For many IELTS test-takers, achieving a band 7 in writing can feel like a significant hurdle. You’ve mastered the basics, but those higher band descriptors seem just out of reach. This guide is designed to bridge that gap, offering specific strategies and insights to help you transition from a band 6 to a band 7 in your IELTS writing.
Understanding the Band 7 Writing Criteria
Before diving into strategies, it’s crucial to understand what IELTS examiners are looking for at a band 7 level. Here’s a breakdown of the key criteria:
Task Response:
- Addressing all parts of the task: This seems obvious, but band 6 responses sometimes partially address the task. Ensure you fully understand every element of the prompt.
- Presenting a clear position: Whether it’s an opinion essay or a problem/solution task, your stance should be easily identifiable and consistently maintained.
- Developing ideas logically with relevant supporting details: Provide clear explanations, examples, or evidence to support your main points.
Coherence and Cohesion:
- Logically organizing information: Use paragraphs effectively to separate ideas. Within paragraphs, ensure ideas flow smoothly from one to the next.
- Using a range of cohesive devices appropriately: Go beyond basic linking words like ‘and’ or ‘but’. Incorporate devices like ‘furthermore’, ‘in contrast’, ‘as a result’, etc. to demonstrate sophisticated linking of ideas.
Lexical Resource (Vocabulary):
- Using a wide range of vocabulary with precision: Avoid repetition. Show you can use less common words accurately and naturally.
- Effectively paraphrasing: Avoid copying words directly from the prompt. Demonstrate your ability to express ideas using different phrasing.
- Controlling collocations: Use words in their correct combinations (e.g., ‘heavy rain’ not ‘strong rain’).
Grammatical Range and Accuracy:
- Using a variety of complex sentence structures: Show mastery over different sentence types, including complex and compound structures.
- Controlling grammar with only minor errors: While occasional minor errors are acceptable at band 7, complex grammar should be mostly accurate.
Common Weaknesses and How to Address Them
1. Lack of Clear Topic Sentences and Development:
Problem: Paragraphs lack a clear focus, and ideas aren’t developed with enough depth.
Solution:
- Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that summarizes the main idea.
- Develop each idea with at least two supporting sentences providing explanations, examples, or evidence.
Example:
Weak: Technology has many benefits for communication. People can connect easily. It can also be distracting.
Strong: One significant benefit of technology is its ability to enhance communication. For instance, social media platforms allow individuals to stay connected with friends and family across geographical boundaries. Moreover, video conferencing tools facilitate instant face-to-face communication for business or personal use.
2. Limited Range of Vocabulary and Overuse of Simple Linking Words:
Problem: Repetitive use of basic vocabulary and linking words like ‘and’, ‘but’, and ‘so’.
Solution:
- Actively expand your vocabulary: Learn synonyms for common words and practice using them in context.
- Utilize a wider range of cohesive devices: Explore synonyms for basic linking words and practice incorporating them into your writing.
Example:
Weak: Many people think social media is bad, but I think it can be good. It connects people and it’s fun.
Strong: While some individuals argue that social media has a detrimental impact, I believe its potential benefits cannot be disregarded. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram foster a sense of connection, enabling users to share experiences and maintain relationships. Moreover, social media can be a source of entertainment and relaxation.
3. Inconsistent Sentence Structure and Grammatical Errors:
Problem: Over-reliance on simple sentences or errors in more complex structures.
Solution:
- Practice writing a variety of sentence structures: Combine simple sentences into compound or complex ones using conjunctions and relative clauses.
- Review grammar rules regularly: Focus on areas where you make frequent mistakes, such as articles, verb tenses, or prepositions.
Example:
Weak: Traffic is a problem. It causes stress. It wastes time.
Strong: Traffic congestion poses a significant problem in urban areas, contributing to increased stress levels among commuters and resulting in substantial time wasted in daily commutes.
Applying Your Skills: IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample
Task:
Some people believe that the government should spend money on building new roads and highways to reduce traffic congestion. Others believe that this money should be invested in improving public transportation.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Band 7 Response:
Traffic congestion in urban areas has become a pressing issue, leading to calls for government intervention. While some advocate for increased spending on road infrastructure, others believe that prioritizing public transportation is a more effective solution. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own viewpoint.
Proponents of expanding road networks argue that it directly addresses the root cause of traffic jams: insufficient road capacity. By constructing new roads and highways, they contend, traffic flow would improve significantly, reducing travel times and enhancing overall efficiency. For example, the construction of a new ring road around a city could divert through-traffic away from the congested center, easing pressure on existing infrastructure.
Conversely, advocates for bolstering public transportation systems argue that it offers a more sustainable and holistic solution. They posit that investing in efficient and affordable public transport options, such as subway lines, bus rapid transit systems, and trams, would encourage a shift away from private vehicles. This, in turn, would lead to a reduction in the number of cars on the road, alleviating congestion and minimizing the environmental impact of traffic.
In my opinion, while expanding road infrastructure might provide a short-term solution, it is not a sustainable approach in the long run. Increased road capacity often leads to induced demand, whereby more people choose to drive, negating any initial benefits. Therefore, I believe that prioritizing investments in public transportation is essential for tackling traffic congestion effectively and creating more livable and environmentally friendly urban spaces. By providing convenient, affordable, and reliable public transport options, governments can encourage a modal shift towards sustainable transportation modes, reducing congestion and improving overall quality of life in urban areas.
Practice and Feedback: Your Keys to Success
Improving your IELTS writing to a band 7 level requires more than just knowledge; it demands consistent practice and feedback. Here’s how to make the most of your preparation:
- Write regularly: Aim to write at least two essays per week, alternating between Task 1 and Task 2.
- Seek feedback: Have a qualified IELTS instructor or language partner review your writing and provide detailed feedback on areas for improvement.
- Analyze high-scoring samples: Carefully study band 7 and 8 responses to understand the elements of effective writing.
- Focus on your weaknesses: Identify your recurring errors and dedicate extra practice to those areas.
Remember, achieving a band 7 in IELTS writing is a marathon, not a sprint. By understanding the criteria, addressing your weaknesses, and practicing consistently, you can confidently work towards your desired score.