Mastering Objective Writing: Avoiding First-Person Opinions in Essays

When preparing for high-stakes exams like IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE Academic, candidates often wonder: Should I use "I think" in my essay? Or, more generally, should I avoid the first person in academic writing? This confusion is understandable, especially since rules seem different across tests, teachers, and writing contexts.

In this in-depth guide, we'll unpack what objective writing means, why so many academic and exam essays require it, and exactly how to avoid first-person and personal opinions in essays-unless specifically asked. We'll break down examiner expectations, model best practices, and help you build a flexible set of writing skills. Whether you're targeting IELTS Task 2, TOEFL Independent Writing, or writing a university report, you'll walk away with practical strategies and clear examples.

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What Is Objective Writing? Why Does It Matter in Exams?

What Does "Objective" Mean in Academic Writing?

Objective writing means presenting information, arguments, or analysis in a neutral, fact-based way-avoiding your own personal views unless explicitly asked. Instead of focusing on what you think or feel, you aim to inform, persuade, or discuss using credible evidence, logic, and authoritative language.

Why Is This Important in IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE?

• Exam Tasks Often Want Evidence, Not Opinion: Many academic essays or reports require you to discuss, analyze, compare, or evaluate a topic, rather than just state personal beliefs.
• Formal Tone Is Valued: Markers expect candidates to sound professional and well-informed.
• Third-Person Voice Is Preferred: This increases the credibility of your arguments and makes them appear more balanced.

Example:

• Too Personal: I think students should wear uniforms to school.
• Objective: School uniforms may encourage discipline and equality among students.

Note: Always check the prompt. Some tasks do want your opinion, in which case "I think" or "In my view" can be appropriate (e.g., IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays). But many times, neutrality is expected.

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When to Avoid First-Person Pronouns in Essays

What Are First-Person Pronouns?

Words like I, me, my, we, us, our. Their use signals that you're sharing a personal thought, belief, or experience.

When Are They Inappropriate?

• Unless the prompt specifically requests your personal experience or opinion, as in "Give your opinion..." or "Describe a time when..."
• In most academic/argumentative/discursive essays
• In reports, summaries, academic reviews
• When writing about research, data, or shared knowledge rather than your own story

Why? Using the first person can undermine objectivity, making writing sound less formal and more subjective (based on personal feelings). Academic readers value essays where the weight of evidence, logic, and authoritative sources, rather than individual opinion, drive the message.

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When Can You Use First-Person Opinions?

Look for These Prompts:

• IELTS Writing Task 2: "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" / "Do you think...?" / "Give your opinion..."
• TOEFL Independent Writing: "Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use reasons and examples to support your response."
• PTE Academic Personal Experience Tasks: Some speaking/writing prompts may specifically invite personal responses.

In These Cases:

• It is fine (even expected) to use first person: "I believe...", "In my view...", "From my experience..."

If in Doubt, What Should You Do?

Err on the side of formality. If the prompt isn't clear, avoid first-person pronouns and aim for an impersonal, evidence-based tone.

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Practical Alternatives to First-Person in Academic Writing

Let's walk through common situations and show you how to replace first-person statements with objective, persuasive alternatives.

1. Stating Opinions

Useful Phrases:

• It appears that...
• The evidence suggests that...
• Researchers/experts have found...
• This can be seen in...

2. Making Recommendations

3. Describing Problems or Solutions

4. Evaluating or Criticizing Policies/Ideas

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Hedging: How to Show Caution Without First-Person

What Is Hedging in Academic Writing?

Hedging means using language to soften claims and indicate tentativeness-important when presenting theories, drawing conclusions, or evaluating evidence.

Common Hedging Words:

• May, might, could
• Possibly, probably, suggests, appears, seems
• According to some studies, to a certain extent

Model Examples:

• Instead of: "Climate change is caused by human activity."

• Use: "Climate change is largely believed to be caused by human activity."

• Instead of: "I argue that this law is ineffective."

• Use: "It can be argued that this law is ineffective."

TIP: Overuse of hedging can make your argument weak. Use it when you truly want to show uncertainty or when evidence is not absolute.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Objective Writing

1. Can I use "I", "we", or "my" in IELTS essays?

• Task 2 Essays: Yes, if asked for your opinion. But using first-person sparingly is better; you can often rephrase to sound more academic.
• Task 1 (Graphs/Letters): In Academic, avoid first person. In General Training letters, use as appropriate (e.g., informal letters).

2. Is first-person always wrong in TOEFL or PTE essays?

• TOEFL Independent Writing: First-person is acceptable and sometimes encouraged.
• TOEFL Integrated, PTE Academic Essays: Avoid first person. Use neutral, third-person, evidence-based language.

3. Are there exam penalties for using first person inappropriately?

Yes, in some cases. Examiners may mark down:

• Task Achievement (not following prompt instructions)
• Lexical Resource/Tone (too informal)
• Coherence and Cohesion (if your writing lacks academic flow)

Remember: Always match your style to audience and purpose. Objective, impersonal writing is safe unless the question clearly tells you otherwise.

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Tips, Strategies, and Common Mistakes in Objective Writing

How to Practice Writing Objectively

1. Rewrite First-Person Sentences

   • Take a paragraph using first person. Rewrite it in third person or using impersonal constructions.
   • Practice with essay prompts you find online or on Essay Tutor.

2. Read Academic Model Answers

   • Notice how experienced writers build arguments without saying "I think."
   • Observe use of evidence, cautious language, and objective phrasing.

3. Use Variety in Sentence Structure

   • Use passive voice where appropriate: "It is believed that..." instead of "I believe..."

4. Check Each Sentence for Neutrality

   • Ask: Could this sentence be made more formal? Can I remove "I", "my", or "we" and still express the point?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake 1: Personal anecdote when not asked

  • ❌ "When I was in school, I always struggled with math."
  • ✅ "Many students struggle with mathematics."

• Mistake 2: Overusing "I think"

  • ❌ "I think global warming is dangerous."
  • ✅ "Global warming is considered a major threat by scientists."

• Mistake 3: Second person ("you", "your")

  • This is informal and rarely appropriate in academic essays.
  • ❌ "You need to study hard to pass."
  • ✅ "Students need to study diligently to succeed."

Examiner's Perspective

• Objective writing increases your credibility and matches the scoring rubrics for essays such as IELTS Band 7+ and TOEFL 24+.
• Formality and evidence-based arguments are key to impressing examiners.

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Practice Task: Transforming Personal Opinions

Try rewriting the following sentences to avoid first person. Answers are given below each sentence.

A. I think having exams online is better.
→ "Online exams may offer several advantages."

B. In my opinion, governments should invest more in public transport.
→ "Increased investment in public transportation is often seen as beneficial by urban planners."

C. I suggest that schools use more technology in classes.
→ "The use of more technology in classrooms has been recommended for modern educational settings."

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Model Paragraph: Objective vs. Personal Style

Personal Style:
I believe that government action is necessary to address climate change. From my experience, people do not make big changes in behavior unless they feel supported by policy. I think stricter regulations would encourage companies to reduce pollution.

Objective Style:
Government action is often regarded as necessary in addressing climate change. Studies indicate that significant behavioral change usually requires policy support. Stricter regulations may encourage companies to reduce pollution.

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When in Doubt: A Checklist

Ask yourself:

• Does the prompt ask for my personal experience or opinion?
• What is the academic standard for this essay/report type?
• Would this sentence be stronger or more credible without first person?
• Can I cite evidence or use neutral phrasing instead?

If still unsure, keep your writing formal and impersonal.

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Adapting Your Writing for Any Exam: Practice Both Styles

Why Practice Both With and Without First Person?

• IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and university writing all sometimes require or prohibit personal language. Being flexible is a core writing skill and will boost your confidence on test day.

Practice Ideas:

• Take a prompt ("Do you agree or disagree with X? ...") and write a paragraph with "I think...", then a paragraph using only impersonal language.
• Get immediate feedback with tools like Essay Tutor to see which style works best for your target exam or task.

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Get Expert Feedback on Your Writing

No matter how well you study the rules, real progress comes from practicing essays and receiving useful reflection on your own writing. Essay Tutor (study.essaytutor.app) lets you:

• Submit your essays for instant evaluation
• Get grammar and phrase corrections
• See improved versions of your responses
• Adapt quickly to exam expectations

Whether you're aiming for IELTS 8, TOEFL 27, or just want to impress your university professors, Essay Tutor helps you master the difference between personal and objective writing.

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Takeaway: The Path to Mastering Objective Writing

Mastering objective writing is crucial for exam (and academic) success. Remember:

• Use personal pronouns ("I", "my") only when the prompt asks for your opinion or experience.
• For formal or academic essays and reports, use the third person and back your arguments with evidence.
• Learn alternative sentence structures, hedging, and evidence-based phrasing.
• Check your style to match the exam's requirements every time.
• Practice both styles so you're ready for any writing situation.
• Leverage feedback tools like Essay Tutor for faster, smarter improvement.

Ready to level up your writing? Start practicing at Essay Tutor-where every essay gets you closer to your exam goals!

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Have more questions?
Comment below or visit Essay Tutor for more resources, practice prompts, and writing feedback! Good luck-you've got this!