First and foremost – don’t overdo it! Here at MarkMyIELTS it is all too common to see an IELTS introduction that is too long, too complex and too full of mistakes. Read on for one of our most popular How-to Tips for IELTS.
Remember – there is NO CRITERIA to award marks for an introduction in the Task 2 marking scheme. This means that essentially you can only lose points for a bad introduction, not gain points for a good one. So, keep it simple, direct and short. In that way you can save your word count for the body paragraphs; where developing and extending your ideas will earn you extra marks.
First and foremost – don’t overdo it! Here at MarkMyIELTS it is all too common to see an IELTS introduction that is too long, too complex and too full of mistakes. Read on for one of our most popular How-to Tips for IELTS.
Remember – there is NO CRITERIA to award marks for an introduction in the Task 2 marking scheme. This means that essentially you can only lose points for a bad introduction, not gain points for a good one. So, keep it simple, direct and short. In that way you can save your word count for the body paragraphs; where developing and extending your ideas will earn you extra marks.
Step by Step – writing an introduction
All you have to do is briefly outline what the essay is about by re-stating the question, using different language (but be careful not to over-paraphrase as this leads to mistakes) and saying what your opinion is if required. Avoid phrases like “In this essay I will” if you are aiming for a high band score, as this is an inelegant style.
Here are some examples for the following task –
Nowadays, distance-learning programs are becoming more and more popular, but some people argue that online courses can never be as effective as those taken at a college or university in person.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is well-known that remote learning is increasing in popularity, but many people question if it is as effective as face-to-face learning. Personally I believe that online courses can be just as effective as traditional ones.
This introduction is 2 sentences, totalling 36 words, which is plenty. It is clear and accurate with no mistakes. That is all you need! Don’t waste time and words on a lengthy introduction, and try to avoid memorised phrases if you can.
Having said that (this is a nice contrasting phrase that means ‘however’😃) there are some useful phrases you can use in many introductions:-
Tips for Writing your Task 2 IELTS Introduction
- It is often said that
- It is frequently believed that
- It is widely believed that
Use these to start an essay by introducing a statement that PEOPLE THINK is true. For example “Playing computer games is a waste of time. Children should not be allowed to play them.” To what extent to you agree or disagree with the statement?” or “Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different ages and cultures together”
- It is true that
- It is widely known that
- It is generally accepted that
Use these to start an essay by introducing a statement that IS TRUE. For example “Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than work for a company or organisation” or “Children in modern societies tend to stay indoors and use technology rather than play outside as they did in the past”
- Personally I believe (opinion essay)
- There are various problems caused by this, however solutions are possible (problem/solution essay)
- There are several reasons for this, in my opinion (reasons/2-question essay)
- This leads to various positive developments, both positive and negative (advantage/disadvantage essay)
These are to begin the second sentence – but MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE. Clarity is the most important part of an introduction.
How to Tips – Self study
You can practice writing introductions; get a list of questions (check out Cambridge books or we will send you one!) do it again and again until you can write a clear, error-free introduction quickly and without too much planning.
In conclusion – keep it simple! Good luck!