Writing task 1 The table below shows the proportion of different categories of families living in poverty in Australia in 1999.

The table gives information about poverty rates among six types of household in Australia in the year 1999. It is noticeable that levels of poverty were higher for single people than for couples, and people with children were more likely to be poor than those without. Poverty rates were considerably lower among elderly people. Overall, 11% of Australians, or 1,837,000 people, were living in poverty in 1999. Aged people were the least likely to be poor, with poverty levels of 6% and 4% for single aged people and aged couples respectively. Just over one fifth of single parents were living in poverty, whereas only 12% of parents living with a partner were classed as poor. The same pattern can be seen for people with no children: while 19% of single people in this group were living below the poverty line, the figure for couples was much lower, at only 7%. (150 words, band 9)

Thursday, August 04, 2011IELTS Writing Task 1: describe a map

Sometimes (quite rarely) you have to describe a map for IELTS Writing Task 1. Today I'll explain how I would answer this type of question. The map below is of the town of Garlsdon. A new supermarket (S) is planned for the town. The map shows two possible sites for the supermarket.

Here is some advice:1Introduction - Just paraphrase the question (instead of 'two possible sites' you could write 'two potential locations'). 1. Summary - The main point is that the first site (S1) is outside the town, whereas the second site is in the town centre. Also, you could mention that the map shows the position of both sites relative to a railway and three roads which lead to three smaller towns. 2. Details (2 paragraphs) - Don't write a separate paragraph about each site; it's much better to compare the sites. I'd write one paragraph comparing the position of each site relative to Garlsdon (mention the different areas of the town), and another paragraph about the positions relative to transport links with the other three towns

IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay (describe a map)

In last week's lesson we looked at a 'describe a map' question. If you wrote an essay for this question, compare it with my essay below. Here's my band 9 essay. I focused on describing similarities and differences. The map shows two potential locations (S1 and S2) for a new supermarket in a town called Garlsdon. The main difference between the two sites is that S1 is outside the town, whereas S2 is in the town centre. The sites can also be compared in terms of access by road or rail, and their positions relative to three smaller towns. Looking at the information in more detail, S1 is in the countryside to the North West of Garlsdon, but it is close to the residential area of the town. S2 is also close to the housing area, which surrounds the town centre. There are main roads from Hindon, Bransdon and Cransdon to Garlsdon town centre, but this is a no traffic zone, so there would be no access to S2 by car. By contrast, S1 lies on the main road to Hindon, but it would be more difficult to reach from Bransdon and Cransdon. Both supermarket sites are close to the railway that runs through Garlsdon from Hindon to Cransdon. Posted by Simon in IELTS Writing Task 1 | Permalink | Comments (20)

IELTS Speaking Advice: get to the point

Yesterday I wrote that you should avoid using long phrases to begin your answers. Short phrases seem more natural. Native speakers say things like: - I think... - I guess... - Well,... (and noises like 'er' 'um') These words/phrases might seem less impressive, but you have to remember that examiners are not impressed by the long phrases either! The important thing is to get to the point of your answer. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking, Questions/Advice | Permalink | Comments (3)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

IELTS Speaking Advice: be more direct
In the speaking test, examiners don't like it when students use phrases like: - That's a very interesting question... - It is my personal opinion that... - Personally, I would have to say that... - I am of the opinion that it depends on... - To be honest, I personally believe that... These phrases sound unnatural, and it is obvious to the examiner that the student has memorised them. So what should you do instead? My advice: just answer the question directly. Stop using memorised phrases, and just get straight to the point. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking, Questions/Advice | Permalink | Comments (7)

Friday, August 26, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 3: sports
In the example answers below, I've underlined some of the phrases that examiners would like. They might seem easy to understand, but they are the kind of natural phrases that native speakers use. My answers are at band 9 level. 1. Why do you think sport is important?

I think sport is important for different reasons. For me, doing a sport is about having fun. When I play football, for example, I forget about everything else and just enjoy myself. Also, doing a sport helps you to keep fit and healthy, and it's a good way to socialise and make friends. 2. Do you think famous sportspeople are good role models for children? I think that sportspeople should be good role models. Children look up to their favourite football players, like David Beckham for example, so I think that these people have an enormous responsibility. They should try to be a good influence, and behave in the right way. 3. Do you agree that sports stars earn too much money? In my opinion, it's fair that the best sportspeople earn a lot of money. Being a top sportsperson requires hours of practice, and there are millions of sports fans who are willing to pay to see them play. If we don't want sportspeople to earn so much money, we shouldn't go to watch them. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (7)

Sections Listening Reading

Raw score achieved by the IELTS candidate in each section Score 33 out of 40 29 out of 40 23 out of 40 36 out of 40 7.5 7 6

Overall IELTS Score (7.5+7+6+8)/ 4 =7.124 Rounded off nearest half decimal The final Score is 7

Writing
Speaking

Calculation of IELTS Score

All 4 sections are evaluated indepedently and band in each section is decided based on the raw score.The overall score is the average of all 4 sections.If the average score is in decimals,then it is rounded to the nearest half decimal.As an exclusion ,For writing section the half band is not applicable. It is illustrated as an example.

Friday, August 19, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: environment problem
Describe a problem that affects the environment in the area where you live. You should say- what the problem is

- what causes it - and explain what you think could be done to solve it Remember, the question asks you to talk about a problem in your local area, so don't choose 'global warming'. These topics would be better:1. Air pollution caused by traffic and factories.2.Building new roads, houses, factories etc. destroys natural areas.3.Increasing amounts of litter and household waste. Try searching for these topics on the Internet. I did a quick search for "litter on streets" and found this article.

Friday, August 12, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 3: "it depends"
Many students answer questions in IELTS speaking part 3 by saying "it depends". "It depends" is not a full answer. What does it depend on, and why? Example question: Do you think it's important to find a job that you love, or is it more important to earn a good salary? Don't say: "It depends. Some people prefer to find a job they love, but other people want to earn a good salary." (This answer just repeats the question) Do say: "Personally, I'd prefer to do a job that I really enjoy; as long as I earn enough to live comfortably, the salary is less important. However, I can see the benefits of doing a job that you don't like if it pays well. With a good salary, you can probably do more enjoyable things in your free time." Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (16)

Monday, August 15, 2011

IELTS Reading: true, false, not given
Read the following text about 'collocation':Collocation is defined as a sequence of words or terms which co-occur more often than would be expected by chance. Collocation comprises the restrictions on how words can be used together, for example which prepositions are used with particular verbs, or which verbs and nouns are used together. An example of this (from Michael Halliday) is the collocation strong tea. While the same meaning could be conveyed through the roughly equivalent powerful tea, the fact is that English prefers to speak of tea in terms of being strong rather than in terms of being powerful. A similar observation holds for powerful computers which is preferred over strong computers.If the expression is heard often, the words become 'glued' together in our minds. 'Crystal clear', 'middle management', 'nuclear family', and 'cosmetic surgery' are examples of collocated pairs of words. Some words are often found together because they make up a compound noun, for example 'text message' or 'motor cyclist'. Are the statements below true, false or not given in the text? 1. It is possible, but not normal, to say 'powerful tea'. 2. It is equally acceptable in English to say 'powerful computers' or 'strong computers'. 3. Our brains remember some pairs of words better than others.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

IELTS Advice: phrases and collocations
To get a good IELTS score, you need to use the kind of language that native speakers might use. This doesn't mean 'difficult words', it means good groups of words (phrases and collocations). When reading, try to look for phrases that English speakers use. Here's an example paragraph from the Economist Magazine with a few useful words and phrases underlined. It is always a little disconcerting to realise a generation has grown up never knowing what it was like to manage without something that is taken for granted today. A case in point: the World Wide Web (WWW), which celebrated the 20th anniversary of its introduction last Saturday. It is no exaggeration to say that not since the invention of the printing press has a new media technology altered the way people think, work and play quite so extensively. With the web having been so thoroughly embraced socially, politically and economically, the world has become an entirely different place from what it was just two decades ago.

Monday, August 08, 2011

IELTS Reading: 'keyword' technique
What do I mean by the 'keyword' technique? By 'keywords' I mean: words in the text that have a similar meaning to words in the questions. The table below shows the keywords that helped my students to find the answers to the test on page 122 of Cambridge IELTS 6.

Note: this comes from a General Training test, but the technique is the same for both general and academic tests. Posted by Simon in IELTS Reading | Permalink | Comments

Friday, August 05, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'communication' topic
Here are some more examples for IELTS speaking part 1. Remember to give short, easy, direct answers. 1. How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family? I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I've started using the Internet to make video calls. I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can. 2. Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails? It depends on the situation. I use email and text messages to communicate with friends, but my parents prefer it if I phone them. 3. Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why / Why not?) No, I don't write letters by hand because it's so much easier to send an email that will arrive immediately. 4. Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones? Well, I don't like listening to other people's conversations in public places, and I don't like it when someone's phone rings in the cinema or during a lesson. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (10)

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

IELTS Writing Task 2: advertising
'Advertising' has been the topic of IELTS writing task 2 several times this year. It's a popular topic, so you need some ideas and opinions about it. Here are some opinions about advertising, taken from my ebook.

Advertising should be ______. Advertising ______ children should be controlled or even banned. Unhealthy foods should not be marketed ______ attracts children. Products that can be a risk to health should ______ warnings. However, advertising is necessary in free ______ economies. It creates ______ products. Governments should only ______ false information or products that are harmful.

Fill the gaps with these words/phrases: market, in a way that, regulated, display, censor, demand for, aimed at Note: 'Advertising' is uncountable (you can't say "an advertising" or "advertisings"). 'Advertising' is the name of the industry, activity or profession (like 'marketing'). 'An advertisement' (or 'advertisements') is what you see on TV, in the street, in newspapers etc. Posted by Simon in IELTS Writing Task 2 | Permalink | Comments (46)

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

IELTS Writing Task 2: how to answer any question
Today I want to show you what happens in my brain when I see any IELTS Writing Task 2 question.Here are my thinking steps: 1. I read the question very carefully, maybe three times. I ask myself "What's the topic? What is the question asking me to write about?" 2. I underline the key things that must be included in the essay. I always answer every part of the question. 3. Now I think about my 4 paragraph structure. I can write any type of essay in 4 paragraphs; I just need to decide what to put in each paragraph. 4. If I need to give my opinion, I think "What is the easiest opinion to explain? What good vocabulary could I use?" 5. Then I write down some vocabulary ideas that are related to the topic.

6. I try to write 2 sentences for the introduction: I introduce the topic, then give a simple answer (including my opinion if the question asks for it). 7. I write short 'topic sentences' to start each paragraph, then develop my ideas by explaining and supporting with examples. 8. I look at the question from time to time in order to check that I'm answering every part of it. 9. I know that I write about 10 words per line; I can quickly check the approximate number of words that I've written. 10. If I need more words (to reach 250), I expand one of my examples in the main body paragraphs. If necessary, I draw an arrow to show where I want to add the extra words.

Friday, May 27, 2011

IELTS Speaking: know the exam
It's important to know exactly what to expect in each part of the exam. The following questions come from part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the speaking test. Can you tell which part each question is from? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How often do you watch television? How have television programmes changed since you were a child? Describe a television programme that you enjoyed. Which TV channel or channels do you prefer to watch? Why? Do you think governments should control what TV programmes show?

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'gender and university' essay

Here's my full essay using last week's plan: Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However, I do not agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of each gender in every university subject. Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic. Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives. If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would need enough applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with one gender than the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For example, nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants, and it would be difficult to fill these courses if fifty per cent of the places needed to go to males. Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both men and women have the same opportunities, and applicants know that they will be successful if they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a course, it would be wrong to reject her in favour of a male student with lower grades or fewer qualifications. In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and it would be both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender. (265 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'zoo' topic

Some people believe that it is wrong to keep animals in zoos, while others think that zoos are both entertaining and ecologically important. Discuss both views. Here are some (band 7 or higher) vocabulary ideas. I've organised the vocabulary according to different perspectives.Positives of keeping animals in zoos: 1. Environmental perspective: Zoos play an important role in wildlife conservation. They help to protect endangered species. They allow scientists to study animal behaviour. 2. Economic perspective: Zoos employ large numbers of people. They provide job opportunities and income for the local area. The money raised can be used for conservation projects. 3. Personal perspective: Zoos are interesting, educational and fun. They make a great day out for families. Children learn to appreciate wildlife and nature. Negatives of zoos:1.Environmental perspective: Zoos are artificial environments. Animals lose their instinct to hunt for food. It would be better to save endangered species by protecting their natural habitats.2.Moral perspective: Keeping animals in cages is unethical. We have no right to use animals for entertainment. Zoos exhibit animals with the aim of making a profit. Thinking about topics from different perspectives is a useful technique. It helps you to generate a variety of interesting ideas. I used this technique when thinking of ideas for my ebook, and I encourage my students to use it when planning their essays.

Ugyanaz
Below is a 'band 9' paragraph about the benefits of zoos. I took the vocabulary ideas from this lesson (click here) and organised them in the following way: 1. 2. 3. 4. Simple topic sentence. The main benefit is that... Another advantage of zoos is that... From a personal point of view,...

I've underlined the band 9 vocabulary. Zoos have several benefits. The main benefit is that zoos play an important role in wildlife conservation. They help to protect endangered species, such as pandas or rhinos, and allow scientists to study animal behaviour. Another advantage of zoos is that they employ large numbers of people, therefore providing job opportunities and income for the local area. Also, the money that zoos make can be used for conservation projects. From a personal point of view, zoos are interesting, educational and fun. They are entertaining for families, and teach children to appreciate wildlife and nature.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

IELTS Writing Task 2: use related words
Look again at last week's question: Some people think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people, while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. Discuss both views and give you own opinion. Let's forget about the whole question. Just try to list some words that are related to the 3 main ideas. Museums:

exhibition, exhibit (verb, like 'show'), an exhibit (noun, 'item'), artifact, object, collection, history, science, art, culture, visitors, members of the public, public viewing...

Entertain:

entertainment, entertaining, enjoy, enjoyment, enjoyable, have fun, interesting, fascinating, spectacular, impressive, leisure time, free time, a day out, tourist attraction...

Educate:

education, educational, teach, learn, explain, understand, know, gain/expand/pass on/transmit knowledge, skills, experience, open your mind, broaden your horizons...

Making lists of related words is a good way to generate ideas. You might not have time to do this in the exam, but it's a useful study technique. Posted by Simon in IELTS Writing Task 2 | Permalink | Comments (14)

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'museums' essay
Some people think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people, while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. Discuss both views and give you own opinion. People have different views about the role and function of museums. In my opinion, museums can and should be both entertaining and educational. On the one hand, it can be argued that the main role of a museum is to entertain. Museums are tourist attractions, and their aim is to exhibit a collection of interesting objects that many people will want to see. The average visitor may become bored if he or she has to read or listen to too much educational content, so museums often put more of an emphasis on enjoyment rather than learning. This type of museum is designed to be visually spectacular, and may have interactive activities or even games as part of its exhibitions. On the other hand, some people argue that museums should focus on education. The aim of any exhibition should be to teach visitors something that they did not previously know. Usually this means that the history behind the museums exhibits needs to be explained, and this can be done in various ways. Some museums employ professional guides to talk to their visitors, while other museums offer headsets so that visitors can listen to detailed commentary about the exhibition. In this way, museums can play an important role in teaching people about history, culture, science and many other aspects of life. In conclusion, it seems to me that a good museum should be able to offer an interesting, enjoyable and educational experience so that people can have fun and learn something at the same time. (253 words, band 9)

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'minority languages' essay
Today, I'd like to share a 'band 9' sample essay for the question below. Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spoken by very small numbers of people. Some people say that governments should spend public money on saving these languages, while others believe that would be a waste of money. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. It is true that some minority languages may disappear in the near future. Although it can be argued that governments could save money by allowing this to happen, I believe that these languages should be protected and preserved. There are several reasons why saving minority languages could be seen as a waste of money. Firstly, if a language is only spoken by a small number of people, expensive education programmes will be needed to make sure that more people learn it, and the state will have to pay for facilities, teachers and marketing. This money might be better spent on other public services. Secondly, it would be much cheaper and more efficient for countries to have just one language. Governments could cut all kinds of costs related to communicating with each minority group. Despite the above arguments, I believe that governments should try to preserve languages that are less widely spoken. A language is much more than simply a means of communication; it has a vital connection with the cultural identity of the people who speak it. If a language disappears, a whole way of life will disappear with it, and we will lose the rich cultural diversity that makes societies more interesting. By spending money to protect minority languages, governments can also preserve traditions, customs and behaviours that are part of a countrys history. In conclusion, it may save money in the short term if we allow minority languages to disappear, but in the long term this would have an extremely negative impact on our cultural heritage. (258 words) Posted by Simon in IELTS Writing Task 2 | Permalink | Comments (24)

IELTS Writing Task 2: how to use your 40 minutes

You have 40 minutes for task 2, so try organising your time in the following way: First 10 minutes Read the question and make sure you understand what it is asking you to do. Write a plan for a 4-paragraph essay (introduction, 2 main paragraphs, conclusion) and spend most of the 10 minutes thinking of ideas for the 2 main paragraphs. 5 minutes Write your introduction: 2 sentences are enough (examples) 20 minutes Spend 10 minutes on each of your main body paragraphs. These are they most important part of your essay, and the key to a high score. Last 5 minutes Write a quick conclusion (examples) then check your work. Please note: These are suggestions, not rules. Students are often surprised by my 10-minute planning time. In my experience, a good plan helps you to write your essay much faster than you think.

IELTS Writing Task 2: introductions

Here are some example introductions for 3 different types of essay. My technique is to write 2 sentences:1.A sentence to introduce the topic2.A sentence giving a general response to the question or instruction Problem & Solution Essay:It is true that children's behaviour seems to be getting worse. There are various reasons for this, and both schools and parents need to work together to improve the situation. Discussion (& Opinion) Essay:People have different views about how children should be taught. While there are some good arguments in favour of teaching children to be competitive, I believe that it is better to encourage co-operation. Opinion (Agree / Disagree) Essay:In recent years it has become more common for women to return to work after having a child. However, I do not agree that this has been the cause of problems for young people. My advice: Keep your introduction short. Main body paragraphs are more important.

Friday, July 29, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: artist or entertainer
The following question is a variation on the "describe a person" topic. Describe an artist or entertainer you admire You should say

who they are and what they do how they became successful how you found out about them and why you admire them

I've tried to write a general example description that might help you with some ideas. In your description you must give the name of the person.

Im going to talk about a musician that I admire, called... Hes a singer who also plays the guitar and writes his own songs. I think he recorded his first album about 10 years ago, and hes released several other CDs since then. He became successful after many years of writing songs and performing live in small venues all over the country. Gradually he built a following of people who liked his music. I think the key to his success was one of his songs that was used on a TV advertisement. This meant that more people became aware of his music. I found out about... because one of my friends got tickets to see him in concert. I hadnt heard any of his music before, but I went along to the gig and really enjoyed it. After that I bought the first CD, and now Ive got all of them. The reason I admire... is that he has worked hard for his success: it takes years of practice to become a good singer and guitarist, and he spent several years playing to very small audiences before he became successful. I also like the fact that he writes his own music. I admire people who have worked hard to get where they are.

Note: I've underlined the best vocabulary. 'Gig' is an informal word for concert or performance, but it's fine to use it in this context.

Friday, July 22, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 1: clothes
In part 1 of the IELTS speaking test, you will have to answer some easy questions on 2 different topics. You should give short, simple answers. Here are some example questions and answers for the topic of 'clothes'. 1. Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?)

No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are comfortable and practical rather than fashionable. 2. What different clothes do you wear for different situations? Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special occasions I might wear a suit. 3. Do you wear different styles of clothes now compared to 10 years ago? No, not really, because I don't follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the last 10 years. 4. Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are? Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as clothes by famous designers.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

IELTS Advice: describe your favourite...
More advice about describing your favourite book, film or piece of music: 1. You can talk about any type of book (textbook, biography etc.). You only need to describe a story if the question asks you to describe a 'novel'. 2. Many books are also films. It would be a good idea to prepare one description that you can use for both. 3. Amazon.com is great for reviews of books, films and music. Just search for a title, then go down the page to find the reviews. 4. "Steal" the best vocabulary from the reviews that you find. 5. Use Google. I searched for "my favourite film is" on Google and found this 'My Favourite Films' website. It's full of good ideas. 6. Try this Google search: "my favourite piece of music is" 7. You can describe a book, film or piece of music from your country. 8. You can invent a story if necessary, but it's easier to tell the truth. 9. If you don't like books, pretend that your favourite film is a book (and vice versa). 10. Remember to include adjectives to describe your feelings/opinions. Tell the story of when you first read the book, saw the film or listened to the song, who recommended it, why you like it etc. NB. 'Piece of music' just means a song.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a film

A student asked me this question: "If the question asks me to describe a film, can I ask for a different question because I don't like films and I never watch them?" Here's my answer: If the part 2 question is about something you don't like, you should try your best. The examiner is not allowed to change the task card. You probably have family, children or friends who watch films. You could say: "I don't really like watching films, but my children love watching ....." Then describe the film that your children like, say why they like it, and explain why you think it's a nice film for children. Choose a film now so that you are ready for this question. Search for a review of the film on Amazon. Write down the ideas you find, and practise with a friend. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (16)

Friday, July 08, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 3: adding details
These are the 3 techniques I use to create longer, more detailed answers: 1. Explain why 2. Give an example 3. Explain the alternatives Question: Why do you think friendship is important? Answer: I think friendship is important for all sorts of reasons. (why?) We need friends to share experiences with, to talk to, and for support. (example?) In my case, I like to meet up with friends at the weekend to do something enjoyable, like see a film or go out for dinner. I like chatting with my friends about what we've been doing during the week, or about what's happening in the world. (alternatives?) Without friends to talk to, life would be dull and boring; we would only have our families to talk to. For another example of this technique, click here.

Friday, July 01, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'lessons' topic
The following answers are at 'band 9' level. Which words and phrases help my answers to get such a high score? 1. What do you think makes a good lesson? I think a good lesson is one that is interesting and engaging. By 'engaging' I mean that the students should feel involved in the lesson; they should feel that they are learning something new that is relevant to them. In my opinion, a lot depends on how the teacher delivers the content of the lesson in a way that students like. My favourite teacher at university used to involve the students by making us teach some of the lessons ourselves. 2. Do you think it's better to have a teacher or to teach yourself? Well, there's no substitute for a good teacher. I think you can teach yourself, but you can learn a lot more quickly with the guidance of a teacher. For example, when learning a language, you really need someone to correct your mistakes; you can get the grammar and vocabulary from books, but books can't tell you where you're going wrong. 3. Do you think the traditional classroom will disappear in the future? I don't think it will disappear, but it might become less common. I think more people will study independently, using different technologies rather than sitting in a classroom. Maybe students will attend a lesson just once a week, and spend the rest of their time following online courses or watching video lessons. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (17)

Friday, June 24, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a lesson
Speak for 2 minutes about the following topic. Describe an interesting lesson that you attended. You should say

where you attended this lesson what it was about and why you found it interesting

Here are some ideas for a description of a science lesson:

1. I'm going to talk about an interesting science lesson that I attended at secondary school when I was 14 or 15 years old. 2. It was quite a long time ago, so I can't remember every detail, but the lesson was about respiration. We learnt about how the lungs work, how we breathe, and how oxygen passes into the blood. The science teacher also talked to us about the effects of smoking on the lungs. 3. I found this lesson interesting because my science teacher, Dr. Smith, always introduced new topics by showing us a video. We watched a short film about how respiration works, and I found this much easier to understand than a science textbook. The film showed diagrams of the lungs to explain the breathing process. Later in the lesson we saw real photos of healthy lungs and lungs that had been damaged as a result of smoking; they had turned black. I think the image of a smoker's lungs is the reason why I remember this lesson. I could also give more information about the teacher, his personality and why I liked him. The key is to tell a story and add details until the time runs out. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (10)

Friday, June 17, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'numbers' topic
One of my students had these questions in her exam last week. I've put an example answer below each one. 1) Do you have a favourite number or a number that is special to you? Yes, my favourite number is... because it's the day I was born on, and it's my lucky number. 2) Do any numbers have special importance in your country? Yes, certain ages are special. For example, your 18th birthday is important because it's when you are considered to become an adult. 3) Are you good at remembering numbers? Why / why not? No, I'm not very good at remembering numbers. I don't think it's necessary to learn them by heart; I just save them on my phone. 4) What numbers do people often have to memorise? The most important number to remember on a daily basis is the pin number for your bank card. Without this you can't pay for anything or get cash out.

Friday, June 10, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: choosing a 'strong topic'
Most people are good at talking about their studies, work, hobbies, health etc. I call these "strong topics". For the question below you can choose any topic you want, so choose something that you find easy to talk about. Describe something that was recently reported in the news. You should say:

what happened who was involved and why you found this news interesting

Example topic choices for the question above: 1. My strong topic could be "education", so I'd say that I read a news article about universities using the Internet. Click here to see a recent article about this topic. 2. If you like football, you could talk about the news that Barcelona won the Champions League. 3. If you have studied the "health" topic for IELTS writing, you could talk about schools banning junk food. I did a quick search and found this article about schools in Dubai.

IELTS Writing Task 2: how to write a paragraph

Today I'm going to write a paragraph about gun control. I'll start with some vocabulary ideas, then I'll make them into full sentences. Ideas: why should the ownership of guns be limited/controlled? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Topic sentence to introduce the idea of gun control risk of accidents, danger to children more violent crimes, criminals will use guns, police will need guns higher suicide rates guns create violent societies

Here's my paragraph using the ideas above. I've divided the paragraph into separate sentences so that you can see what I have done more clearly. 1. In many countries, gun ownership is strictly controlled. 2. Supporters of this policy point out the risk of accidents with guns, especially when children can gain access to them. 3. They also argue that the number of violent crimes increases when guns are available, and that police are forced to use guns to combat armed criminals. 4. Furthermore, suicide rates have been shown to rise in places where guns are legal. 5. All in all, gun control advocates believe that guns create violent societies with high murder rates. Of course, in the IELTS exam you would probably have to explain the opposite view: the arguments in favour of gun ownership.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

IELTS Writing Task 2: how to write introductions
Here is a review of my advice for task 2 introductions:

Make the introduction short and do it quickly. The main body paragraphs are more important. Two sentences are enough: 1) introduce the topic. 2) give a basic answer to the question.

Example question:All high school students should be encouraged to take part in community service programmes. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? My introduction:Some people believe that high school students would benefit from doing unpaid work in their local communities. I completely agree that community service programmes for teenagers are a good idea.

Friday, June 03, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a building
Describe a modern building. You should say:

where it is what it is used for and why you like/dislike it.

Here's my example description of a building in Manchester: 1. I'm going to describe a modern building in Manchester. It's called the Beetham Tower, and it's the tallest building in the city, with about 50 floors. 2. Although it's called the Beetham Tower, most people know this building as the Hilton Hotel. In fact, the bottom half of the tower is the hotel and the top half is apartments. The apartments are expensive because the location and views make

them very desirable. 3. I'm not sure if I like the design of the building, it's just a huge glass tower, but it definitely stands out. It has become a famous landmark in the city. You can see it as you approach Manchester, and it's an easy place to meet people because it's so distinctive and easy to find. The most interesting thing about the Beetham Tower is that there is a bar/restaurant on the 23rd floor which has spectacular views of the city; it's definitely the best vantage point in Manchester because there are no walls, only huge windows, so you can look out over the city in any direction. I'd recommend anyone who visits Manchester to go there and experience the view. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (6)

Friday, May 27, 2011

IELTS Speaking: know the exam
It's important to know exactly what to expect in each part of the exam. The following questions come from part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the speaking test. Can you tell which part each question is from? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How often do you watch television? How have television programmes changed since you were a child? Describe a television programme that you enjoyed. Which TV channel or channels do you prefer to watch? Why? Do you think governments should control what TV programmes show?

Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (21)

Friday, May 20, 2011

IELTS Speaking: 'questionnaires' topic
IELTS speaking part 2: Describe a time when you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire. Advice: Say that your were given a questionnaire at the end of one of your school or university courses. Say that the questions asked for your opinions about the teaching, materials, facilities, level of difficult, how much you enjoyed the course etc. IELTS speaking part 3: What kinds of organisation regularly conduct questionnaires? All kinds of organisations and companies use questionnaires to find out what people think about them. For example, university lecturers often ask their students to answer questions about their courses. Someone from a Starbucks cafe stopped me in the street yesterday to ask me about my coffee drinking habits. Do you think schools should ask children for their opinions about lessons? On the one hand, it might be useful for teachers to get feedback from children about how much they learnt and how enjoyable they found the lessons. However, children don't necessarily know what's best for them, and it might do more harm than good to allow them to give opinions about their teachers.

Friday, May 13, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'neighbours' topic
I've recently bought Cambridge IELTS book 8. Below are some questions and example answers from the first speaking test in the book. Remember that part 1 is supposed to be easy, so you should give short, direct answers. 1. How well do you know your next-door neighbours? I know my neighbours quite well. They're really nice people, and I always stop to talk whenever I see them. I think it's important to get on well with the people who live next door. 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 problems 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 or have too many parties. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (21)

Friday, May 06, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a law
Students tend to worry about 'difficult questions', but questions are often much easier than they seem. For example: Describe a law in your country. Many students think they don't know anything about laws. However, there are some easy examples that they could choose: 1. In many countries it is now illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. You could start by talking about the popularity and benefits of mobile phones, and explain that people want to be able to answer calls wherever they are. Then you could explain the dangers of being distracted while driving; this law could reduce the number of road accidents, and therefore save lives. 2. If you feel confident talking about the 'education' topic, you could choose the 'compulsory education' law. This is the legal requirement that children up to a

certain age must attend school. In the UK, for example, children are required by law to go to school until they are 16 years old. This is a good topic because you can talk about the benefits of education. Of course, you could choose a more obvious law (it is illegal to steal, carry a gun etc.) but you might have more ideas and good vocabulary if you choose a typical IELTS topic like number 2 above. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (15)

Friday, April 29, 2011

IELTS Speaking: an important conversation
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an important conversation you had. IELTS Speaking Part 3: What are the differences between men's and women's conversations? What do you think are the characteristics of a good speaker? For the part 2 question: My advice is to speak about a conversation you had with your father or mother about your education or career. If you are studying in a different country, describe a conversation about the decision to study abroad. Then you can use ideas from the 'study abroad' topic and the 'higher education' topic (you can find these topics in my Writing Task 2 lessons). For the first question in part 3, my advice is to use 'stereotypes': "I think it depends on the people who are having the conversation, and it depends on the situation, but most people would say that men talk more about sport or cars, whereas women talk about their friends, family and relationships. Women are supposed to be better at expressing their feelings, while men prefer not to talk about themselves." For the second question in part 3, use adjectives and examples: "I think good speakers are confident and passionate about the subject of their speech. They need to be interesting and engaging. I think a speaker's body language is also really important. A famous example of a great speaker is Barack Obama; he seems to be a naturally inspiring speaker, but I'm sure that practice and preparation are more important than natural talent." Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (20)

Friday, April 22, 2011

IELTS Speaking: use what you know
In parts 2 and 3 of the IELTS speaking test, you need to make quick decisions about what to talk about. Always try to talk about a topic you have prepared or something you know about. Here are some examples: Part 2: Describe a law in your country. Advice: Choose a typical IELTS topic like "guns". Explain why people in your country can/can't own a gun, and talk about the pros and cons of this law. There is a chapter on this topic in my ebook. Part 3: What new law would you introduce to improve life in your country? Advice: Choose an easy topic like "environment". Explain that the government could introduce new laws to reduce pollution from factories, cars etc. Explain how this would improve people's lives. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (37)

Friday, April 15, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: something naughty you did
This has been a recent question in part 2 of IELTS speaking: Describe something naughty you did when you were a child. Say - what you did - when you did it - why you did it - and explain how your parents felt about it. This is a difficult topic for most people, so it's a good idea to prepare for it before your test. If you can remember a real situation, use that. If you can't remember being naughty, invent an easy story like my example below. Example ideas: 1. I cheated in a test at primary school by looking at the answers in my book under the table. 2. I was about ... years old, it was a ... lesson. Give some more background about the lesson, the test, the teacher etc.

3. I hadn't studied for the test, I didn't want to fail and have to retake the test at lunchtime. Give reasons why you didn't have time to study. 4. The teacher caught me and told my parents. Explain their feelings: disappointed, angry, embarrassed. Explain the punishment e.g. they 'grounded' me for a week (informal expression, meaning 'they didn't allow me to go out or see friends'). Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (15)

Friday, April 08, 2011

IELTS Speaking: work or study
These are common questions at the start of the speaking test: 1. Do you work or are you a student? 2. Do you like your job / course? Why / why not? Example answers: 1. Before I came to England I was working as an accountant, but at the moment I'm studying English because I hope to do a Master's here. 2. Yes, I really like my job because it's interesting and I work with a great team of people. OR: Yes, I enjoy studying English, but my real aim is to do a Master's and then find a job in an international company. Note: Don't ask the examiner: "Do you mean in my country or here in England?" - it doesn't matter. Don't worry if you have a job and study at the same time - you can mention both. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (24)

Friday, April 01, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a skill
Describe a practical skill that you have learnt (e.g. cooking, driving). You should say

what the skill is how you learnt it why you learnt it and how this skill has helped you.

Advice: You need to make a quick decision, so I'd choose one of the given examples (cooking or driving). Then try to expand on each point. 1. I'm going to talk about driving, which is a practical skill that I use almost every day. 2. I learnt to drive a car by taking lessons when I was 17. My parents paid for me to have lessons with a professional driving instructor. I learnt by practising: first I had to get used to steering, changing gears and using the mirrors, then we practised things like reversing and parking. I also had to learn the highway code. 3. As a 17-year-old, I wanted to have the experience of driving a car, and I was fed up with having to walk or take the bus or train whenever I wanted to go somewhere. I also knew that driving would be an extremely useful skill. 4. Being able to drive has helped me in so many ways. The public transport where I live isn't very good, so I travel to work by car most days. Having a car makes my life much easier when it comes to things like shopping or visiting family and friends. (Last week, for example,...) Note: If you need to keep speaking, give examples for point 4. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (9)

Friday, March 25, 2011

IELTS Speaking: if you don't know the answer
How do you answer a question when you don't know anything about the topic? There are 2 things you can do:1.Be honest and explain why you don't know2.Guess, and tell the examiner that you are guessing Example question: How has technology affected the kinds of music that are popular with young people? My answer, using both tips above: (1) To be honest I don't really know the answer to that because I'm completely out of touch with what young people are listening to, and I'm not a fan of pop music. (2) However, I suppose that technology must have affected music. Maybe young people are listening to music that has been made using computer software instead of real musical instruments like the piano or guitar. Note: Can you see any "band 7 vocabulary" in my answer?

Friday, March 18, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 3: present, past, future
In part 3 of the speaking test, it's common to get questions about the past and future, as well as questions about 'now'. Here are some examples: What types of transport are there in your town? In Manchester I think you can find every form of transport apart from an underground system. You can drive around the city by car or get on a bus; there are even free buses that take people between the train stations. Manchester also has a tram system, and of course there are taxis too. How has transport changed since your grandparents were young? Well, they had cars, trains and planes back then, and London already had the underground system, but I suppose the difference is that technology has moved on. Having said that, the transport system is not necessarily better nowadays; people travel a lot more, and I'm sure we spend more time stuck in traffic. What types of transport do you think we will use in the future? I'm not sure, but hopefully we'll have cars that drive themselves and never crash. I think we'll probably fly more, and it might become normal to have your own plane. On the other hand, many cities are building more bicycle lanes, so maybe we will use cars less for getting around towns and cities. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (13)

Friday, March 11, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 1-minute preparation
This week I've been thinking about different ways to use the 1-minute preparation time. Here's what I've learnt: 1. One minute is a very short amount of time! I found it just as difficult as my students did. 2. A simple list is probably faster and easier than a diagram or mind map. 3. You need to decide on your topic as quickly as possible. Then spend most of your time making notes. 4. Try to write at least one key idea for each part of the question. 5. Don't write sentences, and don't waste time erasing "mistakes". 6. Try to use a topic you have already prepared.

7. Forget about grammar. Focus on answering the question. 8. Finally, fast preparation is a skill that you can practise. Why not train yourself by making notes for a few different questions every day? The following photo shows a part 2 question with my notes below. As you can see, I couldn't write much in 1 minute, but I followed the advice above.

IELTS Speaking: using the 1-minute preparation time

Martin asked a great question: "What's the best way to use the 1-minute preparation time in part 2 of the speaking test?" I must admit, I don't have a good answer to this question (yet). I'm going to try some different approaches with my students this week - hopefully I'll find some answers. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to share them in the "comments" area. I'll share my ideas on Friday. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking, Questions/Advice | Permalink | Comments (13)

Friday, March 04, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 3: longer answers
Here are 3 techniques to help you give longer, more detailed answers: 1. Keep asking yourself "why?" 2. Explain the alternatives 3. Give an example Question: Do you think that school children should be encouraged to have their own ideas, or is it more important for them to learn what their teachers give them? Answer: I think that we should definitely allow children to be creative and have their own ideas. (why?) Children need to develop the ability to think for themselves and solve problems (why?) because as adults they will not always have somebody to guide them or tell them what to do. (alternatives?) If we don't allow children to have their own ideas, they will be less successful in the adult world; they will be too reliant on others. (example?) A doctor, for example, might encounter a situation that he or she hasn't been trained for, but will still be expected to make a decision that could save someone's life. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'difficult' questions

Last week I wrote about 'using what you know'. Here are some more quick examples of how you can make a 'difficult' question much easier: 1) Describe something that you collect. Most students panic because they don't collect anything. But this question is easier than you think. If your hobby is listening to music or reading books, just tell the examiner that you collect CDs or novels. You could talk about your "collection" of clothes or shoes. Everyone has a collection of something, even if you don't call yourself a collector. 2) Describe an important decision that you made. Easy. Just talk about the subject you chose to study or the career you decided to pursue. If you moved to live/study in a different country, you could talk about that. 3) Describe an important letter you received. Use the answer you gave for number 2 (with a few small changes). Talk about the letter you received confirming your place on a university course, or confirming a successful job application.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: use what you know

Don't worry if you get a question that you haven't prepared for. You can usually use ideas that you prepared for a different topic. For example: Describe a piece of advice that you gave (or that someone gave you) Why not say that you advised your friend to visit London? Then you could use all the good vocabulary from this lesson. Or, you could use this lesson to talk about advice that your father gave you. For example, say that your father told you to work hard. Then you could use great vocabulary such as 'major influence', 'hard-working', 'role model', 'set a good example', 'positive outlook on life'. Think quickly during the one-minute preparation time: What can I use that I've already prepared? Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a foreign person

Jay sent me this interesting IELTS question:Describe a foreign person that you like. You should say: - where you met him/her - why you like him/her - and explain what you learnt from him/her Some advice: 1. The easy choice would be to describe an English teacher. You could then talk about your lessons and easily explain what you learnt. 2. I think it would be acceptable to describe someone you have never met. Just say "I've never met the person I'm going to describe, but I hope to meet him/her one day". 3. If you do number 2 above, choose your hero. It's best to choose someone you know a lot about. Give as much real information as possible. Do some Google research to get ideas. Finally, remember that this is a "describe a person" question. Hopefully you can use some of the ideas from this lesson. Vagyis ez: Describe a person you admire. You should say:

who the person is what he or she is like and why you admire him or her.

Here are some ideas. I've underlined the best vocabulary.

I'm going to talk about my father because he has been a major influence in my life. My father was always a good role model for me as I was growing up. He's hardworking, patient and understanding; he's also got a good sense of humour and seems to get on well with everybody. Hopefully I've inherited some of these traits. I admire my father because I think he brought me and my brothers/sisters up well; he was quite strict but always fair, and he has always been someone I can turn to for advice. I think my father set a good example by working hard and having a positive outlook on life. I remember that he used to leave for work early and come home quite late, but he always made time for me and my brothers/sisters.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'dancing' topic

How do you answer questions about a topic that you are not interested in? For example, many people have no interest in dancing, so what should they say?My advice: just tell the truth. It's fine to say you don't like something. Read my examples below: 1. Do you like dancing? No, I don't like dancing. I'm not a big music fan, and dancing just makes me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. 2. Has anyone ever taught you to dance? No, I've never been interested in learning to dance, so I've never taken any lessons or asked anyone to show me how to do it. 3. Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future? I'm afraid I have no idea because I don't follow what's happening in the dancing world! I suppose it will always be popular with some people. Note: The above answers are all at band 9 level.

IELTS Vocabulary: band 7 or higher

To get a band 7, you don't need to learn "big" or "difficult" words. You need to learn how to use words together. You need to use good collocations. Collocations are groups of words that often go together. For example, collocations like "increase significantly" are used in IELTS Writing Task 1. Look for collocations in the speaking and writing lessons on this website. Here are some examples:

Health topic: a major cause, poor health, manual jobs, physical activity, do outdoor sports. Writing Task 1: noticeable feature, significantly higher, a dramatic increase in. Describe a person: a major influence, a good role model, inherit traits, set an example, a positive outlook.

Most learner dictionaries now show examples of how words are used in common collocations and phrases. If you read a lot of English, you will see collocations everywhere.

IELTS Speaking: 'questionnaires' topic

IELTS speaking part 2: Describe a time when you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire.Advice: Say that your were given a questionnaire at the end of one of your school or university courses. Say that the questions asked for your opinions about the teaching, materials, facilities, level of difficult, how much you enjoyed the course etc. IELTS speaking part 3: What kinds of organisation regularly conduct questionnaires?All kinds of organisations and companies use questionnaires to find out what people think about them. For example, university lecturers often ask their students to answer questions about their courses. Someone from a Starbucks cafe stopped me in the street yesterday to ask me about my coffee drinking habits. Do you think schools should ask children for their opinions about lessons?On the one hand, it might be useful for teachers to get feedback from children about how much they learnt and how enjoyable they found the lessons. However, children don't necessarily know what's best for them, and it might do more harm than good to allow them to give opinions about their teachers.

IELTS Grammar: double, twice as, twofold

A few students have asked me about how to use 'double', 'twice as', 'three times', 'twofold', 'threefold' etc. Compare how each word/phrase is used in the following examples: 1. 'double' (verb) The number of unemployed people doubled between 2005 and 2009. 2. 'twice as...as/compared to', 'three times as...as/compared to' There were twice as many unemployed people in 2009 as in 2005. Twice as many people were unemployed in 2009 compared to 2005. 3. 'twofold', 'threefold' (adjective or adverb) There was a twofold increase in the number of unemployed people between 2005 and 2009. (adjective with the noun 'increase') The number of unemployed people increased twofold between 2005 and 2009. (adverb with the verb 'increase') Try using these forms in your own sentences. Make sure you follow the patterns

Saturday, May 07, 2011

IELTS Advice: the week before your exam

What are the best things to do in the last week before your exam? Here are some tips: 1. Nothing new It's often best not to study anything new just before an exam. "Revision" means studying what you have already studied to make sure that you know it well. The aim is to be confident about what you do know, rather than worrying about what you don't know. 2. Common topics It's always a good idea to look again at the most common topics for IELTS writing and speaking. Make sure you have some ideas, opinions and vocabulary for topics like 'education', 'environment' etc. 3. Test practice If you have never done a full test (e.g. a full one-hour reading test) before, you might get a shock in the real exam! Timing is a big problem, so practise a full test in strict exam conditions. Don't worry about your score; just focus on finishing everything within the time limit.