Common mistakes in IELTS writing task 1 and task 2

IELTS common mistakes

1. IELTS WRITING COMMON MISTAKES Task 1 & Task 2

2. Write your essays from a global perspective, bec au se the questions are asked from a global perspective. Try to avoid relating the essay question only to Vietnam. It should be about the world in general. In the introduction, DO NOT tell the reader what you’re going to do. For example, DO NOT WRITE “In this essay, I will compare/ discuss …” OR “This essay will show/ discuss/ address …” Instead, WRITE A CONCISE THESIS STATEMENT.

3. DO NOT ask the reader any questions in your essays. For example: “Why are outdoor activities more beneficial than computer games?” , “ Why are so many people addicted to fast food although it is unhealthy?” NO PERSONAL OPINION in the BODY paragraphs, only in the introduction (excluding argument-led essay) or conclusion . Use IMPERSONAL OPINIONS in the BODY paragraph

4. DO NOT confuse words MOST/ ALMOST MOST: the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number of something (most + plural Noun/ most of + Noun phrase) ALMOST: very nearly, not quite, slightly short of (almost + Adj/N/Adv, almost all + N, almost everybody/everything/no one/nothing) AFFECT/EFFECT AFFECT: is a VERB (The storm has affected a lot of cities in the middle) EFFECT: is a NOUN (Its effects can be felt everywhere)

5. Understand subject-verb agreement Review the use of prepositions Review the punctuation (when to use comma, semi-colon, point; your periods should be clear at the end of a sentence) Review the rules of singular/plural nouns, countable/uncountable nouns Use linking words and transitional phrases at the beginning of all body paragraphs and conclusion: Firstly, On the one/other hand, In conclusion Review the use of articles and apply them to every noun

6. The DON’TS Cohesive devices Last but not least, In a nutshell, The DOS Cohesive devices Lastly, In conclusion, A lot of A large quantity of, a vast amount of, a significant number of Word like “thing”, “it” Name the object or action you are writing about Use contractions “shouldn’t, can’t, don’t” Should not, cannot, do not

7. The DON’TS Begin sentences with “And, But, Or, Because” The DOS Begin sentences with “In addition, However, Since, As a result” More and more, bigger and bigger Use structures like “an increase in quantity or size” Pronouns like “ We, I, you ” should be omitted Use “ people, students, society, ... ” or the passive tense

8. The DON’TS The DOS Absolutes: all, every, none, only, always, never, completely, totally Poor children/students/people children/people from impoverished backgrounds, children/people from families with low-economic status Writing a list: (...), (etc.), so on A and B / A, B, C, and D