1. Macmillan IELTS Improving students' answers in IELTS Writing Task 1 Sam McCarter

2. Abstract The talk will look at different techniques to improve students writing in Task 1 in the academic version of the IELTS examination.

3. Writing Task 1 Question type Graphs/ Bar charts/ Tables Maps/ Processes Combined data presentations Rubric Summarize and select main features Paraphrasing Objective vs. subjective

4. General and specific Overviews Public marking scores Time Length

5. Writing Task 1 Language features Checklist for students

6. Data Simple Present/ Past/ Present Perfect/ Simple Future/ Future Perfect Comparison Complex sentences Conjunctions Verbs of rise/ fall

7. Introductions Trends Purpose Noun phrases – synonyms Singular/ plural Active/ Passive General vs. specific

8. Maps Tenses Vocabulary Location Processes Stages Tenses Active/ passive Transitive and intransitive verbs

9. Techniques Interpreting visuals – easy for all students? Orally in groups/pairs Game- test/ develop recall- how many items – 7 plus or minus 2- use electronic smart-board/ OHP No writing- only discussion Create text orally General phrases and statements in isolation

10. Give summary statements/ overviews and ask to prove Give specific three or four sets of data and ask to summarize/ give overview Use a stop watch Teach to react not memorize Vocabulary checklists – created by students Match phrases to parts of the graph/ chart Number/ annotate the graph Models or samples ?

11. Thank you!