Writing Under Timed Conditions

The Writing test demands that you produce coherent, well-organised, and linguistically sophisticated text in a fixed time. This is fundamentally different from writing at home with unlimited time and a dictionary. This lesson provides strategies for writing efficiently under pressure.

---

The Timing Reality

Task	Time	Words	Weighting
Task 1	20 minutes	150+ words	1/3 of Writing band
Task 2	40 minutes	250+ words	2/3 of Writing band

You cannot afford to:

• Spend 30 minutes on Task 1 (leaving only 30 for Task 2).
• Write without a plan (you will waste time restructuring mid-essay).
• Proofread "later" (there is no later).

---

The Planning Phase: Minutes That Save Minutes

Task 1 Planning (2 minutes)

Task 1 Plan Template — Complete in 2 Minutes

1. Register: Formal / Semi-formal / Informal
2. Purpose: Complaint / Request / Application / etc.
3. Bullet 1 key points: _______________
4. Bullet 2 key points: _______________
5. Bullet 3 key points: _______________
6. Opening phrase: "I am writing to..."
7. Closing phrase: "I look forward to..."

Task 2 Planning (5 minutes)

Task 2 Plan Template — Complete in 5 Minutes

1. Essay type: Opinion / Discussion / Problem-Solution / Two-part
2. My position: _______________
3. Body 1 — Main point: _______________   Supporting example: _______________
4. Body 2 — Main point: _______________   Supporting example: _______________
5. Conclusion stance: _______________

Band 7+ Tip: A plan does not need to be neat or complete sentences. Keywords and arrows are sufficient. The plan is for you, not the examiner — they do not see it.

---

Writing Speed: How Fast Do You Need to Be?

The Maths

Task 1: 150 words in 14 minutes of writing time (after plan and before proofread) = approximately 11 words per minute.

Task 2: 260 words in 28 minutes of writing time = approximately 9 words per minute.

These are very achievable speeds if you:

1. Have a plan (you are not stopping to think "what next?").
2. Write in English regularly (muscle memory for common phrases).
3. Do not second-guess every sentence (write, then proofread at the end).

Building Writing Speed

Daily exercise (10 minutes):

1. Choose a Task 2 topic.
2. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
3. Write as much as you can on that topic.
4. Count your words. Track your count daily.
5. Aim to increase by 5–10 words per week.

Weekly exercise (60 minutes):

1. Complete both Task 1 and Task 2 under full exam conditions (20 + 40 minutes).
2. Do not use a dictionary.
3. Do not restart if you make an error.
4. After finishing, proofread and count errors.

---

The "Write Once" Principle

Under exam conditions, you do not have time to write a draft and then rewrite it. You must write a final version on the first attempt.

How to Write Once

1. Plan thoroughly — the plan replaces the draft.
2. Write your introduction first — it sets the direction for the entire essay.
3. Follow your plan paragraph by paragraph — do not deviate.
4. If you change your mind mid-paragraph, do not go back. Finish the paragraph and adjust your position in the next one. The examiner will assess the overall clarity of your argument, not whether you changed direction once.
5. Cross out errors neatly — a single line through a word is sufficient. Do not waste time erasing or using correction fluid.

What If You Run Out of Ideas?

If you reach the middle of a body paragraph and cannot think of a supporting example:

Emergency Example Strategies

1. Personal experience: "In my own experience,..."
2. Hypothetical: "For instance, consider a situation where..."
3. Common knowledge: "It is widely acknowledged that..."
4. Specific country: "In [your country], this is evident in..."
5. Contrast: "In contrast, without [X], the result would be..."

Any of these is better than leaving the paragraph underdeveloped.

---

Task 1: The 20-Minute Workflow