审题错误会直接导致糟糕的task response，因为考生可能因审题错误而答非所问或者漏回答问题而无法做到sufficiently address all parts of the task。这样的话，接下来也必然无法presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas。这一点出问题的话，接下来的衔接词汇语法再如何出彩都于事无补。
所以很多跑题偏题的作文大多分数惨不忍睹，往往撑死5分。如此重要的一个环节，遗憾的是，却是大多数考生不太的一节。在此请诸位考生在沉溺于写出所谓高端词汇华丽句子无法自拔前先静下心来看看到底我们要如何正确理解题目的意思从而不偏题跑题。
1.找出题目的侧重点
大家都知道雅思的作文题目由题干和提问两部分组成，题干部分一般会由一到两句话构成，两句话间可以是转折或递进的逻辑关系。如果这样，那么题目的中心应该放在后半部分。
如：
Scientific and technological advances bring benefits to our daily life. However, most scientists are no longer able to find solutions to the problems they have created. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

乍一看这题可能很多考生都会专门拿出一段来写科技带来的好处。但如果这样处理就已经偏题了，因为显然这道题的中心应该是在however转折的后半句。所以这道题的重点应该放在论述“科学家到底是否已经无法处理他们创造出来的问题了”。
Many employees may work from home with modern technology. Some people claim that it can benefit workers only, not the employers. Do you agree or disagree?
同样，如以上这题，虽然题干两句话中没有任何转折连词，但我们依然能读出前后两句的转折逻辑。所以同样这道题的侧重点应该放在讨论“是否现代科技只对雇员有利”这一点即可，而不需要过多笔墨强调具体给worker带来了哪些好处。
2.学会区分类似题目间的区别
雅思大作文中存在很多类似的话题，如果我们不对其进行具体分析可能会觉得每道题目的写法都差不多，而事实上能否找出这些看上去大同小异的题目中的细微区别将直接影响我们的写作是否扣题。
让我们来试着对比两题：
1、Some people believe children should be encouraged to watch TV both at home and at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2、Some people believe that children can learn effectively by watching TV and they should be encouraged to watch TV both at home and at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

如果不仔细看，肯定有些同学会觉得这两题都是在问看电视对孩子的好处和坏处，但我们如果仔细分析会发现，第二题的论述范围是“learn effectively”, 所以要求我们所有的观点都要围绕是否对孩子的“学习”有利这一点去说。如果你在其中说了别的就有跑题的嫌疑。比如有的同学会写“长期看电视会让孩子视力下降并影响身体健康”就不是一个特别切合的观点了，因为这与是否有利于学习无关。就算你要写这一点也要提到视力跟身体健康跟学习有何关系，比如你应该进一步提到“如果视力下降了就会影响正常学习”，这才能把观点拉回题目的正轨上来。
再举个例子：
1、Nowadays, distance-learning programs have gained in popularity, but some people argue that courses can never be taken as good as those by attending a college or university. To what extend do you agree or disagree?
2、Nowadays, distance-learning programs have gained in popularity, but some people argue colleges and universities have more advantages for students. To what extend do you agree or disagree?
同样这两道题乍看之下都是在讨论远程教育和传统教育的优缺点，但事实上它们讨论的范围是不同的。

一、题强调的范围是”courses can never be taken as good as those by attending a college or university”。也就是说它仅仅讨论在上课这点上两种方法谁优谁劣，所以如果你在论述中提到如“学生在大学中能交到更多朋友，有利于扩大交际圈，提升社交能力，为将来事业提供人脉”这类观点就不合适，真正扣题的观点应该是“学生在大学中会碰到同学间的合作及竞争，从而更有效地提高学习成绩”。
3.杜绝
现在有很多雅思大作文考题中会有两个问句，但很多考生只顾了一个，对于第二个问句“选择性忽视”，这样的审题是不对的。
如：
Some people think students can learn more effectively in groups, while others think they should study alone. What are the benefits of each method? Which one do you think is more effective?