IELTS Simon

IELTS Writing Task 1: more than one chart

How do you answer a task 1 question that has more than one chart or graph?

Here's my advice:

Introduction
Write your introduction in the usual way: paraphrase the question. For this kind of question, it's easier to write 2 sentences e.g. "The first chart illustrates... The second chart shows..."

Summary
Write a paragraph describing the main points. If possible, try to summarise all of the information, rather than writing a separate summary for each chart. Look for a topic or trend that links the charts.

Details
Describe each chart separately. Just write a short paragraph about each chart. Choose the most important information from each one.

IELTS Writing Task 2: advertising topic

Advertising is a very common topic in both the IELTS writing and speaking tests. Here are some ideas from my ebook that you could learn.

Positives of advertising:

• Companies need to tell customers about their products and services.
• Advertisements inform us about the choices we have.
• The advertising industry employs many people.
• Advertisements are often funny, artistic or thought-provoking.

Negatives of advertising:

• Advertisers aim to convince us that buying things leads to happiness.
• We are persuaded to follow the latest trends and fashions.
• Children can be easily influenced by advertisements.
• They put pressure on their parents by pestering or nagging.

Opinions:

• Advertising should be regulated by governments.
• Advertisements that target children should be banned.
• Packaging for junk food should display clear health warnings.
• Overall, advertising is necessary but it needs to be controlled.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an advertisement

Describe an interesting advertisement that you have seen. You should say:

• where you saw it
• what it was about
• why you think it was an interesting advertisement.

Choose something simple. Here's an example with the "band 7" vocabulary underlined:

1. I'm going to talk about an advertisement for Coca-Cola, which is one of the biggest brands in the world. I've seen Coke advertised everywhere, on posters and TV commercials.
2. The advert shows a picture of Santa Claus smiling and holding a bottle of Coke. I think the aim is to target children and associate (link/connect) the brand with Christmas time.
3. The advert is interesting because the company is deliberately trying to influence and attract children. The marketers are trying to capture young customers. They are presenting the drink as something special, a gift for Christmas. However, Coca-Cola is not necessarily a healthy drink for children; it contains a lot of sugar. Maybe this kind of advertising manipulates children and encourages them to pester their parents.

IELTS Writing Task 2: globalisation

Here is an essay question on the topic of globalisation:

It has been said that the world is becoming a global village in which there are no boundaries to trade and communication. Do the benefits of globalisation outweigh the drawbacks?

Yesterday's video contained some useful ideas, but here are some more ideas from my ebook:

Positives of globalisation:

• Business is becoming increasingly international.
• A global economy means free trade between countries.
• This can strengthen political relationships.
• Globalisation can also create opportunities for employment.
• It encourages investment in less developed countries.
• It could reduce poverty in the developing world.

Negatives of globalisation:

• Globalisation can also lead to unemployment and exploitation.
• Companies move to countries where labour is cheap.
• This creates redundancies, or job losses.
• Some companies exploit their employees in developing countries.
• Salaries are low and working conditions are often poor.
• Global trade also creates excessive waste and pollution.

Note:
The American English spelling is 'globalization'. You can use either spelling in the IELTS test.

IELTS Writing Task 1: process diagram essay

Last week I suggested an essay structure for the following question:

The diagram below shows how the Australian Bureau of Meteorology collects up-to-the-minute information on the weather in order to produce reliable forecasts.

Here is my full essay (170 words):

The figure illustrates the process used by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to forecast the weather.

There are four stages in the process, beginning with the collection of information about the weather. This information is then analysed, prepared for presentation, and finally broadcast to the public.

Looking at the first and second stages of the process, there are three ways of collecting weather data and three ways of analysing it. Firstly, incoming information can be received by satellite and presented for analysis as a satellite photo. The same data can also be passed to a radar station and presented on a radar screen or synoptic chart. Secondly, incoming information may be collected directly by radar and analysed on a radar screen or synoptic chart. Finally, drifting buoys also receive data which can be shown on a synoptic chart.

At the third stage of the process, the weather broadcast is prepared on computers. Finally, it is delivered to the public on television, on the radio, or as a recorded telephone announcement.

Note:
I've also sent a full essay version of yesterday's task 2 lesson to everyone who has bought the ebook.

IELTS Writing Task 2: education / practical skills

Several students have asked me to help them with this IELTS question:

Some people think that school children need to learn practical skills such as car maintenance or bank account management along with the academic subjects at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here are some suggestions (this is NOT an essay):

1. Introduce the topic then give your opinion
I would write that it is true that children learn academic subjects at school, but not many practical skills. However, I would then disagree that schools should teach skills like bank account management and car maintenance.

2. First supporting paragraph
I would write a paragraph about the importance of academic subjects like maths, science, languages etc. We live in a knowledge-based economy where independent thinking and problem solving are the most important skills. With timetables already full, schools do not have time to teach children anything else.

3. Second supporting paragraph
I would argue that bank account management is a 'life skill' that anyone can learn by simply opening a bank account. Most adults have no problem managing their finances without being taught accounting lessons at school. Other skills like car maintenance are not really necessary. Most people take their cars to a qualified mechanic.

4. Conclusion
Repeat the idea that schools are already doing a good job teaching the traditional academic subjects. If they start to teach practical skills, the study of important academic subjects will suffer.

IELTS Reading: do tests without a time limit

As I've said before, IELTS reading is a vocabulary test. When studying, make sure you learn some new vocabulary from each practice test that you do. Use a dictionary, and don't worry about the time.

Use the table below to help you with the test on page 60-63 of Cambridge IELTS book 1 (buy or borrow this book, or look for it on the Internet).

This test contains difficult words like "corpus" (a collection of written or spoken texts) and "lexicographical" (related to writing dictionaries). Here are some more words that you could look up in a dictionary:

• incorporate (e.g. they are incorporating spoken English into their data)
• verbal / non-verbal (e.g. a verbal warning, non-verbal communication)
• portrayal (e.g. the portrayal of feelings)
• convey (e.g. to convey feelings, convey a message)
• an initiative (e.g. a Government initiative)

IELTS Writing Task 1: process diagram

A 'process diagram' is any diagram that shows steps or stages in a process. Many students worry about this type of question, but they are really quite easy if you know what to do.

Look at the following example from Cambridge IELTS 1, page 51:

The diagram below shows how the Australian Bureau of Meteorology collects up-to-the-minute information on the weather in order to produce reliable forecasts.

Here are some tips for describing this diagram:

1. Introduction: rewrite the question in a different way
2. Summary: say that there are 4 steps, and briefly mention each one
3. Main body: describe steps 1 and 2
4. Main body: describe steps 3 and 4

I'll show you my full essay next week.

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.

IELTS Listening: success!

Here is one of my favourite videos from ted.com. Hopefully you will be able to apply some of the speaker's advice to your IELTS preparation.

What do you think the speaker means when he says:

1. She wanted to make something of her life.
2. I'm gonna tell you what makes TED-sters tick.
3. Put your nose down in something.
4. Or failing that, do the eight things...

If the subtitles don't work, go to ted.com and search for "8 secrets". While you're there, have a look at some other TED videos.

Note:
The speaker uses the word "workafrolics". This is not a real word, but the word "frolic" is related to playing or having fun, so maybe you can guess what he means.

IELTS Reading: practice test

Today I'm attaching an IELTS Reading test. It's one passage, so you'd have about 20 minutes in the exam. However, you can learn a lot by doing the questions slowly and trying to get every answer right. If you only test yourself, you will not improve.

The question sections are "paragraph headings" and "true, false, not given". Remember the techniques we've used:

1. Do the T, F, NG section first. These questions will be in the correct order in the text. Look for words in the text that are similar to words in the questions.
2. Do the paragraph headings section last. It should be easier when you are already familiar with the text. Start with the shorter paragraphs or paragraphs that you have already studied for the T, F, NG section.

I recommend printing the test. Feel free to use the "comments" area to share your answers. Download Reading Test

IELTS Advice: don't get angry

Some students get angry with the IELTS exam. They disagree with the exam format, or they think that examiners are too strict. They often want to suggest their own improvements.

I completely understand that such an important exam can be frustrating, and I agree that the IELTS exam is not perfect. However, I also think that too much worrying is a waste of time.

Unfortunately, the exam is what it is. We have to accept that, and work hard to overcome the difficulties. You will pass the exam if you apply yourself, follow advice, and study hard.

IELTS Grammar: fall or reduce?

These two words are the opposites of 'rise' and 'raise' (see last week's grammar lesson):

• something falls (e.g. the price fell)
• somebody reduces something (e.g. the company reduced the price)

You will probably use 'fall' to describe numbers on a graph or chart for IELTS Writing Task 1:

• In 2008, the number of customers fell. (verb, past)
• There was a sharp fall in Internet usage. (noun)

'Reduce' and 'reduction' are probably more useful for Writing Task 2:

• We need to reduce the amount of pollution from exhaust fumes. (verb)
• Recycling leads to a reduction in waste. (noun)

IELTS Writing Task 2: crime topic

Here is a "problem/solution" question, with some ideas for an essay below:

Many criminals re-offend after they have been punished. Why do some people continue to commit crimes after they have been punished, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem?

Causes of crime and re-offending:

• The main causes of crime are poverty, unemployment and lack of education.
• People who commit crimes often have no other way of making a living.
• The prison system can make the situation worse.
• Offenders mix with other criminals who can be a negative influence.
• A criminal record makes finding a job more difficult.
• Many prisoners re-offend when they are released.

Possible measures to reduce crime and re-offending:

• Prisons should provide education or vocational training.
• Rehabilitation programmes prepare prisoners for release into society.
• Community service is another way to reform offenders.
• It makes offenders useful in their local communities.
• They might be required to talk to school groups or clean public areas.
• Offenders also need help when looking for accommodation and work.

There are more ideas about topics like police, prisons, capital punishment and community service in my ebook.