Chapter 1 IELTS Academic Writing Orientation
I. Test Format
IELTS has four parts – Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes) and Speaking (11–14 minutes). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening, Reading and Writing tests are done in one sitting. The Speaking test may be on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
II. Academic Writing Format
The Academic Writing test is 60 minutes long. It has two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.
In Task 1 candidates are asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in their own words. They need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument or problem. They need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.
III. Academic Writing Samples
WRITING TASK 1 A
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows the number of men and women in further education in Britain in three periods and whether they were studying full-time or part-time. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
WRITING TASK 1 B
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows radio and television audiences throughout the day in 1992. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
WRITING TASK 2 A
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
TASK 2 B
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
IV. Analysis of the directions
1. Time limitation: time arrangement/writing steps 审题（Analyze and Outline）3mins 写作（Write Up）15mins 检查（Check Up）2mins
2. Task Achievement: Satisfy all the requirements of the task.
3. Word limitation: Answer sheet 30 lines 8-10words/line 10-15 lines
V. Writing Band Descriptors
Both the Academic and General Training Writing Modules consist of two tasks, Task 1 and Task 2. Each task is assessed independently. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1. Detailed performance descriptors have been developed which describe written performance at the 9 IELTS bands. These descriptors apply to both the Academic and General Training Modules.
1. Task 1 scripts are assessed on the following criteria: · Task Achievement 任务完成情况-避免跑题，字数不足
This criterion assesses how appropriately, accurately and relevantly the response fulfils the requirements set out in the task, using the minimum of 150 words. Academic Writing Task 1 is a writing task which has a defined input and a largely predictable output. It is basically an information-transfer task which relates narrowly to the factual content of an input diagram and not to
speculated explanations that lie outside the given data. · Coherence and Cohesion连贯和衔接
This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response organises and links information, ideas and language. Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing. Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example, logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within sentences clear. · Lexical Resource词汇资源-多样、准确、灵活
This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the candidate has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that use in terms of the specific task. · Grammatical Range and Accuracy
语法结构的范围和准确性-句式多样、使用自然、语法标点准确
This criterion refers to the range and accurate use of the candidate‘s grammatical resource as manifested in the candidate‘s writing at sentence level. Underlenth
剑8中有一学生的习作是5.5分，考官的第一句就是：―The topic introduction has been copied from the task and is deducted from the word count. This leaves the answer underlength at 236 words, so the candidate loses markers for this. 考生是不能够照抄作文题目的，字数将不计入，另外236的精准性表明了考官是会逐个去数文章字数是否达到要求的，所以考场上，字数限制At least的意思一定要理解透，不要轻易去挑战考官的情商和智商，否则丢分丢人，我们各位雅思考生可是伤不起啊！
3
2. Task 2 scripts are assessed on the following criteria: · Task Response · Coherence and Cohesion · Lexical Resource · Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Candidates should note that scripts will be penalised if they are a) under the minimum word length, b) partly or wholly plagiarised,
c) not written as full, connected text (e.g. using bullet points 项目要点 in any part of the response, or note form, is not appropriate, etc.).
VI. Analysis of Sample Script
1. Sample Script A
This is a bar chart of the number of men and women in further education in Britain in three periods.
In 1970, Most of Men were studying part-time but from 1980, Studying part-time was decreased and studying full-time was increased and in 1990, it was twice as many students as in 1970. On the other hand, Women studying full-time were increased and not only Full-time, part-time also were increased, in 1990, studying full-time was three times as many students as in 1970. In compare men and women, as you see, in 1970, men were studying more than women full-time or part-time but it changed from 1980 and then, in 190 women were studying part-time more than men and studying full-time was same number.
It shows you women has a high education now. (132 words)
Examiner comment Band 5
The length of the answer is just acceptable. There is a good attempt to describe the overall trends but the content would have been greatly improved if the candidate had included some reference to the figures given on the graph. Without these, the reader is lacking some important information. The answer is quite difficult to follow and there are some punctuation errors that cause confusion. The structures are fairly simple and efforts to produce more complex sentences are not successful.
2. Sample Script B
According to the graph, the number of men and women in further education in Britain shows the following pattern.
In the case of male, the number of male has declined slightly from about 1000 thousands in 1970 to about 850 thousands in 1990. However, the figure rose back to about 850 thousands in 1990 from about 820 thousands in 1980. The proportion of full-time education has declined during the period. However, the proportion of part-time education has increased dramatically.
On the other hand, in the case of female, the number of female full-time education and part-time education has increased during this period.
From about 700 thousands in 1970, these figures rose to about 820 thousands in 1980, to about 1100 thousands in 1990. ….
4
Examiner comment Band 6
The candidate has made a good attempt to describe the graphs looking at global trends and more detailed figures. There is, however, some information missing and the information is inaccurate in minor areas. The answer flows quite smoothly although connectives are overused or inappropriate, and some of the points do not link up well. The grammatical accuracy is quite good and the language used to describe the trends is well-handled. However, there are problems with expression and the appropriate choice of words and there is good structural control, the complexity and variation in the sentences are limited.
3. Sample Script C
The bold graph shows the television audiences throughout the day.[总] It shows that the percentage of audiences is zero percent in early morning but it gradually rises up to ten percent at 8: 00 am and maintains the same for the next two hours. There is a slight fall in percentage in next two hours however after that it rises sharp up to twenty percent within the next two hours. After this the graph rises fast and attains its peak at 10 pm which is about forty-five percent. Then the graph gradually falls down and at 2:00 am it is at five percent. [a good variety of cohesive devices] The thinner graph shows the percentage of radio audiences. Unlike the television one the peak percentage of the radio audiences is at 8:00 am which is about 30 percent. Then it gradually falls and it corresponds with the television one at two pm. After that it gradually falls but with a small increase in percentage at 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The percentage of audience then gradually goes down and at 2:00 am it is the lowest which is near 2 percentage. These graphs prove the progressive popularity of television. [总] (192 words)
Examiner comment Band 7
The answer deals well with both the individual media trends and the overall comparison of these trends. The opening could be more fully developed with the inclusion of information relating to the groups studied and the period of time during which the study took place. There is a good variety of cohesive devices and the message can be followed quite easily although the expression is sometimes a little clumsy. Structures are complex and vocabulary is varied but there are errors in word forms, tense and voice though these do not impede communication.
VII. 雅思写作(学术类)题型解析
写作考试形式
IELTS考试写作(学术类)部分总共用时60分钟，包含两篇作文的写作要求，考生需完成这两篇作文。 作答方式
考生需将答案填写在答卷中。 考试时间
我们建议考生用花20分钟写作文一、40分钟写作文二。考生需在1小时内完成两篇作文。作文二比作文一的分数所占的比例要高，因此考生应给留有充足的时间完成作文二。 评分
考生的作文将由具有评卷资格的考官进行评分，这些考官都经过了严格的培训和标准化考核。
5