When to call it quits????

[TakeItOnTheChin]

I needed band 8's in order to immigrate and sat for IELTS in May 2015 for the second time. I received a 6.5 for writing and 8's for all others. I was confident I had done better than 6.5 and requested a remark and after 6 weeks received an 8 band score for writing. Reviewing a writing test is quite subjective but to have scores that far apart really made me suspicious. Luckily I have been in Oz for more than 3 years but I will never forget those tests, it might have changed my life because of one asshole marking my test incorrectly.

[FromDurbs]

My kids are in an Australian school and all they do in English is learning to write.  They learn some formula's, for example linking the last sentence of the previous paragraph to the first sentence of the next paragraph, using examples, etc.  We did not learn these things and if they mark the writing looking at whether you follow these recipes we would do badly.  You need good English, a large vocabulary, correct spelling and then to follow the recipes.  All new to us.  I suggest studying and learning the write they way they expect you to write.  I write fast and wrote a long passage and did very well.  I guess just writing a lot, in the short time, will also help. 

[ottg]

If I may add a general idea, as I do a lot of English writing, but still with lots of errors 😞

 

Use Grammerly Pro (you can select for English (Australia or British) while you practice. I find it to be of great help!