IELTS Writing with Melons Methods

IELTS Writing has 2 writing tasks. While Academic IELTS has an essay and a report, General IELTS has a letter writing and an essay.

Here they are:

Essay

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same for both Academic and General Training. This task involves writing an essay discussing a statement about a contemporary issue. The writing style must be formal, and the essay has to have relevant examples.

Types of Essays

It is better not to categorize IELTS essays, because, you may be for a surprise with an out of the box type of essay. However, below are the most commonly asked essays:

• Agree / Disagree (A/B)
• Discuss Two Opinions (A+B)
• Causes+ (ABC)
• Problems and Solutions (A+B)
• Advantages and Disadvantages (A+B)

How to apply MELONS in Essay?

• M
• Explanation, Expansion, Examples, Exceptions.
• L
• O
• N
• Summarization.

Sample Essay

Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in today’s society. To what extent do you agree with this view?

The world that we live in today is dominated by advertising. Adverts are on television, on the World Wide Web, in the street and even on our mobile phones. However, many of the strategies used to sell a product or service can be considered immoral or unacceptable.

To begin with, the fact that we cannot escape from advertising is a significant cause for complaint. Constant images and signs wherever we look can be very intrusive and irritating at times. Take for example advertising on the mobile phone. With the latest technology mobile companies are now able to send advertising messages via SMS to consumers’ phones whenever they choose. Although we expect adverts in numerous situations, it now seems that there are very few places we can actually avoid them.

A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical is the way that it encourages people to buy products they may not need or cannot afford. Children and young people in particular are influenced by adverts showing the latest toys, clothing or music and this can put enormous pressure on the parents to buy these products.

In addition, the advertising of tobacco products and alcohol has long been a controversial issue, but cigarette adverts have only recently been banned in many countries. It is quite possible that alcohol adverts encourage excessive consumption and underage drinking, yet restrictions have not been placed on this type of advertising in the same way as smoking.

Data Interpretation

For the IELTS Writing Task 1, you are given a page with a chart, graph or diagram. The test-taker then have to analyse the data and interpret it in their own words. You/test takers are asked questions to test how they process the given information and arrive at a logical conclusion. The writing style is strictly formal.

How to Apply MELONS in Data Interpretation?

• Marking & Planning
• Explanation, Expansion, Examples, Exceptions.
• L
• O
• Negatives
• Summarize.

Letter Writing

The IELTS Writing Task 1 asks you to write a letter based on a given situation. The letter could be formal or informal and would be about a request, explanation or a viewpoint supporting the situation.

How to Apply MELONS in a Letter?

• Marking
• Eliminate anything irrelevant.
• Launching
• Opening
• Narration
• Signing

Sample Data Interpretation

Sample Letter