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Build Strong Ideas

Develop one well-supported argument instead of listing shallow, generic ideas.

4 micro-lessons5 concepts

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Before You Start

Prior knowledge check for this chapter

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Before You Start — Check What You Know

The Trap of 'More is Better'

Chapter hook explaining why listing many ideas lowers the IELTS score.

Imagine you have 30 minutes left on the clock. You read an IELTS Task 2 prompt about remote work and immediately start writing down every single advantage you can think of: it saves time, reduces pollution, saves money, and gives people flexible schedules. You write a body paragraph listing all four points. You feel great because you included so many ideas.

But when the results come out, you get a Band 5.5. Why?

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Diagnostic: Idea Development Vocabulary

Diagnostic questions on vocabulary recall for essay development.

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What is the primary function of a 'controlling idea' in an essay paragraph?

Hint

Concept: controlling-idea

Why Depth Beats Breadth

Interactive explanation of the IELTS Task Response rubric.

Learners can ask follow-up questions and keep the thread going.

Here is the biggest lie IELTS students believe: they think an essay is a grocery list. Your instinct is wrong. You probably want to brain-dump every single reason you can think of—saving money, saving time, helping the environment—hoping the examiner is impressed by how much you know. But the examiner doesn't care how many ideas you have; they only care if you can actually explain one of them. Imagine someone telling you they are a great chef, but instead of cooking you a beautiful steak, they just hand you a raw potato, an onion, and a carrot. That is what listing three undeveloped ideas feels like to a reader. If you want a Band 7, you have to cook the steak. What do you think is the hardest part about sticking to just one idea per paragraph?

almost 3 years ago

concepts · 5

← previousDecode The Question next →Build One Strong Main Idea

Build Strong Ideas

Before You Start

The Trap of 'More is Better'

Diagnostic: Idea Development Vocabulary

Why Depth Beats Breadth

Build One Strong Main Idea

Explain, Don’t Just List

Use Examples Correctly

Plan Two Body Paragraphs

Review: Build Strong Ideas

Before You Start

The Trap of 'More is Better'

Diagnostic: Idea Development Vocabulary

Why Depth Beats Breadth