What should I avoid in Ielts Writing Task 2?

We write so many words and phrases in our daily life that they become a part of our writing. Since IELTS writing (specifically, essay writing) is academic, we need to be more careful about our word choice. So try avoiding these common informal words in your writing. However, in informal letter writing (not informal letters)  you are allowed to use some colloquial.

Kids:
The word 'kid/kids' is used extensively in informal writing but should be avoided in a formal essay.

Instead of using kids, use: children, youth, youngsters, or teenagers. To mean someone really young, use 'infants'.

More and more:
'More and more' might sound okay when we talk, this is not an academic expression.

  Simply replace it with the word ‘more’.

So-so:
Another word that we use in our daily conversations, but should be avoided in a formal writing.

Instead use: average, ordinary, mediocre or uninspiring to mean the same.

Crazy:
We are crazy about using the word 'crazy'! This word means 'wild or aggressive behaviour' but not an academic word.

It's better to use absurd, questionable or misguided instead of 'crazy'!

Literally:
We often use this word to mean 'exactly' but this is not formal.

Instead of using 'literally' use: 'exactly' or 'precisely'.

TV /photos/ fridge/ phone/ info:
These are so commonly used everyday abbreviations that we often forget that they are abbreviations and are not allowed in academic writing. So instead of using 'TV', for example, in your writing, use 'Television'. Following are the full forms of these words that you should be using instead of their abbreviated forms.

TV - Television.
Photos - Photographs.
Fridge - Refrigerator.
Phone - Telephone.
Info - Information.

Bad:
'Bad' is a poor choice of word to mean something of inferior quality.
'Bad' is the antonym of good, and again it is too basic for academic writing.

Use al alternative word based on the context. Soe some obvious choices are :

Poor choice, inadequate performance, shoddy product, rotten smell, incompetent skills, damaging effect.

To mean 'Very bad' use: Poor, shocking, atrocious, appalling, horrific or horrendous.

In IELTS writing task 2 essay is the most important part as the major part of the score depends upon this task. To score good in this part it is necessary to make a strategy

and should not commit silly mistakes.

Here are 10 things you should avoid when writing IELTS essay –

 1. Do not use Idioms in writing essays.

Idioms are used in writing as well as in speaking and can help to increase the scores, but you should know the exact meaning of the idiom you are using. If you place the wrong idiom, you may lose the band score in IELTS writing.

Normally idiom are used by native speakers in writing and speaking because they know the actual use of that idiom, so if you are sure and confident about the meaning and uses of that idiom, you can use it in IELTS essay writing.

2. Avoid Excess words.

In writing tasks, it is must to follow the guideline of word limits. In task 1, it is instructed to write 150 words, and if you write less than this limit then you will lose marks. It is the same if you write more – It’s okay if you write upto 170 words, but if you exceeded than this limit definitely you will lose band score.

In task 2, it is mandatory to write 250 words, and if you write less than this you will lose marks. Same if you are writing 270 words it is okay, but writing 300 or more, you may lose band score.

3. Avoid abbreviate (Avoid contractions)

Using abbreviations in writing task 1 and task 2 is harmful; you may lose band score in IELTS writing. Moreover, the abbreviations are not counted in words for more information on word counting criteria click here.

Isn’t = Is not

Don’t = Do not

Couldn’t = could not

Aren’t = Are not

Can’t = Cannot

Haven’t = Have not

Hasn’t = Has not

4. Don’t write irrelevant ideas.

In IELTS Writing task 2 many students get short of matter and they try to trick the examiner by writing irrelevant ideas in order to fulfill the word limit requirement.  But keep in mind that you should never do this because writing unrelated ideas is not a good idea; you will lose band score for this in the IELTS writing task.

 5. Do not use the 2nd person in a paragraph.

Many aspirants want to know how to do IELTS writing? The main thing in writing an essay is don’t use the 2nd person it the content.  Some students have a habit of using “you” in essay. Here “you” is referring to your examiner. So using “you”, sounds like you are “teaching, telling” the examiner. So, students should use “we” or “they” it is best to use structures with fake subjects such as “it is clearly that / it goes without saying that / without a doubt …”.

6. Use linked words.

Before starting IELTS writing essay, take some time to think (mind mapping) about the points  that you will write, divide it into 3 clear ideas and use one of the following phrases to link: it will help to score high in IELTS writing.

Firstly ……… .. Secondly ………. Lastly

Generally …… .. Furthermore …… .. Finally

To be sure …… .. Additionally ……… lastly

To begin with ……… .In addition ………… Last but not least.

In the first place ……… .. Also ……… .. Lastly

Basically ………… .. similar ………… .. As well

In the first place ………. just in the same way ……… Finally

7. Use ACTIVE VOICE instead of PASSIVE VOICE.

In IELTS Writing task 2 general and academic, don’t use too many passive voices. Use one or two passive voice if needed in writing essays. As using too many passive voices may become the reason for losing the IELTS score in IELTS writing?

Click here for getting some ideas of IELTS writing task 2 topics with answers.

With Best Wishes

Thank You!

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