Understanding the TASK in an IELTS essay is super important, as this will determine the ‘quality’ of the BRAINSTORMING and the actual WRITING that follows.
If your students also struggle with the four essay types that they might encounter on the exam, give them this exercise to raise their awareness.
“Read the following IELTS essay tasks, then answer the questions below”.
ESSAY TASKS:
1)
There has been an increase in homelessness in your country in the last few years.
What could be done to SOLVE this problem?
2)
There has been an increase in homelessness in the world in the last few years.
What could be done to SOLVE this problem?
3)
There has been an increase in homelessness in the world in the last few years.
What do you think is CAUSING this problem?
4)
There has been an increase in homelessness and drug abuse among people living in the street in the last few years.
What do you think is CAUSING this problem?
QUESTIONS:
1) Which three essays will have the SAME TOPIC?
2) Which essay has a ‘DOUBLE’ TOPIC compared to the others?
3) Which two essays will be DESCRIBING a phenomenon?
4) Which essay will probably mention some SOLUTIONS on a NATIONAL level?
5) Which two essays will be offering SOLUTIONS to a problem?
6) Which is the only essay with a slightly DIFFERENT TOPIC from all the others?
7) Which essay will probably talk about some possible INTERNATIONAL solutions?
(ANSWER KEY:
Possible answers
1) Essays 1, 2 and 3 (‘homelessness’)
2) Essay 4 (‘homelessness and drug abuse’)
3) Essay 3 and 4 (‘the causes of the increase in homelessness’)
4) Essay 1 (‘homelessness in your country’)
5) Essay 1 and 2 (‘What could be done to solve this problem?’)
6) Essay 4 (‘homelessness and drug abuse’)
7) Essay 2 (‘homelessness in the ‘world’ and ‘What could be done to solve this problem?’)
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Hi. I’m Fatime. I’m an IELTS Teacher Trainer, helping CELTA-qualified English language teachers become better at teaching SKILLS, as opposed to just testing them.
Check out my courses here:
How to Teach IELTS Listening:
How to Teach IELTS Reading:
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How to Teach IELTS Speaking:
