20 tips for effective writing (General training)

Types of essays:

Type1: Make an opinion ( support you opinion )
Type2: Problem and solution
Type3: Discuss both sides and give your opinion
Type4: Agree/disagree

20 Tips for effective writing:

1. Outline

Take 1-2 minutes for making an outline and deciding the key points to write in different body paragraphs.

2. Number of paragraphs

Write an essay in 4 or 5 paragraphs

•  Introduction - general to specific

• body paragraph 1

• body paragraph 2

• body paragraph 3 ( optional )

• conclusion

3. Introduction

Introduction is just reframing the language of question in your own words.

4. Body paragraphs

Body paragraphs should be an inverted paragraph, where you talk about general and then move to specific.

 5. Conclusion

Use the words '' in a nutshell, in conclusion, to sum up'' in your conclusion and write the overall frame of your essay giving your opinion.

6. Quote examples

Try to give examples of your ideas in the body paragraphs. Doing this will extend your paragraphs as well as provide proof for your ideas.

7. Cohesion

There should be cohesion- logical sequence in your writing. Paragraphs should be readable with the flow, therefore, use transition words such as - however, moreover, nonetheless, regardless.

8. Stay on point 

Be specific about the idea of what you are writing in a particular paragraph. Do not mix up two different opinions in a single paragraph.

9. Use a range of vocabulary 

Do not use the same word again and again. Learn at least 4-5 synonyms for common words that can help in your essay writing.

10. No errors

Make sure to have no spelling errors and no grammatical errors. It causes a lower band score.

11. Complex structure sentences

Try to use complex structure sentences e.g. 

• While I am a passionate basketball fan, I prefer football.

• Although she was considered smart, she failed all her exams.

12. Quality over quantity

Try to understand the importance of quality over quantity. Your ideas, vocabulary, cohesion and collocation matters. Moreover, you need not to write more than 250 words. So, if you are going for more than 300 words, you are wasting your time.

13. Sentence formation

Do not start sentences with 'and', 'or', 'because' , 'but' etc.

14. Coordinating conjunction

Put a comma before coordinating conjunctions i.e. and, but, yet, so, therefore.

15. Correlative conjunction

Correlative conjunction can help you to get a high band score e.g."both/and," "either/or," "neither/nor," "not/but" and "not only/but also.

16. Read more and more

Try to read the examples of IELTS essay writing as much as you can. If your mind has ideas, you will not waste time thinking.

17. Time management

Save the last 5 minutes to revise what you have written. You will definitely find mistakes proofreading your essay.

18. Passive voice

Try to use passive voice while writing your sentences.

19. Cover all the points Make sure you have covered all the points given in the question.

20. Practice

Practice a lot and make it a habit to complete your writing within 30-35 minutes.