ielts practice writing test teacher feedback

7/27/2019 IELTS Practice Writing Test Teacher Feedback

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ielts-practice-writing-test-teacher-feedback 1/3

IELTS Practice Writing Test Teacher Feedback

Directions: Below is a list of the most common errors teachers found in your

IELTS Practice Writing Test. Please read document carefully. Print out a copy, and

use it when you are practicing for the IELTS Writing Test to help remind you of the

kinds of mistakes you should avoid making. Be sure to ask your teacher if you haveany questions about the mistakes described in the list.

1) Original Sentence: “The charts below show the number of Japanese tourists

travelling abroad between 1985 and 1995 and Australia’s share of the Japanese

tourist market.”

Problem: The language here is exactly the same as the language given in the

question prompt. You should not copy this language directly. Always paraphrase

instead.

Correction: “The first graph displays the number of Japanese people who went

overseas each year during the decade starting in 1985. The second graph showsthe percentage of those Japanese tourists that went to Australia during that same

period of time.”

2) Original: “Japanese people earn a high salary so they travel a lot.”

Problem: This conclusion about Japanese people is not supported by the

information provided in the charts. You should only draw conclusions that are

supported directly by the data given in the graphs / charts.

3) Problem: In Task 1, students did a good job discussing the data in general

terms. For example: “In 1995 there were more Japanese tourists than there were in1985.” Yet too many students only discussed the charts in general terms, and did

not report specific data with numbers in it. For example: “In 1995, about 5 million

Japanese tourists travelled abroad.” In your writing, you should use at least some

specific numerical data to go along with your discussion of general trends.

4) Original: “In 1995, there are 5 million Japanese tourists travelling abroad.”

Problem: Students are using the wrong verb tense. When discussing facts about

the past, you need to use the past tense. In the last few minutes of the IELTS

Writing Test, you should check your work for simple grammar and spelling errors.

Correction: “In 1995, there were about 5 million Japanese tourists travelling

abroad.”

5) Original: “Over the past 10 years, the Australia’s share of the tourist market has

grown.”

Problem: Improper use of the article “the” to talk about countries. Countries have

two names: 1) their general name, like “China,” and 2) their full official name, like



“The People’s Republic of China.” When we use the general name, we never use the

article “the” before it. When we use the full official name, we always use “the”

before it.

Correction: “Over the past 10 years, Australia’s share of the tourist market has

grown.”

6) Problem: In Task 2, most students did not attempt to show an alternative view

in their writing. Students who argued that old buildings should be kept, only made

arguments supporting this position, and never attempted to acknowledge that there

might be any problems with trying to protect old buildings. Although it is not

absolutely necessary to offer an alternative view, it is a characteristic of good

argumentative writing. It shows the reader that you are a balanced and critical

thinker, and that you are capable of looking at a problem from more than one

perspective.

Example: “Although the protection of historical buildings is obviously a worthwhile

cause, there are many issues that need to be addressed if we are to do so, such as

who will bear the costs; will it be the government or the owner of the property? In

order to avoid unnecessary conflict between the government and its citizens, as

part of any effort to preserve buildings of historical value, it is essential that a clear

cost-sharing policy be established from the very beginning.”

7 + 8) Original: “The problem of old buildings make government in trouble.”

Problem: There are two problems here. The first is that the sentence lacks clarity.

It is not clear what problem the author is talking about. Also, it is not clear how an

old building could make the government in trouble. The second problem is that after

this sentence, the author does not offer arguments and examples to support the

opinion.

Correction: “Decisions about the protection of old buildings can be difficult for

governments.” The next sentences should explain this idea in further detail by

providing an explanation or an example. The author should answer the following

question: How or why can decisions about the protection of old buildings be difficult

for governments?

9) Original: “Over the last twenty years, many new buildings have been erected

just like flourish plants after raining cats and dogs.”

Problem: The inappropriate use of clichés. A cliché is an old familiar saying has lost

its creative / persuasive power through overuse. The example from the original

sentence is: “raining cats and dogs.” Other examples are, “Every coin has two

sides,” and “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Using clichés is never a very good idea in

academic writing. It makes your writing seem unprofessional and empty. Also, when

clichés are used incorrectly (as in the original sentence), it causes a lack of clarity.



Correction: “Over the last twenty years, there has been a dramatic increase in the

number of new buildings being constructed in China.”

10) Original: “Today we live in a modern life, and we use the latest technology to

improve our living level.”

Problem: Incorrect use of vocabulary. This problem has two primary causes: 1)

general carelessness of thought, “we live in a modern life,” (how do you live IN a

life?), and 2) Chinglish, or thinking in Chinese and writing in English: “living level.”

Correction: “In today’s modern world, new technology is used to improve our

standard of living.”

ielts practice writing test teacher feedback

Documents