IELTS academic writing task 1 maps lesson

June 14, 2024October 12, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

How to write about maps in IELTS.

Updated: June 2024

Maps often show up in IELTS academic writing task 1. There are different types of maps and the most common is the past and present (this task below) or sometimes both maps may be in the past. There are also maps which show proposals for the future such as a redevelopment scheme.

You will need to use specific vocabulary in this task and the grammar needed would be the past tense (was /were), the present perfect passive to describe change and prepositions. You also have to use specific language that shows location and change.

IELTS Grammar: Conjunctions in writing

October 9, 2023October 5, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Using conjunctions in IELTS writing.

Updated April 7th 2022

For a high band score in IELTS writing, it is important to use conjunctions effectively. This shows the examiner you can use grammar precisely and helps the flow of your essay, which makes it easier for the reader. A conjunction is a word used to connect clauses or sentences. These are marked under grammar and are directly linked to coherence and cohesion in the IELTS marking criteria.

If you make mistakes with conjunctions it will affect coherence and cohesion. In fact ‘complex sentences’ can be constructed using conjunctions. Let’s take a look at some of these and how to use them correctly.

When Should I Write My Opinion?

October 9, 2023September 30, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

IELTS Essays: Giving your opinion.

Updated: April 29th 2021

There is some confusion among IELTS students about when you have to give an opinion in an essay and when not to give an opinion. If you are asked for a direct opinion and you don’t write it you could lose marks, so it is very important to understand when your direct opinion needs to be included.

Actually, all IELTS essays ask for your position. Some directly ask an opinion but others may ask something like: ‘What are the problems and what solutions can you suggest?’ this is actually asking for your position on the issue or suggestions for solutions.

IELTS paraphrasing practice

October 9, 2023September 20, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Exercises on Paraphrasing the task question.

Updated: Oct 20th 2021

In the last paraphrasing exercise here we looked at paraphrasing a part of a body paragraph. Here is a useful blog post on How to paraphrase in IELTS writing.

Paraphrasing is an important skill to practice in IELTS and is necessary for the writing tasks. If you can paraphrase well it shows that you have a wide range of vocabulary and this goes toward getting a high band score in Lexical resource.

How to Write Effective Body Paragraphs

October 9, 2023September 11, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

A guide to writing good paragraphs in IELTS.

Body paragraphs are obviously very important and this is where you will gain most of your points in the marking. In this lesson, I want to look at what is needed to write a good body paragraph. Each essay type has its own structure but they have similar paragraphing.

Personal Pronouns in IELTS Essays

October 9, 2023August 31, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Can you use personal pronouns in IELTS Essays?

This is a question I have been asked quite a few times and there is some confusion even among IELTS teachers about this. The quick answer is that it is fine to use some personal pronouns in IELTS essays but not all. There is nothing in the marking criteria that says you should not use them either. As long as they are kept to a minimum.

IELTS speaking part 3 – Six common question types

June 25, 2025August 22, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

How to develop your answers in IELTS speaking part 3.

Updated June 2025

In IELTS Speaking part 3, you need to develop your answer and give a specific example to back up your opinion. Part 1 topics are about you and your life and you don’t need to give a very long answer. However, part 3 topics are broader and you need to give a much longer answer. In fact, the IELTS speaking test is not formal and you can talk in a casual way (but I don’t advise using idioms).

In the speaking test, the examiners will be checking your grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and fluency.

IELTS Reading: summary completion lesson

October 9, 2023August 16, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

7 tips and an exercise for summary completion (gap fills)

Updated: September 2023

In IELTS reading, the summary completion tasks are gap fill exercises and these are a summary of the text. It could be about 4 to 6 sentences or it could be a whole paragraph. In this case, you need to either choose the correct word from a list, or there may not be a choice of words so you have to decide what words match.

There are 2 types of summary completion tasks in IELTS. In most cases, the answers are in order in the passage. Understanding paraphrasing and how to spot synonyms are key skills that need to be developed here, not just in summary completion tasks but for IELTS reading overall.

IELTS general exam: How to write a formal letter

February 27, 2024August 14, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Guide to writing a formal letter for IELTS general training.

Updated: February 2024

There are 3 types of letters in IELTS general, formal, semi-formal, and informal. If the letter is to a ‘friend’ then it is always informal, even if it is a letter to a friend in a business content. So to simplify it, most letters will be either formal or informal. I have not included any material on semi-formal here. Just a reminder, click here for a lesson about the differences in IELTS academic and IELTS general task 1 writing.

IELTS general writing task 1 : How to write an informal letter

February 27, 2024August 14, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Guide to writing an informal letter for IELTS general training.

Updated: February 2024

You might have seen my post here about the differences in IELTS academic and IELTS general task 1 writing. The general training task 1 consists of writing a letter and it will be either formal or informal.