Effective time management and thorough editing are essential for a high score. You have 27 minutes for Task 1 and 26 minutes for Task 2. Dividing your time into three clear phases — planning, writing, and proofreading — gives you the best chance of a complete, polished response.
1. Task 1 Time Plan (27 Minutes)
| Phase | Time | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Read & Understand | 45 seconds | Read the background information and bullet points. Identify who you are writing to and what you must accomplish. |
| Plan & Outline | 3–4 minutes | Use scratch paper to jot down specific details for each bullet point. Decide your 5 W's and plan your paragraph order. |
| Write | 20 minutes | Type your email based on your outline. Give each bullet point its own paragraph. Aim for 150–200 words. |
| Proofread & Edit | 3 minutes | Review from start to finish. Check tone, grammar, word count, and that all bullet points are addressed. |
2. Task 2 Time Plan (26 Minutes)
| Phase | Time | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Your Option | 30 seconds | Read both options and pick one immediately. Do not change your mind once you start writing — it will cost you time you cannot recover. |
| Brainstorm & Outline | 2.5 minutes | Identify two to three strong reasons for your choice. Jot down supporting details or real-life examples for each reason. |
| Write | 20 minutes | Develop your body paragraphs with specific details. Use varied transitions and precise vocabulary throughout. |
| Proofread & Edit | 3 minutes | Check vocabulary, grammar, word count, and tone. Replace any repeated or vague words with more precise alternatives. |
3. The 3-Minute Editing Checklist
Use your final three minutes systematically. Work through each of the four scoring dimensions quickly but carefully.
| Scoring Area | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Task Fulfillment | Have you addressed every bullet point? Is your tone polite, respectful, and appropriate for the recipient? |
| Vocabulary | Replace weak or repeated words with precise alternatives. Have you copied any phrases from the prompt? Paraphrase them. |
| Readability | Are your paragraphs clearly separated? Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling — especially wrong-word errors spellcheck will miss. |
| Word Count | Check the live counter. Stay between 150–200 words. Penalties begin below 135 and above 220 words. |
4. Smart Editing Strategies
Upgrade Weak Words Fast
During your edit, scan for common weak words and replace them quickly with more precise alternatives.
| Weak Word | Stronger Alternative |
|---|---|
| bad | extremely disappointing / inedible / unsatisfactory |
| good | beneficial / ideal / exceptional |
| things | amenities / resources / facilities |
| said | stated / noted / mentioned / expressed |
| help | assist / support / facilitate |
| show | demonstrate / illustrate / indicate |
Check for These Common Last-Minute Errors
| Error Type | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Wrong-word errors | "quite" instead of "quiet" / "there" instead of "their" / "affect" instead of "effect" |
| Missing sign-off (Task 1) | Ensure your email ends with "Regards" or "Sincerely" followed by a name |
| Repeated words | Scan for words used three or more times — replace at least one with a synonym |
| Prompt copying | Check your first paragraph — make sure you paraphrased the prompt rather than copied it |
| Incomplete bullet point | Re-read the prompt one final time and confirm every required point has its own paragraph |
5. Using the Spellcheck Tool Wisely
The testing software underlines misspelled words in red — but it will not catch wrong-word errors where you typed a real English word that is incorrect for the context. You must catch these yourself by reading every sentence carefully during your final review.
| Spellcheck Will Catch | Spellcheck Will Miss |
|---|---|
| recieve → receive | "quite" used instead of "quiet" |
| writting → writing | "staff" used instead of "stuff" (or vice versa) |
| accomodation → accommodation | "there" used instead of "their" |
| seperate → separate | "affect" used instead of "effect" |
6. Mindset Tips for Test Day
Trust Your Outline
If you planned well in the first 3–4 minutes, trust your outline and write without second-guessing yourself. Changing your approach mid-task wastes valuable writing time.
Do Not Aim for Perfection While Writing
Focus on getting your ideas down during the writing phase. Save corrections for the proofreading phase — trying to perfect every sentence as you write will slow you down significantly.
Watch the Timer
Glance at the timer in the top-right corner at the halfway point of each task. If you are behind, shorten your supporting details slightly — but never skip a required bullet point or reason.
Word Count is a Safety Net — Not a Target
Do not pad your response with filler sentences just to reach 200 words. Raters can identify sentences that add no meaning, and this weakens your coherence score. Write precisely and purposefully — quality always matters more than quantity.