How To Check Your IELTS Essay
It is really important to allow at least 5 minutes at the end of your test to check your IELTS essay. Under the pressure of the test it is not uncommon for test-takers to make mistakes that they normally would not. Self-correcting your essay can definitely improve your band score, so do it!
It is not possible to rewrite paragraphs during this 5 minutes, or change your arguments significantly, however you can quickly check for these common IELTS writing mistakes:
- Spelling mistakes.
- Capital letters, full-stops and general punctuation.
- Missing, or mis-use of articles 'a, an and the'.
- Prepositions: in, at, on, by, for etc...
- Word formations: success, successful, successfully.
- Letter 's' endings.
Can you spot the 10 mistakes in the paragraph below. Try for yourself first, and then check your ideas by clicking the 'Answers' tab.
university graduates posess a deeper knowledge which can improve there work ethic and enable them too be more effective employee, where as those with experience only, may require additional training later in their carears. I remain of the firm opinion that completing university education is off greater importance than time spent gaining hand on experience
University graduates possess a deeper knowledge which can improve their work ethic and enable them to be more effective employees, where as those with experience only, may require additional training later in their careers. I remain of the firm opinion that completing a university education is of greater importance than time spent gaining hands on experience.
How many times have you made similar mistakes to those above? As a final reminder, these are some of the things you can check for and correct quickly and easily in the last 5 minutes of your test:
- Spelling mistakes.
- Capital letters, full-stops and general punctuation.
- Missing, or mis-use of articles 'a, an and the'.
- Prepositions: in, at, on, by, for etc...
- Word formations: success, successful, successfully.
- Letter 's' endings.
Now, you might want to look at some model answers to real IELTS questions from recent exams.
IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic)
Discover how to describe all types of visual data that you may see in this part of the test.
Sshhhhh! Listen closely, here are some valuable tips, techniques and strategies for maximising your listening band score.
IELTS Writing Task 1 (General)
Discover how to write in the correct format and tone for this part of the test.
Learn 'what' to say and 'how' to say it in each part of the test to impress the examiner.
