Understanding IELTS Answer Sheet
IELTS is an offline exam i.e. you will not be given a computer to write your answer but rather an answering sheet. Although some people practicing for IELTS work in normal simple papers, it is always a good idea to practice writing in official sheets provided by IELTS.
You can download it here.
There are few reasons why you must always go for the official answer sheet.
- Word Count- For writing task 1, you need to write 150 words and for writing task 2 you are expected to write at least 250 words. Writing below the given word limit will make you lose some marks. Practicing on the answer sheet helps you to get an idea of how big the paper is, how many lines and how many space you take to write 150 words or 250 words. This helps in exam.
- You need to fill in the following information in your answer sheet. Practicing in it will save you from the hustle of understanding the answer sheet.
The front side
Your candidate name, candidate number, center number, date are to be filled by you. You need to check if you have are going for the academic or the general. Make sure you fill the details correctly.
The Back Side
You need not to write anything down the lines.
There are four areas where you will be checked –
Task achievement or reponse (TR) – information and idea
Coherence and cohesion(CC) – strucutre
Lexial resource (LR)- vocabulary
Grammar (GRA)
The overall score of your writing section is then calculated on the basis of the marks obtained by you on the given areas.
The examiner also checks the following information in your writing task –
Under length – If you have written less than the number of words you are expected to write, i.e. 150 for writing task 1 and at least 250 for task 2 , your marks will be reduced.
No of words – The total count of words written by you get mentioned here.
Penalty – This area is marked if you have written under length.
Off topic – This means that you have written that was not even asked in the question.
Memorized – Often students while preparing for IELTS, memorize answers of band 9. Remember, the examiner knows it and you will end up losing marks.
Illegible – This means that the answer written by you is either losing the word limit required or you have used a different language.
Even more, make sure that you don’t write beyond the lines provided and also take care about the margins.
So, make sure you practice with the official answer sheet and be sure of scoring high in IELTS.