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Unit 1: Task 1 Introduction
This first unit provides an overview of task 1 writing. Find out about what you need to do, and how to do it well.
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Unit 2: Task 1 Trend Graphs
Learn about trend graphs, study the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step process for trends, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 3: Task 1 Comparative Graphs
Learn about comparative diagrams, study the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step process for comparatives, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 4: Task 1 Pie charts
Learn about pie charts, study the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step process for pie charts, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 5: Task 1 Man Made Processes
Learn about man-made processes, study the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step man-made process, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 6: Task 1 Natural Processes
Learn about natural processes, study the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step natural process, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 7: Task 1 Maps
Learn about map illustrations, study the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step process for maps, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 8: Task 1 Comparative Bar chart and Future Language
Learn about graphs that show trends + comparisons, review the specific language needed, and get to know the easy ielts4me 5-step process, so you can use it in your exam to get a higher band score.
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Unit 9: Task 1 Mixed Graphs
Learn about mixed graphs, including how to identify the different types and structure your report.
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Practice Test and Course Summary Handout
Download our course summary handouts and try a practice question under timed conditions, then compare it to our model.
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Unit 1: Task 2 Introduction
This first unit provides an overview of task 2 writing. Find out about what you need to do, and how to do it well.
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Unit 2: 5 Step Process and Question Types
Study the 4 different types of essay questions and learn how to go about writing your essay from beginning to end using the ielts4me 5-step process.
- Step 1: Analysing the question (5 question types/examples)
- Test your question types
- Steps 2 and 3: Brainstorming and paragraph planning
- Test your brainstorming and planning
- Step 4: Writing it
- Opinion essay
- Discussion essay
- Discussion + opinion essay
- Problem/solution essay
- 2 part question essay
- Test your writing
- Main body paragraph styles
- Test your body paragraph styles
- Step 5: Checking it
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Unit 3: Full 5-Step Process Examples (with models)
Study fully worked band score 9 model essays for every type of task 2 question. Each case study shows the ietls4me 5-step process with detailed step by step examples, so you can learn how to manage your time and how to write an excellent essay.
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Unit 4: Overall Essay Cohesion
Learn how to make your essay cohesive so that it’s easy to understand and has a natural flow like a high level native writer.
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Unit 5: Time Yourself! - Steps 1, 2 and 3 (analysing the question, brainstorming and paragraph planning)
You’ve already studied the first 4 units. Now test the analyzing and planning skills you have learnt by completing the quiz activities.
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Unit 6: Essay Language and Grammar Tips
Get high scoring language and grammar tips to improve your writing. Then put it into practice by completing the many quizzes and essay based learning exercises.
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Unit 7: Academic Style
Learn how to improve your score even more, by writing in a higher level academic style.
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Practice Test and Course Summary Handout
Download our course summary handouts and try a practice question under timed conditions, then compare it to our model.
Contrasting language
As mentioned, we can use linking language to link contrasting/opposite ideas within a sentence (coordinating and subordinating conjunctions) and between sentences (transition words/phrases). Let’s divide them into separate groups as seen in the tables below (click them for a larger version).
Coordinating/subordinating conjunctions
*Subordinating conjunctions can be placed at the beginning and in the middle of a sentence (like shown above).
*Commas are not usually used before subordinate clauses, but it is a special case when contrasting.
Transitions words/phrases
*Take note of the full stop at the end of the first sentence and the comma after the linking language.
*However and nevertheless are used to introduce something surprising compared to what you have just said.
*On the other hand is used to compare two different ideas or opinions.
By/In comparison are used to show how people or things are different. The comparison we make must be relative to both people or things. For example:
Correct: China is a large country. By/in comparison, Laos is small. (Here we are comparing the size, which is relative to both clauses).
Incorrect: China is a large country. By/in comparison, the people there work long hours. (This is incorrect. Size and working hours is not relative to both clauses).
Complete the sentence activities below by clicking on the link.
Now, let’s move on to cause and effect language in the next lesson.