IELTS Advice: 'band 7 vocabulary'

As I've said before, good vocabulary is the key to a high score in IELTS writing and speaking.

Did you notice the band 7 vocabulary in yesterday's lesson?

• every form of transport apart from
• back then (= back when my grandparents were young)
• technology has moved on (= progressed)
• having said that (= however)
• not necessarily
• stuck in traffic
• hopefully we'll have cars that drive themselves
• getting around towns and cities (= travelling around)

The phrases above might not look difficult, but they are the kind of "natural" phrases that a native speaker would use.

Comments

[Marya]

Good morning Simon,

Thank you for your today's lesson.
I want to know what do you mean by:
cars that drive themselves

Cheers,

Marya

[Gp]

Thanks Simon
I found Your Lessons very usefull.

Cheers
Gurpreet

[Gp]

Hi Simon,

Sorry to take this lesson question now.
"Using of nuclear power not only does it produce cheap electricity, but also it does not have any pollution.
"
Can we write

Although using nuclear power produces cheap electricity, also less pollution.

Please correct me if i am wrong.

[sanam]

Hi Marya,

I think it means the type of cars that do
not need any driver.

[Simon]

Hi Marya,

Sanam (above) is right - it means the car does not need a driver.

...

Hi Gurpreet,

I'm glad you like the lessons.

A small grammar correction:

Although using nuclear power produces cheap electricity, IT also PRODUCES less pollution.

[Salih]

Hello Simon
I would so grateful, if you responded to my inquiries.
1- Will chewing gum during speaking interview reduce my mark?
2- Will writing at the page bottom (beyond the paper's laid lines limit) reduce my mark?
Thanks

[Simon]

Hi Salih,

1. No, but it's better not to chew in a test.
2. No, but try not to do it.

Best of luck!

[Najla]

thank you a lot. you are great helper ^_^

I am wondering about task 2

what are the types of essay questions in IELTS test?

[Simon]

Hi Najla,

There are 3 types:

1. Opinion (agree/disagree)
2. Discussion (2 different views, advantages/disadvantages)
3. Problem and solution

Look through my task 2 lessons to see lessons about all 3 types.

[Kasun]

dear simon, pls explain me how to answer the following question. some people say that widening of roads is the solution to reduce traffic problem in cities. Do u agree or disagree?

[Simon]

Hi Kasun,

You could agree (wider roads would provide more space and allow roads to hold more traffic) or disagree (wider roads are not the best solution - then write about other solutions like better public transport to reduce the number of cars).

[Dan]

Hi Simon,

Thank you very much for your effort. I'm new to your blog. My fri recommended to me. Wish to know it earlier. :) So precious to students.

Could I use "Having said that" in writing too? Or is it just for speaking?

Thanks again.

[Jim]

Dan,

I'd say it's not a bad mistake to use it in writing, but it's more suitable for speaking.