ELTS Writing: You Don’t Need Big Words, You Need Big Thinking

Lesson Summary:

IELTS Writing is NOT a vocabulary competition. It's a clarity competition. The examiner doesn’t care if you use “perambulate” instead of “walk.” What they want is clear, well-structured thinking in English — and that’s what I teach.

“You can’t impress the examiner with English you don’t understand yourself.”

📚 What’s in the Test:

You get 60 minutes to do:

• Task 1:
  Academic – Describe a graph/chart/map/process
  General – Write a letter
  (Recommended time: 20 mins, 150+ words)

• Task 2:
  Essay on an issue — agree/disagree, pros/cons, solutions, etc.
  (Recommended time: 40 mins, 250+ words)

💣 Common Mistakes:

1. Writing too much, too badly.
   Quantity doesn’t fool the examiner — structure does.

2. Overusing 'template phrases'.
   "This essay will elucidate..." sounds robotic if everything else is weak.

3. Missing the question.
   Many students write beautiful essays — to the wrong topic.

🎯 My Writing Formula: IDEA

I – Identify the Task

Are you being asked to discuss, agree, solve, compare, or evaluate? Each has a different structure.

D – Develop Your Arguments

You don’t need 6 points. Just 2 good ones, each with:

• 1 example

• 1 explanation

• 1 link to the topic

E – Express Clearly, Not Fancy

Use vivid, simple English. Clarity is your biggest asset.

A – Answer the Question Throughout

Stay on topic — every paragraph must link back to the question.

🔥 My Classroom Secrets:

• For Task 1 (Academic):
  Never describe the diagram like a storyteller. Instead, group, compare, contrast. I’ll show you how to see trends, not trees.

• For Task 2 (Essay):
  Use this skeleton:
  ➤ Introduction (paraphrase + opinion)
  ➤ Body Para 1 (Main idea + example)
  ➤ Body Para 2 (Second idea + mini contrast)
  ➤ Conclusion (Summarise, don’t repeat)

💡 My Students Learn:

• How to plan a Band 7+ essay in 4 minutes

• What the examiner wants (based on public descriptors)

• Why clarity beats complexity

• How to avoid silly grammar traps

• How to write like a human, not like a grammar book

🌱 Bonus Philosophy:

“Language is not learnt. It is absorbed.”

I help you absorb English through reading, discussion, mock-writing, and live feedback — not robotic templates.

🗣️ Want to See a Live Essay Breakdown?

Book a free 10-minute call with me. I’ll walk you through a Band 9 essay, step by step.