When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 3 modules in this course
Whether you have taken the IELTS test before, you will benefit from completing this course on the writing section of the exam. The lessons in this course will improve your overall skills in writing and prepare you for every type of writing prompt on the test, increasing your chances of getting your target band score.
You will be ready to give well-constructed responses to Academic Writing Task 1 questions, which require you to analyze a variety of graphics and diagrams. You will also be able to confidently complete Writing Task 2, the opinion essay portion of the exam. We’ll review plenty of sample prompts and scoring rubrics so you’ll know exactly what to expect. The helpful tips and strategies offered in this course will give you the invaluable tools and knowledge you’ll need to compose clear and precise responses while efficiently managing the time allotted for each task.
Taking tests can be stressful, but being familiar with the test and practicing will reduce anxiety and give you the confidence you’ll need to perform at your best.
During our first module, we will review the first IELTS Academic Writing Task (AT), take a quiz, read an article, and answer discussion questions. In part one, you will learn how to write an essay about graphics that show different changes that occurred in different times or between different items in the given graph. You will learn how to analyze the graphs and compare and contrast important trends. In part two, you will learn how to write an essay about diagrams that show steps of the process or changes that occurred at a particular place. In both parts, you will learn how to manage your time by following three steps: plan, write, and revise. You will also learn how you can use various strategies and tips to write better essays with a required amount of words. For this task, you will learn how to write 150 words in 20 minutes. As we are practicing, please remember that it takes much longer to write an essay when you do it for the first time. It might take you almost an hour to write this type of essay, which is not unusual. Remember, you get better with every essay you write before your upcoming test. Please make sure to pause, take notes, and apply what you learned.
In the second module of our course, we will review the second IELTS Academic Writing Task (AT), take a quiz, read an article, and answer discussion questions. You will learn how to write five types of essays that represent a personal view with supporting details. You will learn how to manage your time by following three steps: plan, write, and revise. You will also learn how you can use various strategies and tips to write better essays with a required amount of words. For this task, you will learn how to write 250 words in 40 minutes. As we are practicing, please remember that it takes much longer to write an essay when you do it for the first time. It might take you almost two hours to write this type of essay, which is not unusual. Please do not feel frustrated when you cannot complete it in 40 minutes when you start practicing for this task. Remember, you get better with every essay you write before your upcoming test. Please make sure to pause, take notes, and apply what you learned.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 29 minutes
Academic Task 2 (Part 1)•12 minutes
Academic Task 2 (Part 2)•9 minutes
Academic Task 2 (Part 3)•8 minutes
1 reading•Total 30 minutes
Sample Essays•30 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Academic Task 2•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Academic Task 2•30 minutes
IELTS Academic Writing: Strategies & Tips
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
During the third module of our writing course, we will review the most common mistakes that students make and things you should know before taking your test. Also, you will take a quiz, read an article, and answer discussion questions. You will learn what to do before and during the test in order to be well prepared. You will also learn some strategies and tips that will help you boost your score and improve your writing skill. As we are practicing, please remember that it can be frustrating to follow all the steps and remember everything. However, you need to remember that the more you practice, the better prepared you will be for your writing test. Please make sure to pause, take notes, and apply what you learned.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 24 minutes
Common Mistakes (Part 1)•11 minutes
Common Mistakes (Part 2)•14 minutes
1 reading•Total 30 minutes
Boosting Your Writing Skills•30 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
Writing Strategies & Tips•15 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Writing Strategies & Tips•30 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructors
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
Since 1965, the University of California, Irvine has combined the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. UC Irvine’s unyielding commitment to rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and leadership and character development makes the campus a driving force for innovation and discovery that serves our local, national and global communities in many ways.
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.7
1,301 reviews
5 stars
77.47%
4 stars
15.37%
3 stars
3.92%
2 stars
1.46%
1 star
1.76%
Showing 3 of 1301
A
AI
5·
Reviewed on Nov 20, 2021
This course will be very useful for students who wish to score well in the IELTS exam. It introduces one to the IELTS and provides useful information and tips about the examination.
A
AD
5·
Reviewed on May 8, 2023
This course give me insights about writing section for IELTS exam. If you apply all the tips and strategies that shared in the course, you will be able to get the best score in the writing section.
D
DM
5·
Reviewed on Jul 24, 2023
Without a doubt, this course was one of the best courses I have watched, and it truly improved my writing skills significantly. I am very grateful to you for providing this opportunity.
What will I actually learn in this IELTS writing course?
You'll learn how to approach the IELTS Academic Writing section with more control, from understanding what each task expects to organizing a clear response under time pressure. It starts with Task 1 graphics, charts, and diagrams, then moves into Task 2 opinion essays and finishes with common mistakes and practical test strategies. For example, you'll practice identifying key trends in a graph and shaping them into a concise 150-word response.
Do I need IELTS experience before taking this course?
No, you don't need previous IELTS experience to start this course. It's a beginner course that explains the writing section through sample prompts, scoring rubrics, and step-by-step strategies for Task 1 and Task 2. Some comfort writing in English will help, because the focus is on IELTS responses rather than general English instruction from the ground up.
Is this course beginner-friendly for IELTS writing?
Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you're new to IELTS writing and want clear guidance on how the two writing tasks work. The lessons break down common prompt types, essay structure, and timing strategies instead of assuming you already know the exam format. If you already know the test well and want mostly independent timed practice, it may feel more introductory.
How long does it take to complete this course?
Plan on about 7 hours to complete the course. The workload is spread across short lessons, readings, quizzes, and discussion-based practice, so it works well as a compact writing refresher. The course includes lessons, sample-essay readings, quizzes, and guided practice activities.
Are there hands-on exercises or practice activities in this course?
Yes, but the practice is guided rather than project-based. You'll analyze sample essays, answer quizzes, respond to discussion prompts, and work through writing tasks tied to charts, diagrams, and opinion essays. For example, you might identify the main features in a bar graph and compare them with a sample Task 1 response, so you can apply each strategy as you learn it.
What skills and topics are covered in this course?
The course focuses on the two IELTS Academic Writing tasks and the skills that make responses clearer and more effective. You'll learn how to interpret visual information, organize opinion essays, manage time with a plan-write-revise approach, and avoid common writing mistakes such as punctuation and structure problems. Taken together, those topics help you write in a way that fits the exam's format and expectations.
What can I actually do after finishing this course?
After finishing, you should be able to plan and write stronger responses for both IELTS Writing tasks. That includes summarizing key features from a chart or diagram in a short Task 1 essay and organizing a supported 250-word response for Task 2. You should also be better at using scoring rubrics and checking for common mistakes before time runs out.
Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?
It's more focused on understanding the IELTS writing format, with guided practice to reinforce it. Most of the course explains how to read prompts, organize responses, and meet task requirements, then gives you quizzes, sample essays, and discussion activities to apply those ideas. It's a good fit if you want instruction first and practice alongside it.
Why would I choose this course over other IELTS writing courses?
Choose this course if you want a focused guide to the IELTS writing section rather than a broad overview of the whole exam. It walks through both Academic Writing Task 1 and Task 2, uses sample prompts and scoring rubrics to make expectations concrete, and also covers common mistakes that can affect your response quality. If you want a short, beginner-friendly course centered on the exact writing tasks you'll face, this one is a strong fit.