an overview (which may appear after the introduction or at the end) summarizing main features, not a concluding opinion; Task 2 requires a formal conclusion restating your position.

What penalties or risks apply to memorized answers and informal language in IELTS Writing?

Memorized or formulaic responses are penalized under Task Response, and informal features (contractions like 'don't', slang, addressing the reader as 'you') lower the score — both tasks require a formal, academic register.