IELTS写作技能训练

TASK 1

When the IELTS marker looks at a Task 1 answer, he or she has three basic questions in mind: 

  • Does the letter do what the question asks? Or, is the content (the ideas and information) appropriate to the task? 
  • Is the letter written in a well-organized, logical way? 
  • Is the language accurate and correct? 
  • Many candidates get lower band scores in the test because the content and organization of their writing are not good enough. It is important that you follow these steps when answering a Task 1 question.
DEMONSTRATION - QUESTION
Sample Question 1 

The course director of your previous college has invited you to attend a party for new students, and he has also asked you to give a talk about studying overseas. You have an important examination on the same day so you cannot attend the party.

Write to the director to apologize and to explain why you cannot attend. Suggest another date when you could give your talk.

HOW TO ANSWER
STEP 1 - ANALYZE THE QUESTION 

What is the topic?

Find out by underlining the key words in the question.

The course director of your previous college has invited you to attend a party for new students, and he has also asked you to give a talk about studying overseas. You have an important examination on the following day so you cannot attend the party. 
You have been invited to go to a party and give a talk, but you cannot go to the party.

To whom am I writing? 

The letter is to the course director of your old college. Although you know him it is unlikely that you know him very well. The style of the letter should in this instance be formal or semi-formal. 

What is you purpose in writing the letter? 

Write to the director to apologize and to explain why you cannot attend. Suggest another date when you could give your talk or some other solution.
You can see that you are given three things to do:
  • apologize (for not being able to attend) 
  • explain (why you cannot attend) 
  • suggest (another date). 
STEP 2 - MAKE NOTES OF IDEAS

Make a brief not of any ideas which you might use in your answer, In the following box, the student has written some notes. On the right side is an explanationof what these notes mean.

thanks

saw friends 

imp. exam

date fixed

new coll.

family well

all well there? 

party details?

hope success

sorry 

will talk about ...

first time
 

can come ...

my tel.

  thank the director for the invitation

say that you saw some college friends last week

explain why the exam is important 

explain why the date of the exam cannot be changed

talk about your new college

talk about your family 

ask how everyone is at the old college

ask for details of the party

say that you hope the party is a success

say you can't come to the party is a success

explain what you will say in your talk about studying overseas

explain it is the first time you have ever been asked to give a talk like this 

say when you can come

tell the director how to contact you

STEP 3 - MAKE A PLAN

Decide which of these ideas you will definitely use in the letter. Organize them. The notes from step 2 are on the left side below. In the box on the right there is a sample plan which is based on the notes. Each black dot represents a separate paragraph. Notice that not all of the ideas have been used.

STEP 4 - WRITE THE LETTER 

Follow the plan.

STEP 5 - CHECK FOR MISTAKES

DEMONSTRATION - LETTER

ANALYSIS AND PRACTICE 

STEP 1 - ANALYSE THE QUESTION

When analyzing the question, you want to know:

  • What is the situation or topic?
  • Who is the addressee? In other words, to whom is the letter addressed? (This determines how formal the letter should be.)
  • What is the purpose of writing the letter? (e.g. to request, to complain, to suggest?)
Task 1 questions are usually in two parts. The first part describes the situation or topic. The second part tells you to whom your letter should be addressed and gives you a task (or purpose). 

The best way to identify these pieces of information is to underline the key words as you read carefully through the question. (Remember you are allowed to write on the question sheet.) Look again at the sample underlining in Step 1 in the Demonstration answer.