How many words to write in IELTS task 1 | IELTS Writing word count penalty | How many words in IELTS task 2 | IELTS writing word limit
IELTS Writing word limit: How many words should I Write?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by my students, and it’s always fascinating to hear the range of responses.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of false advice and misunderstandings on this topic. ‘You don’t have to write 250 words in writing part 2, 10% below this is OK,’ and ‘You don’t have to write 250 words in writing part 2, 10% below this is OK,’ are the two worst pieces of advice I’ve received. and ‘To achieve a decent grade, you should write as much as possible.’ These two statements are just incorrect, and they will result in a loss of marks.
Let’s begin to know some important doubts about IELTS writing word limit…
What happens if I write under the word count or IELTS writing word limit?
The only piece of advice you should follow is this: if you want to adequately answer the topic, you must write at least 250 words in part 2 and 150 words in part 1. You will lose marks under ‘Task Achievement’ if you write less than these totals because you did not answer the question correctly.
For this reason, IELTS examiners must sit and count all of your words. When an excellent candidate gives a wonderful answer but only writes 249 words in part 2, it’s heartbreaking. Regrettably, we must put them on hold.
Should I write more words to get a good mark?
No! For several reasons, this is a horrible idea.
To begin with, you only have a limited amount of time to respond to both questions. One of the most crucial skills to master in the IELTS writing exam is time management. You will lose marks on the other half if you spend too much time on one question.
Second, if you continue to write beyond the word limit, you are more likely to create grammar errors, which will lower your overall grade.
Finally, you will be evaluated on the basis of quality rather than quantity. Instead of focusing on how long your answer can be, concentrate on making it the best it can be. Remember to set some time for planning and checking in addition to writing.
How many words should I write?
You won’t have enough time during the exam to count all of your words. As a result, I recommend that you attempt to write 10% more than you are required to write. To put it another way, strive for 160-170 words for job 1 and 270-280 words for task 2. If you set a goal of this size, you’ll be far more likely to exceed the word count.
How do I know how many words I have in the exam?
You won’t have time to count all of your words, as previously said, but there are alternative ways to assess this. I recommend that my students print out the official IELTS writing response papers and practise utilizing them. Because all of the answer sheets are the same size, you’ll be able to see how much of the sheet you’re using for the word limit.
By practicing with the official answer papers, you will become more familiar with the test and avoid any surprises on test day.
Are all words counted the same way?
Unfortunately, the answer is no! Words with hyphens, such as ‘First-class’ or ‘State-of-the-art,’ only count as one word. ‘I’ll’ and ‘we’re’ are examples of contractions that count as one word. (Ideally, contractions should not be used in academic works.)
Words like “a,” “an,” and “the” are always included in the word count.
The word count does not include punctuation.
Can I copy words from the question?
You can copy individual words, but not entire sections of the question. Never duplicate complete sentences from the question. The examiner will deduct these words from your word count if you repeat the question, so it’s the same as writing nothing at all. You will be judged on your ability to paraphrase using synonyms, therefore work on mastering this skill to avoid plagiarism. It does not effect the IELTS writing word limit.
Successful sports professionals can earn a lot more money than persons in other key occupations, for example.
Successful athletes can earn significantly more money than persons who work in other vital jobs, for example.
As you can see, the terms successful,”money,’ and ‘important’ have been repeated, but the majority of the other words have been substituted with synonyms.
Can I repeat sentences?
Simply repeating yourself will result in the examiner excluding these words from the count. When they run out of time, some pupils try to repeat themselves. It is always preferable to write something new rather than rehash the same words.