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IELTS Writing Task 2 - 10 Lines To Avoid

This document provides 10 common phrases and sentences that should be avoided in IELTS writing task 2 essays. Some of these include overly generic introductory statements about modern technology or time periods, claims that an issue is "highly controversial" when most prompts are not, and learned phrases used to introduce examples or state arguments. The document advises examining essay prompts directly and writing in a natural way without relying on memorized sentences.

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312 views1 page

IELTS Writing Task 2 - 10 Lines To Avoid

This document provides 10 common phrases and sentences that should be avoided in IELTS writing task 2 essays. Some of these include overly generic introductory statements about modern technology or time periods, claims that an issue is "highly controversial" when most prompts are not, and learned phrases used to introduce examples or state arguments. The document advises examining essay prompts directly and writing in a natural way without relying on memorized sentences.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IELTS WRITING TASK 2: 10 LINES TO AVOID

Below are some common sentences and phrases to avoid in IELTS writing task 2. These sentences have been overused in
IELTS essay writing or are considered learned expressions which are not accepted by the examiner.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is an academic essay, but it is also a test of your English language. You can’t cheat by learning sentences
and writing them in your essay. The examiner is trained to spot sentences which are not typical of your level of English.

Lines to Avoid in Your IELTS Essay


1. This essay will discuss both sides and give an opinion at the end.
This sentence is poor because it is used for the overview but contains no main points. It is a memorized sentence of 15 words.
It only repeats the instructions but adds no information to the essay. Try to avoid using such sentences and just present your
answer clearly.

2. With the development of science and modern technology…


Many students use this expression to start their essay. It is only suitable to use if the essay is about science and technology.
It is overused and confusing for the reader if the topic is not about science or technology. You don’t need any expression to
start your introduction. Just paraphrase the essay prompt directly.

3. In the modern era/world, … / Since the dawn of time … / Nowadays, … / Today, …


This is overused in introductions. Most essay questions are about current issues so you don’t need to put in a time frame
unless it is about an issue in the past compared to the present. “Since the dawn of time…” is not a relevant statement for
most IELTS issues and should be avoided. Try to avoid these phrases and just paraphrase the information given by IELTS.

4. This is a highly controversial issue.


Most essay questions in IELTS are not controversial. Controversial means that it is deeply debated and causes strong feeling,
for example, “the death penalty” which results in a person’s death is controversial but “watching sport on TV or playing it” is
not controversial. About 99% of essay prompts in IELTS will not be controversial so don’t use this phrase. Also be careful
writing “highly debatable” as this is also overused.

5. The crux of the discussion is…


This is a sentence which is used too often. It would be better to write “The most important aspect…” or “One of the key issues
is…” as they are more natural to use in writing.

6. For example, a recent study from the IMF showed that … / Research indicates that …
The examples you give in IELTS Writing Task 2 do not need to come from published or known research. They can just be an
example of a situation: “For instance, the majority of working people do not…” Avoid learning opening phrases to common
sentences.

7. It can broaden a person’s horizons.


U have seen this written in so many essays and so have examiners. It would be better to write about “learning more,”
“opening their mind to something,” or “developing deeper understanding of something.” Don’t learn sentences, just write
naturally.

8. There are good grounds to argue in favor of … / It cannot be denied that …


This is another example of a learned phrase to avoid. It would be better to write more naturally “One reason that X is
important / crucial….” Also the phrase “it cannot be denied” is very much overused and mostly used incorrectly. “It cannot
be denied” means it is 100% fact but most essays contain opinions which are not facts. Therefore, avoid this phrase.

9. In a nutshell, …
Many students use this idiom to start their conclusion. It is informal and inappropriate to use in IELTS essay writing.

10. … the aforementioned arguments offer insights into vindications for the impression that …
This is a typical sentence that should be avoided in a conclusion. You only need to restate the main points clearly without
using learned phrases.

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