How to Plan & Write ielts double Question Essays

How can we conserve these resources?

What are some alternatives to fossil fuels?

• 
  Analyse the question
  

• 
  Generate ideas
  

• 
  Identify vocabulary
  

# 1  Analyse the question

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

• 
  Topic words
  

• 
  Other keywords
  

• 
  Instruction words
  

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.

Fossil fuels are essential for producing electricity, powering industry and fueling transportation. However, one day we will reach a point when all the world’s fossil fuels have been depleted.
So, this question is about ‘fossil fuels’. Many people will do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

Now that we know what the general topic is, we need to understand exactly what aspect of fossil fuels we're being asked to write about.

 

The other keywords in the question tell you the specific things you must write about. For IELTS double question essays, these will often be in the instructions, that is, the actual questions.

Fossil fuels are essential for producing electricity, powering industry and fueling transportation. However, one day we will reach a point when all the world’s fossil fuels have been depleted.