IELTS Writing for Candidates stuck at Band 6: 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: Candidates stuck at Band 6
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 candidates stuck at Band 6

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 candidates stuck at Band 6: essays are complete but safe, with stated ideas and few developed ones.

Ideas are relevant but not fully extended.

A strength to build on: A complete essay structure is already in place.

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 candidates stuck at Band 6 to fix examples that are too general to prove the point?

How long does it take candidates stuck at Band 6 to fix examples that are too general to prove the point?

Most learners need one week. A criterion-by-criterion plan over four to eight weeks is more effective than general practice.

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 candidates stuck at Band 6?

Write three specific example sentences for the idea 'public transport reduces traffic', one with a place, one with a person, one with a scenario. A criterion-by-criterion plan over four to eight weeks is more effective than general practice.

How can candidates stuck at Band 6 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 candidates stuck at Band 6 know about their IELTS Writing target?

Band 6 answers address the task but with uneven development and noticeable errors. The step to 7 comes from consistent development and accuracy.

Should candidates stuck at Band 6 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 complete essay structure is already in place.

Can an AI checker help candidates stuck at Band 6 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.