One of the biggest challenges you will face is mastering the essay portion of the exam, regardless of whether you are taking the IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, exam as a requirement to enroll in a college or university in an English-speaking nation, or you are taking it to find a job or to immigrate to an English-speaking country. 

However, there are a few things you should be aware of to complete the second writing task on the exam's writing section as well as you can.

Although Task 1 of the IELTS Writing module—writing a letter for General Training and a report for Academic—is by no means simple, many candidates find Task 2—writing an essay—to be more difficult. 

You must respond to a specific question in task 2. IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you explicitly to create an essay of at least 250 words on a predetermined subject. But don't forget, the task has a deadline. You have 40 minutes to deliver the assigned topic intelligently, in your own words, and without any obvious blunders.

IELTS Writing Task 2 offers you a variety of essay types to choose from. Opinion Essays, Argumentative Essays, Pros and Cons Essays, Problem & Solution Essays, and Mixed Essays. 

You must recognize the kind of essay requested and prepare your response accordingly. You should draw on your knowledge, experience, and examples when responding.

Practical Guidelines and Tips for IELTS Essay Writing

Understand

Half the battle is won by comprehending the details of the question. All of the topics mentioned in the question must be carefully considered. Consider the question carefully before deciding whether it is a discussion, an opinion, a problem-solving approach, or a combination of these. 

Determine the essay's primary points and the examiner's expectations by identifying the key terms. Avoid writing about a broad subject; you won't get much better than a band 5.

Learn About The Basic Aspects

You can join IELTS Preparation classes for IELTS Writing Practice to help you become comfortable with the test format, sample questions, etc. Your vocabulary will grow, which will help you generate new ideas. Additionally, make an effort to read newspapers more often, improving your vocabulary and keeping you current on ongoing events in your environment. 

Always remember that the IELTS exam measures your proficiency in the English language, not your knowledge. Therefore, to improve the quality of your writing, give your response with a well-organized thought process and several examples.

Bring Out Your Concepts

Spend the first five minutes of your writing session with different ideas. Take out a pencil and jot down as many different perspectives and aspects that you can think of that are connected to the essay's specific topic. 

If the test-taker plans and arranges their ideas in a proper paraphrased style, they will perform better. It will help you write your essay better and more quickly because you have already visualized it in your thoughts.

Ask questions to yourself.

While reading the essay topic, you can develop ideas by asking yourself why, what, were, who, and how. You'll be able to think more clearly and generate more ideas when you pose these questions to yourself.

Maintain Lexical Resources

The lexical resource is one of the four writing assessment criteria determining your writing grade. However, many IELTS candidates are ignorant of the usage of linguistic characteristics. 

Lexical resources include a wide enough vocabulary, accurate spelling, effective use of collocations, and effective word formation. People unaware of this tend to overuse certain words in their essays. But when reading your response, an examiner looks for a range of words and phrases. 

A lack of variety in your words gives the reader a wrong impression of your vocabulary. He/she assigns you a low grade because they believe you have limited linguistic proficiency. Therefore, whenever feasible, avoid using repeating words in your essay.

Creating paragraphs

Many candidates fail to use paragraphs when writing an essay or other types of academic writing. In just one paragraph, they concisely cover the entire subject. However, doing so for the IELTS Essay Writing Task would unquestionably lower your score. 

Divide your thoughts into separate paragraphs. In one paragraph, thoroughly explain each of your ideas using appropriate examples. After that, begin a new paragraph with a fresh thought. But remember that even if they are written in various paragraphs, your ideas should be logically connected. For the IELTS Essay Writing Task, a four-paragraph essay works best. 

Only use new paragraphs as necessary. Avoid introducing extraneous details or attempting to lengthen the paragraph needlessly. As a result, there will be less likelihood of receiving a high band score.

Understand grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

In IELTS Writing Task 2, it's crucial to use proper language, write with the correct spelling, and use the punctuation marks where they belong. You should exercise additional caution in this regard. Any error, no matter how small, will lower your score. So practicing beforehand is vital to ensure success.

Language Should Be Formal

It is a fairly typical problem in this era of SMS and other chat tools to utilize colloquial language and abbreviated texts. But for the IELTS Exam, this is forbidden. Your grade will suffer if you use vocabulary or terms that offend the examiner. Consequently, you should write in a formal tone.

Managing Your Time

Since the exam has a time limit, it's critical to finish the IELTS Essay Writing problem within 40 minutes. You must therefore master effective time management techniques before taking the IELTS Exam. 

Utilize a sound method as you begin composing your essay. Plan your essay in no more than five minutes. If at all feasible, aim to finish your essay in 36–37 minutes, so you have the final 2-3 minutes for editing and proofreading. 

You can find any spelling or grammar errors by editing your essay because you might have composed it in a rush. This will enable you to finish your assignment quickly and within the allotted time.

Apply Your Own Opinion

Including your personal opinion in the essay is the best way to write a better one. Imagine that your friend is asking you a question, and write your essay as though you are responding to it by sharing your beliefs and opinions. 

Additionally, attempt to include pertinent examples and situations in your essay to clarify your points. Finally, keep in mind that if you carefully consider and comprehend what the essay topic requires, the IELTS Writing task won't be another hurdle to overcome to earn a band of 7+.

Complete your Answers

Many candidates leave the answers blank to complete the work before the time limit expires. Some people opt to compose their responses using a different writing style, such as using only bullet points or brief words. This practice is improper. 

The IELTS Test is designed to evaluate your English language proficiency. Additionally, the examiner won't be able to assess your abilities if you leave any questions unanswered. He/she will consequently give your essay a low grade. 

Therefore, you must present each issue in a single paragraph with two to three lines of explanation rather than using bullet points or short words. 

You can demonstrate your writing abilities and make a positive impression on the examiner in this manner to improve your grade.

Basic Strategy for Essay Writing

• There are a few things you may bear in mind when writing any kind of essay to raise the caliber and readability of your work. First, always keep in mind that the opening should clearly state the topic of the essay. 
• Since you only have 40 minutes to complete the essay, and its body is what matters most, this opening must be as brief as possible. Avoid beginning your essay by telling the reader what you will be discussing.
• For example, "I will discuss..." or "Today, I will discuss..." (In fact, refraining from using the word "I" at all, even in opinion essays, is terrific essay writing advice that can help you create a better final product.)
• The body of the essay will come after the introduction. Only two or three paragraphs should be used for the body. Keep in mind that each paragraph needs to cover a particular topic. Your ability to stay on topic and develop a stronger argument can be significantly enhanced by taking Quality Paragraph and Essay Writing courses at various institutions, which will teach you how to produce more substantial, more cohesive paragraphs for your essays.
• The essay's conclusion, which should only be a few sentences long and generally stress the point you are attempting to make (if it was an opinion essay) or restate the essay's overall thesis, should be brief.

You will find it simpler to earn your desired grade on the IELTS Essay Writing test now because you are familiar with enough information. Making mistakes can decrease your chances of success. 

So, read through these suggestions carefully and put them into regular practice. Express your thoughts with clarity and precision, and then support your writing with pertinent examples.