IELTS Simon

IELTS Writing Task 1: bar chart without years

Last week we saw that there are two types of bar chart:
1. those that show changes over time
2. those that compare different items

The important thing to remember about the second type is that you can't describe increases and decreases. Let's look at this type in more detail.

The chart below shows numbers of incidents and injuries per 100 million passenger miles travelled (PMT) by transportation type in 2002.

Here's my advice for a 4-paragraph essay:

1. Introduction: Explain what the chart shows by paraphrasing the question.
2. Overview: Look for two main things - in this case, we could mention the highest item and the fact that there were more incidents than injuries for all five transport types. You don't need to mention any numbers at this point.
3. Details: I'd probably group together the two highest items (demand response and bus) in this paragraph. Remember that you can't talk about an increase or decrease; you can only compare the numbers.
4. Details: I'd group the three types of rail transport together for this paragraph. Write some nice comparison sentences!

Note:
You don't need to know what 'demand-response' transport is (it's an American term which I've never used), but click here if you want to know.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'food technology' topic

Here are some ideas for last week's topic. The ideas are adapted from the 'genetic engineering' chapter in my ebook.

The range and quality of food that we can buy has changed because of technological and scientific advances. Some people regard this change as an improvement, while others believe that it is harmful.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Positives of advances in food technology:

• Farmers can produce crops that grow bigger and faster.
• Genetically modified crops may be more resistant to disease or insects.
• This could be important for food production in developing countries.
• Faster growing cereals, fruit and vegetables will mean more profit.
• Foods can be modified to look perfect and last longer.
• They may be more attractive to customers.

Negatives of advances in food technology:

• Many people distrust foods that have been modified or processed.
• They prefer organic foods which are produced without chemicals.
• Farming without fertilisers or pesticides is more environmentally friendly.
• There may be risks involved in the genetic engineering of foods.
• Genetically modified crops might change whole ecosystems.
• Food chains could be broken if crops are resistant to predators.

IELTS Reading: keywords

Here's a table showing the keywords that helped us to get the correct answers to last week's Yes, No, Not Given exercise.

Remember: you can only be sure that you have the correct answer when you can point to specific words in the passage that have a similar meaning to the words in the question.

IELTS General Training: informal and formal

For my first two General Training lessons I wrote examples of an informal and a formal letter. Today I want to highlight some of the differences between them.

Informal letter:

• Beginning: Dear + first name
• Friendly greeting: I hope this letter finds you well.
• Contractions: I'm, didn't, couldn't, there's...
• Questions: Do you remember...? Why don't you...?
• Exclamation: ...earlier than I thought it was!
• Linking: Well, Anyway, so, and
• Phrases: had a great time, couldn't have asked for, working flat out, back to normal
• Ending: Hope to see you soon + first name

Formal letter:

• Beginning: Dear Sir or Madam
• No greeting necessary
• No contractions: I am, did not...
• Normally avoid direct questions: "I would like" instead of "Can I have?"
• No exclamation marks (!)
• Linking: However, Consequently, and, also
• Phrases and vocabulary: with regard to, appliance, it was installed, the following day, failed to (meaning "didn't"), procedure, he assured me, report the issue, contacted, under warranty, I am entitled to, replacement, phone me personally
• Ending: I await your prompt response, Yours faithfully + full name

Note:
Both letters also contain 'neutral' vocabulary that can be used in any type of letter. For example, I didn't highlight words like 'hosts', 'deadline' or 'assignment' because they could be used in both formal and informal contexts.

IELTS Advice: you don't need to be 'original'

Students often ask me questions like: Can I use "ascend" instead of "increase"? Can I write "the graph portrays" instead of "the graph shows"?

My answer to the above questions is no. If you write "ascend" or "portray" in writing task 1, it will seem strange to the examiner. Those words are not appropriate for a graph or chart description.

Remember: the aim of the IELTS test is not to find 'original' writers; it is to see whether you can express your ideas clearly, accurately, and in a certain amount of detail. These are the skills that you need for university or work. Leave the 'original' writing to novelists!

IELTS Speaking Part 2: foreign culture

Here are some ideas for last week's question.

1. Which culture and how I know about it
I'm going to talk about France and French culture. I know France quite well because it was the first foreign country that I visited as a child. I've been on several family holidays there, and I lived and worked in Paris for a while after finishing university.

2. Cultural differences
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about France is the bread! I love the fact that French people buy fresh baguettes every morning, usually from small local bakeries or 'patisseries'; it makes a change from the loaves of sliced bread that most of us buy from the supermarket here in the UK. One slightly negative difference I noticed in Paris is that Parisians don't seem to make friends with their work colleagues to the same extent as we do here.

3. What I like about it
I really like the café culture in France. You can always find somewhere interesting to sit and have a coffee and chat to friends or just watch the world go by. I actually put on a bit of weight when I lived in France because I got into a habit of having a croissant or a cake in every nice café that I found. Another thing I could mention is that the last time I went to France on holiday, I played a game called ‘boules’ every day. The game consists in throwing metal balls as close to a target ball as possible. It’s the perfect game for a relaxing afternoon when the weather’s hot.

Tip:
Notice that I included personal examples or experiences in my answers. It's easy to talk for 2 minutes if you can tell a story or two.

IELTS Writing Task 1: change or comparison?

While line graphs always show changes or trends (increase, decrease etc.), this is not always true for bar charts, pie charts and tables.

Here is a bar chart that does show 'change':

And here is a bar chart that shows 'comparison' rather than change:

Can you see the difference? How will this difference affect what you write in your essay? I'll go into more detail about the two charts next week, but the important thing for now is to see the difference.

(Charts taken from US Department of Transportation website)

IELTS Writing Task 2: the importance of planning

When the question topic is difficult, planning becomes even more important. If you start writing your essay straight away, without preparing some ideas first, you will probably get stuck and start to panic!

Take this recent exam question:

The range and quality of food that we can buy has changed because of technological and scientific advances. Some people regard this change as an improvement, while others believe that it is harmful.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

I think you'll agree that this is a tricky question. My advice would be to spend about 10 minutes planning. Follow these steps before you start writing:

1. Take a couple of minutes to read and understand the question.
2. Decide what each of your 4 paragraphs should contain.
3. Spend around 6 minutes noting down ideas for the two points of view.

Click here to download an essay plan template that I use with my students.

IELTS General Training: formal letter

Today I'm attaching a model answer for a 'formal letter' question.

Click here to download

It would be a good idea to print last week's informal letter and compare it with today's formal letter. In particular, compare the 'tone' and the vocabulary.

Students' questions

Here are my answers to a few questions that people have asked this week. Sorry if I couldn't answer every question; it's been a busy week!

1. Are "first of all" and "at the first stage" better than "firstly"?

It won't make any difference to your score if you use "first of all" instead of "firstly" in your task 2 essay. "At the first stage" is completely different; only use that when describing a process in writing task 1.

2. Why was the examiner writing notes during my speaking test?

Don't worry about what the examiner was doing. Examiners often take notes, and it doesn't mean anything bad.

3. What structure should I use if I disagree with both views in a "discuss both views and give your opinion" essay?

Just state your opinion (that you disagree with both views) in the introduction and conclusion, and discuss both views in the main body paragraphs. The question doesn't tell you that you must support one of the views, but it does tell you to discuss both.

4. Can I write both a summary and a conclusion for writing task 1?

You can, but it's really a waste of time because you will probably repeat yourself. Forget the idea of a 'conclusion' for task 1, and simply write an overall summary. Put your summary either straight after the introduction or at the end of the essay; I prefer to put it after the introduction, but it makes no difference to your score.

5. If my speaking part 2 topic is "describe a memorable event", is it ok to describe a sad event?

Yes, that would be fine.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'foreign culture' topic

Describe a foreign culture that you like. You should say

• what culture it is and how you know about it
• what differences there are between that culture and your own
• and why you like that foreign culture.

For this question, you don't need to discuss 'deep' cultural issues. Just choose a foreign country that you have visited, and talk about anything that is different from your own culture (language, food, customs, behaviour, typical activities etc.).

Feel free to share your descriptions in the comments area below this lesson. I'll post my description (or I'll use the best one of yours) next week.

IELTS Writing Task 1: find the mistakes

Can you find the mistakes in the paragraph below?

In 1980, the US produced 131 millions of tonnes of waste. Japan was in second place with 28 millions, while the figures for Poland, Portugal and Ireland were less than 5 millions. In 1990, the US was 151, and in 2000 it rose to 192 millions.

Note:
Some of the mistakes are not related to grammar.

IELTS Listening: 'effective teachers' transcript

Several people commented that they found last week's listening exercise useful, but that they would like to see the full transcript of what the speaker said.

Here's the recording again, with the full transcript and answers underlined:

Click here to listen

There are several things that we know about really effective teachers. One of them is that the most effective teachers have the largest number of metaphors and the largest number of examples to choose from, and they’re the best at choosing the right ones, and techniques at the right moment. So, really expert teachers - I think it helps to be old in this, you know, or to learn from people who’ve been around for a while - really excellent teachers have a vast store of ‘moves’ (if we think of them as chess players) that they can go to in a given situation. And so the more moves you have, you know, the more arrows in your quiver, the more likely you are to be able to get through those sorts of moments. But again, just moving makes a difference for students in being able to pay attention, and it’s also a way of signalling when you’re going to change up.

IELTS General Training: informal letter

For my first lesson about IELTS General Training task 1, I'm attaching a model answer with an analysis task. The analysis task encourages you to look at the letter through the eyes of an examiner.

Click here to download

A few key things to remember:

• The 'tone' of the letter must be appropriate (i.e. formal or informal).
• The purpose of the letter must be clear.
• You must cover all of the points. Write an equal amount for each.
• The letter must be well-organised, with logically connected ideas.
• Try to use some good vocabulary, and try not to make too many mistakes!

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'accommodation' topic

Here are some questions that I found on the official IELTS website, ielts.org. The answers below are my examples. Remember to keep your part 1 answers short and simple. You don't need to show off in part 1.

1. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.

I live in a house that has a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a small garden. It's not a very big house, but it's just right for me.

2. How long have you lived there?

I've lived there for about five years. It's the first house that I've owned; before that I was renting an apartment.

3. What do you like about living there?

I like living there because I think the house reflects my personality: I decorated it myself, I chose all the furniture, and everything is where I want it to be.

4. What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?

If I could, I'd buy a bigger house near a beach or in the mountains, preferably somewhere with a warm climate.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'prisons' topic

In today's lesson I'll try to explain what makes a good paragraph. We'll analyse a paragraph that I wrote with some of my students.

Paragraph about the purpose of prisons:

On the one hand, criminals do need to be punished in some way. A person who commits a crime must learn that unlawful actions have consequences. Prison sentences punish offenders because they lose their freedom, and are separated from family and friends. In this way, prison acts as a deterrent to make people think carefully before breaking the law. Last year in the UK, many people were given a prison sentence for rioting, and hopefully this punishment will deter them from similar behaviour in future.

Analysis:

• The paragraph contains 5 sentences, with a total of 85 words. This is the kind of length I suggest aiming for.
• The first sentence is short and simple. We often call this type of sentence a 'topic sentence' because it introduces the topic of the paragraph.
• Sentences 2, 3 and 4 develop the main idea in a logical, step-by-step way: crime has consequences - loss of freedom is the punishment - this stops people from breaking the law.
• Sentence 5 contains a real example.
• Remember that good vocabulary is the key to a high score. I've underlined the best words and phrases in the paragraph.

IELTS Reading: keyword table

The table below shows some of the keywords that help you to find the answers to test 4, passage 1 in Cambridge IELTS book 6.

If you have book 6, try the test using the table to help you.

IELTS General Training

There are 2 differences between the academic and general IELTS tests:

1. writing task 1 is completely different
2. the reading test is a bit different

Up to now I've only focused on the academic IELTS test here on the blog. However, people often ask me questions about the general test, so I've decided to start doing the occasional GT lesson (maybe once a week on Saturday or Sunday).

I'll do my first general training lesson about writing task 1 next weekend. Feel free to suggest topics!

IELTS Grammar: cause and effect

Here are some useful phrases for describing causes and effects (for IELTS Writing Task 2 and maybe Speaking Part 3). I'll use the topic of 'global warming' to show how the phrases work.

1. Cause and Effect

Pollution causes global warming.
Pollution leads to global warming.
Pollution results in global warming.
Pollution is the main cause of global warming.
Factories pollute the atmosphere. As a result, global warming is occurring.

2. Effect and Cause

Global warming is caused by pollution.
Global warming is the result of pollution.
Global warming is due to pollution.
Global warming occurs as a result of pollution.

Notice the different uses of 'result' (results in, is the result of, as a result). Students make a lot of mistakes with these phrases.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: take ideas from other topics

Describe a time when you received some money as a gift. You should say:

• who gave it to you
• what the occasion was
• how you felt
• and explain what you did with the money.

If you think about some of the topics we have already prepared, the question above should be quite easy.

Some ideas:

1. You could say that you received money for your birthday and took your friends out for a meal. Take some ideas from this lesson.
2. You could say that you bought yourself a new phone (see this lesson).
3. You could say that you used the money to pay for a holiday or trip, and use ideas from this lesson.

Note:
I'm not recommending that you learn my answers word-for-word. Just try to take some of my ideas and adapt them to your own answers.

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'waste' table

Last week we looked at the following question:

The table below shows the amount of waste production (in millions of tonnes) in six different countries in three different years over a twenty-year period.

Here are my answers to last week's questions:

1. It's fine to repeat the word 'waste' because there isn't really an ideal synonym ('rubbish' and 'garbage' have a more limited meaning). However, we can vary our sentences by writing things like 'waste output', 'waste materials' or 'the waste that was produced'.
2. The most noticeable feature must be that the US produced by far the most waste in all 3 years. Use this idea in you 'overview' paragraph.
3. The general trend is that waste production rose in every country apart from Korea. This could be your second 'overview' idea.
4. I would write one main paragraph comparing the 3 countries with the highest figures (US, Japan, Korea), and a separate paragraph about Ireland, Poland and Portugal. Try to use some 'comparing' language when describing the countries (e.g. while, whereas, by contrast) and some 'trend' language when describing the years (e.g. increased, rose, fell).

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'university' topic

The book I mentioned in Monday's lesson (What are Universities for?) reminded me of this question from Cambridge IELTS 7:

Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer.
What, in your opinion, should be the function of a university?

Here are some ideas:

• It would probably be easiest to argue that universities should fulfil both roles (providing vocational skills and knowledge for its own sake).
• We could use examples to help us generate ideas: try to make a list of some vocational degree courses (that provide training for a specific job), and a list of courses that do not lead to a particular job.
• Write one main paragraph explaining the benefits (to the student and to society in general) of the two types of course.

IELTS Listening: gap-fill about consumerism

Listen to the recording about materialism (attaching importance to money and possessions). Then fill the gaps in the text below.

Click here to listen

Beginning in the 1990s, the most ______ ______ given for attending college had changed from reasons such as becoming an ______ in a field or helping others to the ______ ______ ______ a lot of money. At the same time, compact disc players, ______ ______, personal computers, and cellular telephones all began to integrate into ______ ______. Madeline Levine criticised what she saw as a large change in American culture – “a shift away from ______ ______ ______, spirituality, and integrity, and toward competition, materialism and disconnection.”