IELTS Simon

Students' grammar questions

Here are a few grammar questions that I've been asked this week:

1. Which is better: "like normal" or "as usual"?

You might hear people say "like normal", but it's much better to use "as usual".

2. What do "in order to" and "in terms of" mean?

A dictionary will explain the meaning of these phrases. However, it's probably more useful to see some examples of how they are used. A search engine like Google will give you many more examples than I can.

3. Is it correct to write "it is worth spending maintaining libraries" or "libraries are worth spending"?

Neither is correct I'm afraid. I would write: "It is worth spending money to maintain libraries" or "libraries are worth maintaining".

4. Can we put "for example" in the middle of a sentence like this: "There are many environmental problems, for example, people litter everywhere"?

The use of "for example" in the sentence above is not correct. To avoid confusion, I'd recommend using "for example" only at the beginning of sentences. Use "such as" in the middle (e.g. There are many environmental problems, such as air pollution).

IELTS Speaking: add detail

Many students worry too much about grammar. For speaking parts 2 and 3, it's more important to worry about the quality of your answers. The best way to improve the quality of your answers is by adding detail.

Example:
Describe your best friend. Say when you met him/her.

Short answer about when we met:
I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old.

Detailed answer about when we met:
I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old, so we've known each other for ... years. I remember we sat next to each other in my first science lesson at secondary school, and we had to work together to do an experiment. We got on straight away, and we've been friends ever since.

Notice that by adding more information I've also used more/better vocabulary and grammar.

IELTS Writing Task 2: problem & solution introduction

My advice for task 2 introductions is to write them very quickly. Just write 2 sentences: one to introduce the topic, and one to give a basic answer. Let's look at how to do this for a "problem and solution" question:

The number of plants and animals is declining. Describe some reasons for this problem and suggest some solutions.

Here's my introduction:

It is undeniable that wildlife habitats are being destroyed and whole species of plants and animals are disappearing. There are several causes of this alarming trend, but measures could certainly be taken to tackle the problem.

Note:
In the second sentence you don't need to give any causes or solutions; save your ideas for the main paragraphs.

IELTS Advice: asking for a re-mark

People often ask whether it's a good idea to ask for a re-mark of their tests. Here are a few tips:

• I don't recommend asking for your reading or listening paper to be re-marked. Reading and listening questions are either right or wrong, so it's unlikely that your scores will change.
• If there is a 2 band difference between your writing and speaking scores, they are usually double-checked automatically, so a re-mark probably won't help.
• A re-mark might be worth trying if you only need an extra half band in speaking or writing (e.g. if you have 6.5 and need 7).
• Remember that it can take up to 8 weeks to get your test re-marked. It might be faster to resit the test.

Note:
If you have had a test re-marked, please tell us what happened. It would be interesting to know how many people's scores went up.

Students' questions

Here are a few useful questions that people have asked me this week:

1. Are writing tasks 1 and 2 examined by the same person?

Yes, always.

2. Can you do a writing task 1 lesson about how to describe the 'shape' of lines on a graph?

Personally I rarely describe the 'shape' of a line. Instead of following the trend of one line, it's much better to compare two or more lines at a particular point. Have a look through my task 1 lessons to see how I describe changes and make comparisons. I don't think you need to learn any other 'shape' or 'trend' language.

3. Can you do a lesson about how to use prepositions?

I'm afraid that 'how to use prepositions' is a HUGE area, and I won't be able to explain it here. It's one of those things that you have to learn gradually. In fact, it's better to treat that area as 'vocabulary' (that you gradually learn) rather than 'grammar' (that someone can explain).

4. Can you do a lesson about 'low, less, little, few, much, more'?

This is another big area, and a dedicated grammar book or website is the best place to read about that kind of thing.

5. Is it better to use 'he' or 'she' when writing about a person in general?

I would try to avoid choosing between 'he' and 'she' by using plurals (e.g. they) and alternative words (e.g. individuals, employees). For example, instead of writing "when a child starts school, he learns...", you could write "when children start school, they learn..." or "school pupils learn...".

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?

IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay about 2 bar charts

Here's my full essay for the 'age group bar charts' question:

The bar charts compare students of different ages in terms of why they are studying and whether they are supported by an employer.

It is clear that the proportion of students who study for career purposes is far higher among the younger age groups, while the oldest students are more likely to study for interest. Employer support is more commonly given to younger students.

Around 80% of students aged under 26 study to further their careers, whereas only 10% study purely out of interest. The gap between these two proportions narrows as students get older, and the figures for those in their forties are the same, at about 40%. Students aged over 49 overwhelmingly study for interest (70%) rather than for professional reasons (less than 20%).

Just over 60% of students aged under 26 are supported by their employers. By contrast, the 30-39 age group is the most self-sufficient, with only 30% being given time off and help with fees. The figures rise slightly for students in their forties and for those aged 50 or more.

(178 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: idea and paragraph

My students and I followed the advice in last week's lesson to write a paragraph for the topic below.

The number of plants and animals is declining. Describe the problem and suggest some solutions.

Ideas for describing the problem:

• over-farming, land needed for crops and animals
• cutting down trees destroys natural habitats, animals become extinct
• industrial waste in rivers, sea
• chemicals kill fish and plants, interrupt natural cycles / food chain

It seemed that we had 2 main ideas, so we wrote a 2-idea paragraph:

There are two main reasons why plants and animals are disappearing. Firstly, in many parts of the world trees are being cut down to make way for farmland on which to grow crops and keep animals. The result of this is that natural habitats are being destroyed, and in some cases whole species of animals are becoming extinct. Secondly, human activity is also responsible for the destruction of aquatic life as domestic and industrial waste is pumped into rivers and seas. This chemical waste kills plants and fish, interrupting natural cycles and having a devastating effect on food chains.

(99 words)

IELTS Listening: the future

Have a look at this interesting video about predictions for the year 2200. The speaker uses some useful vocabulary (don't forget you can "view subtitles").

 

Vocabulary from the video (look the words up if you don't know them):

scarcity
declining population
stagnation
have beneficial economic effects
the speculative value of property
lift a heavy burden off the world's poor
scarce labour drives wages
technological innovation
cultural heritage
we're in for another change
rash decisions

PS. You could look up 'Malthus' and 'The Enlightenment' on Wikipedia.

IELTS General Writing: planning ideas

It's a good idea to write a quick plan before you start writing your letter. Take this question for example:

Here's my quick plan:

• Informal style - friend's name can be John.
• Quick greeting and reason for writing.
• Neighbour at number 10 has keys. Visit any time after 5pm.
• Instructions about turning the heating off and opening the windows.
• Good local restaurant and a traditional festival in the town during his visit.

IELTS Writing Advice: cohesion

Albert wrote a comment below Wednesday's lesson that I would like to share with you. It contains a key observation about how to write a good paragraph.

"Thanks for the great paragraph. I noticed that this paragraph is highly cohesive without any explicit linking words such as ‘furthermore/moreover’. I think this is what ‘uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention’ means for the band 9 level according to the descriptor, right? The way the sentences in the paragraph are linked together is by all the ‘money’ words in each sentence: earn money/the salary/pay/need money/wages/to save for the future/if…needed money. Is my understanding correct?"

I replied to Albert that this is exactly right! Cohesion means "togetherness", and the best way to link your ideas together is by developing them in a logical way, not by using 'moreover' or 'furthermore'.

Read my paragraph again, and hopefully you'll see what Albert means.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'politeness' topic

Two weeks ago I showed you a part 2 question about a situation in which you were polite. Let's have a look at some related questions for part 3 of the test:

In your country’s culture, how do you show that you are being polite?

We really value politeness and good manners in the UK, and there are many types of polite behaviour. One of the first things we learn as children is to say "please" and "thank you". As adults, I think we are careful not to be too direct in the language we use. For example, we would never say "Bring me the bill" in a restaurant because this kind of direct instruction would sound rude. It would be much more polite to say "Could we have the bill, please?".

Are we less polite with members of our families than with people we don’t know?

I suppose it's normal to be a bit more relaxed about politeness with family members. Most people tend to speak in a more informal way at home; in the UK, we still say "please" and "thanks", but it's fine to use colloquial language and things like nicknames that you would never use with someone you didn't know.

IELTS Writing Task 1: choosing which details to include

In last week's lesson I wrote an introduction and overview for a question about two bar charts. For paragraphs 3 and 4, we need to describe each chart in detail.

I usually find that 3 sentences are enough for a good 'details' paragraph, which means that we only need to choose 3 things to describe for each chart.

3 sentences about the first chart:

1. Compare the percentages for students under 26.
2. Mention the overall trend as students get older, and that the proportions are the same for the 40-49 age group.
3. Compare the percentages for students over 49.

3 sentences about the second chart:

1. Write about the two youngest age groups.
2. Write about the 30-39 age group.
3. Write about the two oldest age groups.

IELTS Writing Task 2: from ideas to paragraph

I always tell my students to plan ideas for their main body paragraphs. Let's look at how to put some ideas together to make a paragraph. Here's the question:

The main reason people go to work is to earn money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Ideas for one main paragraph:

• agree that money is the main reason people work
• people look at salary first, they rarely take a salary cut
• need to live, pay bills, food etc.
• look after our families, save for the future
• otherwise, most people would probably choose not to work

Full paragraph using the ideas above:

I agree that the majority of people work in order to earn money. Before taking any other factors into account, it is normal to first consider the salary that a particular post offers, and it is rare to hear of a person who happily takes a cut in pay when beginning a new job. We all need money to pay for our basic necessities, such as accommodation, bills and food. Many adults also have families who depend on the wages they earn, and at the same time they are conscious of the need to save for the future. If we no longer needed money, I doubt most of us would choose to continue in our jobs.

(116 words)

IELTS Listening: 'happiness' topic

Happiness, job satisfaction, and money are possible topics in both the writing test and the speaking test. The video below might help you with some ideas for the happiness topic. I've also made a quick listening exercise for you to try below the video.

Fill the gaps in the summary below with one word only.

I don’t think we have a great ______ idea of happiness. Many people imagine that happiness comes from something ______; if you get a new car, a better job, a bigger house, you’ll be happy. Whenever I hear the phrase ‘the ______ of happiness’, the image that comes to my mind is of racing dogs chasing a mechanical rabbit that’s always just out of ______. I think a much better goal of life is to be content. Contentment is an inner feeling of satisfaction that’s not dependent on external factors. I argue that the goal is to enhance contentment, comfort, serenity and ______ so that you can roll with the ups and ______ of life and not get thrown off too much. I think it is not realistic to try to be happy all the time; we’re ______ to be sad or blue some of the time; I think that’s part of the ______ experience.

IELTS General Writing: the opening sentence

After writing "Dear..." it's a good idea to establish the main purpose of the letter straight away in your opening sentence. Here are some examples:

1. Formal letter (e.g. complaining to a manager)
I am writing to complain about the unacceptable state of the room I was given, and the unhelpful attitude of certain members of staff at your hotel.

2. Semi-formal letter (e.g. inviting a neighbour)
My wife and I would like to invite you to a dinner party at our home next Saturday evening.

3. Informal letter (e.g. thanking a friend)
I hope you're well. I'm just writing to say thanks for letting me stay over at your house while I was in London last week.

IELTS Advice: focus on vocabulary

The secret to a high IELTS score is being able to understand and use a wide range of words and phrases. As I said on Monday, it's really important to collect vocabulary in a notebook, but you also need to practise using it.

Here are some words and phrases from the lessons this week:

• achieve goals
• delegate
• cope with stress
• in terms of
• for career purposes
• decreases with age
• up to the point when
• household names
• with the advent of
• a new breed of

Try making your own sentences with the words and phrases above. It might seem easy to understand them, but it's not so easy to use them properly!

IELTS Speaking Part 3: comparing past and present

In part 3 of IELTS speaking, you might be asked to compare the past with the present. The examiner will be listening to your use tenses. For example:

Are there any differences between the types of people who were seen as celebrities in the past and those who are celebrities nowadays?

Yes, I think there have been some big changes in the types of people who become famous. In the past, before the invention of television, I suppose there were very few national or international celebrities; maybe kings and queens, military, political and religious leaders were the only household names. With the advent of TV and radio, performers such as actors and musicians became more well-known. However, we now seem to have a completely new breed of celebrity as a result of 'reality' television programmes; these are people who don't really have any special skills as performers, but who are famous for just being themselves.

IELTS Writing Task 1: bar charts with age groups

A few people have asked about the question on page 52 of Cambridge IELTS 5. It shows two bar charts with age groups. Click here to see the question.

As usual, I recommend writing 4 paragraphs:

1. A quick introduction to say what the charts show.
2. An overview of the main features - one sentence for each chart.
3. Describe the first chart in detail.
4. Describe the second chart in detail.

Here's an example introduction and overview:

The first bar chart compares students of different ages in terms of why they are studying their chosen courses, and the second chart compares the same age groups in terms of the help they require at work.

It is clear that the proportion of people who study for career purposes is far higher among the younger age groups, and decreases steadily with age. The need for employer support also decreases with age, but only up to the point when employees enter their forties.

IELTS Writing Task 2: before you start writing

Before you start writing your task 2 essay, you need to do two things:

1. Plan your overall essay structure (ideally 4 paragraphs)
2. Spend some time thinking of ideas for the main body paragraphs

Here are two recent exam questions that you could try writing a plan for:

The main reason people go to work is to earn money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many people prefer to rent a house rather than buying one. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of renting.

IELTS General Writing: use the Internet

There are plenty of websites giving advice to native English speakers about how to write letters. Try a Google search for "how to write letters" or click here to see a website that has some good sample letters.

Note: In the IELTS test, you should not write an address or date at the top of your letter. Apart from that, sample letters on websites like the one above can teach you a lot.