Lesson 26 – Task 1 writing paragraphs

 

Now we will move on to the main paragraphs in your writing.

 

This all starts with your planning so if you have planned well then you should already have a skeleton for your paragraph and now your job is to ‘put flesh on the bones’ i.e. write out the sentences in full.

 

Let’s begin with some tips and advice

 

1. Don’t forget to include numbers in your Task 1 (academic) you’ll lose marks if you don’t.
2. On the other hand don’t add in too many numbers as that will not allow you to use good language and will also cost you marks.
3. Don’t copy things directly from the data in long lists – this is ‘lazy writing’ as you are simply copying the words.
4. Creating great sentences to ‘house’ the data will get you better band scores
5. If you want to use numbers but can’t put them into the sentences easily it is acceptable to put some of them in brackets.
6. In the general training it is important to know what type of letter is required and then sustain this level of writing for the WHOLE letter (not just in the first and last lines)
7. Try not to use too many ‘I’s’ and ‘we’s’ in a formal letter
8. Even in a letter you need to include complex sentences – Band 7 states in the last descriptor – ‘uses a variety of complex structures’
9. For all your IELTS writing make sure that you have balance. Your introduction and conclusion should be around the same length (maximum 3 sentences) BUT your body paragraphs should also balance and be around the same length – give the points you make and describe equal support.
10. Remember you will have to work quickly which is why planning is important as it will help and also the more you practise writing paragraphs (not necessarily whole essays) will help you with the time.

 

Key skills to develop:

 

Make sure you can organise the information well and create good sentences

 

• Practise writing complex sentences – if you are not sure about how to do this here is a useful guide

 

• Look at band 6 writing models can you transform some of these sentences into more complex ones?

 

• Look at your own writing and try and re-write your sentences to make more complex ones.

 

• Check out Task 1 letters online and try to identify complex sentences (many of these especially for formal letters are very formulaic so you can use the same phrases in your own writing)

 

 

Here are two exercises on more complex sentences to practice:

 

http://www.gapfillers.co.uk/?atk=1144

 

http://www.gapfillers.co.uk/?atk=1148

 

Things to do to learn how to write good Task 1 paragraphs:

 

• Here’s another exercise on creating sentences with synonyms – take some time with this as it’s quite tricky.

http://www.gapfillers.com/default.aspx?atk=4230

 

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

 

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Let’s have a go at some exercises on Task 1 first paragraphs

 

Here are two questions one for academic and one for general training. Look at the information and write the first paragraph

 

Now go back to the plan in lesson 17 and write the first paragraph for this task (either general training or academic which ever task you are doing)

 

check your version with mine here

 

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

Now you’re done!

Good luck and let’s make great progress with IELTS!