Learn how to write an introduction for IELTS writing task 2 essays. This page explains the content and technique for writing an high score introduction without wasting precious time in the test. The video tutorial takes you through each statement in your introduction paragraph. This lesson is for academic and GT IELTS essays.
This lesson will teach you:
- The content of an IELTS introduction
- How to write the background statement
- How to write the thesis statement
- How to paraphrase effectively
- How long your introduction should be
The same technique is used for a band score 6 as for a band score 9. So, this lesson is for students of all band scores. The only difference will be that a band score 9 student will use richer and more complex English language.
What does the Introduction Paragraph Contain?
An introduction paragraph for an IELTS writing task 2 essay requires only two statements. A Background Statement – This is a paraphrase of the essay question. All essays must have this statement. A Thesis Statement – A direct answer to the essay question and task. An IELTS introduction paragraph does not require anything more to fulfil the requirements of the marking criteria for writing task 2.
How to Write the Introduction of an IELTS Essay
This video lesson will take you through both statements to create a time efficient introduction paragraph. It will show you:
- How to paragraph correctly for the background statement.
- How to write a clear thesis statement.
- What information you do not need based on the IELTS marking criteria and band score requirements.
Summary: The Introduction Paragraph
1. Analysing the Essay Question
Now this is the essay title we’re going to look at. “The best way to improve health is to do regular exercise. To what extent do you agree?” Well let’s first look at the statement. IELTS have given us the best way – it’s a method, it’s a solution and it’s a solution to improving health. So our essay is all about improving health and possible solutions. IELTS suggest that exercise is the best solution – you might agree, not agree or partially agree.
What does this mean “to what extent“? Well that means how much do you agree. You don’t need to agree or disagree. You need to think about it and think do you agree with all the sentence, is there something that you don’t agree with? Do you agree with most of it? So that’s how you analyse it.
2. Hooks
Let’s have a look at what information we need to put in our introduction. Now for many academic essays there are three parts to the introduction: the hook, a background statement and a thesis statement. We use the hook in many essays but …. do we use the hook for IELTS essays? The answer is no. We don’t need it. A hook is there to create interest, but that is not part of the marking criteria for IELTS. Interest is NOT marked and does not improve your score.
3. Background Statements
The next thing is the background statement. What is the background statement? The function of this statement is to present the issues in the essay question. You do this by paraphrasing the question. This means you rewrite the essay question your way. We do this because these are the issues your whole essay will be addressing. It is the only way that your essay (your answer) will make sense. You can see various ways of paraphrasing a background statement on this page: Introduction Background Statement Practice
4. Thesis Statements
The second and final statement is the thesis statement. This is your answer / your opinion. It provides the reader with a clear answer to the task. Your body paragraphs will then explain your answer by presenting ideas which are developed and supported.You need to learn all the different ways to write this statement depending on the type of essay you will get in your IELTS test.
5. Length of Introduction
Most introductions will be between 45 and 60 words in length. They certainly do not need to be longer. The introduction is a functional paragraph and when you have completed its function, move quickly on to the body paragraphs. The main proportion of your marks come from your body paragraphs.
Recommended Lessons
you said this is a band 9 essay. i am confused as you did not use a gerund in the introduction or even anywhere in it. also, your transition words look quite mechanical. please kindly respond.
I don’t understand your comment. There is no essay on this page. There is a video lesson which explains the techniques and content for an introduction. You do NOT need to write a gerund in the introduction at all – this is not an IELTS rule. Linking words are mainly used in the body paragraphs, not the introduction.
Thesis statement
While it is true that regular physical exercise is key to health, I disagree that this method is the most effective since rational nutrition and avoiding bad habits are equally important.
Great 🙂
Is it compulsory to write the general line in the starting of introduction.
If you watch the video lesson above, you will see the two statements which are required in an IELTS essay for task 2. Nothing else is required.
Hi Liz,
I have just started following you for preparing ILETS and have tried my first writing task 2. I have tried to write an introduction according to your tips.
Question: Some people think that the government is wasting money on the arts and that this money could be better spent elsewhere.
To what extent do you agree with this view.
My Essay
While there are people who believe that the government has been venturing most of the monetary funds in developing arts in the country and such act may not prove to be beneficial. Moreover, they think that instead of squandering excess of money on arts and literature, this could be utilized in better ways. In my opinion, I agree that Government should invest money in community services first rather in arts. However, I believe improving arts may also add to a country’s economy and restoring heritage.
Primarily, a government functions for the welfare of the citizens of the country. In the view of this, for development of a country, effective strategies must be formulated in the benefit of the countrymen. It is advisable that government should spend on services centering the society’s welfare. Government should use the national funds in improving civic amenities such as building schools, advanced and fully equipped hospitals, community centres and parks. In doing so, the citizen of the country feels proud of their governance and return back with paying taxes further strengthening the economy.
However, completely neglecting art and literature may not be desirable. Since, developing arts in the form of music, theatre and artistic infrastructure may invite tourism internationally as well as nationally. Large scale music concerts and plays may attract millions of art lovers from different corners of the world. Moreover, construction of art specific museums and exhibition centres can impress the crowd. This may further boost a country’s economy and allows amalgamation of varied cultures.
To conclude, I would agree that taking care of the basic needs of the society and working primarily for their welfare is the need of the hour. However, developing fields like arts may also be essential for strengthening the economy.
Hi,
Can we say/ write ‘to developing’ or shall we say for developing/ to develop?
Regards,
Amit
– I look forward to seeing you.
– I hope to see you.
– Only one person is responsible for developing this vaccine.
– We are close to developing a vaccine.
As you can see, it depends on the structure of the sentence and the way words are used.
Hello liz
I have been following your page for three months and I have improved a lot. I really Want to ask that can I use word ‘ought to’ in the introduction part of writing task 2 as my instructor here in Baroda has instructed me not to use it instead of should. I am really confuse.
Thanks
Anurag patel
Of course you can use “ought to” as a paraphrase the “should”.
Hi Liz,
Can I start with this…
In the salad days of millennium, many people believe that doing daily exercise is the most significant method to become healthy is convincing. I think in a reverse manner and strongly agree to the given statement. My inclination is justified in the ensuring paragraphs.
And after that BP1, BP2 and conclusion.
Try writing more naturally without filling your writing with inappropriate, descriptive language. Just write normally.
I think ur giving the best way which can helps all the students thanks for it, i really like ur lesson 🙏😎🥳😍
Very well done! Thank you for this lesson.
Good
Very well done! Thank you for this lesson.
Would this one be better?
Advertising, which is considered to have a strong impact on people’s lives, is virtually everywhere these days. In my opinion, this profusion of commercials has more negative effects than positive ones because it promotes consumerism and causes frustration.
Now you are going in the right direction. This is what IELTS is all about. The introduction serves only two purposes – to paraphrase the essay question because your whole essay will address it and secondly to present your answer.
Hello Liz! Could you have a look at my introduction, please. Thanks
The question: People are surrounded by advertising which has an increasing effect on our lives. Do you think the positive effects of this outweigh the negative effects.
Introduction: Advertising seems to have occupied our world completely. It is in streets, public transports, at our homes, in our gadgets – virtually everywhere, so it is needless to say that this constant presence affects our lives in one way or the other. But is this impact a positive one or are its drawbacks more significant? This essay aims to a dress this question and reach a concluding view.
Your background statement includes unnecessary information and is not a direct paraphrase of the question. Your thesis statement fails to answer the question. I highly recommend you learn the right way to write an IELTS essay. This isn’t something you can guess at or collect a few tips about. You need to learn what IELTS want. See my Advanced Lessons: https://elizabethferguson.selz.com/
Apologies Liz,thanks for all your good works. Please kindly grade this essay of mine. An assessor graded it 6.5,i dont know what else to do differently. Thank you
NEWS ABOUT PROBLEMS AND EMERGENCIES IS HARMFUL TO INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY. DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?
Many people believe that reporting issues-arising and latest unpalatable events cause unrest and panic to all and sundry. In my opinion, I disagree with this because breaking news keeps us abreast of need-to -know information about our environment and also enable us to avoid falling victims to threats.
The main purpose of reporting news is to render information to the public about recent events. Information on the news comes in two forms; good and bad, and the reason why these reports are put out is to educate people about these occurrences so that the society becomes aware of them. We only know what we have heard about. A good example is the recent outbreak of Coronavirus, which was firstly reported in Wuhan, China in November 2019, and by December the whole world had been notified about the outbreak. Without news reporting, we would have been left unaware of and exposed to this deadly disease.
Reporting latest events prevents us from falling victims to these problems. People tend to steer clear of harmful situations that pose fatal risks of physical injuries, incapacitations or even death. Take the terrorist groups invasion of certain parts of Nigeria for example, news updates on happenings in these areas enable people to keep away from these locations to avoid being kidnapped or killed. Another example is the recent messages on the news globally on how handwashing and the use of face-masks can help to control infections. Majority of people have adopted these personal hygiene practices because it has been repeated severally on news outlets.
To conclude, even though breaking news on outlets like the television, radio and Facebook has had its fair share of creating panicky situations among the public, it is the best way to learn about new events so as to protect us from being victims of these mishaps. However, government should legislate about dissemination of information and individuals of groups should be severely punished if found to have shared false news.
Unfortunately, I don’t offer marking of feedback. But I will say this essay does not conform to the requirements of IELTS based on the marking criteria. For example, you can’t have only one body paragraph in an IELTS essay without it having a negative impact on your score for Coherence and Cohesion. Your conclusion shouldn’t be longer than your introduction – it’s a waste of words and doesn’t help your score.
The reason you are struggling to understand what you are doing wrong is because you haven’t learned about IELTS essays. You clearly have great English, but this is all about what IELTS want. See my Advanced Lessons to learn the right techniques based on the official band score requirements. My Advanced Lessons are at 20% Discount at the moment with the code: Liz2020: https://elizabethferguson.selz.com/
One final tip: don’t use informal language in your essay (all and sundry) – use that language in your speaking test instead.
Thank you for you response Liz, still on the above essay,it has 2 clear body paragraphs not 1.. Please which of your online course will I benefit from the most?Thanks once again
Sorry, I didn’t see that. Leave an empty line between paragraphs to make them clear. If the examiner can’t easily see them , you’ll get a lower mark. Also pay attention to your topic sentences (the first sentence of each body paragraph) – they need to be written more fully and in a more connected way. Don’t use referencing in the topic sentences.
My Advanced Lessons each cover one type of essay. You posted an Opinion Essay – start with that one and see what you learn 🙂
Thanks a lot..
hey liz , thanks for providing us these valuable guidance , however; is the type question like : to what extant do you agree .? is not the same of : to what extant do you agree or disagree !
because i have seen your example and you provide the another reason to get healthy which is diet and if you added to our essay i guess thats mean we do not totally agree!
i heard some teachers telling that you have take one position agree or disagree and write you controlling ideas with specific details ,, i really got confused about the question that ask and thanks in advance
Teachers teach that you can only agree with one side because it is a safe approach, particularly with low level English users. However, having a partial agreement is possible with any essay that asks for your opinion, regardless of how the instructions are written. See my Advanced Lessons for different approaches if you want more in-depth training: https://elizabethferguson.selz.com/
Hey Liz,
Thanks a bunch for such a helpful content, really appreciated! 😊
Before watching this video,i had written my own version of introductory paragraph’s statements, could you please confirm if it will be okay too?
“There is no doubt that exercise,when done regularly, is a method that has excellent effects on health improvement.
Perhaps, in my opinion, if combined with a diet that ia full of nutritious elements, it produces the best results.”
It’s fine, but don’t use the word “perhaps”. Either you believe in your own opinion or you don’t.
Thanks 😊
Dear Liz, task 2 question on 14-3-20 was:
It is argued that parents of children who break laws should also be punished as they are some way responsible. To what extent do you agree or disagree.
First two line of my introduction was
“In recent years the number of children committing unlawful activities have increased unprecedentedly. Hence, many people opine that parents of
children who do not abide by laws ……”
But now I feel the first line including the linking word in the second sentence were irrelevant and unnecessary… I don’t know why I wrote…will I get very poor mark for this?
You have made up information that is not part of the question in your first line. This essay is not about the increase in crime at all. So, it will affect your score for Task Response which is 25% of your marks. There are no rules for marking as to how much it will affect your score. As with all errors, they affect the score, but in no particular amount. At least, you know your error and won’t make the same mistake again. You don’t need a hook to start your introduction in IELTS. Just paraphrase the essay question exactly as it is.
Hi Liz,
Your website is very much helpful and like the way you teach every minute details about all the aspects in IELTS.
I actually have a doubt regarding the use of pen or pencil in the exam?
Can we use a pencil or we have to use pen for all the 3 modules?
See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/
Hi! I wanted to know if it’s possible to completely agree with the statement or even completely disagree with it. For example, I saw a topic that said the Government should take measures to restrict ownership of mobile phones and asked to what extent do I agree or disagree with it. Personally, I completely disagree with that idea, but I’m wondering if I can actually write my essay in that view.
You can choose to agree, disagree or partial agree/disagree. The choice of opinion is yours and is not marked. What is marked is your ability to present the position and explain it.
So, if I write my entire essay from the perspective of disagreeing without any point of agreeing to the idea, it’s still ok? They wouldn’t state that there’s no balance?
Your whole essay explains your view covering the single issue or two issues raised in the question. If you disagree, how can you write suddenly that you agree? If you disagree, you disagree. It is not a discussion essay. However, not all questions are suited to a one sided view. You should decide your stance after you read the question and think about ideas.
Hello
For the thesis statement can I use “This essay will discuss……” or “In this essay…. will be discussed.”
If the instructions ask for YOUR opinion, those words do not directly give YOUR opinion. So, if you use them as a way to express your own personal opinion, it will mean you failed to give your opinion and that would be a problem for Task Response which is 25% of your marks. So, be careful how you use such a phrase in IELTS.
Hi Liz,
some teachers say that you should also include an outline in your introduction saying what you are planning to do in the essay, for example writing something like: “in this essay, first I will discuss the advantages, and then I will analyze the disadvantages”. I don’t think this is a good idea, but wanted to have your opinion about this? Thanks!
Firstly, it is a learned phrase – a memorised sentence. IELTS do not accept memorised language as an example of your own level of English. Secondly, the examiner has the instructions which are “discuss the advantages and disadvantages” – it is not important for you to repeat that. Lastly, it is actually a sentence that isn’t required in any IELTS essay – it won’t influence your score for the better or for the worse – it has no impact. So, don’t waste your time. Two statements for the introduction and then straight into the body paragraphs which is where the high scores are.
Hi Liz,
QQ: Is it ok to write questioning statements in writing task 2 of general module?
Ex:-
Topic :- Some people believe that retirement age should not be fixed to 65 years. Do you agree?
Essay:- after writing intro and somewhere in 2nd para , if I want to write “If the age for starting work is not fixed and neither is the work tenure, then why should retirement age be?” Is this ok ?
You should be aiming to write statements that support your main point, not opening up questions.
Hello Liz,
Thanks for all the lessons in this blog. I have a doubt in paraphrasing the below question. Could you please take a look and help me out?
Food travels a thousands of miles from farmers to consumers. Some people think that it would be better to our environment and local businesses if we only purchase locally produced products. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
The question has a general statement and background statement. Do I have to paraphrase everything in the question for my introduction?
Thanks,
Suganya
“Due to the distance food travels, it is commonly thought that people should only buy local products from local businesses to protect the environment.”
As you see, you can just merge information to create one background statement.
Hello ma’am can i use “heated debate” in my introduction about any global problem?
Thanks in advance
Those are some of the most overused words in IELTS writing task 2 – they won’t impress the examiner.
Hi Liz,
I am writing 100 words of body paragraphs. I am including general idea in the beginning. After this, I write two sub-ideas with one supporting example (for any one idea). At last, I conclude my idea. But by using this approach, my essay becomes too lengthy. Sometimes it’s about of 300 words and sometimes it’s about of 330 words. I am seriously confused. Is it correct way to BP? I need your help.
You are trying to fix a formula for the content of your body paragraphs – don’t do that. You need to show flexibility when it comes to body paragraphs. For example, you do not actually need to conclude a body paragraph. That is not a requirement of IELTS so there is no point fixing that as part of your body paragraph. Just state your main idea and then explain it – you decide how to explain it depending on the idea and the topic – you do not plan this before hand. Start being more flexible in your approach. See my Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons if you need more help: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore
Hello liz
I have a confusion in which essay should i give opinion starting from intro please guide .
Go to the Writing Section of this site for your answer. Use the RED MENU BAR at the top of the site.
Mam please let me know which one method is correct to use in thesis for giving opinion 1. (This essay will or it is agreed) or 2. ( In my opinion , i believe , i completely agree ). I m really confused about that part. Pls help me.
See the writing section of this website – click on the RED MENU BAR at the top of the website.
Hello mam. Your lessons are extremely helpful for the students like me to get a good band score. Please answer my doubt regarding introduction paragraph in WT2.
I have read a lot of band score 9 and 8.5 essays and almost most of them have included a hook in their introduction but you stated that hook is not necessary.
Please solve the dilemma going on in my head as I believe that you will give me correct advice.
I do not know what else to say. A hook does not help your score at all. It is a sentence that does not relate to the band score requirements. If you put it, it is just padding. It doesn’t cause your score to go down, but it is a waste of time. You have a limited amount of time and each sentence should be 100% focused and essential to the essay. A hook is to “hook the reader” – it’s about interest – that isn’t a band score requirement for IELTS. This is explained in the video on the page above.
Thanks a lot mam for replying and giving a helpful advice
Hi Liz,
is your GT writing task 2 or 1 available for purchase?
Thanks
Anjali
I have Advanced lessons for writing task 2 which are for both GT and Academic writing. I also have an e-book of ideas for topics which is also suitable for both tests. See this page: https://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore
Hi Liz,
just get to know about your health. Please take care and get well soon :).
May God Bless you.
Regards
Anjali
Thanks.
If the topic is not a question like ”The importance of video games for the children”. Should we discuss or give our opinion about that?
If there is no direct question, there will be instructions such as “Discuss both views and give your opinion”. You will always get instructions or a clear question. Use the IELTS Cambridge Test papers to prepare – or my essay questions.
Hie Liz i would like to be enrolled in your paid up courses,in the four catergories how much is it?
Hello Liz,
You are doing great works for us. Congratulations on your initiatives.
Then I have a doubt regarding writing task 2, that is can I use this word “their ” to explain something about a group of people. Is it will reduce my score.
Of course it is fine. I don’t understand your worry about it.
Thanks Liz
Respected Mam,
I have a question that is there any word limit in IELTS writing task 1 / 2, as it is written in cambridge books for task 2 (250 words) and for task 1 (150 words).
Thanks a lot.
The instructions tell you to write AT LEAST 250 words for task 2 and AT LEAST 150 words for task 1. The words “at least” mean “not less than”.
Hie Liz
How many body paragraphs can one write
You should have either two or three body paragraphs. See this page for model essays: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/
Hi Elizabeth,I took the subscription for the essays. I just have one doubt,I read somewhere that there are 5 types of essay formats but I can see only three types in your subscription; Adv. & Disadv. , Discussion and Opinion.
Can you tell me if there are any other formats?
I haven’t made the other lessons yet. You can use my free lessons and tips for the other two types of essays. Click on the RED BAR at the top of the website and select “writing task 2”.
Wish you the best!
Hi, can we use : This essay will … ?
You can use any sentence you want. The question is not “can I use it”. The question is “Will it help my band score?” or “Is it a requirement of IELTS?” or “Can I use this instead of writing my opinion?” – answer to all = No.
I just love your answers!
Thank you Liz, You are very kind to share your knowledge with so many of us .
As regards the Essay, how do go about the body… does an Essay just end in 50-60 words?
I suppose we have to discuss in details about what exercises entails and also dieting as have introduced it in your thesis.
I have never sat for the exams and I am just studying in preparation to enrolling
Thanks
There are over 300 pages of lessons and tips on this site for IELTS preparation – all free. Go to the RED BAR and click “Writing Task 2” to see full essays, lessons, more videos, tips etc.
Hi Liz,
I would like to ask about the essay question I have taken before. It is about people eating fast food and healthy foods. In my conclusion, I have not chosen any of these options rather, I have opted to mention that moderation is the key.
The score I received for the essay is quite low and I needed to receive a higher mark. So I would like to check if I would have to agree to one of the statement in order to receive a good score?
Your score is based on a lot more than deciding your opinion. I also cannot judge the opinion you chose without seeing how you presented it, how you explained it, how you linked it to the question, whether you covered all issue in the question and what other issues you covered in your essay. All those points connect to the score for Task Response.
Hi mam
You said in video that this is for Academic essay. So can’t we follow this in general essay??
Reply pls
Thanks
All my writing task 2 lessons are for GT and Academic essays – there is no difference between them in how you write your essays.
Hi Liz, your blog is of immense help in preparation.
Small confusion, I learned from you that, you don’t need to discuss both the sides in essay.
In the IDP official website the sample task for CBT is this
In Britain,when someone gets old they often go to live in a home with other old people where there are nurses to look after them,
Who do you think should pay for it, the government or the family?
Now in my essay I think that the government should pay for it ,so I dont need to write about the consequences where family pays for it, right?
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/ielts-general-writing-task-2.pdf
They recommended arguments for both the solution in body paragraph. So now I am little confused.
Your opinion MUST address all issues. You need to look at the essay question and see how many issues it has. If it has one issue (compulsory parent courses), then you choose one side only and write about one side only (if you choose that opinion). You would not write about pros and cons of compulsory parent courses – you don’t have two equal sides to one coin.
But if it has two issues (government or family), you can’t ignore 50% of the essay question. If you agree with one side, then your view is “I agree with the government and I do not agree with the family”. Then your essay explains your opinion. This means you are given two coins and your opinion addressed both. So look at the question and address what you are presented with.
When you prepare for IELTS avoiding thinking in black and white rules. If you want a high score, adapt your skills and be flexible.
Woow thank you for this Liz. I have been thinking bout the same concern.
Physical activities on a daily basis is a necessary step for the betterment of health.
Writing task 2 essay topic
” companies should provide sports and social facilities for local community
to what extent do you agree or disagree??
My background statement
companies need to make available for use physical recreation and public amenities for neighbourhood populace. in my opinion I agree with the above statement but they shouldn’t stop at that they should build schools colleges and institution for higher education too.
Did I get it right?
Hi, I am not sure if this is the right place to ask but I am using a book to improve my writing and one of the advices is to add in the introduction paragraph a sentence explaining your intention such as : ” In this essay, I will discuss some of the reasons why moving abroad is so popular and some of the challenges to overcome” but I have read in some sites that these type of sentences are not really necessary… any comment on this?
Those sentences are common in academic writing, but not needed in I£LTS. The examiner has the instructions – you don’t need to repeat them.
Thanks a lot, it is very clear
hello maam
thanks alot for the for our great efforts
im in a dilemma
i have gone through many ielts essays sample book one thing i have figured out from those is they start their introduction with a nice HOOK or BACKGROUND idea and then paraphrasing and thesis statement also my teacher suggested the
same
though, i prefer your way of writing the introduction but now im worried whivh is the correct way maam
please help me out
thank you!!!!!
IELTS is a short essay which is all about focus and relevancy. A hook is used to capture the readers attention -this is 100% irrelevant for IELTS. You are being marked on 1) how relevant (not interesting) your ideas are 2) focus 3) expanding ideas (in the body). The introduction only contains the essay question paraphrased and your answer (the main points you will cover in brief). It has no other purpose in IELTS. You must then get to the body paragraphs where the real points are scored. Having a longer intro will not boost your score. You will not be marked down for a hook, but it is a waste of time and will not help you.
I am stating this as someone who has completed the IELTS examiner training – not just as a teacher.
Hi Liz,
One quick question.
Is it grammatically correct to write “In my opinion, I agree (or I believe)”?
I personally feel that it is a repetitive statement, as, we make an opinion because we agree with the statement, and vice versa.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank you.
Best,
Shailesh
It is optional. You certainly don’t need to use them both.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for being humble and helping the test takers with your teaching.
I have a question regarding the opinion essay. When the question is “To what extent do you agree?” we can either completely or partly agree/disagree. But when the question is “Do you agree/disagree?”, can we Partly agree/disagree?
Thanks
There is no difference between the instructions. Your view can be any view you want. Your position is what you choose it to be.
Hi
First of all, thank you so much for such a platform, its really helful
I would like to know that can we use carbon pencil to perform writing task 1,2 in ILETS test ?
thanks
See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/
Hi
I watch your video today and i think there is a mistake as my teacher told me that “To what extent”? the answer is I totally agree or disagree with the statement. Not just only that I agree or disagree with the statement. please inform me if there is a difference?
There is no such rule in IELTS writing task 2. Your teacher is offering you advice. It is not a rule.
Human activity has had a negative impact on plants and animals around the world. Some people think that this cannot be changed, while others believe actions can be taken to bring about a change.
People’s deeds have had a deteriorating effect on the ecosystem of this planet, while a segment of the population thinks this damage is permanent the others trust that there are various ways to improve the situation. However, in my opinion, with a positive mind set towards sustainable development this damage caused can be reversed.
Please let me know if this introduction para correct. Thank you
Please l need your assistant on writing task 2.
Sorry, I do not offer that service.
Hello Liz,
I will like to purchase you advance writing task 2 but i dont have a paypal account. I will like to know if there is any other way that i can have it purchased. Thanks
It is also possible to ask a friend to buy the lessons for you.
Although, it is sometimes thought that big international companies ought to nuture the economy of these developing countries through the establishment of offices and factories, other people believe that countries should keep large forieign countries away.
Somebody said 50 words are essential for introduction and now u said only 2 statements .. I am confused because according to me format is 1)general line
2)rephrasing the given statement
3) thesis
And plz tell me if this line is correct
This essay attempts to elaborate both the views in subsequent fragments.
There is NO rule in IELTS about the length of the introduction. IELTS examiner certainly do NOT count the number of words for each paragraph and mark accordingly. They count the full essay word length and check that it is 250 plus words – that’s all. The higher band scores are mainly based on well developed main ideas which means your focus should be in the body paragraphs. It is your choice if you follow the advice I have given you in this video lessons or not.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for sharing the useful videos. I will be writing the IELTS for the General training module and not the Academic one. So, I wanted to know whether the Introduction part for General training is different from the Academic one? The way in which you described the Introduction part, will it differ ?
All my writing task 2 lessons are for the GT and Academic essays.
can you guide me with my writing?
See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ and also consider purchasing my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore
Hello liz
I would like to ask you about the idea of adding another idea in the thesis statement which was not given in the statement of the questions. In this lesson you have added applying a diet.
Do not you think that we should stick on the essay’s question and we should explain all what is related to exercise and not a diet which is a system of choosing the right food on the right time
This is an Opinion Essay based on a solution to the problem. You can give your opinion of the solution they offer and then offer your preferred solution.
Hello everybody.
I am writing to ask if for introduction we should avoid phrases like: It is undeniable that ____________ is one of the most challenging issues these days. Or: This increasing _________has been a significant feature of modern life in developed countries. Or: One of the most significant advances in civilization is the development of….
There are a number of reasons for believing that…
Some people have predicted….
Some of them sound to me useful for introducing some types of essays, but I am afraid that could be pre-prepared for the examiner in some way, especially if they include things like: “modern life, civilization…
Thanks in advance!
IELTS is an English language test. It is a test to check your level of English – not your memory. Each sentence you use should be uniquely created by yourself in the test room. You can learn linking words, but not phrases or sentences. Memorising chunks of language is NOT accepted by IELTS.
Hi Liz,
Can I write (In my opinion,I partially agree and partially disagree with the statement….)
Hi Liz !
Wonderful job done 🙂 for this blog and all videos. I have seen the one with explanation on how to write an introduction and i was shocked to learn new things 😛 I got 7 in academic writing module, back in Nov 2017. However, I need a lot of improvement cause i am scared about my general attempt that is going to happen very soon. I am so happy to have your support freely available, which is terrific !
I need help specifically in longer complex sentence structures. Is there any way to have a piece of advice on just ONE essay, please ?
Thank you !
Sorry, I don’t offer that service. I am working on an e-book which is a list of sentence structures and grammar tenses for writing task 2. Would you be interested in that when it’s ready?
Hi Liz,
Hope you are doing well.
I am a bit confused with the structure of introduction, I read on the internet, wherein it is that for a good introduction you “must” include the following:
1 Paraphrase the question
2 Thesis Statement
3 Outline Statement (e.g. The essay will first look at how voluntary work can help students develop soft skills and then discuss how these extracurricular activities are valued by universities and employers)
Whereas in your video you don’t talk about an outline statement.
could you please clarify the importance of outline statement and really we need to add in the essay or not. I am stuck at 6.5 in writing, consecutively 2 times got 6.5. For the second time, I bought your advanced video also but unfortunately again got 6.5.
Please let me know, is this because I have not included an outline statement in my introduction to the essay.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
IELTS do not require an outline statement at all for an introduction. Your score is not based only on technique, it is also your English language. To hit band 7, you must produce complex English with few errors – it is probable that your English contains too many errors for band 7. Errors also include unsuitable word choice, paraphrasing at the wrong time, spelling, punctuation. You must also showcase a range of sentence structures which are accurate. Making sure all sentences are 100% relevant and fully connected is also essential. All issues in the essay question must also be fully addressed. Also review your task 1 techniques, this accounts for 33% of your marks in writing. So, there are a numerous reasons for not hitting band 7. You must review your writing and try your best to improve.
Hi Liz,
I am interested in your e-book… when do you think it will be ready?
I really have no idea. I hoped to get it done this summer, but my health took a downward turn again. As soon as I have a reasonable prediction on the date, I will post a notice on this website 🙂
Get well soon Liz!
Hello Liz,
I am from India. I have tried purchasing your advanced writing lesson using both master card and visa,however, the site says not able to add the card. Something is not right.
This will be a local problem with Paypal. You can try again OR set up a paypal account OR ask a friend to buy the lessons for you.
Hi Liz, may I allow to use question in my essay to make it more attractive? e.g. what is the best way to flee?
Why do you want to make it attractive? Do you think it will gain you higher marks? Whether your essay is interesting or not, has NO impact on your score – absolutely zero impact. It is not a marking criteria for IELTS.
Hi Mrs.Liz .
thank you for this wonderful lesson
my British teacher have said that to me:
I should write what i will write in the full essay in the introduction after background. For example, the most effective etc,,,, This essay will discuss this issue then will set out my personal conclusion.
is that true and beneficial ??
This is not an academic essay – it an academic essay for IELTS which is a language test. IELTS do not accept memorised sentences or language. That sentence is a fixed sentences which is memorised and used by many many students – it does not contain examples of your own English and won’t help your score.
Hlo ma’am , you are doing a great job and deserve to be applauded . My question is , how many typical Vocabulary words should I use in My Writing Task 2 . I have penchant for using vocab . But one thing I’m afraid of is tgat the examiner might not get the exact meaning of yhe message I want to convey or what is my frame of mind . In place of put forward my ideas I write Propound my viwpoint . Similarly , for motive I use Incentive . For harmless I use Innocuous . And so on , there is profusion of words I use to put a better impression on the examiner . And same is in the case of speaking as well . Should I continue doing so or decrease it to some extent .
Your aim should not be to impress. It should be accuracy and clear meaning at all times. Poorly chosen words or even little mistakes all count and will lower your score.
Hi can u give ssuggestions for my introduction.
Question is Children should not be educated at home by their parents.do u agree or not?
My intro …
Young generations must be restricted to home tuition given by their fathers and mothers.In my opinion ,mentors play vital role for students in gaining good academic scores in latter life however neglegence of parents is considered to be worse towards their kid’s future.
Waiting for response
Sorry I don’t actually understand your opinion. What do you mean by “mentors”? Are you referring to teachers? Because a mentor and a teacher are not the same at all. Why are you talking about negligence? Your whole opinion is very confusing. This is about home-schooling or school education. This is a typical example of poor vocabulary choices. Just write your opinion so that it is 100% easy to understand. Your thesis is vital to be fully understood.
Yeah exactly thank you so much ..now is it correct?
Young learners should not be taught by their fathers and mothers . In my opinion , I believe that School educations or educational institutions are better for children and home schooling is not ideal for kids to develop abilitis in facing different chalenges.
Yeah exactly thank you so much ..now is it correct?
Young learners should not be taught by their fathers and mothers . In my opinion , I believe that School educations or educational institutions are better for children and home schooling is not ideal for kids in developing abilities to face
different chalenges. ..
I’m really appreciated for giving ur precious time .
Now your opinion is easy to understand, but your vocabulary is still a problem. “fathers and mothers” – do you think it is a great paraphrase – does it improve the sentence? No. Parents are parents – you do not paraphrase that word. Your choice shows a lack of awareness of paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is about which words to change and also which words to keep the same. Also “kids” is informal and unsuitable for essay writing. And “developing abilities to face” – what does this mean? It actually has no meaning and no relation to education and school subjects etc. So, your problems are:
a) learning more about the right techniques
b) making better choices with your vocabulary.
I don’t usually comment so much for students, but this is a lesson that all students can benefit from when they read it.
Thank u so much for ur explanations. The reason for writing this sentence I thought when children get school education they interact with different students so that they face different challenges which make them easy to achieve goals.
Now I can understand you perfectly – you should write this way in your essay. Be clear, be direct, write normally. But this is only one main point, not all your main points. You should plan all your main points before you start writing your introduction. Plan the whole essay first. So, you believe home schooling is bad because:
a) children lack interaction with others
b) they lack the range of subjects offered by schools
c) they lack equipment and facilities offered by schools
Get all your main points planned, then write your introduction. So, your thesis statement will say that you think school education is better than home school due to student interaction, subject range and facilities. – now you have a clear introduction!!
Thank u so much liz now I understand . Have a good day
Again school education is not about facing challenges. This is about the range of subjects offered, social interaction, extra curricular activities, professional teaching etc. Also, as I already said, “fathers and mothers” is not a good paraphrase. Parents are parents – don’t change the word. Sorry I won’t be able to offer you further help.
Thank you liz
Hi Liz,
Your video is so helpful and I’m able for doing lots of practices after watching it. Thanks.
Hii Liz.. Thanks for your valuable support to all..
My exam is on 1st feb. Just want your quick opinion on following introduction.
Topic: Children in some parts of the world have less responsibility compared to children in the past. Some people think this as a positive change, however others think of it as as negative change. What do you think?
Introduction: Children in a few regions of the world don’t have much responsibilities in comparison to little ones in earlier times. It is argued by some to be a positive development while other consider it detrimental for society. In my opinion, it certainly has a negative impact on the world because children with decreased responsibility tend to become more reckless regarding their future.
Hello Liz! Could you answer my question, please?
The essay question is “Universities should accept equal numbers male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”
Do I HAVE TO use the words Agree or Disagree in my thesis?
For example, would the following thesis be wrong or confusing?
“In my view, gender should play no role in the decision-making process when university places are allocated and entry to higher education ought to be granted purely on merit.”
Is this thesis statement appropriate when the essay question is worded like that? I would greatly appreciate your response!
Of course, it’s fine 🙂 You do NOT need to use the words “agree” or “disagree”. You need to express your opinion and you did that clearly. Well done 🙂
Thank you very much Liz!