How To Prepare for IELTS - Writing Section

The IELTS Writing part comprises of two parts, and it has to be completed within one hour. In the first part i.e. IELTS writing task 1,  you will be given a task based on some graphic or pictorial information. It could be in the form of a bar chart, pie chart, table, graph, map, or diagram. You will have to write a report in 150 words describing accurately what the information in the graph or picture represents. You will have to strive to complete this part within 20 minutes because the second part, IELTS writing task 2, is more difficult, and you will need at least 40 minutes to complete it.

The second task is more demanding. You are expected to produce a written argument in approximately 250 words on a given topic and to organize your answer clearly, giving some examples to support your points.

IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 scores are calculated on the basis of the following criteria:
Task Achievement, Task Response, Coherence, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Lexical Resource.

• If you are taking the IELTS exam, it is never too early to start preparing. Many students have the opinion that since they can speak English reasonably well, not much preparation is required. Nothing is further from the truth. In fact, the difficulty level of the test may seem to be high even to those whose native tongue is English. Therefore, candidates should prepare for this section in a rigorous and systematic manner. 
• Start off with the preparations at least 6 months before your intended test date. Keep some time every day to prepare for this section. There are lots of material available online as indicated above to kickstart your preparations with. Check out this British Council site to get a host of practice material.
• Take up writing topics for both the tasks and try to write on them each day. Time yourself – remember you will need to complete both the tasks in one hour.
• Remember that grammar and vocabulary are the main ingredients in writing. After that is structured thinking so that your ideas can be conveyed in a logical manner. Invest a considerable amount of time in learning new vocabulary and brushing up your grammatical skills. While practicing writing, pay special attention to lucidity, logic, and clarity.  
• The best way is to read a lot; go through the examples provided in the IELTS learning websites. Learn whole phrases instead of single words. That will come in pretty useful when you write an essay. It is important to remember that you need not write in colorful English using difficult phrases. The chances of getting them wrong are huge, and the examiners will not be impressed. Write in precise, simple English.
• Attempt multiple complete and sectional mock tests. While practicing these tests, not only will you be able to practice a diverse range of questions with varying levels of difficulty but you will also habituate yourself to the general test pattern and trends of this section and as a result increase your attempting speed.    

Offline Resources/Books

Do check out these books which are excellent resources for your IELTS preparation.

• The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS.
• Barron's IELTS Superpack.
• Target Band 7: IELTS Academic.
• Cambridge IELTS 11 Self-Study Pack.