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5 Common Mistakes That Are Lowering Your IELTS Wri

Are you working hard on your IELTS preparation but still not seeing the writing score you need? It’s a frustratingly common problem. Many students focus on complex vocabulary and grammar but overlook small, critical mistakes that keep their scores down.
The good news is that these mistakes are often easy to fix once you know what they are.
As an instructor, I’ve reviewed thousands of essays. Here are the five most common mistakes I see students make in their Writing Task 1 and Task 2 responses, along with simple ways to correct them.

Mistake #1: Not Directly Answering the Question

This is the single biggest mistake you can make. In Writing Task 2, if the question asks you to "discuss both views and give your own opinion," you must do exactly that. Many students describe the issue but forget to state their own opinion clearly or fail to discuss one of the views.

How to Fix It: Before you start writing, break down the prompt. Underline the key instructions. Are you being asked to agree or disagree? Discuss two sides? Propose solutions? Create a mini-outline that ensures you address every single part of the question. Your introduction should always paraphrase the question and state what your essay will do.

Mistake #2: Overusing Complex Vocabulary Incorrectly

Many students believe that using "fancy" words will automatically increase their score. This is a myth. Using a sophisticated word in the wrong context is much worse than using a simpler word correctly. Examiners are looking for a range of appropriate vocabulary, not a list of impressive-sounding words.

How to Fix It: Focus on "topic-specific" vocabulary. If you're writing about the environment, use words like "sustainability," "carbon footprint," and "renewable energy." Learn synonyms for common words (e.g., instead of "important," try "crucial," "vital," or "significant"), but only use them if you are 100% sure of their meaning and context.

Mistake #3: Poor Paragraphing and Structure\
A wall of text with no clear paragraphs is impossible to follow. Each paragraph in your essay should have one central idea. Poor structure makes your argument weak and difficult for the examiner to understand, which directly impacts your "Coherence and Cohesion" score.

How to Fix It: Use the "PEEL" method for your body paragraphs:

Point: Start with a clear topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph.
Explain: Elaborate on your point. Why is it true?
Example: Provide a specific example to support your point.
Link: Link the idea back to the main question or transition to the next paragraph.

Mistake #4: Generalizing Without Support

Statements like "Everyone believes that technology is good" or "All children love playing video games" are weak and unconvincing. High-scoring essays use specific examples and avoid making sweeping generalizations.

How to Fix It: Use cautious language (hedging). Instead of "All people," try "Many people," "It is often argued that," or "In many parts of the world." More importantly, follow up every point you make with a clear example. For instance, instead of "Fast food is unhealthy," write, "Regular consumption of fast food, which is often high in saturated fats and sodium, has been linked to health issues such as obesity and heart disease."

Mistake #5: Ignoring the Overview in Writing Task 1 (Academic)

For Academic Task 1, the overview (or summary) is the most important sentence in your report. It should summarize the main trends, changes, or key features of the chart or graph. Many students either forget it entirely or write a weak one.

How to Fix It: After your introduction, write a clear overview paragraph starting with a word like "Overall," or "In summary,". Identify the most significant features of the data. What is the highest point? The lowest? What is the main change over the entire period? You don't need to include any specific numbers in the overview—just the main story the data tells.

Fixing these common mistakes is the first step toward achieving your target band score. But understanding them is one thing—putting them into practice with personalized feedback is what truly makes the difference.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building a clear strategy for your IELTS Writing, check out my General Writing Prep. Course (just click on "Courses" in the upper right corner). We’ll go through these points and many more with step-by-step video lessons, practice exercises, and the proven methods you need to write with confidence.

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