Can I use contractions in IELTS writing?
This is a question that came form a memeber in our private Facebook group (Feel free to join).
“Are contractions allowed in both the General Training and Academic task 2 IELTS writing?”
Yes, Yes, and Yes again. In Task 1 in the General exam, if you have to write a formal letter then try and avoid them. To be honest, the idea that contractions aren’t used in formal writing is very old-fashioned and old-fashioned teachers love to cling on to the idea (Because it gives them a sense of knowing something special!). So, for a formal letter in Task 1 (GT), don’t use them.
However, in every other part of the exam, use them; they are natural parts of language. The others on here saying they aren’t allowed are just guessing. If you are an examiner, you know that IELTS is not a test of your formal English. It is a test of your English, and nothing more.
Remember, native speakers have to do the exam too and they use contractions all the way through their writing, and guess what? They get top marks.
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Comments (2)
Please at least make clear that contractions like ‘gonna’ will result in a loss of marks because of appropriateness.
Hello
Thank you for your comment. Yes, ‘gonna’ would not be acceptable. It isn’t a contraction though, it is phonemics interfering with literacy. But you are right, gonna, wanna would be considered poor writing.
Best wishes
The upmyielts team