IELTS tips

Examiners don't like lists. For example, look at the following description:

In 2005, 50% of the population went on holiday abroad. In 2010, 60% of people travelled abroad on holiday. In 2015, 70% of residents went abroad on vacation.

Here you have three simple sentences with the same basic word order, the same subject-verb relationship, and with the year and percentage in the same position. As a result, the description seems a bit like a list.

Tip: Examiners like variety. So if you've written a list sentence, don't write another one straight after it.

IELTS Advice: don't forget the easy words!
One thing I noticed as an examiner is that many students forget to use simple words like "and" or "but". At the same time, they overuse words like "moreover" and "furthermore".

Native speakers use "and" all the time (in both speech and writing). You can use "and" or "but" as many times as you want; the examiner will not notice!

On the other hand, if you use "moreover" or "furthermore" more than once, the examiner will notice straight away. These words do not get you a high score. In fact, in the speaking exam, they make your English sound 'forced'.

IELTS Advice: 'deep' answers
Unfortunately, many candidates give shallow answers in their IELTS speaking and writing tests. They mention a few different ideas, but fail to develop any of them in detail. They would get higher scores if they just took one idea and developed it in detail; this is what I call a deep answer.

Practise explaining just one idea in as much detail as you can. The ability to do this could really benefit your speaking and writing scores.

IELTS Advice: clear thinking = clear writing

There's no difference between thinking and writing. We should teach people to write well so that they learn to think well.

Of course, the opposite must also be true: If you want to write clearly and coherently, you need to think clearly and coherently.

Ask yourself this: When I'm writing an IELTS essay, does my thinking feel clear, coherent and organised? Or do I feel confused and disorganised?

Is it better to put the overview after the introduction or at the end of the report?

Both positions are fine. However, I prefer to write the overview straight after the introduction for two reasons: First, I find it easier to describe general information before looking at specific details. Second, I know that the overview is very important. If you want a good score, you need to take the time to write a good overview; when people write the overview at the end, they often find themselves rushing and they do a bad job!

Are two points always enough for the overview? Can we add a third point?

I believe that it's best to stick to just two main or general points, even if you can see other general trends that could be mentioned. Here are four reasons: First, I would rather describe two things well and then move on to the details. Second, I think the overview loses its impact if it becomes too long - it stops being a summary. Third, one of the requirements of task 1 is that you "select" information; you are not expected to describe everything. Finally, I like to have a method and stick to it, so I know what to do without having to think too much.

IELTS Reading: get to the end!

Many IELTS candidates fail to get to the end of the test; in other words, they don't reach question 40. Practise getting to the end with time to spare.

The key to getting to the end is to miss any difficult questions - as soon as you feel stuck on one question, miss it and move on quickly. You can return to the tricky questions later.

Note:
The advice above might seem obvious and easy. However, you'll need to practise this 'method' many times. See how quickly you can get to the end of a test, and count how many difficult questions you missed.

IELTS Advice: part 1 speaking technique

Answering the question:

- No, not at all.
- Yes, definitely.
- Yes, unfortunately it does.
- Yes, many times.

After answering with these short phrases,explain your answers in more detail, using full sentences.

I think this is a nice technique that you could try. Start with a short "yes or no" answer (e.g. yes I do, no we don't, yes it certainly is...), and then explain your answer fully. Perhaps this technique will give you a few extra seconds to think before you give your full answer.

Reading: If you've done all of the tests in the official Cambridge IELTS books, do them all again, and again! It doesn't matter if you remember some of the answers; you'll still learn something new each time you do the tests. If you can 'master' every reading test in the Cambridge books, I guarantee you'll get a high score in the test (but you'll only master them if you repeat each test several times).

IELTS Vocabulary: paraphrasing

Examples of paraphrasing in the task 1:

show = give information about
public in the US = US residents, Americans, those surveyed
reasons for travel = why... travelled, trips were for the purpose of, for... reasons, was cited as the reason for... , accounted for...
travel to and from work = to commute, commuting
price = cost
main issue(s) = problems, primary concern, key consideration, foremost concern, most important issue

IELTS Writing Task 2: question types

Here are the four types of question from last week's lesson:

Opinion
Discussion + opinion
Problem + solution
2-part question
Important points to remember:

An 'opinion' question asks for your view, not the views of other people, and you don't have to give both sides of the argument. Just make your opinion clear in the introduction, then explain it in the rest of the essay.
A 'discussion' question requires you to write about both sides of the argument, and you should write a similar amount for each view. If the question also asks for your opinion, you don't need an extra paragraph. Just make it clear in the introduction and conclusion which of the two views you agree with.
Type 3 is easy. Simply write a paragraph explaining the problem(s) and a paragraph explaining the solution(s). Some questions ask about 'causes' or 'effects': these would be part of the 'problem' paragraph.
For type 4, just answer the two questions. Write one paragraph about each.

IELTS Writing Task 2: traditions and technology

Last week I showed you three recent questions and asked which one we should work on next. The first question received the most votes:

It is inevitable that traditional cultures will be lost as technology develops. Technology and traditional cultures are incompatible. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Here are some things to consider:

What are "traditional cultures"? It might help if we start with some examples. If you can't think of any, search on the Internet and see what you find. Then choose a couple of easy examples (e.g. the first example I found was the Inuit / Eskimo culture).
Think about whether traditional cultures are being lost in your country. Are people from traditional societies moving to cities and joining "modern culture", or is technology helping them to keep their cultures alive?
Think about the words "inevitable" and "incompatible". These are very strong words! Why can't technology and traditional cultures exist together?
Is there a balanced answer here? Are some traditional cultures being lost while others remain strong? Is technology the only thing that destroys traditional cultures, or just part of the problem? Do some cultures simply choose to ingore new technologies?
I think the question is trickier than it first seems, so let's consider the above points carefully before we write or even plan anything!

IELTS Writing Task 2: three possible introductions

Last week I asked you to think about this question:

It is inevitable that traditional cultures will be lost as technology develops. Technology and traditional cultures are incompatible. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

There are basically three ways to answer this question: you can agree, disagree or partly agree. So here are three possible introductions:

1. Agree
It is true that technology is developing at an incredible rate, and that traditional societies and cultural practices are disappearing as a result. I therefore agree with the view that technology and traditional cultures cannot coexist.

2. Disagree
Some people would argue that technological developments lead to the disappearance of traditional societies and cultural practices. I completely disagree with this view because I see no reason why technology cannot coexist with traditional cultures and even enhance them.

3. Partly agree / balanced opinion
Some people believe that technological developments lead to the disappearance of traditional cultures. While this may be true in the case of some societies or customs, others seem to be unaffected by technology and the modern world.

Tip:
There isn't a 'best way' to answer, so the three introductions above are equally good. You should choose your answer according to the ideas that you have when you do your essay plan.

IELTS Writing Task 2: some grammar advice

People often ask me about the grammar score in IELTS writing. For example, here's a typical question:

What exactly are examiners looking for in terms of “grammatical range and accuracy”? Are there any specific tenses or types of sentence that should be included in the essay?

Here's my answer:

The main thing is to reduce the number of mistakes that you make. An essay that contains no mistakes is likely to get a 9 for grammar, regardless of the types of sentence that it may or may not contain.

There is nothing in the scoring criteria about including specific tenses or sentence constructions. If there is a nice mix of long and short sentences in your essay, you'll meet the grammar requirements. Remember: as soon as you write a "long" sentence you are naturally going to use connectives (linking words), which will make the sentence 'compound' or 'complex'. So, don't think too much about the grammar - just aim to reduce the number of mistakes that you make, and try to include a few longer sentences.

IELTS Writing Task 2: short, fast conclusions

It's nice to finish your essay with a conclusion, but I'd say that the conclusion is the least important part of your essay. Don't worry too much if you don't have time to write one; your main body paragraphs are much more important.

I advise people to write short, fast conclusions. Just paraphrase the overall answer that you gave in your introduction. For example:

My introduction from last week's lesson:
Businesses have always sought to make a profit, but it is becoming increasingly common to hear people talk about the social obligations that companies have. I completely agree with the idea that businesses should do more for society than simply make money.

My short, fast conclusion:
In conclusion, I believe that companies should place as much importance on their social responsibilities as they do on their financial objectives.

IELTS Writing Task 1: how to write the 'overview'

The overview / summary is a very important part of your task 1 report. Many people have no trouble describing specific details, but they find it difficult to describe the general features of a graph, chart or diagram. So here are my tips on how to write a good overview:

Always try to write two sentences. This forces you to describe two main or general features of the graph, chart or diagram.
Don't put any numbers in your overview. Save specific numbers for the 'details' paragraphs.
If the graph or chart shows a time period (e.g. years), look for the overall change from the beginning to the end of the period (e.g. from the first year to the last year).
Look for overall trends, and ignore individual figures that don't fit the trend. For example, if a graph shows a rising trend overall, you can ignore a specific year when the figures decreased - save that year for your 'details' paragraphs.
If no time period is shown, you can't look for trends. Instead, look for differences and similarities between items.
Don't look for individual 'highest' or 'lowest' figures such as a 'peak' on a line graph. Instead, describe the highest and lowest items overall (e.g. which line on the graph was the highest for the whole or most of the period?).
Start your overview with a simple phrase that clearly shows the examiner that this is your summary paragraph e.g. It is clear that... , It is noticeable that... , Overall we can see that...
If there are two different charts, write one overview sentence about each chart.
If there are more than two charts, they must be connected in some way, so look for two main features overall.
If the task is to describe a diagram or map that compares things, you can mention the main differences and maybe the number of differences and / or similarities between the two diagrams.
If the task is to describe a process diagram, you can mention the total number of stages in the process and say where or how the process begins and ends.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'cafe' answer

Describe a café that you have been to.
You should say

- where it is
- why you went there
- what you ate or drank
- and explain why you liked or disliked the café.

Here's is the sample band 9 answer:

I’m going to describe a café that I go to maybe once a week. It’s just down the road from where I live, near Manchester, so it’s really convenient for me to walk down there for a coffee or a bite to eat, and to use the wifi.
The last time I went to this local café was on Friday afternoon. I was trying to do some work at home, but I found myself getting distracted by little jobs around the house. So I decided to have a change of scenery; I put my laptop in its bag and made the short walk to the café, where I spent the next few hours getting all of my work done. With a nice cup of coffee and just the right level of background noise, I found it much easier to concentrate.
Over the course of the afternoon, I drank two cups of coffee and a glass or two of water. The café owner takes a lot of pride in making the best ‘flat white’ coffee in the area, so that’s what I tend to drink. If I remember correctly, the second coffee that I ordered was a decaf, because I try to avoid drinking too much caffeine in the afternoon. I didn’t have anything to eat on that occasion, but I do sometimes have one of the home-made cakes that they sell.
There are a few reasons why I like going to my local café. I suppose the main reasons are the coffee, the free wifi and the friendly staff. However, on Friday I also managed to sit at my favourite table near one of the windows, and the café wasn’t very busy. So the atmosphere and noise level were just right, and I was able to focus on my work without distractions for most of the afternoon.

IELTS Speaking: if you don't understand

What should you do if you don't understand a question in the speaking test?

Part 1
In part 1, the examiner is not allowed to help you, but he/she can repeat the question. Just say: "Sorry, can you repeat the question please?" If you still don't understand the second time, try to say something related to the topic or any of the words that you heard. Try your best, then focus on the next question.

Part 2
You are given a task card with the question written on it, so you shouldn't have any problems in this part. If there is a word that you don't understand on the task card, don't ask the examiner - he/she is not allowed to help.

Part 3
In this part of the test, the examiner is allowed to rephrase the question. If you don't understand, just say something like: "Sorry, can you explain that question in a different way please?"

IELTS Writing Task 1: checklist

Here's the preparation checklist for writing task 1. Can you put a tick next to each point on the list?

Know what the six types of question are (e.g. line graph...).
Try several real test examples of each type.
Know the 4-paragraph method suggested in lessons on this site.
Practise paraphrasing the question to write introductions.
Understand why we don't write a conclusion for task 1.
Know how to write an 'overview', and what to include in this paragraph.
Practise selecting key information, rather than describing everything.
Be able to write good 'comparing' sentences.
Be able to describe changes and trends (e.g. increase, decrease).
Be able to use the passive to describe steps in a process.

IELTS Writing Task 1: variety and repetition

In writing task 1, there will probably be one or two key words or phrases that you find yourself repeating in almost every sentence. For example, graphs which are about spending on sport and participation in sport, so it is necessary to mention these two ideas several times in the answer.

Add variety where you can
Try to add some variety where you feel that an alternative word or phrase worked well. For example, instead of "participation in" also write:

- took part in
- taking part
- played
- were enrolled in
- practised
- doing

But repetition can also be positive
Don't be too worried about repeating the key ideas (spending and participation) a few times. You can write "parents spent" three times and use the word "participation" four times. It can help the coherence of your writing if a key word or phrase is repeated, because this helps the reader to make connections between ideas in different sentences. Too much variety can confuse the reader. For example, it will seem very strange if you use 10 different synonyms for a word like "spending".

Remember: variety is good, but repetition is also normal.

IELTS Writing Task 1: pie chart without numbers

The chart below shows the proportions of adults in Canada who own one car, two cars, more than two cars, or who do not own a car.

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As several people commented below last week's lesson, we can describe a pie chart even if the numbers are not shown. Here are some example sentences:

Just over half of all adults in Canada own one car.
Roughly 50% of Canadian adults own one car, while approximately 25% of adults in Canada own two cars.
Less than a quarter of Canadians do not own a car.
Only a very small percentage (under 5%) of Canadian adults own more than two cars.
Remember: the full pie is always 100%, so it's easy for us to guess approximate proportions.

IELTS Writing Task 2: convert notes into sentences

It's a good idea to practise converting basic notes into full sentences. For example, the notes below come from an essay plan for the question about banning mobile phones (which you can see here).

ci******es - toxic fumes, passive smoking, health issues
mobile phones - loud conversations - annoying, not dangerous
instead of banning, encourage polite behaviour
e.g. turning phones off in cinema - respect
Let's convert the above notes into full sentences:

Ci******es produce toxic fumes which are inhaled by others; this is known as passive smoking, and can lead to serious health issues.
While loud conversations on mobile phones can be annoying for others, this is not comparable with the dangers of inhaling cigarette smoke.
Rather than imposing a ban, it is much more sensible to encourage polite mobile phone behaviour.
In cinemas, for instance, the audience is politely asked to turn phones off during the film, and most people respect this request.
If you can convert notes into sentences, you'll be able to convert an essay plan into a full essay. So practise doing this as much as you can!

IELTS Writing Task 1: first, came first, first place

Don't describe items on a graph or chart in terms of coming first, second or last. This makes it seem like you're describing a competition!

For example, don't write:

Theme parks were first.
Theme parks came first, and museums were in second place.
In last place were wildlife parks and zoos.
Instead, you should write:

Theme parks were the most popular type of tourist attraction.
Theme parks attracted the highest proportion of visitors, and museums were the second most visited attraction.
Wildlife parks and zoos were the least popular of the four types of tourist attraction.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'neighbours' topic

Here are some part 1 questions from Cambridge IELTS book 8, with sample answers. How would you answer these questions?

1. How well do you know the people who live next door to you?

I know my neighbours quite well. They're really nice people, and I always stop to talk whenever I see them.

2. How often do you see them?

I see my neighbours at least a few times a week. We usually see each other when we're leaving for work in the morning or coming home in the evening.

3. What kinds of problem do people sometimes have with their neighbours?

I think the most common problem is probably noise. It's difficult to live next to people who have a dog that barks at night, or who play loud music.

4. How do you think neighbours can help each other?

Neighbours can do little things like watching your house if you go on holiday or taking a delivery if something arrives by post when you're not at home. I think these little favours are a good way for neighbours to help each other.

IELTS Listening: how to do multiple choice questions

Multiple choice questions are difficult because there is more to read, and the speaker often mentions more than one of the choices.

Here are a few tips:

Try to read the questions and choices before the recording starts.
Don't check your answers to the previous section; use the breaks to read ahead.
Underline key words in each choice. The key words are those that make the difference in meaning between choices.
When listening, only look at the words you underlined. Don't read everything again.
Expect the trick! They often mention more than one choice, so be careful.
If you're not sure, make a good guess, then move on to the next question.
If you don't have time to read everything (tip 1), don't worry. Prepare as many questions as you can, then do your best on the others.
Remember that the best tip is this: do lots of practice!

IELTS Writing Task 1: general to specific

If you read any of task 1 answers, you will see that it is always 4 paragraphs, and "general to specific" essay structure is used.

The introduction is the most general part of the report; it tells the reader what the chart is about.
Then write a short paragraph about the main / general points.
Finally, write 2 paragraphs describing specific facts or figures.
Don't write a conclusion because the information is summarised in paragraph 2.
One reason why it is preferred to put the overview / summary near the beginning (rather than at the end) is because it's easier to describe general things first, then specific things later.

IELTS Writing Task 1: good vocabulary

Here are some good words and phrases:

The line graph compares..... in terms of.....
waste output / waste produced / amount of waste / waste material / waste production
there were significant changes in
company A produced....., while companies B and C produced..... and..... respectively
the respective amounts of waste from companies A and B
around / approximately / roughly
saw + noun + noun: saw an increase in waste production
saw + noun + verb: saw waste output fall
past perfect after "by": By 2015..... had risen / had dropped
cut waste production
reduced its waste production
over the following 5 years
over the same 10-year period

Compare and Contrast Language for Graphs:

Comparatives and superlatives are useful to compare and contrast, but they won't be enough.
Here are some other useful words and structures:
Transitions
1. The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however, Japan produces none.
2. The USA produces large amounts of natural gas. In contrast, South Korea produces none.
3. European countries make great use of solar power. On the other hand, most Asian countries us this method of power generation very little.
Subordinating Conjunctions
1. The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.
2. Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.
3. Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.
Other Structures
1. Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy production than developed countries.
2. Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy production than gas or coal does.
3. Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.
4. Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.
5. The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europe.
6. Western countries consume three times more oil than the Middle East.
7. Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.
8. The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.

Other Important Language
Comparatives and superlatives are useful to compare and contrast, but they won't be enough.
Here are some other useful words and structures:
Transitions
1. The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however, Japan produces none.
2. The USA produces large amounts of natural gas. In contrast, South Korea produces none.
3. European countries make great use of solar power. On the other hand, most Asian countries us this method of power generation very little.
Subordinating Conjunctions
1. The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.
2. Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.
3. Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.
Other Structures
1. Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy production than developed countries.
2. Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy production than gas or coal does.
3. Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.
4. Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.
5. The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europe.
6. Western countries consume three times more oil than the Middle East.
7. Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.
8. The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.

IELTS Writing Task 2: keep the introduction short

Some students (and teachers) think that it's a good idea to write a long introduction. It is recommend that you keep the introduction short. Let's compare some examples.

Short introduction:

People have different views about how best to improve transportation in cities. While better provision for cyclists would be a positive measure, I would argue that further investment in public transport should be the priority in most cities.

A long introduction written by a student:
Nowadays, there is a large debate around the ideal transportation means that should be promoted by governments. Some believe that means like bicycles should be supported, while others feel that spending should be directed toward public transportations. I think that both means have to be subsidized because each has advantages and potential disadvantages. In this essay, I shall discuss and analyze both views.

Analysis:
The long introduction above is a little repetitive, but otherwise it's fine. The main problem is the extra time that you waste if you write four sentences instead of two. This is time that could be spent on the main body paragraphs, which are the key to a high score. A long introduction won't help your score at all, but longer and better main body paragraphs will.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'perfect' essays

You should try to write 'perfect' essays when you are practising at home.

You should take as much time as you need, check everything carefully, use a dictionary or the Internet to find better vocabulary, and generally do your best to write an essay that you probably wouldn't be able to write in an exam. You should be able to score at least one band higher when you're practising like this, compared to the score you get in exam conditions.

Ask yourself: Am I pushing myself to write essays to the best of my ability when I'm practising at home? Or am I simply testing myself or staying in my comfort zone?