Welcome! Moving up from a Band 4 means focusing on accuracy and structure. Your goal is not to write a perfect essay, but to write an essay that is clear enough for the examiner to understand your main points.
1. The Requirement (What is Task 2?)
- Goal: Write a formal essay (250 words minimum) in about 40 minutes.
- The Big Rule: You must write at least 250 words. If you write less, you immediately lose marks.
- Topic: You will be asked about a social issue, such as the environment, technology, or education. The question will ask for your opinion, to discuss two sides, or to provide problems and solutions.
2. The Simple 4-Paragraph Structure (MANDATORY)
For now, forget about complex 5-paragraph structures. Stick to this simple, clear plan for every single essay (Opinion, Discussion, or Problem/Solution):
| Paragraph | Role | Content Focus (Keep it simple!) |
|---|---|---|
| P1: Introduction (3-4 sentences) | Introduce the Topic | 1. Paraphrase: Write the question in your own simple words. 2. Thesis: State your opinion, or what your essay will discuss. (Example: “I agree with this idea,” or “This essay will discuss one problem and one solution.”) |
| P2: Body 1 (4-5 sentences) | Main Idea 1 | 1. Topic Sentence: State your first main point clearly. 2. Reason: Explain why this point is important. 3. Example: Give a simple, general example. (DO NOT use linking words like ‘Firstly’ yet.) |
| P3: Body 2 (4-5 sentences) | Main Idea 2 | 1. Topic Sentence: State your second main point (different from P2). 2. Reason: Explain why this point is important. 3. Example: Give another simple, general example. |
| P4: Conclusion (2-3 sentences) | Summarize | 1. Summary: Repeat your main ideas from P2 and P3. 2. Final Opinion: Restate your opinion/stance from P1 using different, simple words. |
3. Top 3 Weaknesses to Fix Immediately
Band 4 essays are difficult to read because of many basic mistakes. Focus on these three areas first:
A. Grammatical Accuracy (The Biggest Problem)
- Goal: Write 100% accurate simple sentences. Avoid trying to write long, complex sentences—they only increase your mistakes.
- Focus Areas:
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Make sure the verb matches the subject (e.g., Technology is important. / Many students agree.).
- Articles (A/An/The): Use these correctly. For example, We need a car versus We need the specific car.
- Tenses: Stick to the simple present tense for general arguments (e.g., It causes pollution).
B. Coherence and Cohesion (The Flow)
- Goal: Use simple, correct linkers to show the relationship between your ideas.
- Essential Linkers to Practice (Use ONLY ONE per sentence!):
- To Add an Idea: In addition, Furthermore,
- To Show Result: Therefore, Consequently,
- To Show Contrast (opposite idea): However, On the other hand,
C. Task Response (Answering the Question)
- Goal: Answer all parts of the question directly, and make sure your ideas are clear.
- Avoid: Writing long paragraphs that go off-topic. Every sentence must be related to your main point for that paragraph.
4. Simple Daily Action Plan
- Plan First (5 minutes): Before writing, quickly write down one main idea for Body 1 and one main idea for Body 2.
- Write Slowly: Focus on making every simple sentence correct.
- Count Words: Aim for 260 words to be safe.
- Proofread: Check only for Subject-Verb Agreement and Articles (a/an/the) when you finish.
IELTS 4 to 5 