Hi, I’m Jonathan Mitchell, IELTS examiner and writing specialist.
One of the most common reasons candidates lose marks in IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 is inappropriate tone or language.
You might have great ideas, but if your essay sounds too casual, too emotional, or too repetitive, your band score will drop in Lexical Resource and Task Response.
In this lesson, I’ll show you how to master Language & Tone in GT Essays — so your writing sounds natural, professional, and Band 8+.
IELTS Writing Task 2 assesses your ability to:
1️⃣ Present ideas clearly and logically.
2️⃣ Use formal or semi-formal language appropriately.
3️⃣ Maintain an academic yet natural style.
Even though the General Training essay deals with everyday topics, it must still sound formal enough for a public or professional audience.
✅ Example:
✗ I think the government should totally do more about pollution.
✓ The government should take stronger action to reduce pollution.
Feature | Formal / Semi-Formal (✅ Use) | Informal (❌ Avoid) |
Contractions | do not, cannot, should not | don’t, can’t, shouldn’t |
Phrasal verbs | reduce, improve, increase | cut down, make up, go up |
Slang / idioms | beneficial, necessary | cool, awesome, loads of |
Personal language | it is widely believed that | I reckon, you know |
Abbreviations | for example, government | e.g., govt |
Tone | respectful, balanced | emotional, extreme |
✅ Band 9 Tip: You can express personal views, but in a measured, objective way.
Your essay should be:
Example:
While technology brings certain drawbacks, its overall impact on communication remains highly positive.
This shows balance, precision, and appropriate tone.
Purpose | Formal Phrases |
Introducing ideas | It is widely believed that…, Many people argue that…, There is growing concern about… |
Giving opinion | In my view…, From my perspective…, I firmly believe that… |
Adding points | Furthermore…, In addition…, Moreover… |
Contrasting ideas | However…, On the other hand…, Although… |
Providing examples | For instance…, Such as…, This can be seen in… |
Concluding | In conclusion…, To summarise…, Overall… |
✅ Band 8 Tip: Use transition words logically — not at the start of every sentence.
Error Type | Example (Wrong) | Correction (Right) |
Overly emotional | It’s a huge disaster for everyone! | It has caused significant challenges for many people. |
Using first names / personal tone | I think we should all just stop eating junk food! | People should be encouraged to adopt healthier diets. |
Unbalanced argument | Technology is terrible for society. | Although technology has drawbacks, it also brings many benefits. |
Overuse of “I think” | I think this is a big issue. I think we need to fix it. | This issue is significant and should be addressed promptly. |
Use neutral vocabulary and varied structures.
Less effective:
People are getting fat because they eat junk food all the time.
Improved version:
Rising obesity rates are largely caused by the increasing consumption of fast food.
Why better:
Passive form adds academic distance
You can use I or my once or twice in a General Training essay, but don’t overuse them.
✅ Acceptable:
In my opinion, schools should teach financial literacy.
❌ Too personal:
I really think schools should teach money lessons because I struggled with that myself.
Rule: Your essay should sound like an informed argument, not a diary entry.
Common Word | Formal Alternatives |
good | beneficial, positive, valuable |
bad | harmful, negative, disadvantageous |
big | significant, substantial, considerable |
small | minor, limited, minimal |
think | believe, consider, argue |
help | assist, support, facilitate |
get | receive, obtain, acquire |
make | produce, create, generate |
✅ Band 8 Tip: Use synonyms intelligently — don’t replace words randomly.
Topic: Many people believe that governments should spend money on public transport.
It is often argued that increased investment in public transport is essential to reduce congestion and pollution. Efficient and affordable transport systems encourage people to leave their cars at home, which in turn benefits the environment and improves urban living standards.
Why Band 9:
Essay Type | Tone Guidance | Sample Phrases |
Opinion | Clear stance but polite | I firmly believe that… / It is clear that… |
Discussion | Balanced, analytical | Both sides of the argument should be considered… |
Problem–Solution | Practical and logical | One possible measure is to… / This issue can be mitigated by… |
Advantage–Disadvantage | Neutral and reasoned | Although there are clear benefits, drawbacks must also be acknowledged. |
Double Question | Structured and direct | The main reason for this is…, To tackle this issue… |
✅ Band 9 Tip: Matching tone to essay type shows control — a key feature of top-band performance.
Improve tone and style:
1️⃣ People should stop watching so much TV because it’s stupid. → Excessive television viewing can negatively affect productivity and social interaction.
2️⃣ I totally agree that we need to recycle more stuff. → I completely agree that recycling should be encouraged to reduce waste.
Before submitting your essay:
If yes, your tone and language meet the standard for Band 8–9.
Your language and tone reflect your writing maturity. In IELTS, the goal is not to sound complicated, but clear, precise, and formal.
Consistency in tone is a major marker of Band 8+ performance.
Next, continue to Planning & Organising GT Essays to learn how to structure ideas effectively.
You can also revisit the IELTS Writing Overview: Format, Scoring & Key Skills or explore writing style guidance on IELTS.org.
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