6 Useful Tips To Improve IELTS Writing Skills
6 Useful Tips To Improve IELTS Writing Skills
6 Useful Tips To Improve IELTS Writing Skills
Once you know the different types of sentences, you should practice using
them. The most difficult one is the compound-complex sentence, but even if
you dont know that, you can still get a good score with a mix of simple,
compound, and complex sentences. The key is varying the length and type of
sentence so it sounds natural. Look at this example:
Students preparing for the IELTS exam always want to study lots of
vocabulary. This is understandable as vocabulary is important for
understanding and making yourself understood. However, knowing a words
meaning is very different from being able to use it. Learn a word in context
and you will be able to apply it more easily. When you are learning vocabulary,
pay attention to what words commonly go together.
Example:
Verb + thought:
Spare a thought
Spare a thought for all those who are homeless on a cold night like this.
Have you given the new proposal any thought yet? Were keen to hear your
thought
Our thoughts go out to all those families who lost relatives in the disaster.
The thought just occurs to me that its mums birthday tomorrow and we
havent got her a card.
freedom of thought
Some places dont encourage freedom of thought.
school of thought
One school of thought contends that modern man originated in Central Africa.
train of thought
Sorry, where was I? Ive lost my train of thought.
You can access more free lessons about topic collocations for IELTS
writing to hike up your score on IELTS Material Website.
Examples:
1. Many IELTS candidates think that achieving Band 8.0 in IELTS is very hard.
==> Use a stronger word: Many IELTS candidates think that achieving Band
8.0 in IELTS is difficult
1. A lot of IELTS learners share their great tips on IELTS writing, speaking on
IELTS Material website.
==> Many/A great number of/ A multitude of IELTS learners
When you write, try to write your ideas in a clear & concise way. There is/there
are is extra words that are not needed. So just leave them out to make your
sentences stronger and straight to the point.
Example:
Its really important that you know the difference between a simple sentence
and a complex sentence. You dont need to know the terminology, but it is
important that you can form full sentences. Knowing the sentence types
means being able to avoid these cardinal sins of writing:
1. sentence fragment
2. run-on sentences
3. comma splices
1. SENTENCE FRAGMENTS:
This is the most common grammar error IELTS students make. A sentence
fragment cannot be a sentence by itself. It does not even have one independent
clause.
1. A subject
2. A verb
3. A complete thought
Sometimes it seems to be a sentence, but if we examine it closely it lacks the
necessary parts and thus cannot stand alone.
Examples:
Corrections:
2. RUN-ON SENTENCES:
A run-on sentence consists of two or more main clauses that are joined
together without proper punctuation (comma, semi-colon, period, etc). We
often speak in run-on sentences but our pauses indicate meaning; however,
when we write we need to use punctuation to break up our sentences and
impart proper meaning.
Comma splices occur when two independent clauses are joined by a comma.
Remember: a comma is not strong enough to join these clauses itself! You
need a conjunctive coordinator to complement it, or else use a semi-colon and
a conjunctive adverb.
Examples:
Corrections:
Van Gogh is a world-famous artist whose paintings can be found in many
museums and art galleries.
Van Gogh is a world-famous artist. His paintings can be found in many
museums and art galleries.
Van Gogh is a world-famous artist; his paintings can be found in many
museums and art galleries.
Allen Ginsberg is a renowned American poet, whose most famous poem is
Howl.
Allen Ginsberg is a renowned American poet. His most famous poem is Howl.
Allen Ginsberg is a renowned American poet; his most famous poem is Howl.
As you can see above, there is more than one way to fix these errors. Make
sure, however, that you use the correct fix according to the sentences precise
meaning.
3. COMMA SPLICES:
Be careful to avoid a comma splice. This is a very comma error wherein two
independent clauses are joined with a comma, like this: