考生们在写作真正下笔前，需要做的第一件事就是审题。审题是指在真正动笔写作之前对于考题的理解和分析的过程。它是雅思写作的第一步，也是非常关键的一个步骤，它直接关系着一篇作文的质量。良好的审题，能正确引导考生进行接下来的几个写作步骤——头脑风暴(brain storming)，结构和写作(writing-up work);反之，则会导致偏题甚至跑题的风险。那么，具体应该如何审题呢?在介绍具体步骤和技巧之前，朗阁海外考试研究中心先给大家介绍和分析雅思写作题目的特点和具体分类。

　　一、雅思写作题目特点

　　雅思写作命题主要是由两大主题部分构成：Background information和Question。例如以下真题：

　　Young people who commit serious crimes should be punished in the same way as adults. ——(Background information)

　　To what extent do you agree or disagree? ——(Question)

　　在background information里，我们可以找到具体的写作话题(eg. 犯罪)。而且，这些话题通常以三种形式出现：一个独立观点(Some people think giving aid to poorer countries has more negative effects than positive effects. To what extent do you agree or disagree?)、两个对立观点(Some people think they have right to use as much fresh water as they want, others, otherwise believe governments should strictly control the use of fresh water as it is limited resource. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.)和一种社会现象或问题(Not enough students choose science subjects in university in many countries. What are the reasons for this problem? What are the effects to the society?)。

　　至于在第二部分——Question中，我们可以找到作文的提问方式。(具体见以下“按提问方式分类”部分)

　　二、雅思写作分类