7 WritingEven a short gap in your day can hold a writing practice with a start and a result. Here is one adjustable method: work on a single paragraph and go through "think it through, write it, revise once", about 15 minutes in all.
- Think it throughSay in one sentence what this paragraph must answer, about 2 minutes
- Write a first draftPut your own meaning down and mark expressions you are unsure of, about 6 minutes
- Revise oncePick only one problem and rewrite it, about 5 minutes
- Leave a noteOne sentence on what to check next time, about 2 minutes
The time split is only a guide, and you can add or cut as suits you. What matters is the order: think first, then write, then revise, and finally write it down.
First say what the paragraph has to answer
Before you start, state the task of this paragraph in one sentence. Do not rush to find advanced vocabulary yet: what judgement do you want to express? Why do you judge it that way? What else does the reader need to know to understand your reason?
If you cannot yet write the reason, shrink the practice to two or three sentences. The length of the paragraph can change, but every sentence should be related to this task.
Write a first draft that can be understood
Put your own meaning down first. When you are unsure of an expression, use a wording whose meaning you are certain of, and mark the places you are unsure about. The job of the first draft is to give the problem a concrete place to land.
For example, to practise "explaining the reason for a choice", you can pick a situation from daily life: why do you choose to study in a quiet place? State the choice first, then explain the reason. A complete short practice usually has a claim, one or two sentences of explanation and an example; the number of sentences matters more than sounding "advanced".
If what you want to practise is the introduction of an essay, compare directly with the three steps in How to write the introduction of an IELTS Writing essay.
An example
The first draft below was written by us to show the method. It is not a learner's essay.
Task: explain "why I choose to study in the library".
I choose to study in the library. It is quiet. Also, there are many books.
One read shows the problem: each sentence just lists information, and none explains what difference quiet makes to studying. The next step fixes only this:
I choose to study in the library because it is quiet. When there is no noise around me, I can stay on one difficult exercise for longer instead of checking my phone or listening to conversations. As a result, I finish more work in the same amount of time.
After the change, the second sentence explains the concrete difference quiet makes, and the third returns to the result. No difficult word was used; the missing step "why" was simply added.
Leave time to revise
After writing, read it yourself first, then ask for AI feedback if you want it. Check whether the paragraph completed the task you set at the start, and whether the relation between sentences is clear.
Pick only one problem and rewrite it. Put this version next to the first draft and write down what you changed and why; if it is still not right, next time continue from this spot.
How to vary the practice
The same routine works for different paragraph tasks:
- An introduction: paraphrase the question, then write one sentence of position.
- A body paragraph: one reason plus one concrete situation.
- An overview for a chart question: two sentences stating the main trend, with no specific figures.
Practise only one kind each time, and change the next time. Practising the same kind of paragraph several times in a row makes it easier to see what you have improved.
How to continue in the next round
A short practice is good for breaking down one local problem. Essay structure, reading charts and time management still need separate practice, and one short piece of writing cannot replace all of your preparation. In the IELTS Writing test, about 20 minutes is suggested for Task 1 and about 40 minutes for Task 2; a 15-minute paragraph practice cannot train the pace of finishing a whole essay in those times.
In 7 Writing, you can start from the sentence and paragraph practice in the course and gradually move to full-essay practice. An account login is currently required; the public overview is on the training flow page. If you already have AI feedback, continue with what to do after AI feedback.
Use the essay structure checker to look at paragraph distribution, then rewrite according to your own goal.
To see how a whole essay does, paste a Task 2 into the IELTS Writing AI checker: one free check, and 3 more free checks after you sign up. AI scores are for reference only.