【移民升學必睇】IELTS Writing 如何從6分進步到9分？| IELTS 9分 + DSE 7科5**狀元分享 | Melody Tam

Summary

In this video, Melody shares insights on how to improve IELTS Writing, specifically comparing essays that score between 5.5-6 and those that achieve 8.5-9. Using a real example, she highlights common mistakes in lower-scoring essays, such as lack of comparison and disorganized structure. Melody emphasizes the importance of a clear introduction, meaningful comparisons, and varied vocabulary to describe trends. She also advises using an overview instead of a conclusion for Task 1. Viewers can download free notes from her website for further learning and tips.

Takeaways

• 😀 Melody introduces her video discussing how to write higher-scoring IELTS Writing Task 1 essays by showing the differences between lower (5.5-6) and higher (8.5-9) scoring examples.
• 📊 The main issue with lower-scoring essays is a lack of comparison between data points. Instead, each fruit's consumption is described separately, which confuses readers and reduces clarity.
• 📝 High-scoring essays begin with an introduction that paraphrases the task prompt and includes a clear overview, highlighting two main trends before diving into detailed descriptions.
• ❌ Lower-scoring essays often have poor structure, such as directly starting with data without an overview and including unnecessary conclusions that add new information instead of summarizing key points.
• 🔄 It's crucial to compare different data points within the same time frame, not just describe each one separately. This demonstrates comparison skills, which are essential for high scores.
• 📅 Avoid overwhelming readers with too many specific years; instead, focus on significant trends and comparisons over key time periods like the beginning, middle, and end of the data range.
• 🔍 Use varied vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'escalated,' 'increased slightly,' 'tripled,' and 'peaked,' instead of repeatedly using 'increase' and 'decrease.'
• 🎯 A well-organized essay includes an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that discuss comparisons, but it doesn't need a conclusion for IELTS Task 1.
• 📈 The high-scoring example uses connecting words like 'while,' 'by contrast,' and 'during the same period' to make comparisons more explicit and clear.
• 📘 Melody provides additional resources like downloadable notes and courses on synonyms to improve IELTS Writing performance, which are available on her website.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on comparing IELTS Writing Task 1 essays that score between 5.5 to 6 and those that score between 8.5 to 9, illustrating common mistakes in the lower-scoring essay and how to improve writing to achieve higher scores.

What are the key differences between a 5.5-6 score essay and an 8.5-9 score essay in IELTS Writing Task 1?

The lower-scoring essay lacks comparative analysis, has poor structure, and uses repetitive vocabulary like 'increased' and 'decreased.' In contrast, the higher-scoring essay includes an introduction, overview, and meaningful comparisons between data points, and it uses a variety of vocabulary to describe trends.

Why is having a comparison in IELTS Writing Task 1 important?

IELTS Writing Task 1 requires candidates to compare data to demonstrate their ability to analyze and summarize information effectively. Simply describing each category in isolation, as seen in lower-scoring essays, can result in a lack of coherence and organization.

What are some common vocabulary mistakes in a 5.5-6 score essay?

A common mistake is overusing basic terms like 'increase' and 'decrease' without using synonyms or specifying the degree of change. Additionally, failing to use adverbs or more descriptive terms to indicate different levels of change can make the writing seem repetitive and simplistic.

What is the significance of an overview in IELTS Writing Task 1?

An overview is crucial as it summarizes the main trends in the data before delving into specific details. It gives the examiner an understanding of what to expect and contributes to the organization and clarity of the response.

Why is a conclusion not necessary in IELTS Writing Task 1?

A conclusion is unnecessary because an overview serves as a more effective summary of the trends. Writing a conclusion that introduces new data, as seen in lower-scoring essays, can confuse the reader and detract from the structure.

How can using a variety of vocabulary improve your IELTS Writing Task 1 score?

Using a range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'escalated,' 'fluctuated,' 'tripled,' or 'inched downwards,' instead of repeatedly using 'increased' and 'decreased,' enhances the richness and precision of the writing, which can significantly boost the lexical resource score.

What is the recommended strategy for describing trends in IELTS Writing Task 1?

The strategy involves selecting key time points (beginning, middle, and end) and comparing the data across different categories in each period. This allows for a more structured and meaningful comparison of trends, which is essential for higher scores.

What should be avoided when describing data in IELTS Writing Task 1?

Avoid listing isolated data points without making comparisons between them. Also, avoid selecting too many different years, as this can make the writing confusing and disorganized.

How can students improve their ability to write high-scoring IELTS essays?

Students should practice writing essays with a clear introduction, overview, and meaningful comparisons. They should also expand their vocabulary to describe data trends more accurately, and avoid common pitfalls like overusing basic terms or including irrelevant details in conclusions.