IELTS Writing Time Management is an element that most IELTS candidate neglects, which is also a reason why a lot of people lost their chance to get their target IELTS score.
You must be wondering…
“Am I supposed to write both IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 in just one hour?” – Yes and no!
Yes, you are given one hour in total.
But no — you’re not going to spend the whole 60 minutes just writing.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you! 😊
As someone who’s taken IELTS multiple times, and has been teaching IELTS for almost 11 years, I never believed in blindly writing. There’s a better way — a smarter way — to manage your time during the writing test.
Let’s go through this smart time management strategy together.
Meet the OWE Strategy 🧠✍️🔍
Here’s how to structure your one hour:
20 minutes for planning and editing
40 minutes for actual writing
So what does OWE stand for?
✅ O – Outline
When you get your task, read the question carefully. Make sure you understand:
What the task is asking you to do
The type of response you’re expected to give
Then, start outlining your ideas.
Your outline should include:
A clear structure for your essay or report
A list of topic-specific vocabulary you plan to use
Some grammar structures you want to include
Why? Because when you’re in the middle of writing, you tend to forget all these small (but important!) details. And that’s exactly why many students have good vocab and grammar, but still can’t present it well enough to impress the examiner.
Pro tip: Use bullet points for your outline — no need to write full sentences! ✅
✍️ W – Write
Now that you’ve outlined your ideas, it’s time to write.
Follow your plan, stay focused, and complete your task with confidence. You’ve already done the hard thinking — now just put it into words!
🔍 E – Edit
Once you’ve finished writing, don’t immediately stop! Use your remaining time to proofread and edit your work.
Look for:
Spelling or grammar mistakes
Repeated words or phrases
Awkward or unclear sentences
Task response issues
Every small mistake can lead to a lower band score, so make editing part of your routine!
How Should I Spend the 60 Minutes? 🕒
Here’s a simple breakdown (you can adjust a little bit if you want):
Task 1: 5-10-5
Task 2: 5-30-5
This method works whether you’re doing Task 1 first or Task 2 first — just adjust the time accordingly.
IELTS Writing time management is important but it’s not difficult to handle. Start with something easy before you move on to something more complicated.
Want to Know If Your Writing Is Good Enough? 💬📩
Try this OWE strategy in your next practice test, then let me know how it goes!
If you want to check whether your writing is up to IELTS standards:
🎁 Get my personal feedback at 50% off
or
🚀 Join my Everything IELTS preparation plans for unlimited support, feedback, and more.
But first — let’s start with a free practice test.
I’ll see you there!
Have fun learning, and remember — smart practice leads to better results. 💪
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