How to approach IELTS writing

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Here is my advice for IELTS writing, task 2. The advice is simple: Don’t write. Yes, you read that last part correctly. Don’t write.

In everyday life, the writing you do is confined to the demands of your job. You may write emails informing clients about new products. You may write a report updating your manager on a project. But, I doubt you write about the need for the government to fund artists. I doubt you write on how effective language translation technology is.

By the way, those last two topics could be in your IELTS exam. So, let’s transport ourselves to test day. Sitting in a hall with paper and pencil, you have to write intelligently about a topic that you have never considered before. The clock is ticking. What do you do? Tik-tok-tik-tok. You put pencil to paper. You may have some learnt some tips a few days ago. Tips about the need for paragraphs. Tips about the types of adverbs you should use (e.g. nevertheless or however). In fact, you may be overflowing with tips and tricks told to you by YouTube videos, trainers, and previous IELTS candidates.

In this post we will focus on how to approach the task of writing. Let’s start the journey on the right foot. Let’s leave the stress-inducing exam hall behind, and enter the safety of your home. We’ll go step by step. Ready?

Step one: Read the prompt. Have you read the prompt correctly? You may think you have. But, have you really? Many candidates believe they are answering the prompt, when in reality, they are answering a prompt that wasn’t even asked! So, read the prompt atleast twice. Make sure you understand it. Underline important words. Underline. Underline. Underline. Don’t be lazy.

Step two: Don’t write. Activate your grey cells. Let’s take the example of this prompt – Some people think that it is necassary for the government to fund the arts. What are your views? What do you feel about funding the arts? Don’t say what you think other people want to hear. What is your authentic reaction?

Step three: Don’t write. Speak. (Remember, you are home, safe and sound.) Let’s say you are in favour of government funding. Now, state your argument for it. You may have this thought: funding the arts helps to promote the culture of a country. Okay, that’s a good start. Now, ask yourself, why is that important? You could say: in today’s globalized world, local culture is being marginalised by western culture. Hmm… Good point. But what is so important about local culture? Why save it? And then a brilliant thought flashes through your alert mind — culture is the identity of a country. It is what makes a place unique, special.

Step four: Don’t write. Find other reasons to support your view. Does culture attract tourists? Why? Will that lead to higher employment? How so? Will there be an increase in tax revenue for the government? How would that happen? Can you cite a real world example? For instance, is there a region you know that has benefited from tourism?

Step four: Don’t write. Collected your thoughts. Say them out loud. Record yourself on your cellphone. How does it sound? Is there a logical flow? Does each sentence build on the previous one?

I am currently reading a book, On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. Zinsser’s advice for good writing is — think in paragraphs. That is fabulous advice! Don’t think in terms of sentences. Go for the big picture. See all the jigsaw pieces snugly fitting together, completing the puzzle.

Step five: Don’t write. Refine your arguments. Is everything you say aligned to the prompt? Are you focused like a laser? Ask questions such as:

What is the central idea for the first paragrah? How about for the second one? Third one? Dig deeper into a paragraph. Is this the best supporting argument I can come with? Is this the most relevant example I can think of?

Do you have a friend who is preparing for IETLS? Do you know someone who is good at writing or speaking? If yes, ask them to listen to your response. Ask for advice on how to improve your answer. They may come up with interesting insights.

Step six: It’s now time to write. Write words; write sentences; write paragraphs. There is a lot to keep in mind when writing. You must focus on grammatical accuracy. Make sure there is variety in the words you use. There are many, many steps hidden in this sixth step. There is not enough space in this post to cover them. We will touch on them in later posts.

To conclude, when you are face to face with a prompt, don’t immediately start filling a page. Mull over the prompt. Once you have some thoughts in your mind: speak. Record your ‘speech’. Listen, critically, to what you have said. This will clarify your thinking. It will help you organise your essay – paragraph by paragraph. Only after you are confident that you have a good essay in your mind: write.

If you sincerely practice these steps for three or four prompts, you will see an improvement in the content and structure of your essays. And you will agree with me when I say that the act of writing is much more than putting words on a page.