IELTS Writing for IELTS retakers: How to Fix Examples that are too general to prove the point

Use one specific, believable example per body paragraph: a named situation, a type of person or a realistic scenario. Vague examples such as 'many people' or 'some countries' do not support an argument. Invented statistics should be avoided.

At a glance

For: IELTS retakers
Problem: Examples that are too general to prove the point
Scoring criterion: Task Response (Task 2)
Task affected: Task 2 (essay)
IELTS test: Academic or General Training (check your requirement)
Typical effort: one week
First step: Choose an example type: a named country or city, a typical person, or a short scenario.

Why this happens to IELTS retakers

Candidates worry about giving wrong facts, so they stay general. The result is an example that could support any point, which weakens development and makes the essay sound generic.

Why this affects IELTS retakers: preparation repeats the same methods, so the same weaknesses return.

Retakers often have a good structure but under-developed ideas, which holds Task Response down.

A strength to build on: A previous score report shows which criterion was lowest.

Fix it in four steps

Choose an example type: a named country or city, a typical person, or a short scenario.
State who or what, and what happened, in one sentence.
Link it back with 'This shows that…' so the example proves your point.
Never invent a percentage. Use 'a growing number' or 'most' if you are not certain.

Before and after

Before

For example, many countries have good public transport.

After

For example, a commuter in Tokyo can reach most of the city by train without a car, which removes thousands of daily journeys from the roads.

Ten-minute drill: Write three specific example sentences for the idea 'public transport reduces traffic', one with a place, one with a person, one with a scenario.

Questions and answers

What is the fastest way for IELTS retakers to fix examples that are too general to prove the point?

How long does it take IELTS retakers to fix examples that are too general to prove the point?

Most learners need one week. Retake windows are costly, so treat each practice essay as evidence, not as a lottery.

Do examples have to be real facts?

They must be believable. A well-chosen general scenario is fine. Made-up numbers or false claims can hurt credibility and are unnecessary.

Can I use personal experience as an example?

Yes, if it is short and supports the argument. Keep it factual and link it to a wider point instead of telling a long story.

What does a good practice drill look like for IELTS retakers?

Write three specific example sentences for the idea 'public transport reduces traffic', one with a place, one with a person, one with a scenario. Retake windows are costly, so treat each practice essay as evidence, not as a lottery.

How can IELTS retakers tell they have fixed examples that are too general to prove the point?

Each example answers who, where and what happened, and could not be reused for a different idea.

What should IELTS retakers know about their IELTS Writing target?

Retakers need to find out why Writing did not move last time, because repeating the same practice usually produces the same score.

Should IELTS retakers 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. A previous score report shows which criterion was lowest.

Can an AI checker help IELTS retakers with examples that are too general to prove the point?

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 examples that are too general to prove the point appears in your own writing and which criterion it affects, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.

Run a free first check

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.