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So many students lose a lot of marks because they don’t know or forget to do the basic things that examiners want to see in your writing for a band 7 or even 6.
In this article, I’m going to share with you a tip that can help you remember easily, and therefore save you a whole band score.
You can see how it works out in all my sample answers here.
If you want to both improve your English and feel comfortable, I now offer online lessons complete with feedback, videos, workbooks and more – you can learn more here!
The Basics for a Band 7
According to examiners I know, so many students lose marks for their Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion because they don’t do the basic things that are needed for a band 6 or 7. This includes things like:
clear introduction
clear conclusion
clear overall opinion
main ideas supported well
one main idea per body paragraph.
Don’t know how? Let us help
If you’re not sure how to write a band 7+ introduction or conclusion, please check out the other blog posts in our Task 2 Writing section.
Once you know clearly what you need to do to make the examiner super happy, then of course the next step is to spend weeks, even months practising so you can do it for any topic or question type.
Don’t forget in your exam!
But then, there is one last challenge – remembering to do it in the exam.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that based on the examiners I talk to, more than half of IELTS students fail to do these basic things in the exam.
So why do many students fall at this hurdle? Is it a lack of practice or could it be nerves?
Whatever the reason, all of that study and practice will go to waste if you don’t remember to do it in the exam.
Write a Mini Checklist!
The solution is to write a quick checklist to remind you of all this basic stuff. So as soon as you open your question paper, quickly write down the following notes:
POS 2-2 OWE
And this is code for…
Your introduction – POS:
Paraphrase the question, give your opinion, and then signpost to the examiner what you will do in the essay.
Your Body paragraphs – 2-2:
2 main ideas for 2 body paragraphs – one main idea per body paragraph, supported with relevant explanation and examples.
Your conclusion – OWE:
Restate your opinion, say why Reasons, then finish with a related extra thought or idea.
Customise it!
You could add to it or even come up with your own version.
Whatever you do, just make sure you find a way of remembering to do the basic things that will help you to get a band 7 for your Task Achievement and Coherence and Cohesion.
Now it’s Your Turn! Comment below!
Which of these basic things do you forget to do?
Try this out and comment below how it went.
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Salut!
What do you think about omit personal pronouns when it comes to giving our opinion in the introduction. Do you as ex-examiner suggest or discourage the use of: This essay will discuss both point of views and will come up with a reasonable conclusion; this essay believes that…; this essay will …., ?
Please, enlighten us with your wisdom..
Merci!
Personal pronouns for your opinion are 100% fine. You shouldn’t use them throughout your writing but a couple of times is no problem – I often do it in my sample answers. There’s no difference in terms of marking ‘This essay will discuss both point of views and will come up with a reasonable conclusion; this essay believes that…; this essay will’ and ‘I will/I believe.’ Those phrases have some better vocabulary but they are memorised phrases so they won’t have a massive impact anyway. Is that clear?
Yes, Sir. I was confused as I’ve spent some time reading band 9 essays, and many of them answer the questions stating: this essay believes that… and the like.
Merci!
Yes, that is a very formal way to start an essay, it is not necessary. You can also say ‘In my opinion’ or ‘I believe.’ You shouldn’t use ‘I’ throughout but a couple times is normal. I tend to use ‘I’ instead of ‘This essay…’ because I think the latter is too formal and pretentious- neither will hurt your score!
Does that answer your question?
Sir, how to join and pay? on how much essays per month you give your feedback by evaluating. My writing is very poor. i need 7 band.
Thank You
For $14.99 a month you study video lessons, workbooks, review and supplemental materials. I evaluate 1 writing or speaking a month but if you want more corrections I can do those as well: course.howtodoielts.com/online-course
What do you mean by 4 in body paragraph code?
It just means 2 for 2 – as in two main ideas for two paragraphs. Would it be easier to remember if I changed it to 2 for 2?
I think is better to put just 2-2
Thanks for the feedback!
Hi Sir, for an opinion essay if I write: ” In my opinion, I believe that …… and in this essay, I will support my view with valid arguments and examples” will this statement negatively affect my score?