Writing task two course pack PDF

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Master IELTS Essays Course Materials & Supplements For Academic and General Training Candidates Ebrahim Tahassoni CELTA, CertTESOL, Academic IELTS 9.0

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Master IELTS Essays Academic and General Training Writing Task 2

By Ebrahim Tahassoni Cambridge CELTA (Pass B), Sussex Downs CertTESOL (Merit), IELTS Academic 9.0, Level 3 Certificate in English, Trained for teaching IELTS courses by IDP Australia & Sussex Downs College

Sixth Edition (ver. 5.9.4) January 2019 In compliance with IELTS assessment criteria, Cambridge model answers, and IDP teaching guidelines

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Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

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Page 1

Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Introduction Understanding the Rubric WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some people believe that television programmes are of no real value for children. How far do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

The Task Task 2 involves writing an essay on the given topic. You have to • • •

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answer the question(s) clearly and completely; give reasons for your answer; include relevant example ▪ from your knowledge ▪ from your experience spend about 40 minutes on the task write at least 250 words → 260-265 words

Note: Finish task 2 first before addressing task 1. Task 2 has twice as many marks as task 1 and is less flexible, so if you do not get around to finishing it, you may lose more marks than when you leave task 1 unfinished.

The Answer Sheet The last two pages of the IELTS writing answer sheet are dedicated to task two and together have over 40 lines. Although you may ask for extra sheets to write your answer in, this is not likely to become necessary since the space you are already provided with is way more than sufficient. You must not write in the blank space at the bottom of the first page or in the scoring section at the bottom of page two.

Focus on Academic Register • • • • • • • •

Use longer sentences (about 20-30 words) Use subordinate clauses Use academic words (see “The Academic Words List” at www.tahasoni.com/resources) Avoid contractions like doesn’t, can’t or they’ll Avoid “get” phrases where possible Avoid a personal tone except when giving personal opinions or talking of personal experiences Avoid phrasal verbs where possible Avoid over-generalisation by avoiding absolute statements and Introducing probability/possibility

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Page 2

Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Task Types  Remember that the aim of this classification is only to facilitate the understanding of task requirements. In reality, no such classification exists in IELTS assessment criteria.

Opinion-led a. New parents should attend parenting classes to learn how to bring up their children well. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? b. Some people think that every individual is responsible for their own healthy lifestyle. Others believe that governments should take care of it. What are your views on this? c. Many parents now let their young children use tablet computers to see pictures and photographs, watch videos or play games. Is this a positive or negative development?

Argument Discussion a. Some people believe that children should listen to and obey their parents. Others believe that children should think and do things on their own. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. b. While some people prefer to live in apartments, others do not think an apartment is a suitable form of accommodation. Do you think the advantages of living in an apartment outweigh the disadvantages? c. Some people believe that modern designs for schools and offices with more open spaces are necessary. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such spaces?

Issue Discussion a. Housing and accommodation has become a major problem in many countries around the world. What are some of the main factors that have contributed to this problem? What can be done to help reduce the number of homeless people? b. While mobile phones have many advantages, a number of problems have also resulted from them or the ways in which they are used. What are some of these problems? What solutions can you suggest for solving these problems? c. Nowadays most people choose to throw away broken things instead of repairing them, and replace them with new ones. Why is this happening? What problems may it lead to?

Mixed (Two-Part) Questions In some countries people prefer to buy used things rather than new ones. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative trend?

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Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Assessment Criteria Every essay is assessed by a trained examiner according to four assessment criteria: • Task Response (TR) • Coherence and Cohesion (CC) • Lexical Resource (LR) • Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

Task Response (TR) This criterion focuses on the degree to which the task has been answered properly. The examiner has the following questions in mind when assessing this aspect of your essay: 1. Is there a clear and relevant position throughout the response? 2. Are there relevant and well-developed (presented, extended and supported) main ideas? Are any of the points underdeveloped or unclear? 3. Is there a tendency to overgeneralise? 4. Do any supporting ideas (e.g. examples) lack focus? 5. How have the different parts of the task been addressed: a. addresses some parts only b. unevenly addresses all parts c. addresses all parts d. sufficiently addresses all parts e. fully addresses all parts

Coherence and Cohesion (CC) This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response organises and links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing. Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example, logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within sentences clear. The examiner has the following questions in mind when assessing this aspect of your essay: 6. Have you organised your information logically? 7. Is there an overall flow or progression in your essay? 8. Have you used linkers correctly, properly and sufficiently without over- or under-using them? 9. Have pronouns been used correctly and do they have clear references? 10. Have you organised the text in paragraphs logically and sufficiently?

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Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Lexical Resource (LR) This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that use in terms of the specific task. The examiner takes the following points into account when assessing this aspect of your essay: 1. Words a. Range and flexibility b. Level c. Precision d. Style e. Collocation 2. Vocabulary mistakes a. Spelling b. Word choice c. Word formation Note: when evaluating vocabulary errors, the effect each has on the reader and the intelligibility of your essay is taken into account.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA) This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate’s grammatical resource as manifested in the candidate’s writing at the sentence level. The examiner has the following questions in mind when assessing this aspect of your essay: 1. Have you used a wide variety of sentence structures naturally and appropriately? 2. How often have you used complex structures? 3. Errors a. Grammar b. Punctuation Note: when evaluating grammatical errors, the effect each has on the reader and the intelligibility of your essay is taken into account.

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Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

IELTS Task 2 Writing Band Descriptors (Public Version) Band 9

Task Response • •

8

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fully addresses all parts of the task presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas sufficiently addresses all parts of the task presents a welldeveloped response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas

Coherence and Cohesion •

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Lexical Resource

uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention skilfully manages paragraphing

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sequences information and ideas logically manages all aspects of cohesion well uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

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7

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6

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addresses all parts of the task presents a clear position throughout the response presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus

addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more fully covered than others presents a relevant position although the conclusions may become unclear or repetitive presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/unclear

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logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

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arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately uses paragraphing, but not always logically

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uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’ uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

Grammatical Range and Accuracy •

uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

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uses a wide range of structures the majority of sentences are errorfree makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies

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uses a variety of complex structures produces frequent error-free sentences has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication

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Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni • 5

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addresses the task • presents information only partially; the with some format may be organisation but there inappropriate in may be a lack of places overall progression expresses a position • makes inadequate, but the development inaccurate or overis not always clear use of cohesive and there may be no devices • may be repetitive conclusions drawn because of lack of presents some main referencing and ideas but these are substitution limited and not • may not write in sufficiently paragraphs, or developed; there paragraphing may be may be irrelevant inadequate detail responds to the task • presents information only in a minimal way and ideas but these or the answer is are not arranged tangential; the format coherently and there may be is no clear progression inappropriate in the response presents a position • uses some basic but this is unclear cohesive devices but these may be presents some main inaccurate or ideas but these are repetitive difficult to identify and may be • may not write in paragraphs or their repetitive, irrelevant use may be confusing or not well supported does not adequately • does not organise address any part of ideas logically the task • may use a very limited does not express a range of cohesive clear position devices, and those presents few ideas, used may not which are largely indicate a logical undeveloped or relationship between irrelevant ideas barely responds to • has very little control the task of organisational does not express a features position may attempt to present one or two ideas but there is no development answer is completely • fails to communicate unrelated to the task any message does not attend does not attempt the task in any way writes a totally memorised response

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uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader

uses only basic vocabulary which may be used repetitively or which may be inappropriate for the task has limited control of word formation and/or spelling; errors may cause strain for the reader

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uses only a limited range of structures attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences may make frequent grammatical errors and punctuation may be faulty; errors can cause some difficulty for the reader

uses only a very limited range of structures with only rare use of subordinate clauses some structures are accurate but errors predominate, and punctuation is often faulty

uses only a very limited range of words and expressions with very limited control of word formation and/or spelling errors may severely distort the message uses an extremely limited range of vocabulary; essentially no control of word formation and/or spelling

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attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and punctuation predominate and distort the meaning

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cannot use sentence forms except in memorised phrases

can only use a few isolated words

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cannot use sentence forms at all

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Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

 Section 1 Sample Task 2 Topics & Model Answers

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Page 8

Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some people say that computer skills should be added to primary subjects in elementary school such as reading, writing and math. How far do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

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Page 9

Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: In some countries, it is illegal for companies to reject job applicants for their age. Is this a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

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P a g e 10

Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Some think the best way to motivate and encourage people to work hard is to pay them based on how much they produce and sell. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Model Answer: One of the responsibilities of a manager is to motivate their employees to increase their performance. However, I strongly disagree that basing their salaries on their rates of production and sales would be the most effective method. (37 words) The performance in many cases cannot simply be quantified in terms of sales or production. A teacher’s job, for example, is to teach classes, assess homework, and provide students with feedback, none of which involves producing or selling any goods. In this case, it is the performance of her students and their levels of satisfaction with aspects of her performance such as rapport or punctuality that decide how successful he has been. (72 words) Furthermore, the performance of many workers is greatly affected by external factors beyond their control. The state of the economy, unexpected political developments, and extreme weather conditions can all have significant impacts on how much a worker can sell or produce. A hurricane, for example, can easily devastate a farm and all its produce without its workers being responsible for any of the damages or the ensuing drop in production rates. Basing wages on sales or production rates would actually demotivate workers in such cases. (85 words) Some may argue that it is difficult to assess anything other than a worker’s output, making any other form of appraisal less effective. However, managers these days have tools such as questionnaires and Customer Relations Management platforms that allow them to form a relatively clear picture of a worker’s overall performance. (85 words) In conclusion, I think deciding how much an employee should earn based solely on their sales or production figures would be both impossible and unfair in most, if not all, cases. Instead, employers should look at a more diverse set of performance indicators, including customer satisfaction and punctuality. (48 words) Total: 293 words

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P a g e 11

Master IELTS Essays | Ebrahim Tahassoni

Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations. However, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Model Answer: Many underdeveloped countries nowadays face serious problems trying to provide their citizens with decent education and health facilities, as well as in other areas like trade. However, I disagree that developed nations ought to support these countries, and think they should try to stand on their own feet instead. (49 words) It is usually possible for poor countries to raise enough money to overcome their predicaments since the source of their shortcomings is usually deep corruption and domestic mismanagement, which have resulted in their funds being embezzled by dishonest officials and their affairs in areas like education, health and trade run by unqualified authorities. If they are in need o...