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A CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

IELTS Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) is the second part of the writing test and assesses your ability to develop and express ideas in a formal essay format although it is recommended that you should begin with Task 2 and then do Task 2 on the test day. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

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Task format:

• You'll be given a prompt that asks you to discuss an opinion, problem, or argument.

• The prompt could be phrased in various ways, but it will always ask you to take a stance and support it with reasons and examples.

• You're expected to write a minimum of 250 words, and ideally you should aim for around 40 minutes to complete the essay.

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Marking criteria:

• Your essay will be marked on four main criteria:

  • Task Achievement (25%): How well you addressed the prompt and developed a clear and coherent essay.

  • Coherence and Cohesion (25%): How well your ideas flow logically and are connected throughout the essay.

  • Lexical Resource (25%): The variety and accuracy of your vocabulary used.

  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%): The complexity and correctness of your sentence structures and grammar.

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Tips for success:

• Plan your essay: Briefly brainstorm your ideas and arguments before you start writing.

• Structure your essay: Use a clear introduction, body paragraphs with topic sentences, and a conclusion that summarizes your main points.

• Support your arguments: Use examples, statistics, or facts to back up your claims.

• Use formal language: Avoid slang, contractions, and informal expressions.

• Proofread carefully: Check for grammatical errors, typos, and spelling mistakes.

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Click here for the IELTS Essay Summary Sheets.