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.

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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).

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The Planning Phase: Minutes That Save Minutes

Task 1 Planning (2 minutes)

Task 1 Plan Template — Complete in 2 Minutes
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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..."