Grading Criteria for Task 1/2

1.Task Achievement（task1) / Task Response (task2)

(content)
2. Coherence and Cohesion（连贯与衔接) (logic )

3. Lexical Resource (词汇资源) (vocabulary)

formality, accuracy , appropriacy and
variety in using vocabulary
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (sentences)
Understanding the band-descriptors
• a(n) limited/adequate/a sufficient/wide range of
vocabulary ( 5 to 9)

• The wider the range of vocabulary, the higher the

score.

• “less common vocabulary” “uncommon lexical

items” “style”, “accuracy”, “word choice”,
“collocation”, errors in word choice, spelling, and
or word formation”.
 Understanding the band descriptors
• use a wide the range of vocabulary Variety
• use formal vocabulary formality
• use appropriate words to fit the context.
appropriacy
• use words accurately, paying attention to
collocation, spelling and word-formation.
accuracy
Formality
 Style of words
Informal/colloquial Common/neutral Formal

beg ask require

bug annoy exacerbate
kid child descendant
guy man individual
broke poor impoverished
pooped tired exhausted
Frozen The consumption of any nutriments whatsoever is
categorically prohibited in this establishment.
Officialese 公文
Official The consumption of nutriments is prohibited.

Formal You are required not to consume food in this

establishment.

Neutral Eating is not allowed here.

Informal Please don’t eat here.

Colloquial You can’t feed your face here.

Slang Lay off the nosh (小吃)

Taboo Lay off the fucking nosh.’

 Avoid colloquial words in IELTs writing
• Informal: She was told that she was sacked.
• Formal: She was informed that she was dismissed.

• Informal: Modern technology has made our

standard of living better.
• Formal: Modern technology has improved our
standard of living.
• Informal: She doesn’t talk much.
• Formal: She is quite reserved in nature.
 Avoid slangs in IELTS writing
Informal: The event was a total flop.
Formal: The event was a total failure.

Informal: I couldn’t get my head around this text.

Formal: I find it difficult to understand this text.

Informal: Her mates were like a rock to her when her

uncle kicked the bucket.
Formal : Her friends were a great support and
comfort to her when her uncle passed away.
 Avoid contractions and abbreviations
Informal Formal Informal Formal Informal Formal

shouldn’t should don’t do not can’t cannot

not
isn’t is not aren’t are not won’t will not
photo photog TV television info information
raph
intro introdu
ction
Informal formal
start commence
try endeavor
same identical
cop policeman
about approximately
Compare the following pair of sentences
and tell which is more formal?

Researchers looked at the way strain builds up around a

fault.
Researchers observed the way strain accumulates around
a fault.

Summary
Comparatively speaking, single verbs are more
formal than verb phrases.
Academic writing prefers single verbs, often
polysyllabic verbs, instead of verb phrases (verb + prep)

Verb phrases/informal Single Verbs/formal

find out discover
blow up explode
put up with tolerate
look into investigate
come across encounter
 Ex. Revise the following sentence to
make it more formal.

• Dad was pretty tired after his long trip.

• Father was somewhat exhausted after his

lengthy journey.
How to achieve formality in using
vocabulary
In summary, to achieve formality in using
vocabulary, we should try to avoid
informal and colloquial words
slangs
taboos
contractions and abbreviations.
Make an effort to use
formal words.
Appropriacy and Accuracy
 Appropriacy and Accuracy
• Using correct collocations
• give top priority to…
• exert positive effect on…
• keep abreast with the latest development of…
• lay a solid foundation for/in…
• Unnatural English Natural English
• undertake suicide • commit suicide
• a rush of anger • a surge of anger
• wave feverishly • wave frantically
• downright satisfied • completely satisfied
 Appropriacy and Accuracy
Different Collocations of synonyms
big large great
amount courage
mistake
number confidence
quantity ability
wisdom

empty vacant blank

box seat paper
street chair
room apartment
 Appropriacy and Accuracy
collocations in English are often different
from collocations in Chinese.
Collocation Collation
In Chinese In English

Da xue heavy snow

Da feng strong wind

 Appropriacy and Accuracy
Be aware of the emotive values of words.
good/bad result

adverse, catastrophic,
damaging, devastating, consequence
dire disastrous
fatal, tragic, severe

Neutral Positive Negative

thin slender skinny
detective investigator spy
well-known famous notorious
government official civil servant bureaucrat
 Appropriacy and Accuracy

Which of the following underlined words is more

appropriate and accurate?

My supervisor is a homely/ugly, but respectable professor

in our university.
He is a stubborn/resolute person and everyone makes
friends with him.
Her clothes, though made of cheap/inexpensive material, are
quite elegant.
Can you distinguish the following pairs of words?
• vacation vocation
• casual causal
• diary dairy
How can we achieve appropriacy and
accuracy in using vocabulary?
Be aware of
1) the collocations of words,
2) positive or negative meanings of
synonyms,
3) correct spelling of those words which
have similar forms or spellings but
different meanings.
Variety
 The use of specific and concrete words
• General: Professionals
• Specific: scientists, doctors, teachers, lawyers,
journalists
• General: cannot
• Specific: unable to do, incapable of doing
incompetent to do,
reluctant/unwilling to do
be prohibited/forbidden to do
fail to do
 The use of specific and concrete words
Can you replace the underlined words to avoid
frequently-used and abstract words?
• The story was really interesting.
fascinating appealing thrilling
• My father is a good man.
kind, honest, just, generous, sympathetic,
warm-hearted, selfless, brave, honorable
• The food in our university canteen is good.
tasty, delicious, nourishing, rich, wholesome,
fresh, appetizing, abundant, nutritious
 The use of specific and concrete words
General: Internet has changed the world beyond imagination.
Specific: The changes generated by the internet cover the
widest range in social life, such as telecommunication,
distance education, online entertainment etc.

General: One other cause of this problem is modern

entertainment.
Specific: Another contributing factor is the passive and
solitary nature of many modern forms of entertainment.
 The Use of Synonyms

In the peaceful and developing period, even the most

challenging hardship cannot be paralleled with the ones
our ancestors once encountered. In the primitive society,
our forefathers had nothing to do but suffer from the
havoc wreaked by nature; however, in modern times, we
can not only reduce the damage caused by different kinds
of disasters, but also predict the possibilities of them in
advance.
 Variation of Words

He displays an excellent performance.

He excels in/at performance.

She’s fascinated by/with Chinese calligraphy.

exerts a peculiar fascination
Chinese calligraphy _______________________
upon her.
How can we achieve variety in using
vocabulary?

The use of specific and concrete words,

The use of synonyms and
Variation of words
 Summary
• Guidelines for using vocabulary in IELTS
Writing:

• Formality
• Accuracy
• Appropriateness
• Variety