essay writing band 6

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IELTS Essay Samples of Band 6

• 12 Comments
• IELTS Essays - Band 6 , IELTS Writing Samples

Here you can find IELTS Essay samples of Band 6, written by students and graded by an IELTS teacher.

The topic of each essay appears when you hold the mouse over the link. Every essay is checked, marked, has comments and suggestions. Hold the mouse over to see suggested corrections. The teacher’s summary is at the bottom of each essay.

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Note: the essays are checked by an IELTS teacher, not an IELTS examiner or examiner trainer. All the bands are approximate.

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I am very interested in essays because I am bad at of this.when teacher gives homework I never get topscore .

I am requried writing 6.5 you can help me

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 6 Examples

These are IELTS Writing Task 2 band 6 examples (or 6.5) of essays that have been submitted by candidates practising for the test. There are also  basic comments on the score for each criteria by an experienced IELTS instructor. 

View other samples:

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Topic: Water Shortages (band 6)

Fresh water has always been a limited resource in some parts of the world. Today, however, growing worldwide demand has made this a global problem.

What are the causes of the increased demand and what measure could governments and individuals take to respond to this problem?

Fresh water resource is a worldwide issue, that is related to varied factors, and it should be involve every country in the world. This essay will illustrate some reasons of the increasing demand and some solutions to solve as soon as possible.

Nowadays, because of industrialization, many European country has resolved this problem because every citizen are able to get drinkable water, but there is a huge difference with the third countries. Although, European people do not miss water, limited water resource is becoming a global emergency that could affect every nation.

Firstly, the rising request is related to the overpopulation; that is the reason why Chinese government has tried to reduce and regulate birth, so they have got the power to limit and control the population growth; this is not a reasonable political action to take.

Secondly, the overpopulation has caused a growing demand of food, so further water has been used by farmer for agriculture; moreover, not all the farms have an appropriate and modern infrastructures and machines to give water to the soil, consequently a huge amount of this natural resource is wasted.

A solution could be taken by local governments, such as, investments in new technologies, which are able to reuse water from soil, or more invested money on the creation of food in laboratories, in this last scenario a vast amount of water could be saved.

In addition, global warming has affected significantly this issue, for this reason international cooperation should try to reduce the environment changing to preserve water, avoiding deforestation and pollution, increasing renewable energy. I would suggest teaching and educating children and students to save water in everyday life, these lessons could help them to notice their usage in their private house.

In conclusion, I think some solutions could be found to fix the problem; however, we should work all together to make the difference.

Task Response: 6

You have discussed the issues quite well but not all are fully explained . You have mentioned that global warming is a cause near the end but you haven’t explained why it leads to water shortage. You also have some irrelevant information like the body paragraph after the introduction or this sentence which is not related to the question: “ this is not a reasonable political action to take .” Fix these issues and you are likely nearer a 7 for TR. 

Coherence & Cohesion: 6

You do have issues with organisation and CC. As mentioned above – you introduce ‘ global warming ’, a ‘ cause ’ near the end. Surely this should be with the other ‘ causes ’ at the start of the essay. Also you have lots of short paragraphs. Put the causes in one paragraph and the solutions in the next paragraph. I’m also not sure what the first body paragraph after the introduction is for as it does not relate to causes or solutions - it looks like you might be introducing the issue, but don't waste time on this. Focus on directly answering the question.  

Lexical Resource: 6

Vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but you have some problems with the way you use lexis, such as saying "solutions to solve".

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 6

This is probably just a 6 but it's borderline 5. You do have quite a few small errors, especially nearer the start, though it improves as your essay progresses. Particularly noticeable is issue with punctuation. You are using commas when you need full-stops or some kind of transition. Check out how you need to punctuate to avoid ‘comma splices’.

Topic: Reading & Writing Skills (Band 6)

Some people think that the increasing use of computers and mobile phones for communication has a negative effect on young people's reading and writing skills.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Nowadays, our life improved by technology developments. Although some people think that communication through computers and mobile phones increased and has a detrimental effect on how young generation develop their skills in reading and writing, others think that this impact of technology is not a disadvantage. I strongly belive that young people reading and writing skills have suffered due to increasing usage of computers and mobile phones.

To begin with, technology  increases day by day and we have to be aware of what is new and implement it on our everyday life. It is certainly known that communication through online platforms it is more easier than the usual one and currently it is vital to have at least one tool like mobile phone or computer if someone wants to have an online conversation with somebody else. A survey was conducted on young subjects in 2007, in the United Kingdom and almost 90% of their respondents agreed with the fact that communication using devices is easier and more effective than using traditional ways and they looked more willing to use a device, like a digital book rather than have similar reading like in the previous generations.

To add more, there are many situations which provide that communication using only devices can be deficitary and it involves a lot of disadvantages. First and foremost, young generation can not experience the biggest pleasure of reading a new book, feeling the fragrance of their pages while sitting at the desk. Also, from the primary school, children learn how to effectively write and this situation needs improvement every day, because currently during the classes, many children get distracted and try to avoid what is vital for a society: to know how to correctly write. What is more, it has been proven that writing on a device decrease the rate of concentration in left emisphere of the brain and ought to this issue, many health problems can appear and develop. Nevertheless, technology development is an insurmontable situation that can not be stopped. During the years 2010-2020, a study was made using foreign students from my University and the results shown that those who used devices like mobile phones or computers in order to communicate had a lower rate of learning our mother tongue than others who concentrated on traditional books. Furthermore, a long period of time looking at blue screens affected the visual content and therefore most of them needed to see an Ophtalmologist.

To conclude, it is evident that communication is the most striking feature in our everyday life and both traditional and digital paths can be used, but younger generation needs to be aware of the disadvantages of using most of the time only devices like computers and mobile phones, because the drawbacks can outweigh more than the positive effects.

Task Response: 5

Much of your answer if you look does not actually answer the question - how are reading and writing skills affected. You address this briefly in body para 2 but your whole response should address this. 

For a 7, each body paragraph should have a central idea but your essay does not appear to do this. It gets confusing as to what the main idea of each is as you discuss positives and negatives.

Lexical Resource: 7

Grammatical range and accuracy: 7.

Lexis and grammar are stronger points in your essay; however, there are still quite a few obvious grammar errors so GR is borderline 6/7. You are writing too much. Reduce the amount you write and focus on brainstorming (making sure your ideas answer the question) planning, organising and checking grammar. There are some lessons here you may find useful.

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IELTS band 6.5 sample essay

Below we have a band 6.5 essay graded by an ex-IELTS examiner.

First you can read the IELTS essay , and after we break down why this essay scored a band 6.5.

if you would like to know what band score your IELTS essay would get, you can try our new online IELTS essay checking service (free) . Another option, for more detailed feedback is to send your essay to one of our ex-IELTS examiners for feedback . 

Each criteria has been considered and the sentence in the essay has been colour coded to correspond to the fours marking criteria used by the British Council / IELTS IDP .

LR - Lexical Resource CC - Cohesion and Coherence TR - Task Response GR - Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Watching or listening to this tutorial will help you understand:

- How an essay gets a band 6.5

- What sentence structures and language is needed to avoid band 6.5

- How a band 6.5 essay sounds

At the end you will find the audio and video.

Today, most people get married and give birth in their thirties rather than when they are younger. Is it a positive or negative development in your opinion? To what extent do you support this development?

The issue of early weddings followed by a pregnancy before thirties (LR1) has grown  in importance over the past few years (GR1) / (TR1) . This is a common dream between  many women (LR2) , but nowadays this dream is facing drastic changes due to many  factors. Globalization, economic crises and increasing population numbers (TR2)  are  contributing for that (LR3) . I strongly believe that couples need to be aware and  convicts of their situation (LR4) before decide (GR2) to have children before thirties.

LR1 - You have the right idea with paraphrasing - but it’s vital to ensure that your language use remains natural. This sounds a bit odd.

GR1 - Accurate use of the present perfect with a time expression.

TR1 - On the right track with your opening sentence.

LR2 - ? This doesn’t make sense.

TR2 - Be sure to focus on the question. It isn’t asking you why this situation came about.

LR3 - contribute to something

LR4 - Perhaps ‘convinced that it’s the right thing to do’?

GR2 - before deciding

Although an early marriage and pregnancy is a desire for many couples, there  are some factors that need to be considered (CC1). Firstly (CC2), due to the world  economic crises which made the number of available jobs decrease  considerably and also the real state industry increasing prices exponentially,  directly affecting millions of people (CC3) and their dreams of constitute (LR5) a family and  buy the first residence. Secondly, the cost of living is reaching numbers that  average salaries cannot afford (TR3). For example, a study from Boston university (TR4)  showed that nearly one third of the newlyweds in which the couples were (GR3)  below thirties, do not intend to have children. The central reason behind this is (CC4)  the uncertainty of being able to (GR4) provide a decent life for their children (LR6).

CC1 - Accurate use of ‘although’.

CC2 - Good to organise your essay with ‘Firstly…’, ‘Secondly…’.

LR5 - Take care with natural collocation - ‘dreams of having…’

CC3 - Problems with sentence structure / coherence here.

TR3 - Again, you need to focus more on whether it is a positive development rather than why it has happened.

TR4 - Good to use an example to support the point you are making.

GR3 - Accurate use of a relative clause.

CC4 - Good to link your ideas together smoothly.

GR4 - Good accuracy here.

LR6 - Natural use of vocabulary.

However (CC5), this scenario is a tendency for our reality (LR7) these days, I firmly  believe that this situation is a negative development (TR5) in the society. Many  families are being constituted late or even not starting. For example, women (TR6)  having their babies after 35 years old is a risk not only for the mother’s health (GR5),  as well for the baby (GR6) . The child can be born with malformation (TR7) and very weak  with a risk to develop diseases due to their fragile immune system (LR8) . On the  same way the mother, that can face serious health problems and also a big  risk of losing the child.

CC5 - Check the use of ‘however’ - it is not used accurately here. ‘Although’ would work.

LR7 - This sounds unnatural - problems with collocation.

TR5 - Good to respond more directly to the question.

TR6 - Good to use an example to support the point you are making.

GR5 - Very accurate sentence construction here.

GR6 - Perhaps ‘but also for that of the baby’.

TR7 - Now you are starting to answer the question better.

LR8 - Not usually hyphenated but lovely use of collocation.

To conclude (CC6 & 7), a mature decision must be made for (GR7) the couple. Not only the  desire of an early marriage with many sons but, more important than that if  they would be able to provide the basics for the children like a health  environment, education and support (TR8) . In my opinion a balance between the  desire versus reality must be taken in consideration before take a decision (TR9).  After that within the couple limits (GR8) / (LR9) , decide a proper age to get married and have their children.

CC6 - Clear use of paragraphing.

CC7 - You have introduced your final paragraph appropriately.

GR7 - by TR8 - This needs to be more directly related to the question.

TR9 - Again, task achievement could be stronger here.

GR8 - To be grammatically correct, this would need to be possessive - ‘the couple’s limits’.

LR9 - It still sounds a bit odd, though. Perhaps ‘the couple’s financial constraints’?

Probable score: 6.5 / 7.0  

You can also watch the full tutorial here on Youtube .

Take a look at some IELTS writing task 2 questions and What is a good score for IELTS? to help with your exam preparation.

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IELTS Writing task 2 band 6 essay | Technology and traditional skills

Today, we will look at another essay and see how the writer has answered the question. This task 2 band 6 essay is about the effect that technology has on people learning traditional skills. Read on to find out why this task 2 essay only scores band 6!

  When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words

Read the essay below, and then we will discuss the issues with it.

Countries all around the world have had a huge development over the decades . After several evolution , such as the industrial evolution, many new technologies have been investigated and developed over the years. Some people say that when technologies are developed, ( the traditional skills and ways of life will die out) . They also own the view that (it is pointless to try and keep traditional skills alive) . I think people should make a balance between modern technology and traditional skills.

There is no doubt that modern technology is extremely efficient, whereas traditional ways have a lower productivity . For example, the agriculture in the past mainly depends on the climate while modern technology doesn’t . If there is no rain and soil becomes dry, those plants would die in the past. However new technology can solve it by artificial rainfalls . Moreover, it takes a lot of time for people to cultivate crops by traditional ways. New technology makes it much more convenient and faster which save farmers’ time. In addition, people used to use pigeons to send envelopes to others. Nowadays, people only have to click on their phones and they can easily make a phone call or send messages to others.

However, traditional skills are also very important. Traditions embody the vulture and the country is based upon the culture. The continuation of civilization highly depends on traditions. Imagine that if Chinese people can no more speak Chinese , are they Chinese people any more? Moreover, without the traditional skills people cannot learn basic knowledge to investigate those new technologies.

  In conclusion, I think both modern technology and traditional skills are very important. People should learn traditional skills and prevent them from disappearing.

Task achievement

The writer has responded to the task and given good ideas in the first body paragraph. In the second body paragraph, however, the ideas are quite simple, need to be expanded, and more fully developed. Simple ideas do not always affect your band score, but you do need to develop them. If ideas are too simple, you may not be able to show proper development. The conclusion is simple, but the writer gives an opinion and it is relevant to the topic. Remember, the reader should know what your essay talks about and what your main ideas are just by reading the conclusion. Try to summarise the main ideas here for better task achievement.

• Addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more fully covered than others
• Presents a relevant position although the conclusions may become unclear or repetitive
• Presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/unclear

Coherence and cohesion

When you look at this essay, the introduction is very long. In the rest of the essay, the writer has used clear paragraphing, but transition signals are mechanical they always use the same ones ‘ However ’ and ‘ Moreover ’. It is better to use a few different transitions to avoid repeating them. They are also always the first word in the sentence. Try to change where they appear in the sentence for less mechanical writing.

• Arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression
• Uses cohesive devices effectively, but c ohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical
• May not always use referencing clearly or appropriately 
• Uses paragraphing, but not always logically

Lexical resource

You may notice the writer has copied bits from the question into the introduction. The examiner would ignore this language it would not help your vocabulary. The copied words also do not count, so it can make your essay shorter. Even without these words, the essay is still 261 words long, which is enough for task 2. The writer would score higher without copying and using better word choices. Shortening the introduction would also improve coherence.

Many countries around the world have experienced considerable development over the last century. A lot of new technologies have been invented and developed over the years and some people argue that traditional skills have been lost as a result. In my opinion, modern technology should be embraced, but not at the expense of traditional skills.

There are lots of word choice errors, but they do not affect communication. Some examples are: ‘ use pigeons to send envelopes ’ – ‘ envelopes ’ should be replaced with ‘ letters ’- ‘ embody the vulture ’ should be ‘ culture ’ and ‘ highly depends on’ – this is better without the word ‘ highly ’.

• Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task
• Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy
• Makes some errors in spelling a nd/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

Grammatical range and accuracy

Grammar is controlled quite well and there is nothing that affects communication. There is a mixture of simple and complex sentences but lots of punctuation and article errors. There is a contraction in body paragraph 1. Try not to use these in an academic essays. Also, the writer has used a ‘ rhetorical question ’- Imagine that if Chinese people can no more speak Chinese , are they Chinese people any more? . A rhetorical question is one that is not answered, and the writer may answer the question in the paragraph. However, they are most often used in speaking and informal writing, not in academic essays.

• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
• Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication

Not all the errors have been corrected in this essay. This task 2 band 6 essay has a few noticeable problems that we have discussed. Read the essay again and see how you would improve it. If you are preparing for your IELTS test and want to find out a bit more about task 2, check out our post giving five tips to improve your IELTS writing task 2 ! Our candidate would have scored a 5 for coherence and task achievement, with grammar and vocabulary scoring 6 each, giving an overall score of 5.5. Is there anything that surprised you about this essay’s score? Have your say, and comment in the section below!  Click here for the full public IELTS task 2 writing descriptors .

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In this post, you will be able to view an essay example from a past student, with the corrections and feedback highlighted in red. 

Most of the students studying for the IELTS Test  have said they find the IELTS Writing Tasks difficult. I have corrected hundreds of task 1 and 2 essays on various topics, giving estimated band scores and detailed feedback. There are also suggestions on how to improve for a higher band score . Take a look at this student essay example and see how it compares to your own writing.

Writing Task 1 Question

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IELTS Writing 6 – Tips And Tricks To Improve Beyond Band 6 in IELTS

• Updated On December 12, 2023
• Published In IELTS Preparation 💻

Getting a high score (more than 6 Band) in the IELTS exam is easier said than done. Aspirants attempting to give the IELTS test find it easier to read, speak, and listen than write because writing requires high-scoring penmanship and the ability to think clearly.

Table of Contents

It isn’t easy to express your thoughts in a foreign language. But the real irony is that you will be able to think about the content you need to write like an expert, but when it comes down to processing them and writing on paper, things get complicated. 

In this guide, we will share some tips and tricks for IELTS writing 6 that will help you write quality and high score-worthy answers. 

Tips to Score IELTS Writing 6 Band

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Writing good answers in IELTS is not exclusively about using powerful words or high-level vocabulary. While these things matter, you also need to understand and use the basics of writing good English. The following tips will make this clearer for you and help you achieve an IELTS writing 6 band score. 

Punctuation: One of the first things you need to brush up on is using the right punctuation. Plus, be clear about using capitalisation, spacing, and where to use these components. If you are using a colon or a semicolon, be sure about its usage. Unnecessary and misplaced spacing or punctuation means your basics are unclear and grounds for a low score. 

For example; Moving on; we will talk about the benefits of studying online . 

The sentence above is wrong punctuation wise. 

Instead, write – Moving on, we will talk about the benefits of studying online.  

Keep the Sentences Short: Using short sentences might be a trivial thing to take care of in IELTS preparation, but it is extremely important. Your sentences should be concise. Usually, students write long sentences to prove that they can write complex sentences. 

Writing long sentences is good, but only if you can control its flow, tonality, and structure. So, practice and master the art of writing short sentences. 

For instance: The students can build and learn English speaking and writing skills according to the country they are migrating to, which will be different from the system they have in their home country. 

The sentence above is right, but since it’s too long, it can get confusing. Here’s a better and shorter version of the same. 

The students can learn English communication skills as per the country they are visiting. The new system can be different from the current one in their home country. 

Brush Up your Tenses: Nothing can ruin a perfect sentence than the wrong tense. So, you need to make sure that you use the tenses and its form accurately. 

Even the most common understanding of the tenses will set you up for a 7 band IELTS score if you don’t make a lot of other mistakes. Learn where and how to use the past, present, and future tense. Learn and practice the words you must use with the tenses. 

Pick One Format: While writing the answer or essay, you must understand what is asked and then write the answer accordingly. That said, you must choose whether to use formal, casual, or informal language. 

In any case, don’t overdo it. This means that if you are writing in formal language, refrain from using words like, therefore, on the other hand, whereas, even though too frequently. The same goes for informal writing. Express your ideas while remaining within limits. 

Stick to the Topic: The last tip you should follow is understanding the topic and sticking to it. You will write answers and essays in the exam. While the answers are self-limiting, it’s the essay where you need to work harder. 

Always understand the topic clearly and make sure not to deviate from the same. For this, take the first five minutes to build an outline and follow it strictly. 

Sample outline:

• Introduction – Introduce the topic and highlight the overview of the topic. 
• Main Content Body – This is where you need to talk about the core points to highlight in the topic. You can use bullets to write the pointers. 
• Conclusion – Add takeaways or summarise your main points.

With these 6 IELTS writing tips, you can improve the way you write in the exam. To prepare well, focus on your weak section. If your speaking and listening are good, work on writing and reading. 

Getting a 6 band score is also not easy, but it’s not enough. So, in writing too, make sure to identify the areas where you are lacking and concentrate on them. Are you weak in tenses or sentence formation, or presenting your ideas, and so on? You can improve the final score by improving the individual components. 

IELTS Assessment Criterion (With Tips to Improve your Score in Each Segment)

The IELTS writing task marking criteria has four components:

Task Achievement

• Cohesion and Coherence
• Lexical Resource or Vocabulary

Grammatical Range

Here are a few things the IELTS examiner will particularly notice in the writing module. So remember them for improving your outcome in each of the band score descriptors. 

• Give a clear overview in the introduction. 
• Write and present relevant information while avoiding opinionated writing. 
• Make sure to cover the stipulated word count. Writing fewer words is penalising. 
• Present both sides of the story. One-sided opinions and answers can create misunderstandings, which can reduce the score.
• Justify your point and give evidence to support your perspectives.

Coherence and Cohesion

• Write multiple paragraphs (at least four). 
• Connect every paragraph and section with the relevant content. 
• Use effective and appropriate linking words. 
• Use correct referencing throughout the writing. 

Lexical Resource and Vocabulary

• Always use a range of vocabulary but keep it simple and specific to the subject. 
• Work on collocations, which means learning how to match verbs with nouns correctly. 
• Don’t make any spelling mistakes. 
• Use the right word because you cannot make corrections. This means that you must know the meaning of the word before writing it to convey your ideas. 
• Create the right sentence structures. 
• Use the right form of tenses in every place. 
• Your word order should be right. Understand how to present information while focusing on the subject. 
• The communication part should be clear and must not confuse the reader. 

What’s the Difference between a Writing Task that got Band 6 and Band 8?

The examiner will evaluate the writing task based on the four criteria we have talked about in the previous section. As the assessment criteria do not change, it is up to the students to write and present information appropriately. 

Traits of IELTS writing 6 band

• The introduction is inadequate in terms of words and presentation of the information. In other words, it fails to introduce the topic appropriately. 
• The content has grammatical errors. These can be for using the wrong punctuation, tense, preposition, conjunctions, etc. 
• The language used is inappropriate for an 8 band score and needs more diversity. 

Traits of IELTS writing 8 band

• The introduction of an essay worthy of getting an 8 band score is more developed and specific to the topic. It references the main topic and touches on the points to be discussed in the sections ahead. 
• The sentences are well structured, and the student has control of grammar, including tense, syntax, and other aspects. 
• The student has used the linking words correctly. 
• Overall, the content is coherent and covers every aspect of the topic while presenting the information in a readable manner. 

You will receive a Band score of 6 or higher if you use a more sophisticated vocabulary and more developed sentences. Getting IELTS writing 6 band scores or higher means you need to use proper linking words and a diverse vocabulary and do not overuse the same.

A candidate who receives a higher band than 6 will adequately handle all components of the writing task in at least 250 words. You must respond to the questions with a well-thought-out response that includes concrete examples to back up the points mentioned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can using data help in getting a higher ielts band score.

Using data can help substantiate the information you have written. But the data must be referenced and presented in accordance with the content written. 

What’s the right structure for an IELTS essay?

Every essay needs to have three main components; an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Within the main body, you must write at least four paragraphs. Your essay should justify the topic and present the information from different angles while ending with your opinion and the relevant evidence to back up your story. 

Can using analogies help in getting a higher score?

Analogies and examples can work, but only if they directly relate to the topic and the point you are writing. Otherwise, they will only increase the word count and not help in improving the score. 

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Experienced IELTS prep trainer and education management industry veteran. Specializes in public speaking, international education, market research, mentoring, and management.

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IELTS Problem and Solution Writing Samples Band 6

Many young children have unsupervised access to the internet and are using the internet to socialize with others. what problems do children face when going online without parental supervision how can these problems be solved, the movements of people from the villages to the cities for work has caused a lots of problems in both places. what are the serious problems associated with this what measures can be taken to solve these problems, the gap between the rich and the poor has been enlarged in recent years. what are the causes and solutions for this problem, in some parts of the world traditional festivals and celebrations have disappeared or are disappearing. what problems is this causing what measures could be taken to counter this situation, the internet has changed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems the did not exist before. what are the problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you suggest, the percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20 % in the last 10 years. discuss the causes and effects, in many countries, children show less respect to elders. what are the causes of such behaviour what can be done to address this situation, in many countries, people are now living longer than ever before.some people say an ageing population creates problems for governments.other people think there are benefits if a society has more elderly people. to what extent do the advantages of having an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages, more and more animal species are being extinct because of human activites on land and seas. why is this happening what are solutions for this problem, more and more serious crimes seem to be committed each year. some think that the death penalty is the best way to deal with this problem while other people think different measures are more likely to be successful. discuss both options., in many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. some people say an aging population creates problems for government. other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people. to what extent do the advantages of having an aging population outweigh the disadvantages, in many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. some people say an ageing population creates problems for governments, other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people. i to what extent do the advantages of having an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages, in many countries, people are now living longer than ever before. some people say an ageing population creates problems for governments. other people think there are benefits if society has more elderly people. to what extent do the advantages of having an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages, the migration of people to cities is one of the biggest problems facing the world's cities today. discuss the main causes. what solutions could be used to tackle the situation, plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment. what damage does plastic do to the environment what can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem, in some places, young people find it difficult to communicate with older people. why is this what are the solutions, many university students nowadays live away from home and their parents because of their university location, while others live with their families. what are the advantages and disadvantages of each situation, more and more people are moving away from an agricultural background to relocate to cities to look for work. what will be the consequences of this what solutions can you offer, many people today are worried about the large quantities of waste produced by ordinary households. what problems are caused by household waste, and what solutions may be possible in both the short and long term, environmental problems such as pollution and climate change are increasing nowadays. the government has taken some measures at a global level but they only get some solutions. why is it so how can this problem be solved.

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Band 6 Student Answer with Examiner’s Report

Lots of students only require a Band 6 or 6.5 in their IELTS test and I get lots of questions every week about what a Band 6 essay looks like and what is required to get a 6. I recently marked a Band 6 essay for one of our essay correction service students and you can read it below.

I have included the picture of the original essay below so you can see the original corrections and I have included the examiner’s report and sample answer. This student was able to get the Band 7 they required after following the advice below.

Task Response- Band 6

You address all parts of the task and cover both arguments. However, the question asked you to discuss both views and you spend much more time saying why children were happy and not adults.

You presented a clear position throughout the response. It was very good to see that you gave a clear thesis statement in your introduction and then used the rest of the essay to support this view. ƒ

You present, extend and support main ideas, but there was a tendency to over-generalise at times.

Suggestions –

For discussion (discuss both views) it is important that you give equal time to both views. Even if you disagree with one view, you should write one paragraph saying why you disagree. If you did this, you would have got a higher band.

One thing that you could do better is provide specific examples. The more specific you can be with your examples, the more authority your points have. You can make your examples more specific by adding dates, statistics, peoples’ names or place names. See my article below.

Be careful not to have too many ideas. Your ideas are relevant, but it is better to have fewer ideas and support these with explanations and examples, than simply list lots of ideas that are not fully developed. Examiners are looking for fully developed ideas, not lists of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion- Band 7

You logically organise information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout. The structure that you have used really helps in this area and makes everything easy to follow and flows very nicely. However, it can be improved even more.

You use a range of cohesive devices (linking words) appropriately although there is some over-use. All linking words are used accurately and effectively, but there tends to be a reliance on them through overuse. This is not a huge problem, but the higher band scores use cohesive devices much less than you currently do.

Each paragraph presents a clear central topic and this is really helped by a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

Try using this paragraph structure for discussion questions:

Introduction • Paraphrase Question • Thesis Statement • Outline Statement (outline what you will discuss in the rest of the essay)

Discussion of first side • Main point • Explanation of main point (linked to your opinion) • Example

Discussion of second side • Main point • Explanation of main point (linked to your opinion) • Example

Conclusion • Summary of main ideas and opinion

Your use of cohesive devices is very good, but you do have a tendency to overuse them. You don’t get more marks for every cohesive device you use and in fact, you will be penalised for overusing them. Only use them when necessary. If you look at my example essays I might only use them once or twice per paragraph.

Vocabulary- Band 6

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the task such as ‘financial responsibilities’, ‘academic environment’ and ‘scientific competitions’. You attempt to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy and you make some errors in word formation, but they do not impede communication. Please see corrections above for examples of this.

You do try to use advanced vocabulary but this often leads to small mistakes. Follow the 100% rule- don’t try to use any words you are not 100% sure about. It is better to use simple words and make no mistakes than use advanced words, but in error. By 100% I mean that you should be sure about spelling, grammar, collocations, synonyms, antonyms etc.

In the long term you should think about starting a vocabulary book. This is a place where you record new vocabulary with spelling, grammar, collocations, synonyms, antonyms and example sentences to make sure you know it 100%. You can then review these new words regularly so that they become a natural part of your vocabulary.

You should also give yourself a few minutes at the end to evaluate your vocabulary and make sure you have not made any mistakes.

Finally, synonyms are important and you should try to use them, but only use them if you know that they mean exactly the same as the word you are replacing. They should also be grammatically correct. If you are not sure, just repeat the word.

Grammar- Band 5

You attempt complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences.

You make frequent grammatical errors and some errors can cause some difficulty for the reader.

Please see above for grammatical errors.

Suggestions-

Establish your common grammar errors and then review this grammar. There are lots of online activities you can do to practice and perfect each area you are weak in.

Also, follow the 100% rule for grammar. You should only write sentences that you know are 100% correct. If there is any doubt then you need to think about how you can express your point in a simpler way, that has no mistakes.

It is better to write in a simple way and make no mistakes, than use complex grammar and structures with frequent errors.

Overall- Band 6

Overall this was a good essay but there are some things you can do to improve in the future.

The main things you can do is to answer the question by doing what it asks you to do. In this question you have been asked to ‘Discuss both views and give your own opinion.’ You have really only discussed one of the views. You need to make it really clear to the examiner that you have discussed both views by having a separate paragraph for each.

Your coherence will also improve if you use the structure I suggested above and you should also check out the structures for the other types of essay. I have included a link for this below.

Your cohesion is very good, but remember that you don’t need to start every sentence with a linking word, one or two per paragraph is enough.

Your vocabulary and grammar are your two biggest challenges. The quick way to fixing these is to follow the 100% rule I suggest above and if you want to fix these long term I would suggest the following:

1. Read books/blogs/magazines about the common IELTS Task 2 topics, such as Education, Health and Technology. Note down any new words in a vocabulary notebook as I suggested above and then review this regularly. It will take you a little while, but soon your vocabulary will really expand.

2. Find out what your common grammar mistakes are. Most people make the same grammar mistakes over and over again. When you know what these are, you can review the grammar rules, practice online and fix them.

If you can improve the things above, I am confident that you can increase your band score.

Suggested Resources

Paraphrases in IELTS/ Writing a Supporting Paragraph in IELTS/ How to Analyze IELTS Writing Task 2 IELTS Writing Conclusions IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures Common IELTS Task 2 Topics IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Discussion

Do you need help with IELTS Writing? Try our IELTS Correction Service .

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

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10 reasons you might be in stuck in Band 6 in IELTS Writing

by Erica L. Meltzer | Apr 28, 2021 | Blog | 4 comments

If you’re studying for the IELTS, you’re probably aware that obtaining a high score in Writing tends to be more difficult than obtaining a high score in Listening, Reading, or Speaking. In fact, it is common for Writing scores to be lower than the others by a full band, sometimes more. The statistics kept by the British Council indicate that this pattern holds true across countries and native languages, including English.

In many cases, candidates score in the 8-9 range without too much trouble in Listening and Reading, and often above 7 in Speaking, but then find themselves stuck—sometimes repeatedly—at 6 or 6.5 in Writing.

This is not entirely surprising. Expressing oneself in a foreign language generally is more challenging than understanding one, and unlike in speaking, tone of voice and facial expressions cannot be used to convey or support written meaning—if a person doesn’t say precisely what they mean, the reader will become confused.

Moreover, while everyday language is acceptable for the speaking test, the Writing test requires the application of more formal grammar, vocabulary, and syntax to discussions of relatively sophisticated concepts. This is not an easy task, even for native English speakers.

Despite this, the persistent gap between Writing scores and Listening/Reading/Speaking scores leads to frequent claims that the IELTS is a scam designed to extract money from candidates by forcing them to continually re-take the exam. With very few exceptions, however, the reality is that essays that receive Band 6 scores are written at a Band 6 level.

Although there is only a half-band difference between a 6.5 and a 7, it is also the difference between B2 level (essentially advanced intermediate) and C1 (lower advanced). By definition, an “advanced” user of English is one who has mastered beginning- and intermediate-level material, and so to earn a 7, you must demonstrate a solid grasp of the fundamentals, plus show that you are capable of going beyond them. It does not matter how many high-level words or advanced constructions you attempt to include; if enough of the basics aren’t right, you’ll stay stuck in Band 6.

That all said, common issues in Band 6 essays tend to fall into a clear set of categories. Here are 10 of the top ones:

1) You’re translating from your native language*

To make a very broad generalization, Band 6 writing often sounds as if it were translated from the writer’s first language, whereas Band 7 writing sounds as though it were composed in English (which does not mean that it must be perfect).

This can be an enormous leap to make because it requires you to stop thinking about English as something that exists in relation to Chinese, or Portuguese, or Hindi, or Korean, etc. (or that has the same structure as your first language and merely uses different words), but rather as a separate entity that exists on its own terms.

If you really want to achieve fluency, this is a mental barrier you must eventually break through. Watch television or films in English, and repeat what the characters say. Read out loud, even if you’re alone. Practice getting the sound and the rhythm of the language in your head so that you can start to make it your own. Learning grammar isn’t just about memorizing specific constructions; it’s also about developing a sense of how words are put together to convey thoughts.

*Note that in everyday conversation, Anglophones typically say native language or first language , not mother tongue .

2) You don’t follow basic conventions in spacing, punctuation, and capitalization  

Repeat after me: Writing an essay isn’t like texting, writing an essay isn’t like texting, writing an essay isn’t like texting…

Interestingly, few of the lessons and tips you’ll find online emphasize the sheer importance of having your writing look correct. But do not underestimate the power of appearance.

So, for the record, the standard formula for using punctuation in English is as follows:

word + punctuation + 1 space + word

Do not add omit or add spaces.

In the example below, notice how this rule is applied each time a punctuation mark is used:  

In the past, people shopped in physical stores. Today, they make many of their purchases online.

You absolutely cannot write like this:

In the past,people shopped in physical stores  .Today , they make many of their purchases online.

Capitalize:

• Proper names (people, places, names of months, companies, brands)
• The first word after a period/full stop

Do. Not. Capitalize. Anything. Else.

3) You under-, over-, or misuse linking devices

You may know that the use of linking devices (i.e., transitional words and phrases such as therefore , however , indeed ) is a big part of your Coherence and Cohesion mark. If you don’t use them, or under-use them, you certainly won’t score well. Conversely, you shouldn’t try to stick one of these words at the beginning of every sentence, whether it’s needed or not.

But there’s another piece that often goes overlooked: to achieve a high band score in this area, your use of transitions must be fluid and natural—that is, the words/phrases should serve only to connect your ideas and should not draw any attention to themselves . A common mistake among Band 6 scorers is to alter standard phrases in order to make them seem more sophisticated, often in ways that are very un-idiomatic (e.g., writing on the dark side instead of on the other hand ) and that cause the reader to focus on them instead of on the ideas they connect.

Linking devices are formulas; the language isn’t intended to be original, and you won’t earn points for trying to make them into something they’re not.

4) Your sentences are too long/out of control

Yes, to obtain a high Writing score, you must include some “complex sentences”; however, a “complex” sentence is essentially a sentence that contains different types of clauses. Such sentences can actually be fairly short and straightforward. For example, Because so many people now shop online, numerous local businesses have closed is a complex sentence.

Many IELTS candidates, however, mistakenly believe that “complex” means “very long and complicated” and add clause after clause. The result in run-ons that feel sloppy and out of control, and that can be difficult for a reader to follow—indeed, this is one of the hallmarks of Band-6 writing. Try to limit your sentences to three clauses (phrases that contain a subject and verb).

You have to master being simple and clear before you can get sophisticated. Otherwise, you’re likely to end up with a mess.

Another very common problem involves comma splices: two sentences connected by a comma rather than a period/full stop or semicolon. Most people, native English speakers included, have trouble here not because they don’t know the rule but because they don’t really know when a statement is and is not a grammatically complete sentence.

Two specific constructions  are generally involved in this error. Because they are so common, many writers do not even realize they are wrong at all.

5) You (mis-)use too many big words  

When the IELTS marking guidelines refer to “less-common” vocabulary, they mean high-content, topic-specific words such as carbon-neutral emissions in an essay about the environment, or short-term rentals and  housing bubble in an essay about housing in cities.

The guidelines do NOT mean that you should write things like in a highly expeditious manner (or worse, in highly expeditious manner ) instead of rapidly . You don’t get extra points for using fancy words where common, to-the-point ones are more appropriate. The point of the IELTS Writing Test is to show that you can use English as a vehicle to convey your ideas in a clear and coherent manner, not to demonstrate that you’ve memorized a dictionary.

Besides, using obscure vocabulary won’t compensate for grammar/syntax errors. On the contrary, it will make those mistakes even more obvious.

It also won’t help you if those fancy words aren’t used quite correctly. As a general rule, the less common the word, the more specific the meaning, and the fewer the situations in which it can acceptably be used. So stop trying to memorize a zillion random collocations/idioms, and focus on learning high-content words associated with common IELTS essays topics, e.g., city life, transportation, family, education, and the arts.

Good use of these words + solid basic grammar and syntax = Band 7.

6) You have trouble with articles

If your native language does not use definite articles ( a/an ) and/or a definite article ( the ), you may be underestimating the importance of these words in English and their outsized potential to affect your IELTS Writing score.

This is a serious problem because articles are used constantly, and English does not sound like English without them. An issue in this area can easily translate into mistakes in the majority of your sentences, leaving you almost no room for additional errors and bringing the grammar part of your score so low that you cannot compensate for it in the other three areas. 

Unless you have already been told by a native English speaker from the UK, US, Australia, etc. that your article usage is solid, find someone from one of those places, and ask them to check just your articles. Even if you don’t have much money, you can find a cheap tutor online. A native speaker will be able to tell instantaneously whether something is amiss in a way that non-native teachers often cannot.

If you’re not sure how well you know your articles, you can test yourself   here .

7) You have trouble with common tenses

Contrary to popular belief, there is no requirement that you use particular “advanced” tenses or forms such as the passive voice in your IELTS essays. And at any rate, errors in Band 6 essays tend to stem not (only) from the incorrect use of complex structures but from mistakes in high-frequency intermediate structures.

Again, an advanced user is by definition someone who has mastered lower-level material, and so you must demonstrate a solid understanding of the most common tenses in order to obtain a Band-7 score.

It is not enough to know how common tenses are formed, or to be able to recite rules for how they are used—you must be able to apply your knowledge, under pressure, in an unfamiliar situation.

Common areas of difficulty include:

• The present perfect ( has done ) vs. the simple past ( did ), particularly with since and for .
• The overuse of the conditional ( they could/would do ), often where the simple present ( they do ) is more appropriate.
• The use of the future instead of the conditional in requests and polite constructions ( I will like  instead of I would like ), and the use of the conditional instead of the future to describe future actions ( I would do it tomorrow instead of  I will do it tomorrow ).

8) Your language is too casual, too formal, or both

Much of the confusion in this area stems from the use of the term “formal” essay. In reality, the type of writing required for the Task 2 essay (and Task 1 General Training) is better described as semi-formal—truly formal language is reserved for official documents such as legal contracts. Misunderstandings about what constitutes “formal” language are often responsible for the overuse of obscure excessively fancy language.

To get a sense of what “moderately formal” language looks/sounds like, check a serious newspaper/news site such as the BBC . That’s the approximate level of formality, or register , you’re aiming for.

The flip side of this problem, of course, is the use of overly informal language. As a rule, you should not use contractions in Task 2 essays (e.g., write do not rather than don’t ), and you should also avoid using too many phrasal verbs—especially ones with get —since these tend to create a more casual tone. The same goes for a lot (borderline acceptable;  many or numerous is safer) and vague/informal words like things and stuff .

In IELTS General Training, overly correct language in an informal letter is also a fairly common—though under-discussed—problem. Anglophones do not normally use formal conjunctions such as therefore , and certainly not hence , when communicating with friends (they say so instead), but this is the type of thing that tends to turn up in Task 1 letters.

If you typically use English only at work or in the classroom, you need to get comfortable with a more casual level of language. Stream some English-language television shows, or read some popular novels and pay attention to the dialogue.

Finally, you must be careful not to mix formal and informal language , e.g.,  In some impoverished nations   (formal) , a bunch of kids have to quit school (informal) and work in factories rather than In some impoverished nations, many children are forced to withdraw from school and work in factories . This is another very common issue in Band 6/6.5 essays.  

9) You go off-topic or don’t answer questions fully

Remember that you must pay close attention to the how the question is worded and answer exactly and completely what is asked.

If you are asked to give examples , plural, you must provide more than one example. If you are instructed to give your opinion, you must make clear which side of the argument you agree with or, in the case of “to what extent questions”, how strongly you agree/disagree with a particular viewpoint. Two-hundred-and-fifty words is not a lot of space—aim for clarity, not subtlety or complexity.

In addition, the relationship between your examples and the point you are making must be clear—the reader should not have to make an effort to follow the logic of your ideas.

To avoid these problems, you should plan to spend about five minutes brainstorming and outlining before you begin to write. Knowing how your essay will be organized before you begin to write will help you keep your argument focused and thorough, and help you avoid the classic Band-6 disorganized “feel”.  It will give you a chance to think of examples that might not be immediately obvious, and to select your strongest ones—it will also give you a chance to get past the panicked “I can’t think of any ideas” stage.

10) You don’t develop your examples

A very common mistake among Band 6 scorers is to simply list every idea they can think of to support their argument, without stopping to develop any particular point. As a result, their paragraphs read more like lists of points, jumping from idea to idea, often without transitional words or phrases between them. (Click here to learn how to structure a high-scoring body paragraph.)

A good guideline is to spend 3-5 sentences (depending on length) developing each major point—essentially a paragraph. That gives you enough space to present two solid examples, and to elaborate on them in sufficient detail . Any less than that and you won’t be able to discuss your point in sufficient depth; any more, and you risk adding irrelevant details/repeating yourself and taking up space that could be better used to advance your argument.

tips of passing the exam

Actually, a study in the UK shows no clear difference between a band of 6.5 and 7 in writing. It makes the whole test feels like a scam for money

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These were great tips to improve writing. I will try to follow those tips. Actually, it is very difficult when you have just a month to improve all the sections of the IELTS exam. I will try my best.

Thanks for explaining thoroughly.

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