Grammar is 25% of your marks in IELTS writing task 2 and to get band score 6 and above, you must have complex sentences. Watch this video to learn how to connect two sentences together to make one complex sentence.
IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024
Hi, I'm Liz. Welcome! Enjoy your IELTS journey to success!
About me
Hi, my name is Elizabeth (Liz). I am your teacher and the author of this website. I am an experienced, qualified English teacher specialising in IELTS test preparation since 2008. Please enjoy the 300 plus pages of free lessons, tips, model answers, topics etc.
Hey Liz
I need an advice from you. I want to say that I need help in writing section, i want to say that whenever I see any topic I always get stuck in its vocabulary, can you please suggest what I can do to increase the vocabulary of any topic of writing task 2.
My Ideas for Essay Topics E-book is an e-book which contains ideas for over 150 essay topics presented as vocabulary exercises. I suggest you get that. Also review all the vocabulary on this website. Here’s a link to my store for the e-book: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Thank you
It is a great help
hi liz i want to buy your materials but i dont use paypal. I have my brother abroad who can pay for it. can i get materials payment done through him? please reply
Sure. No problem. When he clicks “Buy Now”, he will be asked to put in an email address and to choose a password. Both of these should be your email address and your chosen password. They will be used by you to log into my store to access your products. After that, he will go to the paypal gateway and from that point, he will use his own paypal id and password. Any problems, just email me.
Hello Liz!
Based on your professional knowledge, having to discuss two sides on an essay, do you think sounds appropriate to use ”on one side” (body 1) and ”on the other side” (body 2) to build coherence?
What would you use?
Please go to the writing task 2 section to learn linking words. USE the RED MENU BAR to open that section.
Hi Liz,
I just want to understand a rule which is bothering me for a long time while connecting sentences.
In the above example video, you used “it” as a referencing pronoun for “Building wider roads”, but it looks like there are two antecedents in the first part of the sentence, 1) Building wider roads, and 2) traffic congestion.
I always confuse if “it” can refer to both antecedents and reader will confuse to whom “it” is referring to. Could you please explain why in your example “it” is not referring to “traffic congestion”?
Another example sentence, “Take out the dish from the dishwasher and fix it”. Now in this sentence “it” can be confusing because reader will confuse whether the “dish” needs to be fixed or the “dishwasher”.
Could you please help to guide a bit how to avoid such errors in IELTS when trying to construct the complex sentences using referencing pronouns.
Thanks!
“it” usually refers to the information in the main cause in the cases you have given.
It was useful tips in the IETS writing test
Thanks a lot LIZ
Do You have book for these mateial
That is a funny question to ask. Precisely 2 mins ago I was designing the front cover of my new Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 2 E-book. I hope to have the book ready in a few months – possible November or December.
is it ready?
It won’t be ready until the end of the year or possibly early next year.
Hi Liz,
Is it ready?
Thanks in advance.
It is now 95% finished. I just have 5% left to organise and then it needs preparing for publication which will take another couple of months. I hope it will be ready to purchase in February or March.
Hi Liz,
In the essay, instead of writing all of the sentences with complex structure. Is it Ok if I write a few simple sentences in there?
A mix of simple and complex is typical of band 6 in grammar. It is still possible to get 6 in grammar with 7 or 8 overall in your writing test.
Hi Liz,
No words to say, I just wanna thank you for the website and the tips.
Can I write…
Constructing wider roads would aid in solving the problem of traffic congestion because it will allow the traffic to move more easily.
Sorry I don’t comment on writing.
Hi Liz, your blogs are really eye openers. These are giving me meaning insights on the exam tips. Thanks for all the tips and advices.
Hi Liz.I have appeared twice in IELTS but could not surpass 6.5 threshhold in writing which is extremely heart wrenching.One of my instructors told me to use as much of high vocabulary as possible, however I am unsure regarding this approach.Moreover, he asked me to write an example in the format such as: “I discovered that 50% of the children in UK are battling obesity, upon reading an article in The New York Times” as he points out that the format has changed.I am so confused, having minimum idea about what should be done in the next exam. Please help!
Sounds like you are not getting good advice. Examples are not marked based on the source or statistics. You are marked on explaining and developing ideas. An examples given are to explain what you mean more fully. You do not need to state the source of examples and you don’t need numbers. As for higher level vocab, you use vocabulary that is appropriate. If you try to cram your essay with words because you want to impress, you will make more mistakes. MISTAKES = LOWER SCORE. See this page for model essays and tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/. See this page for my paid advanced writing task 2 lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Thanks Liz! One last question, can i write generic examples such as ” For instance, many adolescents in UK are becoming obese due to the consumption of junk food” rather than including “I read it” to prove my experience or knowledge?
You do not need to prove what you say in writing task 2. The examiner does not mark facts and does not spend time wanting to know HOW you know something. Just explain your opinion – that’s all.
Do i have to write most of task 1 sentences in a complex way if i aim to get band score 7?
See my model answers: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ and then read the band score requirements: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-band-scores/
Just start to read your blog. one of the best IELTS blog i have seen.
Need your advice on below statement:
“Constructing wider roads could solve traffic congestion which would eventually result in less traffic”
Looks good 🙂
I wanna know if statement is “do you agree or disagree” or “at what extent do u agree or disgree” if i have a mix opinion nd i write both opinions like
(I will intend to delve into both view points with the resonable conclusion )
Is it right ?
For both instructions, you choose your opinion and explain it in the body paragraphs. You need to write your opinion clearly: “In my opinion, ….”. Please get my advanced writing task 2 lessons to learn about this: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Could you inform me about the difference between ‘DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE ‘ and “TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE”?
PLEASE REPLY MY EXAM IS DAY AFTER TOMORROW.
AND BY THE WAY GREAT WEBSITE I LOVE!!!!! IT IT HELPED ME A LOT.
There is no difference. IELTS often paraphrases the instructions so that they are not the same all the time. But the essays are the same. You can agree / you can disagree or you can partially agree. Both instructions are for an Opinion Essay. If you need advanced training, purchase one of my advanced lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/. Good luck tomorrow! Make sure you can easily see the clock and manage your time well !!
Hi ,I’m Ruby and I would like if u can prepare me to pass the ILETS exame thanks
At present the only extra lessons I offer are my advanced writing task 2 lessons which are certainly very useful: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Widening of roads can be effective solution for traffic Congestion problems Bcoz it can make traffic to move more easily.
How is it.
Please rep
An effective solution / it can help traffic move more easily (no “to”)
Liz,
Regarding writing task, in this video you have mentioned we can go and correct the sentences at the end of the test. So I think it better to use pencil than pen, so that we don’t need to strike off anything.
Thanks,
Sham
It is your choice. Using a pencil and eraser can be easier to correct errors but make sure the new word is easy to see.
hiii liz
iam rajkumar liz i have a problem in writing tasks ,i was done my ielts exam in couple of times but i got only 5.5 in writing task ,so plz help me and how can i improve my writing skills.
Hi Liz
Can you tell me which sentence is the correct one?
1) There were corresponding dropped in…
2) There were corresponding drops in…
3) There were corresponding drop in…
Thank you:)
Liz, I have one question. Is the use of contraction can cause a penalty? For example, I used the word “don’t” in my writing task 2.
Please advise.
Yes, it’s wrong to use contractions in formal writing.
Hi Liz
Instead of ‘because’ can we use ‘as’?
Lahari
Yes. In fact I use that quite a lot myself.
Liz
Liz Please help me I have many problem in writing task 2 last time I scored 3.5 in writing ..please give me helpful suggestion …my exam is 31st on next month ..please
See my advanced writing task 2 lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore
All the best
Liz
Hi Liz,
Can we use “not only-but also” in this sentence?
No, you can’t use it in this sentence. It is linked with the word “because” because it is giving a reason. “Not only but also” is not used for reasons, it is used for two points which support the same idea.
Liz
Instead of writing it “Building wider roads “, can i write it as ” Widening of roads ” ?
You would need to write “The widening of roads…” or “wider roads” – but always check that the rest of the sentence is grammatically correct for this start.
Liz