Today we’re diving into one of the most crucial aspects of IELTS Writing: Task Achievement.
Task Achievement is all about how well you answer the question. It’s not just about writing a good essay; it’s about writing the right essay.
The examiners are looking at whether you’ve addressed all parts of the task and developed your ideas fully.
Well, Task Achievement accounts for 25% of your Writing score.
How Can You Fill Task Achievement Section?
Decode the Question
The first step to acing Task Achievement is understanding exactly what the question is asking.
Example: “In some countries, the number of children learning a foreign language at a younger age is increasing. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?”
In this question, you need to:
a) Discuss advantages of learning a foreign language at a young age
b) Discuss disadvantages of learning a foreign language at a young age
c) Weigh these and give your opinion on which side is stronger
If you only discuss advantages or disadvantages, you’re missing part of the task. Similarly, if you don’t give your opinion on which outweighs the other, you’re not fully achieving the task.
Plan Your Response
Before you dive into writing, take a minute to sketch out your main points.
This roadmap helps ensure you cover all aspects of the question.
Example outline for the question above:
Intro: Restate the trend and mention you’ll discuss both sides
Paragraph 1: Advantages of early language learning (e.g., better pronunciation, more time to learn)
Paragraph 2: Disadvantages (e.g., potential confusion, less time for other subjects)
Paragraph 3: Your opinion on which outweighs the other, with reasoning
Conclusion: Summarize main points and restate your stance
Use Clear Paragraphing and Develop Your Ideas Fully
Each main idea should have its own paragraph. This not only makes your essay easier to read but also shows the examiner you’re organized and addressing each part of the task systematically.
It’s not enough to just mention ideas; you need to explain them and provide examples. For each main point, you can use the “Point, Explain, Example” structure:
Point: Learning a language early can lead to better pronunciation.
Explain: Young children’s brains are more plastic, allowing them to mimic new sounds more easily.
Example: For instance, a study by Johnson and Newport (1989) found that immigrants who arrived in the US before age 7 achieved native-like proficiency in English pronunciation, while those who arrived later rarely did.
Balance Your Essay and State Your Opinion Clearly
If the question asks you to discuss multiple viewpoints, try to give roughly equal attention to each. In our example, you wouldn’t want to write three paragraphs about advantages and only one sentence about disadvantages.
When asked for your opinion, make it explicit. You might use phrases like “In my view,” “I believe that,” or “After considering both sides, I think…”
Every sentence should relate back to the question. If you find yourself drifting off-topic, you can use transition phrases to bring yourself back, like “Returning to the question of early language learning…”
Concrete examples can really strengthen your arguments. They show the examiner you’ve thought deeply about the topic and can apply your ideas to real-world situations.
Example: “Early language learning can boost cognitive skills. For instance, a 2009 study in the International Journal of Bilingualism found that bilingual children outperformed monolingual children on tasks involving working memory and cognitive flexibility.”
Address Counterarguments and Conclude Effectively
If there’s room, briefly acknowledging opposing viewpoints can demonstrate critical thinking. You might say something like, “While some argue that early language learning can confuse children, research suggests that most children can successfully navigate multiple languages from a young age.”
Your conclusion is your last chance to show you’ve achieved the task.
Summarize your main points and restate your opinion.
For our example:
“In conclusion, while there are some potential drawbacks to early foreign language education, such as less time for other subjects, I believe the advantages, including better pronunciation and enhanced cognitive skills, far outweigh these concerns. The increasingly globalized nature of our world makes early language acquisition not just beneficial, but essential.”
Have you tried any of these strategies before?
I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
And if you found this helpful, why not check out our post on Lexical Resource Definitive Guide in Writing?
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