How To Ace The Writing
A major question from my IELTS students is what is the best way to approach IELTS writing in Singapore task? This is the question many takers would like to get answer to, and really it is worth asking. The writing task is one of the 4 tasks each taker must do in the IELTS exam and because of this it is important that such a taker should what it takes to prepare well for the task.
The normal time for all the aspects of the task is one hour, in which you will have to answer to major questions in form of writing tasks depending upon your need for writing the test, there is a separate set of questions for those seeking admission into Universities, there are also questions for those writing the final exam for the secondary education, and also workers that wants to migrate into other countries for jobs will also have there questions separate.
The questions in IELTS Singapore writing are generally divided into two parts: The first part involve a passage which you will have to write in not less than 150 words. This passage is a form of descriptive essay of a particular graphic or picture illustration given in the question.
The second part of the question is also an essay of about 250 words, this is an argumentative essay on the particular issue given in the question, you must also give real examples that you can use to buttress your points.
The two questions has to be completed in 60 minutes prompt, hence you must be straight to the point, especially in your arguments, and your descriptions, and be mindful of the number of words that you are writing.
Note that there will not be any extra mark for writing over and above the stipulated number of words you are required to write, instead you will open yourself to more error which will be discovered by the examiner, and you can be marked down based upon this.
Preparation Tips for IELTS Writing Task:
No matter how low your level of proficiency in Singapore IELTS writing may be, your preparation will be the decider in the examination hall, hence you must not joke with it. You have to do what you can do within the limit of what is available unto you to make sure that you master this aspect of the test.
You do not need to depend upon conventional methods to learn, and to improve yourself, whatever opportunity you have must be utilized to the maximum to help correct every weakness you might have, and to help build up your confidence, so that you can be battle ready for the test.
Start by practicing writing; try to write on daily basis on different issues, especially current issues that are reported in the news. What you are doing here is to build up yourself in the art of flowing in writing; you just have to write as you remember the event, and as the information comes to your mind.
This is very necessary in the exam hall as you will not have the time to think, it is what you are able to come up with in your mind that you will be able to write within the regulated time given to you in the exam hall. Your practicing in this area will be the only saving grace when you are in the exam.
Some takers have complained that they could not finish the writing because the time given was not enough for the task, such takers have not practiced the art of writing well enough, and thus, they find themselves in such a situation.
When you write like this in your preparation for IELTS writing in Singapore, you must have a way to correct whatever mistakes you have made so that you will not repeat them in your subsequent writing. You can do this by looking for someone who knows better than you, preferably a native speaker, who will be able to correct you and explain whatever you do not understand to you.
The area of grammar has always been a problem for many people, but with this kind of practice, and adequate correction you can easily get over it and master the aspects that you need for the exam.
Another thing you will need to do is to build a structure. You should learn to do this as you master the art of flowing in writing. Before you start writing you should sit down and have a kind of structure for what you want to write, this is important because in the exam question you will not be allowed to freelance when writing, your answer must follow a particular pattern and show some information.
It is the structure therefore that will guide you in the direction your writing must go, after you read the question, you should know where to direct your writing. At least, you should have an introduction, flowing into the body of the writing, supported with the right examples, and then a right conclusion to end or summarize the writing.
Give a higher priority to task 2 of the IELTS writing in Singapore, because it carries the higher marks of the two tasks and it will not be wise for you to allow the task 1 to take too much of your time, while task2 is waiting to be done. Devote at least the first 40 minutes to this task, do it quickly and then move onto task 1.
Do not plan to neglect task 1 altogether, though the marks may be small, you would be penalized if you do not attempt it.
Study the sample questions on the tasks beforehand, and get the structure for each task, since one of them is a pictorial drawing for example, study it very well and have a good understanding of how it should be answered correctly. This makes it far easier for you to answer it in the exam.
In the exam hall, obey the rules and the instructions as stated in the questions, make your writings formal and straight to the point, and avoid repetitions as much as possible. Do not write to impress, but write to answer the questions, putting all the details that are requested in the question.
After taking all the steps mentioned above, the next thing you can do is to just be at ease with yourself, be calm, cool, and collected, as IELTS writing is not an impossible task, it is easy for those that have prepared very well.