E2 IELTS Writing | How to score 8+ in Writing Task 2 with Jay!

Summary

In this informative session, IELTS expert Jay shares essential strategies to achieve a high score in Writing Task 2. Drawing from his personal experiences, he emphasizes the critical importance of using a variety of sentence structures, particularly complex sentences with subordinate clauses, to boost grammatical range and accuracy. Jay explains different sentence types—simple, compound, complex, passive, question, and conditional—while stressing that variety is more important than strict accuracy. He encourages practice and offers resources from E2Language to help students enhance their writing skills and prepare effectively for the IELTS.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding the IELTS writing scoring criteria is crucial for achieving a high band score.
• 😀 A balance of grammatical range and accuracy is necessary; relying solely on simple sentences can limit your score.
• 😀 To score 8 or higher, you need to demonstrate a variety of sentence types in your writing.
• 😀 Complex sentences, especially those containing subordinate clauses, are essential for boosting your grammar score.
• 😀 Incorporate a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences to create a more sophisticated writing style.
• 😀 Examiners reward a range of grammatical structures, so practicing different types is vital.
• 😀 Using at least five complex sentences in your essay can significantly enhance your score.
• 😀 Passive sentences and questions can add variety to your writing, improving your overall presentation.
• 😀 Attempting complex sentences, even with lower accuracy, is better than avoiding them altogether.
• 😀 Prioritize sentence variety over strict grammatical accuracy to maximize your writing band score.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the presentation by Jay?

The main focus is on tips for scoring an eight plus in IELTS Writing Task 2, particularly emphasizing the importance of grammatical range and accuracy.

Why did Jay struggle with writing scores in his IELTS attempts?

Jay struggled because he was stuck at a 7.5 due to limited use of complex sentences, despite achieving higher scores in reading, listening, and speaking.

What are the two key components that affect the grammar score in IELTS writing?

The two key components are grammatical range and grammatical accuracy.

What does 'grammatical range' refer to in the context of IELTS writing?

Grammatical range refers to the variety of sentence types used in writing, which is essential for achieving a higher score.

What happens if a writer only uses simple or compound sentences in their essay?

If only simple or compound sentences are used, the maximum grammar score achievable is a four, regardless of accuracy.

How can writers increase their grammar score according to Jay?

Writers can increase their grammar score by incorporating a wide variety of sentence types, especially complex sentences.

What is a complex sentence, and why is it important for IELTS writing?

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause, and it is important for demonstrating grammatical range.

What types of sentences does Jay suggest including in IELTS essays?

Jay suggests including simple, compound, complex, passive, question, and conditional sentences.

What should candidates prioritize on test day regarding sentence structure?

Candidates should prioritize using a variety of sentence types over achieving perfect accuracy in order to boost their scores.

What resources does E2Language offer for IELTS preparation?

E2Language offers free sign-up, one-on-one tutorials, writing feedback, practice questions, and comprehensive course materials for IELTS preparation.