I nte r nati o nal e n g LI s h lan g uag e testi n g syste m

Can I use contractions in my essay?

Style is very important in the IELTS exam.  Task 2 of the essay is expected to be com-

pleted using a formal style of writing.  The student is therefore best to avoid using 

contractions in their writing, as this runs the risk of losing marks for style.

I keep getting band 6.  What am I doing wrong?

If you have read and implemented the lessons in this book and are still receiving 

band 6 on your exam, it is likely that your grammar is weak.  To fix this, read sample 

essays and make note of the manner in which they are worded.  Note verb tenses, 

article and preposition usage and cohesive phrases.  Committing these resources to 

memory will make it likely that you will repeat them when you go to write your own 

essay.