IELTS Writing: Using the Official Answer Sheet

Summary

This lesson introduces the official IELTS writing paper, emphasizing its importance for practice due to its word count specifications. It advises students to download the paper to familiarize themselves with the layout, ensuring they meet the minimum word requirements for Writing Task 1 (150 words) and Task 2 (250 words). The instructor also highlights the need for clear handwriting, as legibility affects scoring. The video guides on filling out the paper, including candidate details, test type (academic or general), and the examiner's assessment criteria. Memorized responses are discouraged, and the examiner's evaluation process is outlined, including checks for word count, topic relevance, and handwriting clarity.

Takeaways

• 📝 Practice writing with the official IELTS paper to familiarize yourself with the word count and layout.
• 🔢 For Writing Task 1, aim for a minimum of 150 words, and for Writing Task 2, at least 250 words to meet the word count requirement.
• ⏳ Use the paper to practice timing and ensure you do not spend time counting words during the actual test.
• 📑 Download the official writing paper to practice writing, as it will help you gauge the space needed for your words per line.
• ✍️ Handwriting practice is crucial, especially for those used to typing, to ensure legibility and clear presentation on the exam.
• 📏 Keep your handwriting within the lines and maintain clarity to avoid penalization for illegibility.
• 📋 At the top of the answer sheet, fill in your candidate name, number, and the test date as provided at the test center.
• 📍 Choose between the Academic or General IELTS test by ticking the appropriate box on the paper.
• 📝 Examiners will provide comments and your band score at the bottom of the paper, assessing Task Achievement, Coherence, Lexical Resource, and Grammar.
• ⚠️ Examiners check for under-length writing, off-topic content, memorized answers, and legible handwriting.
• 🔗 Download the official IELTS writing paper and access additional IELTS lessons through the provided links for more practice and guidance.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of practicing with the official IELTS writing paper?

The main purpose is to familiarize with the paper's layout, manage the word count effectively, and ensure that handwriting is clear and easy to read during the actual test.

How many words should be written for Writing Task 1 in the IELTS test?

You need to write at least 150 words for Writing Task 1, but should not exceed this limit.

Why is it important to know the size of the writing paper and how many words fit on each line?

Knowing the size of the paper and the number of words per line helps you estimate the word count without having to count manually, saving time and reducing anxiety during the exam.

What is the consequence of handwriting that is not clear or easy to read in the IELTS test?

If the examiner cannot read the handwriting, it can lead to a lower band score as clarity and readability are important for assessment.

What are the two types of IELTS writing tests mentioned in the script?

The two types are the Academic writing paper and the General writing paper.

What information needs to be filled in at the top of the answer sheet before starting the test?

Candidate name, candidate number, and the date of the test need to be filled in at the top of the answer sheet.

What are the four criteria that the examiner uses to assess the writing tasks in the IELTS test?

The four criteria are Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammar.

What does the examiner check for in terms of word count during the IELTS writing test?

The examiner checks if the candidate has written the required minimum word count for each task and notes if there is an under-length issue.

What is considered a penalty or punishment in the IELTS writing test for not meeting the word count requirement?

Writing fewer than the required words for a task can result in a lower band score as it does not meet the assessment criteria.

Why should memorized answers or language be avoided in the IELTS writing test?

Memorized content can be detected by the examiner and may result in a lower band score as it does not reflect the candidate's actual writing ability.

Where can one find more IELTS lessons similar to the one described in the script?

More IELTS lessons can be found by following the link provided at the end of the script.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Official IELTS Writing Paper Practice

This paragraph introduces the importance of practicing with the official IELTS writing paper for both Writing Task 1 and Task 2. The focus is on understanding the word count requirements, which are 150 words minimum for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of familiarizing oneself with the paper's dimensions to estimate word count without counting, which saves time during the test. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the need to practice handwriting clarity to ensure the examiner can read the response, as poor handwriting can affect the band score. The speaker also explains how to fill in the writing paper, including the candidate's details and the type of IELTS test (Academic or General), and mentions the examiner's criteria for scoring: task achievement, coherence, lexical resource, and grammar.

05:01

✍️ Examiner's Evaluation Criteria and Handwriting Clarity

The second paragraph delves into the specific criteria that examiners use to evaluate IELTS writing tasks. It discusses the penalties for not meeting the minimum word count and the importance of staying on topic to avoid penalization. The paragraph warns against using memorized answers, as examiners are trained to identify them. Handwriting clarity is again highlighted, with a note that illegible handwriting can lead to a lower band score. The speaker encourages downloading the official writing paper for practice and provides a link for further IELTS lessons, including guidance on Writing Task 1 and Task 2. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to join future IELTS lessons.

Keywords

💡IELTS test

The IELTS test, which stands for International English Language Testing System, is a globally recognized examination that assesses the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. In the video, the IELTS test is the context in which the official writing paper is discussed, emphasizing its importance for both the academic and general training modules.

💡Writing Task 1

Writing Task 1 is the first part of the IELTS writing section where test takers are required to describe, summarize, or explain data, trends, or processes in a visual format such as a graph, table, or diagram. The video script mentions the need to practice writing for this task using the official paper to ensure the correct word count and format.

💡Writing Task 2

Writing Task 2 is the second part of the IELTS writing module, where candidates are expected to write an essay in response to a given opinion, argument, or problem. The video emphasizes the importance of practicing essay writing on the official paper to familiarize oneself with the exam conditions and requirements.

💡Word count

The term 'word count' refers to the total number of words in a piece of writing. In the context of the IELTS writing tasks, adhering to the word count is crucial; for Task 1, candidates must write at least 150 words. The video script explains that practicing with the official paper helps candidates gauge their writing density and ensure they meet the minimum word requirement.

💡Handwriting

Handwriting is the act of writing by hand, as opposed to typing. The video script points out that many students are accustomed to typing, but for the IELTS test, they must write by hand. Therefore, practicing clear and legible handwriting on the official paper is essential to ensure the examiner can read the response.

💡Band score

A band score in IELTS is a measure of a candidate's performance in each module of the test, with each module scored on a scale from 1 to 9. The video script explains that the examiner will assign a band score for each of the four criteria in the writing tasks and provide an overall band score for the writing test.

💡Task achievement

Task achievement, also known as task response, is one of the four assessment criteria for IELTS writing tasks. It evaluates how well the candidate addresses all parts of the task and how fully the response answers the question. The video script mentions this criterion as part of the scoring process.

💡Coherence and cohesion

Coherence and cohesion are terms used to describe the logical flow and organization of ideas in writing. In the context of the IELTS writing test, these criteria assess the clarity and connectedness of the candidate's argument or description. The video script includes this as one of the four criteria on which the examiner will score the writing.

💡Lexical resource

Lexical resource refers to the range and accuracy of vocabulary used in writing. For the IELTS writing tasks, a rich and appropriate use of vocabulary is essential for a high score. The video script highlights lexical resource as one of the criteria that the examiner will evaluate.

💡Grammar

Grammar is the set of structural rules governing the composition of sentences, phrases, and words in a language. In the IELTS writing test, correct and varied use of grammar is a key criterion for scoring. The video script mentions grammar as one of the areas the examiner will assess when scoring the writing tasks.

💡Memorized answers

Memorized answers refer to pre-learned responses that a candidate might use in an attempt to improve their performance on a test. The video script warns against using memorized answers in the IELTS writing test, as examiners are trained to identify such responses, which can negatively impact the candidate's score.

Highlights

Introduction to the official IELTS writing paper used for Writing Task 1 and Task 2.

Importance of practicing with the official paper to manage word count effectively.

Writing Task 1 requires a minimum of 150 words, and Task 2 requires 250 words.

Practicing on the official paper helps to estimate word count without counting.

Handwriting practice is crucial for clarity and readability in the exam.

Handwriting should not go over the lines and must be easy to read for examiners.

Explanation of how to fill in the top of the answer sheet with candidate details.

Differentiating between the Academic and General IELTS tests and selecting the appropriate one.

The examiner's criteria for scoring: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammar.

The examiner checks for under-length writing and off-topic content.

Avoiding memorized answers to prevent penalties in the IELTS exam.

The importance of clear handwriting for a high band score.

Link provided for downloading the official writing paper for practice.

Offering additional IELTS lessons for further preparation.

Encouraging the download of the answer sheet for better understanding of the exam format.

The lesson concludes with an invitation to the next IELTS lesson.

Transcripts

hello in this lesson we're going to look

at the official writing paper that you

will use to write your writing task one

report and your writing task 2 essay in

the IELTS test this is the official

IELTS paper here and I will explain to

you in this lesson why you need to

practice writing with this paper and how

you need to fill it in when you have

your test so let's have a look at why

it's important to practice writing using

the official writing paper the main

reason to practice writing using this

writing paper is mainly because of the

word count now in the tests for writing

task 1 you need to write a hundred of 50

words or above you shouldn't write under

a hundred and fifty words now the

examiner is going to check how many

words you've written and in the test you

don't have time to sit and count how

many words you have written but what you

can do is you can download this paper I

will give you a link at the end of the

lesson you can download the official

writing paper and you can practice

writing on this paper and when you

practice writing you will see how big

the paper is and more or less how many

words you will write for your writing on

each line you can also start checking

how many lines and how much space you

usually take to write 100 or 50 words

and that will save you a lot of time and

a lot of worry when you're in the exam

and of course another reason that you

need to practice with this paper and

practice your hand right

a lot of students are typing on a

computer rather than handwriting but in

the test you need to use a pen and paper

so what you need to do is practice make

sure that you do not go over the lines

keep your handwriting clear and easy to

read

if the examiner cannot read what you

write you can't get a very good band

score and of course just avoid any

surprises now let's have a look at how

to fill in this writing paper at the top

of the answer sheet you've got some

information that you need to fill in at

the start of your test and the

information is your candidate name your

candidate number at the center number

now this information you will be given

when you go to your IELTS test center

you also have to fill in the date so

don't forget that

but a very important part is this and

this is just above the beginning of the

writing paper we've got two boxes and

we've got academic or general and that

means which IELTS test are you taking

there are two IELTS tests for writing

there's the academic writing paper and

the general writing paper and you need

to tick and choose which one you're

doing so for example the academic after

that you've got the writing the lines

down here we have an area where the

examiner can write some comments down

there and information over the back

we've got more lines and at the bottom

here this is where the examiner is going

to write in your band score the examiner

has four criteria now we've got task 1

task

- these are the four criteria got task

achievement or task response coherence

and cohesion lexical resource and

grammar this is your information and

your ideas your answer this is your

structure and your organization your

vocabulary and your grammar and the

examiner will write a band score for

each one and after that you will get a

complete band score for your whole

writing test and at the side here there

is some more information that the

examiner is going to write down and you

can see this is the information that the

examiner is going to check the first one

is under length so that means the number

of words the examiner will check how

many words you've got if you are under

the word count so you've written less

than 150 for task 1 or less than 250 for

task 2 and also he will make a note if

you are going to have a penalty of

punishment for having too few words also

the examiner will check if your writing

is off-topic and that means it is

irrelevant and not following the topic

also if you have any memorized answers

in your writing any memorized language

now I know there are some teachers that

tell you to memorize a piece of writing

for example a paragraph don't do it the

examiner will check to see if there is

something memorized in your writing and

of course the examiner will also check

if your handwriting can be read if your

handwriting isn't clear that's a problem

and may be a reason for a very low band

score

I think it's really worth you

downloading this writing paper and

practicing and just having a look at the

information that's on there so here is a

link so that you can download this

answer sheet and if you would like any

more IELTS lessons then please just

follow this link here and you will be

able to get some more writing task 1 and

writing task 2 lessons well that's all

for this lesson I'll see you in another

IELTS lesson

you