For many students, the IELTS Writing task 2 presents unique challenges. Strong mastery of the English language is required for this task, but at the same time, it involves rigorous thinking and clear presentation of ideas. In most cases, the students miss key points because they make avoidable mistakes such as failing to fully respond to the question or poorly presenting essays. Understanding those common mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 2 helps improve your performance and obtain the score you want.

A high percentage of test-takers believe that the second writing task of IELTS is, on average, one of the most difficult tasks in IELTS. To complete Task 2, you must produce an essay in response to a provided prompt. That will reveal if you can outline an argument, describe complex ideas, and express your opinions in a coherent sequence. Still, most test-takers do struggle to avoid mistakes that can bring down their final band score.

This blog will guide you on how to find mistakes and give you insightful tips on how to correct them, whether you are starting to study for your IELTS Writing Task 2 or you have already been through this many times.

The IELTS writing task 2 is a 250-word essay, which you should complete in 40 minutes. It tests whether you can develop an argument for a case, illustrate your arguments through examples, and use a formal, academic style of writing. Essentially, the essay question usually asks you to present an opinion, problem, or issue and you are to write out a coherent, rational response.

To obtain a high mark in IELTS Writing Task 2, the student must be well aware of the marks allocated and the criteria on which the examiner assesses the paper. One must provide an appropriate response to each part of the question, ensuring that their arguments are supported with examples and justification for Task Response. After the Assessment comes Coherence and Cohesion of ideas, which involves your general organization for the essay, and the logical order of your thoughts. Third, Lexical Resource assesses the depth to which you use a range of vocabulary to explain your ideas clearly on the breadth and correctness of your vocabulary.

Last, but not the least, Grammatical Range and Accuracy test your complexity and accuracy in your sentence forms, giving marks to writings that show precision and variation in grammar. Knowing all these basics will help you align your writing style and preparations more in line with what the examiners expect, thus increasing your chance of a good grade.

Not Addressing All Parts of the Question

One of the most common and costly mistakes is ignoring part of the question. For these tasks, you are usually given questions with many elements, and not addressing even one of them can lead to a lower score.

For instance, an open question could include the requirement to explain and give your opinion on both arguments related to a given topic. Some test takers only present their thoughts or discuss only one side of the argument. In such cases, they do not meet the marking criteria for IELTS Writing Task 2, which is significantly reliant on the response to the task.

How to Avoid This Mistake: Read the question carefully so that you can mark important paragraphs. Planning your essay ensures that you cover every part. For example, if the challenge is broken up into two subsections-for example, pros and cons- be sure to break up your essay into clear paragraphs for each section.

Poor Essay Structure

A common error in IELTS Writing Task 2 is to have a poorly structured essay. A well-structured essay provides an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. If the essay cannot make sense then, of course, it sounds disjointed and hard to follow.

Some candidates do not use topic sentences to organize some arguments or write paragraphs that are too long and not divided with paragraph breaks. All of these can dramatically reduce your coherence score and make the examiner work much harder to follow your argument.

How to avoid this mistake: A set format must be followed otherwise you will make the mistake of having a messy essay for IELTS Writing Task 2. In the Introduction, you should summarize your main points of contention by rewording the question and stating your thesis. The Body Paragraphs then have to begin with a strong topic sentence that presents only one idea and is supported by relevant examples and evidence. Finally, to conclude summarize the main points and restate the thesis in the Conclusion. Also take a look at some of the IELTS writing problem examples for some helpful insight into how ideas might be organized in an essay.

Lack of task Response

When the candidates fail to address the topic conclusively or provide inadequate examples in support of the statements, it is said to be a case of lack of response. A score well below for the task response may have emanated from writing fewer than 250 words or failure to examine your ideas.

Some write at such a pace that they fail to develop their points and ideas are not expressed well; when someone else in the room repeats the same thoughts, those suddenly don’t add value anymore.

How to avoid this mistake: Fully develop each of the points in your essay as you prepare for it. If the question calls for the identification of both positive and negative aspects, ensure examples of each are clear and brief. Wherever possible, support your claims with examples and explanations.

Using Informal language

One of the most common mistakes is using informal, conversational language in a formal essay. In IELTS Writing Task 2, you should use formal academic language and you will lose marks if you use slang or colloquial language. For instance, use the whole word “children” rather than the informal “kids.” Write the full forms of “cannot” and “do not,” instead of “can’t” or “don’t.”  

How to Avoid This Mistake: Learn to be an effective essay writer and do not use slang words. Use formal words; never use colloquial expressions or idioms. Some sample questions of IELTS writing task 2 will guide you in deciding the right essay tone.

Grammatical Errors

Correct grammar and spelling are also important in IELTS Writing Task 2 since repeated errors can lower your score both in task response and grammar. The most common errors that may undermine the intelligibility of your essay include those regarding tenses, missing or misplaced punctuation, and issues about subject-verb agreement. Be sure to catch those mistakes in your writing and keep your communication clear and concise throughout your essay if you want to get a better grade.

How to Avoid This Mistake: Look closely over your essay for mistakes. Spend some time reviewing correct grammatical principles and working on eradicating the errors that you tend to commit most often. You might become more adept at this through practice with IELTS writing problem examples and tutor feedback.

Plan Your Essay: Before you start writing, take five minutes to organize your essay. Decide which framework you are going to use and get hold of your fundamental points. This way, ensures that you cover all aspects of the issue and allows for efficient organization of thoughts.

Practice Frequently: One needs a lot of practice to succeed at IELTS Writing Task 2. You should get familiar with different topics and used to your writing style. Write as many essays as you can on every topic and compare them with real examples of IELTS writing tasks.

Increase your lexical diversity: lexical diversity helps avoid repetition and expresses the idea better. Synonyms will improve your writing; plus, concentrate on expanding your vocabulary on those most frequently occurring IELTS topics, like health, technology, and education.

It is not simple to develop your writing skills without a strong understanding of the IELTS Writing Task 2 marking criteria. Some of the following ways may help you improve your skills:

Analyzing Feedback: You must always read the feedback you receive on your essay, even if you are working with a teacher or training on your own. This will help you identify the mistakes you keep making and work on them.

Read widely: Read essays, newspapers, and academic articles to get a feel for formal writing styles. Observe how you make an argument and explain heavy concepts in a way that seems easy to understand.

Practice Timed Essays: To create conditions for simulation, prepare several essays in 40 minutes or less. That will be the only way to take full advantage of your time when the exam is on.

If you approach the IELTS Writing Task 2 without proper planning, you might also become a victim of the common pitfalls of the task. You can improve your writing skills by practicing regularly, planning out your essay, and expanding your vocabulary. You can improve your writing skills to a great extent. Also try to focus on addressing all parts of the question, use clear essay structure, and eliminate spelling and grammatical errors. With this foolproof plan, you will be all set to tackle the IELTS Writing task 2 with confidence. Good luck!