Planning your answer helps you to achieve band 7 and above in Task response because it means you address ALL parts of the question. It also helps you reach band 7 in Coherence and cohesion because it means your paragraphs are logically organized.
However, another key part of reaching band 7 in Task response is making your position clear throughout your answer. Many people believe that this means giving your opinion in the introduction and again in the conclusion. I discuss the problems with this approach in detail in chapter 7 and explain why it can keep you stuck at band 6 or 6.5.
Below are 3 different answers to this writing task. In the samples, I deliberately took 3 different positions: total disagreement, total agreement, and a neutral position. Read the samples to see how I made these 3 different positions clear throughout using a combination of language and ideas. Chapters 3 and 4 of The Key to IELTS Success will help you to understand how the language you use can affect your position.
However, another key part of reaching band 7 in Task response is making your position clear throughout your answer. Many people believe that this means giving your opinion in the introduction and again in the conclusion. I discuss the problems with this approach in detail in chapter 7 and explain why it can keep you stuck at band 6 or 6.5.
Below are 3 different answers to this writing task. In the samples, I deliberately took 3 different positions: total disagreement, total agreement, and a neutral position. Read the samples to see how I made these 3 different positions clear throughout using a combination of language and ideas. Chapters 3 and 4 of The Key to IELTS Success will help you to understand how the language you use can affect your position.