Differentiate between broad topics and narrow prompt focuses to maintain strict relevance.
Teach how broad topics have a narrow focus in the prompt.
A major trap in IELTS Task 2 is answering the Broad Topic instead of the Narrow Focus.
When under time pressure, learners often read a keyword like "Technology" and immediately start writing everything they know about it. This leads to "topic drift" and permanently caps your Task Achievement score at a Band 5 or 6.
Gallery showing broad topic, exact focus, and off-topic drift.
Stay inside the bullseye. Any argument that drifts into the outer circle loses points for Task Achievement.
Learner decides whether body paragraph ideas answer the prompt.
Prompt: "The impact of fast food on public healthcare costs."
Proposed Idea: "Fast food packaging causes severe environmental pollution."
How relevant is this idea?
Learner classifies ideas as relevant, partly relevant, or off-topic.
Terms
Definitions
Learner rewrites an off-topic idea into a task-focused idea.
Prompt: "How does excessive social media use affect the academic performance of teenagers?"
Draft Idea: "Social media causes teens to feel insecure about their body image because they constantly compare themselves to influencers."
Identify the exact boundary the idea crossed.
Write 1-2 sentences. Make sure it connects social media directly to school grades, studying, or focus.