IELTS WRITING
1. 1 Gender role.
Understanding visual prompts
Analyzing the questions
Aims: Understanding the task /
Understanding visual prompts /
Overview of the writing task and process /
2. Analyze the question.
VOCABULARY
Decide which words are commonly associated with
men and which words with women.
Aggressive Compliant
Authoritative Strong
Competitive Vulnerable
Gentle
ABSTRACT NOUNS
Definition: A noun denoting an idea, quality, or
state rather than a concrete object.
Exercise: Acknowledge of abstract nouns is essential
for academic writing. Complete the sentences 1-6
with the noun from (singular or plural) of the
adjectives in brackets.
Example: Agression is commonly considered a
masculine trait (aggresive)
1 I believe that men and 5 Women are often
women have praised
different______(strong) for_____________ ,
whereas men are
2 __________________is not praised for leadership.
an exclusively feminine (compliant)
characteristic. (gentle)
6 There is some evidence
3 Many men have difficulty that girls are better at
showing _________________ cooperation, while
(vulnerable) boys are happier when
they are
4 Some people have difficulty in_________________
working with with one another.
female_____________ (competitive)
figures. (authoritative)
WRITING TASK 1
In IELTS Writing Task 1, you have to summarise
information which is usually presented in a visual
form. Match the figures 1-6 with the headings a-f.
Then complete the descriptions with the words i-ix.
The first one has been done for you.
A Bar chart i comparisons
B Diagram vi vertical
ii axis
C flow chart vii segment
iii columns
D line graph viii features
iv trends
E pie chart ix stage
v percentage
F table
4
6
WRITING TASK 2
In IELTS Writing Task 2, you have to write an essay discussing
opinions and the reasons for holding these opinions. Complete
the Task 2 essay questions 1-5 with the words a-e.
a agree b consider c feel d see e view
1 Many people think that boys and girls learn better when they are
educated separately. How do you __________a bout this view?
2 In your __________, what should be done to promote equality of
opportunity for men and
women?
3 Do you __________ boys to be naturally more aggressive than girls?
4 Many people argue that governments should intervene in the labour
market to ensure
that more women are promoted to positions of power. To what extent do
you __________ with this practice?
5 What do you __________ as the main reasons for gender inequality in
the workplace?
EXAM INFORMATION TIPS:
In IELTS Writing Task1, you have to summaries information
which is usually presented in the form of a table, a pie chart, a line
graph, a bar chart, a diagram, or a flow diagram.
PART 1: TASK 1
PRACTICE EXCERCISES
1 How long should you spend on this task?
2 How many words do you need to write?
3 Will you score higher marks if you include all the information in the chart?
4 Are you expected to give your opinion about the information?
EXCERCISE 2
Your answer to Task 1 should include a brief
introductory paragraph, 1-3 body paragraphs and, if
you wish, a brief concluding paragraph. Read the
sample answer on page 11 and answer the questions 1-
6 below.
The bar chart shows the gender distribution of students doing scientific
research across a range of disciplines at a UK university in 2009.
In five of the six disciplines, males outnumbered females. Male students
made up a particularly large proportion of the student group in subjects
related to the study of inanimate objects and materials: physics, astronomy,
and geology. The gender gap was particularly large in the field of physics,
where there were five times as many male students as female students.
Men and women were more equally represented in subjects related to the
study of living things: biology, medicine, and veterinary medicine. In
biology, there were nearly as many women (approximately 200 as men
(approximately 240). This was also true of medicine. Veterinary medicine
was the only discipline in which women outnumbered men (roughly 110
women vs. 90 men).
Overall, the chart shows that at this university, science-related subjects
continue to be male-dominated; however, women have a significant
presence in fields related to medicine and the life sciences.
1 What information does the introduction contain?
2 What is the main focus of the first body paragraph?
3 What is the main focus of the second body paragraph?
4 What is the purpose of the first sentence in each of the body paragraphs?
5 What is the purpose of the second and third sentences in each body paragraph?
6 What is the purpose of the conclusion?
Exam tip: Always look carefully at what
figures represent. If they represent
percentages, you must use expressions
such as:
a large/small/higher/lower percentage of
men ...
If the figures give numbers, you can write:
many/more/most/few/fewer men ...
Study the pie chart and read the sample answer below. Underline
and correct the mistakes the writer has made.
The pie chart shows the numbers of hours devoted to various activities in
the average working woman's day. Women spend the largest proportion
of their waking day working in paid employment (seven hours) and
doing domestic chores (five hours). Women have on average relatively
little time for themselves; only two per cent of their day is devoted to
leisure activities and two per cent to mealtimes. Overall, the chart shows
that working women are busy every day of the week.
PART 2: PRACTICE
EXERCISES: TASK 2
Exam information: In IELTS Writing Task
2, you have to write an essay of 4-6
paragraphs in answer to a question. The
question will ask you to evaluate or
present an idea or solution to a problem.
Your aim should be to present a strong
argument supported by evidence
PRE WRITING EXCERCISE
Read the Task 2 instructions below (like the ones you will have in the exam) and complete the
statements 1-4 by circling a or b.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: In spite of the
many advances women have made in education and employment, they continue to be at a
disadvantage when it comes to pay and promotion. In your view, what should be done to
promote equality of opportunity for men and women in the workplace? Give reasons for your
answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
1 You should spend
a more time on Task 2 than on Task 1.
b the same amount of time on Task 2 and Task 1.
2 In your response you should mainly
a explain why women are at a disadvantage.
b suggest solutions to the problem of inequality in the workplace.
3 To support your opinion, you should
a give reasons and examples.
b give reasons or examples.
4 You have to write
a more than 250 words.
b fewer than 250 words.
Answer the question to the sample Task 2
answer.
How long is the introduction?
How many body paragraphs are there?
How many main points are there?
In what order are solutions discussed: From strongest to
weakest or from weakest to strongest?
What is the main purpose of conclusion?
EXAM PRACTICE
THANK YOU FOR
TODAY
