Planning your writing time
Plan your writing time: quick analysis, a 30-second outline, drafting and a final check for each writing task.
In this lesson you will
- Divide task time into plan, write and check
- Outline in under a minute
- Finish every task
Learn
Every writing task is timed and short, so structure your time: read and plan (small part) → write (most) → check (last minute). Check the official timing on ets.org and practise with it.
30-second outline: for an email — list the required points in order; for the discussion — position + reason + example.
Don’t over-plan: a simple outline is enough. Start writing quickly and keep moving.
Always finish: an incomplete answer that misses required points loses more than small errors. If time is short, write a brief sentence for each remaining point.
Examples
- Email outline: 1) apologise for missing meeting 2) explain reason 3) suggest new time.
- Discussion outline: agree w/ Aisha + new reason: budgeting skills → e.g. first job salary.
- Running out of time: add one clear sentence for the last point.
Vocabulary
outline
a short plan
draft
write a first version
allocate
give time for a purpose
incomplete
not finished
required point
something the task asks you to include
Practice
Most of your time should go on…
Writing
Set a timer. Write a 30-second outline and then an email (100 words) inviting a classmate to join a study group, including when, where and why.
Lesson quiz
Missing required points is worse than small errors.
Review
Key points
- Plan → write → check.
- 30-second outline.
- Don’t over-plan.
- Always finish.
What you learned
- ✓ I manage writing time.
- ✓ I outline quickly.
- ✓ I finish every task.