Writing Task 2 – Expressing Your Ideas Clearly
In this unit you will practise linking your ideas, being accurate with vocabulary, avoiding repetition, using the correct style, expressing a personal view, and reaching a conclusion.
Linking ideas – cohesion
Cohesion means linking your ideas together clearly. Without cohesion, you will have a list of sentences, rather than a connected paragraph or essay.
Practice 1.1
The following words and phrases are all used to connect sentences and ideas together. Put them into the correct group, according to how they are used.
Each group already shows one example. Place every word from the bank into the group where it belongs.
Word bank
Connecting similar ideas
Connecting different ideas
Clarifying an idea
Giving examples
Giving a reason or conclusion
Tip: click a word to select it, then click a category — or drag it across. Click a placed word to remove it.
Practice 1.2
Choose the correct words.
1Advertisements provide vital revenue for the entertainment industry. , without adverts we could lose certain forms of entertainment altogether.
2Nowadays, the internet has become an indispensable business tool. , we would find it very difficult to get through a working day without it.
3The internet brings the world into our home. , we sometimes want to shut out the outside world from time to time.
4Schools can give our children academic knowledge. , at school, children can learn social skills.
5Many people today spend time on social networking sites. , Facebook and Twitter are both used around the world to help people stay connected.
Practice 1.3
Which connectors in the box could also be used to link the ideas in 1.2? Match each connector to the sentence it could replace.
Advertisements provide vital revenue … without adverts we could lose certain forms of entertainment.
The internet has become an indispensable business tool … we would find it difficult to work without it.
The internet brings the world into our home … we sometimes want to shut out the outside world.
Schools can give academic knowledge … at school, children can learn social skills.
Many people spend time on social networking sites … Facebook and Twitter help people stay connected.
Test Tip The examiner will assess the Coherence and Cohesion of your answer. They will judge how your ideas are organised and how you link information. Planning before you write is the best way to make sure your ideas are organised in a logical way.
Lexical Resource – avoiding repetition
To achieve a high band score in the IELTS Writing paper, you need to show a wide variety of vocabulary and sentence structure. You can avoid repeating words by:
- using a synonym
- using a pronoun to refer back to an idea (This + noun / These + plural noun)
- using a group noun (This/these type(s) of / kind(s) of + noun)
Settlers introduced several new animals, such as the cat. This predator preyed on the local wildlife.
Settlers often introduce new crops and animals to an area. This type of activity can be disastrous.
Test Tip Just like Writing Task 1, your Writing Task 2 answer will be assessed based on the lexical resource or vocabulary you use. This means that you need to avoid repeating words from the question and use as wide a variety of words and phrases to discuss the topic as you can.
Practice 2.1
Extracts 1-5 repeat the same vocabulary. Replace each underlined phrase with a suitable synonym from the box (think about which pronoun — This/These — you would use too).
One word in the box is not needed.
We depend on oil, coal and gas for most of our energy needs. However, [oil, coal and gas] will one day run out.
Rural areas often lack hospitals, shops and schools. Living without easy access to [hospitals, shops and schools] can make life difficult.
Governments try to encourage innovation by offering grants. This isn't always effective because special [grants] are difficult to obtain.
Some teachers ask students to copy down texts. But [copying down texts] does not help students become independent.
In my country, cars driving through the city centre are charged a toll. [Charging a toll] has been a success.
Using the correct style
The language you choose must be as accurate as possible and must suit this formal task.
Test Tip Writing an essay like this is a formal situation and so your language must be formal as well. Never use notes or bullet points. You will lose marks if you use abbreviations or language that is too casual.
Practice 2.2
Each of sentences 1-6 contains one example of incorrect style. Edit each sentence to fix the mistake.
Edit each sentence to fix the mistake, then press Check.
Study Tip Think about your own language when you are studying English. Make a note of important differences such as vocabulary or grammar. Noticing these will help you to avoid making the mistakes that are common for people with the same first language as you.
Practice 2.3
Some words are commonly confused. Choose the correct word or phrase in each sentence.
1I don't think it is necessary for children to about ancient history.
2I do think it is important for us to try to different cultures.
3Before I travel to a new country, I always take the time to the local customs and rules.
4It is almost impossible to get a good office job without up-to-date computer .
5I don't think we will be able to this problem in our lifetime.
6I believe today's younger generation are more attracted by flexible working hours than by the thought of earning .
7Sadly, not all receive sick pay and holiday pay.
8A great deal of is now done as we surf the internet.
Expressing a personal view
Remember that your Writing Task 2 answer should give your own views on or attitude to the topic. One way to show this is by using:
- A adverbs such as personally or probably
- B modals such as might or could
- C phrases such as in my view
- D verbs such as appear to be or seem to be
These can also help to stress your ideas or change them from a simple fact to a personal opinion.
Travelling is dangerous. → Travelling can be dangerous.
Most people agree with me. → I think most people would agree with me.
Practice 3.1
Match these examples to the ways of showing opinion A-D.
As far as I'm concerned, we have not done enough to address the problem.
Perhaps the current strategy will work.
People seem to spend a lot more time at work than with their families nowadays.
Following a vegetarian diet can help you save money.
3.2Each sentence shows opinion and attitude. Rewrite it using the word in brackets. (Example 1 is done for you.)
1Perhapsthis is because today's teachers are not trained as well as they used to be. (might)
→ This might be because today's teachers are not trained as well as they used to be.
Practice 3.2
Now rewrite sentences 2-9 using the word in brackets.
Edit each sentence to fix the mistake, then press Check.
Try to avoid repeating 'I think' or 'I know' too often. The following verbs can be used instead: realise, feel, believe, imagine, can see.
Practice 3.3
Match the verb in bold in sentences 1-8 with the most appropriate meaning A-C.
You may use any letter more than once.
I feel it's important for everyone to play an active role in reducing this type of pollution.
I realise that it could be difficult to cut costs like this.
I can see that for people who have a disability, the internet provides an essential lifeline.
I suppose that allowing adverts to be placed on a football pitch might help reduce the cost of tickets.
I believe that if we all made a positive effort then we could make real progress.
I imagine that people with high-powered jobs find it difficult to escape from work.
I am convinced that there is a connection between computer use and obesity.
I suspect that the rich are not as happy as we think they are.
Reaching a conclusion
To finish off your writing, you need to write a conclusion. Your conclusion should be a brief summary of your argument and ideas and is often a good place to give your own opinion.
Practice 3.4
These concluding sentences all contain a mistake. Edit each sentence to correct it.
Edit each sentence to fix the mistake, then press Check.