IELTS Writing: How To Write An Effective Essay Introduction - IELTS University (Singapore)

IELTS Writing: How To Write An Effective Essay Introduction

As the saying goes first impressions last and this is true for most things including your essay introduction for the IELTS writing module. Unfortunately, most students do not realise this and put very little effort into constructing the perfect introduction. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to write a good essay introduction paragraph and why it is so important to do so.


Why Writing A Good Introduction Is So Important


Your introduction paragraph is your first connection to the examiner. It gives them a clear idea about whether you have sufficiently understood the question or not, and it will also let the examiner know about the rest of your essay will be like. If you provide a messy and unorganised introduction, the chances are that the examiner will assume that the rest of your essay will be the same.


The Trick To Writing A Good Introduction


A good introduction should be 2-3 sentences long, and only 40-60 words long. It should take you only 5 minutes to write. Every formal academic essay introduction should include:

  • Paraphrased question sentence
  • Thesis statement
  • Outline statement (optional)
  • Paraphrase the question:

Paraphrase the question means rewording the question by using synonyms and changing the order of the sentence

  • Add a Thesis statement

A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of an essay. It gives the examiner an idea about your viewpoint regarding the essay topic. The examiner can judge by your thesis statement whether or not you have fully understood the question. You will have to reuse the instruction words in your essay. It should be concise and to the point.

To summarise to write a good introduction you need to rephrase (paraphrase) the question statement using synonyms and then write a brief outline of what to expect in the upcoming paragraphs. Make sure that you clearly state your opinion in the introduction paragraph of your essay, in order to straight away give the examiner a clear idea that you have understood the meaning of the question. You could do this by stating something like 'I believe that ……. And in this essay, I will discuss the reasons for my point of view.

Sample question:

“A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not managed correctly.

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world. Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?”

Sample Introduction:

Nowadays tourism generates a significant portion of the national income for many countries, but it has certain drawbacks too. This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of tourism and provide a logical conclusion.