Recently, some of my students have shared their thoughts about using frameworks in writing. Many feel that sticking to a structure makes essays too rigid or even boring. They’ve also mentioned how professional writers seem to avoid using frameworks altogether, making their writing feel more natural and free-flowing. Well, I hear you! But let’s dig into why this opinion might not be the best approach for those of you preparing for IELTS—and why frameworks are actually a huge asset.
Frameworks Help You Build Strong Foundations
I get it, following a framework can feel restrictive. Some of you have told me it feels like it stops your creativity or makes your essay look the same as everyone else’s. And yeah, I understand that professional writers seem like they just write without worrying about structure. But here’s the truth: those pros didn’t start out that way.
Most professional writers became good at what they do by learning and practicing within a structured framework for years. It’s only once they mastered that framework that they learned how to break the rules effectively. For us, especially if you’re at the beginner or intermediate level, following a framework is key to making sure your ideas come across clearly and logically. Trust me on this—master the basics first, and then you’ll have the freedom to tweak things to fit your own style.
Why You Need a Framework—Especially for Exams
A. It Keeps Your Ideas Organized
When you’re writing for IELTS, you don’t have the luxury of rambling or going off on a tangent. The examiner needs to understand your main point quickly and clearly. A framework helps you present your ideas in a logical order, so nothing gets lost or confusing. Remember when I showed you how to plan your essay in class? That planning time is golden, and a framework helps you stay on track.
B. It Helps You Manage Time
In the IELTS exam, you’ve got 40 minutes to plan, write, and review your essay. That’s not a lot of time, and I know some of you struggle with this. Using a framework can actually save you time because you already know how to structure your argument. Instead of worrying about how to organize your ideas, you can focus on fleshing out your points and making your essay more convincing.
C. Examiners Value Clear Structure
Examiners read countless essays during the exam period. They’re not looking for essays that are wildly creative—they’re looking for clarity and coherence. When your essay follows a framework, it becomes much easier for the examiner to understand and evaluate your argument. This often translates into a higher score.
Practicing the Framework Every Day Makes a Difference
You’ve probably heard me say this a hundred times by now (I posted three articles days ago, ‘Mastering the TEEEL Structure: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Powerful Essays‘, ‘Unlocking the Power of the PEE Framework: Crafting Clear and Effective Essay Paragraphs‘ and ‘How can we write a good opening of IELTS writing task 2 quickly? Only two steps! ‘), but practice is everything. If you’re serious about improving your writing, you need to practice with a framework regularly. Don’t worry if it feels a bit repetitive at first—that’s normal. Over time, you’ll start to see how the framework helps you stay organized and makes your arguments stronger.
A. Start Simple
I recommend starting with a basic structure, like the one we’ve practiced together:
- Introduction (paraphrase the question, state your opinion)
- Body Paragraph 1 (argument + example)
- Body Paragraph 2 (counterargument + example)
- Conclusion (summarize and restate opinion)
Once you’re comfortable with this, you can start to make it your own. Add some variation in your language or experiment with how you present your examples, but always stick to the overall structure.
B. Tailor It to Your Style
After a while, you’ll find that the framework isn’t holding you back at all. In fact, it will start to feel like second nature, and you’ll be able to adapt it to fit your style. But before you get there, you’ve got to put in the work to master it first. Like I always say, once you’re confident in using the framework effectively, that’s when you can really start to let your unique voice come through.
