Revise an essay's ideas and position to fully answer the prompt before fixing language errors.
Teach why irrelevant or underdeveloped ideas cannot be saved by better grammar.
Many IELTS learners make a fatal mistake when reviewing their essays under time pressure: they immediately hunt for spelling mistakes and grammar errors. However, you must apply the Rewrite Priority Rule: always fix Task Response before you touch your language.
An essay with stunning vocabulary and flawless grammar will still score a Band 5 if it does not directly answer the specific prompt.
Visual showing before/after answer coverage.

Perfect grammar cannot save an essay that only answers half the question.
Learner revises thesis and body ideas for an earlier essay.
When repairing an off-topic essay, the first step is to rewrite the statement so it directly answers the prompt. A high-scoring introduction must clearly present the writer's throughout the essay. For instance, if the question asks whether the internet brings more harm than good, you must explicitly state whether the outweigh the disadvantages. Next, you need to fix the sentences at the start of your body paragraphs. Each paragraph must introduce a single, relevant that directly supports your overall view. If your paragraph strays into unrelated areas, you will lose marks for in the IELTS grading rubric. Always ensure your supporting examples connect back to the central of the essay.
Evaluate if a revised paragraph fully answers the prompt.
Prompt: 'Do the advantages of online shopping outweigh the disadvantages?' Revision: 'Online shopping is extremely fast and cost-effective, which is why many people prefer it.' Does this revised thesis achieve full Task Response?
Recall the golden rule of rewriting.