IELTS Task 1 Self-Edit Check List

(TESOL Worksheets--IELTS Task 1)

I've been trying to introduce processing writing techniques in my IELTS class because I feel like my students have not been absorbing any of my corrections.  The process editing goes: self-edit, peer-edit, teacher-edit, final draft.  This is the first step: self-edit.
In my class, I used this worksheet to give feedback on the writing assignment from p.25 of IELTS Express Upper Intermediate Second Edition.

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IELTS Task 1 Self-Edit Checklist

First sentence:

The first sentence should include the information from the diagram description in the question, as well as any other important information from the graph (categories, units of measurements, time period, et cetera).  You should not copy this information directly, but paraphrase and use synonyms where ever possible.  (Although there are some standard words like “chart”, “graph”, “2015” et cetera, which have no paraphrase).

	Yes	No
Did you write a brief introduction using the information from the question and the heading?
Did you cover all the important information?
Did you include the categories?   (Note: For graphs or tables with less than 8 categories, try to include the categories, preferably in brackets.)
Did you paraphrase the vocabulary?
Did you change the sentence structure?

Overview:

Your overview can come either directly after the introduction, or at the end of the essay.  It should include all the key features of the graph (usually somewhere between 2 and 5).  The overview is an important part of your score, so make absolutely sure the examiner recognizers your overview by including a key word like “overall” at the beginning.

	Yes	No
Did you include an overview?
Does your overview include all the key features of the graph?   (Note: Normally this will be somewhere between 2 and 5).
Does your overview begin with a signal word (such as “overall”) to help the examiner recognize that this is an overview?

Paragraphing:

Dividing your essay into appropriate paragraphs is a key part of your organization score.  Make sure it’s obvious to the examiner that your essay has distinct paragraphs by putting spaces in between the paragraphs.  You should have at least two body paragraphs in addition to your introduction and your overview.

	Yes	No
Is your essay divided into clear paragraphs (with line breaks in between the paragraphs)?
Do you have a separate paragraph for your introduction?
Do you have at least two separate paragraphs for your body?

Paragraphing Structure:

Each body paragraph should start with a clear topic sentence, which gives the main idea of the paragraph.  Every other sentence in the paragraph should support the topic sentence.  Any sentences in your paragraph that are not on the same subject as your topic sentence should either be deleted, or moved to a separate paragraph.

Typically an IELTS paragraph will follow this structure:

Topic sentence

1st supporting idea

Example of 1st supporting idea

2nd supporting idea

Example of 2nd supporting idea

	Yes	No
Does each body paragraph start with a clear topic sentence, which give the main idea of the paragraph?
Does every other sentence in the paragraph relate to the main idea in the topic sentence?
Is the topic sentence supported by supporting ideas and examples?

Tense:

Check the date on the diagram to find the appropriate tense.  Any information from the past should use the past tense, predictions and projections into the future should use the future tense, and anything happening now should use the present tense or present continuous.

What is the date of the information?  Is it past, present, or future?
What tense should you use to report the information?
Check all the verbs in your essay.  Are all of your verbs in the correct tense?	yes	No

Active/Passive

If the subject of the sentence is performing the action, the verb needs to be in the active.  If the subject of the verb is receiving the action, the verb needs to be in the passive.  If the verb is not in the passive or continuous tense, you do not need to use a "be" verb.  If the verb is in the passive tense, make sure you use a "be" verb with a past-participle (V3).

	Yes	No
Did you correctly choose the active or passive verb for each sentence?
In passive verbs, did you remember to use the “be +V3” form?
If the verb is not in the passive or continuous tense, you do not need to use a "be" verb.  Check to make sure there are no extra “be” verbs in your essay.

Parts of speech

Be careful that all the words are the correct part of speech.  Don't confuse nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.

	Yes	No
Go through the paper and make sure all the words are being correctly used as the appropriate part of speech.