IELTS Simon

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."

IELTS Writing Task 1: the 'overview'

If you want to get a high score for task 1, you must write an 'overview' of the information. An overview is a summary of the main points or general trends.

How would you write an overview for this graph?

I try to write two sentences for my overview, so I look for two main points or trends. I don't usually mention any numbers because I save them for my 'details' paragraphs.

Example overview:

It is clear that Canada exported more wheat than Australia and the European Community for most of the period shown. However, while Canada's wheat exports fluctuated and Australia's fell, wheat exports from the European Community rose steadily.

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. Topic sentence to introduce the idea of gun control
2. risk of accidents, danger to children
3. more violent crimes, criminals will use guns, police will need guns
4. higher suicide rates
5. 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.

Students' Questions: do computers mark tests?

A few people have asked me this question:

Are reading and listening tests marked by a computer?

I've checked several official IELTS sources, and the answer seems to be "no". All 4 parts of the test are marked by trained human examiners.

IELTS Writing Task 2: sample discussion essay

Here's an example of how I write a 4-paragraph essay for "discuss and give your opinion" questions. Notice that I give my opinion in 3 places (introduction, paragraph 3, conclusion).

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university.

The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college will not be able to compete.

For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school level.

(271 words, band 9)

Students' Questions: describe a newspaper

A few people have asked me for advice about this IELTS speaking question:
Describe a newspaper or magazine that you like to read.

Here are some quick tips:

Newspaper
If you read a particular newspaper every day, choose that. Explain why you like that newspaper more than others. Say what type of stories you usually read (politics, education, science, sport etc.) and give an example of a recent article that you read. Explain why it's important for you to read the paper e.g. to keep up-to-date with world events, or because you find it interesting or mentally stimulating.

Magazine
If you don't read a newspaper, tell the examiner that you read a magazine (even if you don't). Choose/invent a magazine about one of your hobbies or interests. This allows you to talk about something you know about. It might be a good idea to have a look at the magazines in your local shop; choose one that interests you, buy it, and use it to prepare some ideas.

IELTS Advice: questions about current events

Several people have asked me this question:

"Could there be questions about current events (e.g. the earthquake in Japan or the situation in the Arab world) in the speaking or writing exam?"

My answer to this is "no, I don't think so".

Remember, you are not supposed to need any specific knowledge for the IELTS exam. I've never seen any questions about current political events or specific news stories. The only time the examiner may ask you about such events is if you mention them (maybe in part 3 of the speaking test).

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').

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'water cycle' essay

Several people have asked me for the full essay for this question, so here it is!

The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.

The picture illustrates the way in which water passes from ocean to air to land during the natural process known as the water cycle.

Three main stages are shown on the diagram. Ocean water evaporates, falls as rain, and eventually runs back into the oceans again.

Beginning at the evaporation stage, we can see that 80% of water vapour in the air comes from the oceans. Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate, and water vapour condenses to form clouds. At the second stage, labelled ‘precipitation’ on the diagram, water falls as rain or snow.

At the third stage in the cycle, rainwater may take various paths. Some of it may fall into lakes or return to the oceans via ‘surface runoff’. Otherwise, rainwater may filter through the ground, reaching the impervious layer of the earth. Salt water intrusion is shown to take place just before groundwater passes into the oceans to complete the cycle.

(156 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'job satisfaction' topic

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual well-being.
What factors contribute to job satisfaction?
How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

The following paragraph answers the second part of the question (How realistic..)

It is difficult to imagine a world in which everyone is truly satisfied with their job. Most people work in order to earn a salary, and they would probably not choose to spend eight or more hours each day doing their jobs if they did not need the money. The need to earn money to pay mortgages, bills and everyday living costs is of much greater concern than job satisfaction. In fact, I would argue that the majority of people dislike their jobs and are unhappy about their salaries, working hours, workloads, or their bosses.

(95 words)

Note:
What "band 7 vocabulary" can you find in the paragraph above?

IELTS Writing Task 1: pie chart

The pie chart below shows how electricity is used in an average English home.
(Cambridge IELTS 4, page 54)

Fill the gaps using words from the following list.

appliances
remaining
account
proportion
for
largest
household

In an average English home, the ______ ______ of electricity, 52.5%, is used for heating rooms and water.

Three kitchen ______, namely ovens, kettles and washing machines, ______ ______ 17.5% of ______ electricity use.

The ______ 30% of electricity is used for lighting, televisions and radios (15%), and vacuum cleaners, food mixers and electric tools (15%).

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.

IELTS Listening: online lectures

If you want to do some academic listening on a daily basis, have a look at YouTube Edu (YouTube's education site).

Many universities now have their own pages on this site. You can search for lectures by subject (using the categories on the left of the page) or by university (below the YouTube Edu search bar).

Have a look for lectures related to your field of studies. Some of the universities even offer full courses that you can follow for free.

IELTS Advice: extra help

Several students have emailed me recently asking for extra help. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Manchester, the only help I can give is through the lessons on this blog. I'm afraid it's impossible for me to teach people by email or Skype.

When people ask for extra help, my usual advice is to find a teacher who can help you one-to-one. Books or websites (like this one) can be a great source of advice and practice materials, but only a teacher can give you personalised feedback.

If you find a 'private' teacher, I suggest you spend most of your lesson time either analysing your essays (to see how you can improve them) or practising your answers for speaking questions.

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.