Useful tips on the use of grammar for IELTS writing
Lexical resource in IELTS writing and its role in achieving good results
This video looks at lexical resources for IELTS writing; one of four criteria that you will be tested on, alongside grammatical range and accuracy, coherence and cohesion and task achievement/response.
It includes important pointers to help you improve your results by developing your vocabulary in advance of the writing tests.
The importance of learning synonyms
Knowing a variety of words with the same or very similar meanings can help you avoid the mistake of repetition – in particular, it can help avoid repeating words that have already been used in the test question. When considering each task, you may therefore wish to brainstorm a list of synonyms first to use throughout their essay.
Word combination or ‘collocation’
In English, certain words are naturally used together. For example, a criminal is guilty of committing a crime, not making a crime. And we may hear a lion roar, but we’ll never hear it shout. Students can improve their skills in this area by learning words in combination. For example, when reading in English, you should make an effort to note word combinations and context to support your understanding. The greater your contextual understanding, the less likely you are to make a mistake.
Word formation or ‘word families’
In the English language, words are often part of families. For example, ‘economical’, ‘economic’, ‘economics’ and ‘economy’ are all related. To know which of these words fits into a sentence, such as ‘nowadays every [economy] is struggling’, requires a good understanding of how each word should be used. The easiest way to build this understanding is through practice.
Leaving enough time for proofreading
Allowing a few minutes at the end of the test will give you the opportunity to check your writing for any errors, and to add in a wider range of less-common words to showcase your vocabulary.
Download our lexical resource for IELTS writing and familiarise yourself with the other test criteria, namely grammatical range and accuracy, coherence and cohesion, and task achievement/response
- Writing - Lexical Resource (PDF, 0.50mb) Download file
Don’t be too concerned with creativity or correctness
Please remember that the examiner is not too concerned with the creativity or correctness of their ideas. Rather, they will be looking at your ability to express and develop ideas precisely and effectively.
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Coherence and cohesion in IELTS writing can pave the way to success.