IELTS Writing for Candidates with 14 days before the exam: How to Fix An introduction that copies the question
Write a two-sentence introduction: paraphrase the question in your own words, then state your position. Copying the question wastes words and adds nothing the examiner has not already read.
At a glance
- For
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam
- Problem
- An introduction that copies the question
- Scoring criterion
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Task affected
- Task 2 (essay)
- IELTS test
- Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
- Typical effort
- about one week
- First step
- Replace two or three key words in the question with accurate synonyms.
Why this happens to candidates with 14 days before the exam
Paraphrasing is difficult under pressure, so candidates copy the question or add vague opening lines. This delays the position and weakens the opening of the essay.
Why this affects candidates with 14 days before the exam: candidates spread effort across everything and fix nothing.
Focus on paragraph jobs and topic sentences.
A strength to build on: Two weeks allows one feedback and rewrite cycle on each task.
Fix it in four steps
- Replace two or three key words in the question with accurate synonyms.
- Change the sentence structure if you can, for example from a statement to 'It is sometimes argued that…'.
- Add one sentence with your position or what the essay will do.
- Skip generic openings such as 'In modern society…'.
Before and after
Before
Some people think that children should start school at a later age. Do you agree or disagree?
After
It is sometimes argued that formal education should begin later in childhood. I largely agree with this view.
Ten-minute drill: Paraphrase five questions in 90 seconds each and compare each with the original for matching words.
Questions and answers
How can candidates with 14 days before the exam fix an introduction that copies the question?
Write a two-sentence introduction: paraphrase the question in your own words, then state your position. Copying the question wastes words and adds nothing the examiner has not already read. Focus on paragraph jobs and topic sentences.
How long does it take candidates with 14 days before the exam to fix an introduction that copies the question?
Most learners need about one week. Pick two issues, run four timed essays with feedback and keep a short error log.
Should I give background in the introduction?
Only one short sentence if it is genuinely useful. Most of the introduction should be the paraphrase and your position.
How long should the introduction be?
Two sentences, around 35 to 50 words, are enough for Task 2.
What does a good practice drill look like for candidates with 14 days before the exam?
Paraphrase five questions in 90 seconds each and compare each with the original for matching words. Pick two issues, run four timed essays with feedback and keep a short error log.
How can candidates with 14 days before the exam tell they have fixed an introduction that copies the question?
Your introduction shares only unavoidable key words with the question and states the position clearly.
What should candidates with 14 days before the exam know about their IELTS Writing target?
Two weeks is enough to fix one or two high-impact issues if you practise them in full timed essays with feedback.
Should candidates with 14 days before the exam practise this on Task 1, Task 2 or both?
This is a Task 2 issue, so practise it on full essays. Task 2 carries about twice the weight of Task 1 in the Writing band, so progress here moves the score most. Two weeks allows one feedback and rewrite cycle on each task.
Can an AI checker help candidates with 14 days before the exam with an introduction that copies the question?
An AI checker can show where this pattern appears in your own essay and which criterion it affects, which makes the fix concrete. It gives a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score, so use it to choose the next revision, rewrite, and check again. The first check on this site is free.
Check your own essay
See where an introduction that copies the question appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.
Feedback is a practice estimate, not an official IELTS score. Last reviewed 2026-11-11. Score requirements change, so confirm them with the organisation that will read your result.
Related guides
- IELTS Writing for candidates with 14 days before the exam: overview
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: ideas that are listed but not developed
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: running out of time in the Writing paper
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: making the same mistakes after getting feedback
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: having no time or method to proofread
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: weak paragraphing and essay structure
- Candidates with 14 days before the exam: overused linking words such as 'however' and 'moreover'
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