编者按：关于雅思写作时对待我们一直追崇的'difficult' language的正确态度；关于雅思写作目标6分和7分分别建议。满满的诚意，选自前雅思考官simon的博客近一周的内容，相信广大烤鸭们是能从中有所收获的。
IELTS Writing Task 2: the problem with 'difficult' language
A.雅思大作文：关于“高级”语言的问题
One of the main messages that I try to communicate in my lessons is that 'difficult' words and grammar are not the secret to a high score. You don't need to be Shakespeare to get band 7, 8 or 9!
In fact, 'difficult' language often has a negative effect on people's scores. Instead of impressing the examiner, the 'difficult' language may be unnatural, inappropriate, or just incorrect.
【翻译并解读】simon反复重申，高级词汇语法并不是雅思作文高分的秘诀。不是只有到了莎士比亚级别的用词水平才能拿下7分，8分乃至9分。不是说高级词汇语法用在写作上不好，问题是高回报意味着高风险。很多人的作文中的这些所谓的高级用法往往用得别扭，不当甚至错误，所以不但对拿下高分没有帮助，反而是祸害了整个文章。
Look at these examples from Sunday's lesson. I've underlined the words that I think the students hoped would impress the examiner.
看看下面2句得不偿失的炫技表达
1. If schools administered with any teachers, disorder and lawlessness would arise.
2. If uncensored commercials had been banned, the crime rate would be seized from rising.
All of the underlined 'difficult' words are either used wrongly or they seem strange in these contexts. It would be better to write the following versions:
这些词汇要么使用错误，要么与语境不搭！看看如果修改。
1. If schools were run without teachers, the behaviour of pupils would be much worse.
2. If violent commercials were banned, the crime rate would fall.
IELTS Writing Task 2: advice for different scores
B：对雅思写作不同目标分数的建议
Depending on what scores my students are aiming for, I give different advice.
If you are aiming for band 5, 5.5 or 6:
对目标是band 5, 5.5 or 6的烤鸭
You can reach band 6 with fairly 'easy' language if your essay structure is good, your ideas are relevant to the question topic, and you write at least 250 words. Look through the writing task 2 lessons on this website to learn how to write introductions, main paragraphs and conclusions, and work on writing short, simple sentences to express your ideas.
When people get band 5 or below, it is often because they don't finish their essays, they go off-topic, they have no idea about good essay structure, or they try to use 'difficult' language and therefore make lots of mistakes. For bands 5 to 6, keep your essays simple and clear.
【翻译并解读】想到6，只要使用相对简明的语言，合理的文章结构，观点不要跑题，字数复合要求。要学会基本的导入，主体，结论的写法，要学会尽量用简短明了的句子表达观点。
If you are aiming for band 7 or higher:
对目标是7+的烤鸭来说
First, you need to do everything that I mentioned above: you need relevant ideas, a good essay structure, and you must write at least 250 words.
But to reach the higher scores, your essays need more 'depth'. You need to explain your ideas in more detail, using a wider range of vocabulary. At this level,good essay structure is not enough, and memorised linking phrases won't help either. Your focus should be on real content.
【翻译并解读】首先，你需要做到上述所提到的一切，这是基础。之外，你的文章需要“深度”，你需要更详实地解释你的观点，使用更为丰富的词汇。在这个7+层面上，好的文章结构远远不够，记再多的连接词也是无济于事。你的着重点应该在于“有料”。
综上，如果把雅思写作看成是练武。那么像模板，高分词句等等一切外在的形式都是招式，而详实有见地的观点和逻辑周全的论证才是内功。祝雅思写作早日学有所成，祝早日与雅思分手。