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Reading is probably the best way to expand your knowledge of English vocabulary. And if you want to make faster progress, I recommend keeping a notebook for useful words and phrases that you find.
For example, I came across this interesting article the other day. Have a look at the article, and note down any useful words or phrases that you find. Feel free to share your notes in the 'comments' area below.
Did you notice that I used the 'future perfect' tense in the answer that I wrote for Thursday's writing task 1 lesson? Here's the sentence:
- By 2024, a third building will have been constructed.
In fact, this is a 'future perfect passive' sentence. Another option was to write:
- In 2024, a third building will be constructed. (simple future, passive)
There's a small difference in meaning between these two sentences. The future perfect sentence suggests that construction of the building will already be finished in 2024, whereas the simple future sentence suggests that the construction work will happen in the year 2024.
A teacher in China asked me to help with the following queries:
1) Can students ask the IELTS examiner to repeat a question?
Yes. They can say something like: "Sorry, can you repeat that please?". It won't affect your score if you do this.
2) Can students ask the examiner to clarify a question?
Not in part 1 or 2. The examiner can only repeat the same question in part 1, and refer you to the task card in part 2. In part 3, it's fine for students to ask for clarification e.g. "Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean by that". The examiner is allowed to rephrase the question in part 3. If you ask for clarification once, it shouldn't affect your score, but don't do this too many times!
3) Can students ask the examiner to define a word?
Again, only in part 3. The student could say: "Sorry, could you explain what you mean by... (unknown word)?"
4) Can students ask for more time to think?
I don't recommend doing that. Students lose marks for long hesitations, so it's best for them to practise answering quickly.
5) Can students ask to miss a question in parts 1 and 3?
They can, but they will lose points, so I don't recommend doing this. It's always best to attempt an answer.
6) Can students ask for a different topic in part 2?
No. They must take the topic card that the examiner gives them.
I've just published a video lesson about 'short answer' questions in the IELTS reading test. It's a free lesson and you can watch it here.
Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Here's a possible plan for a one-sided answer:
Listen to the recording about road safety and fill the gaps in the summary.
Summary:
Traffic in Europe is increasingly ______. The aim of the 'European Road Safety Day' is to reduce the ______ ______ from road accidents throughout the European Union.
The number of lives saved every year since 2001 has ______ ______ markedly in line with ______. However, there are still nearly ______ people killed on Europe's roads each year.
The big problems to address are speed, alcohol or drugs, and not wearing a ______. These are the ______ ______ of accidents.
Note:
If you would like to watch the full video about this topic, click here.
Here's a keyword table for test 2 in Cambridge IELTS book 9:
Even if you don't have a copy of the book, I think you can still learn something from this table. Look at the use of synonyms and similar words (e.g. worldwide / international, regulations / standards, current / modern).
Also, did you know the meanings of words like vulnerable, auditory and impairment? Look these words up in a dictionary, and see if you can use them in your own sentences.
In yesterday's lesson, I asked whether you think it's possible to give a balanced answer (including both views) for questions with 'strong' words. For example:
The best way to improve road safety is by introducing stricter punishments for bad drivers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
After reading the comments below the lesson, I've chosen my favourite:
"I think one can disagree with the statement in order to mention the other side of the argument - that is, other means are also necessary to ensure road safety."
(comment by 'tm')
Thanks 'tm' - that's the answer I was looking for! Sometimes you need to disagree in order to be able to discuss both sides e.g. "I disagree with the idea that punishments are the best way to improve road safety; several other measures can be equally effective."
Here's a useful question that someone asked me this week:
Is it possible to give a balanced (partly agree) answer if the question contains a strong word like best, most, all or only?
This is the question that the student gave as an example:
The best way to improve road safety is by introducing stricter punishments for bad drivers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Can you see the problem with the word 'best'? Either something is the best or it isn't - we can agree or disagree, but there's no middle point. So, is there a way to give a balanced answer or to talk about both sides of the argument? What do you think? I'll tell you what I think tomorrow.
"Do you work or are you a student?"
This is often the first question that the examiner asks in the speaking test. It's an easy question, but many people still worry about it.
Here are some of their worries:
My advice is to stop worrying, and just explain your situation. For example: "I'm a qualified doctor, but at the moment I'm studying English so that I can work here in the UK."
Let's start writing a report for the question in last week's lesson. Today I'll write an introduction and summary, and next week I'll describe the specific details.
Introduction - paraphrase the question statement
The two pictures compare the layout of a school as it was in the year 2004 with a proposed site design for the year 2024.
Overview - summarise the information (look for 2 main points)
It is clear that the main change for 2024 involves the addition of a new school building. The school will then be able to accommodate a considerably larger number of students.
Here's a recent exam question that a few people told me about:
Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Let's try writing a 'strong opinion' answer for this question. In other words, we're going to completely agree or completely disagree. We're not going to write about both points of view.
Can you suggest a 4-paragraph plan for a 'strong opinion' answer?
Watching documentaries is a good way to do some listening practice and improve your 'ear'. I recently found a website called freedocumentaries.org.
If you look through the categories on the website, you'll find documentaries about health, the environment, media, Internet and society, which are common IELTS topics. You'll also find documentaries about topics that don't appear in the IELTS test (e.g. politics), but these are still useful for general listening practice and vocabulary. Above all, watch whatever you find interesting!
In last Sunday's lesson I wrote that an advanced user of any language is someone who can express the same idea in a variety of ways. When you do this, you are paraphrasing.
Let's practise paraphrasing some of the ideas from Friday's speaking lesson. Can you express the ideas below in one or two (or more) different ways? Note: you don't need to use exact synonyms - just make sure you communicate the same overall idea.
Here's some of the good vocabulary that I used in yesterday's speaking lesson. Would you be able to use these phrases in your own sentences? If you're not sure, look the phrases up in a dictionary, or use Google to search for examples of their use.
Describe a change that you would like to see in your local area.
You should say
- what the change would be
- who would be involved in making the change
- how it would be done
- and why you would like to see the change happen.
Here's my band 9 sample answer:
A student asked me to help with this question from Official IELTS Practice Materials book 2:
The diagrams below show the site of a school in 2004 and the plan for changes to the school site in 2024.
Click here to see the diagrams
Before trying to write a report for the question above, have a look at these lessons about similar questions:
Someone asked me a useful question: Is there any specific study order that you recommend? So here's what I think:
1. Essay structure and paragraphs
The first thing to do is find an essay structure that works for you. You probably know that I prefer to write 4 paragraphs, and maybe you've seen how I write 2-sentence introductions, 5-sentence main paragraphs and 1-sentence conclusions. Try this: take some essays that you have already written, and rewrite them so that they all have the same number of paragraphs and sentences.
2. Question types
You need to see examples of the four question types, and make sure you know how to answer each type using your preferred essay structure.
3. Planning, and isolated paragraph practice
Take several different questions, and practise planning ideas. Then spend some time focusing only on introductions e.g. write an introduction for five different questions. Then do the same with conclusions. Then try writing different types of main paragraph e.g. an 'advantages' paragraph, an 'opinion' paragraph, a 'problem' paragraph etc.
4. Topic ideas
When you are confident that you know how to write an essay, it's time to start working through as many common IELTS writing topics as possible. Even if you don't write a full essay for each topic, you should at least plan some ideas and opinions.
5. Mistakes, corrections and improvements
Try to find someone who can check your writing, highlight and explain your mistakes, and show you how to improve your essays.
Yesterday I repeated my overall advice for the reading test, so now here's my list of advice and techniques for IELTS listening:
Here's my sample letter for the question in this lesson. Even if you're not doing the General IELTS test, you should find some useful language in my answer.
(158 words, band 9)
Can you correct the mistakes in the sentences below, or rewrite the sentences to improve them?
Here's my full essay for the following question.
The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional ideas are outdated, I believe that others are still useful and should not be forgotten.
On the one hand, many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are becoming less relevant for younger people. In the past, for example, people were advised to learn a profession and find a secure job for life, but today’s workers expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same time, the ‘rules’ around relationships are being eroded as young adults make their own choices about who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between the generations can be seen in their attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional roles of men and women, as breadwinners and housewives, are no longer accepted as necessary or appropriate by most younger people.
On the other hand, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the modern world. For example, older generations attach great importance to working hard, doing one’s best, and taking pride in one’s work, and these behaviours can surely benefit young people as they enter today’s competitive job market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners. In our globalised world, young adults can expect to come into contact with people from a huge variety of backgrounds, and it is more important than ever to treat others with respect. Finally, I believe that young people would lead happier lives if they had a more ‘old-fashioned’ sense of community and neighbourliness.
In conclusion, although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful in today’s world, we should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.
(299 words, band 9)
Look at the following question (from Cambridge IELTS 5) and the section of text that contains the answer. I've underlined the key words.
Question:
The writer suggests that newspapers print items that are intended to
A) educate readers
B) meet their readers' expectations
C) encourage feedback from readers
D) mislead readers
Passage:
A third source of confusion is the attitude of the media. People are clearly more curious about bad news than good. Newspapers and broadcasters are there to provide what the public wants. That, however, can lead to significant distortions of perception.
Task:
Which keywords in the passage match the keywords in the question? What is the correct answer? Why?
In yesterday's lesson, I wrote this:
The fact that I wrote about 3 distinct ideas meant that the paragraph "moves forward". Many students seem to get stuck on one idea, and the paragraph has no development or “movement".
This is something that I often see in students' essays: they go "round and round" explaining the same idea for a whole paragraph. Look carefully at your own paragraphs to see whether this happens to you. If it does, here are 2 possible solutions:
On Wednesday I wrote a paragraph for a task 2 topic. Did you notice the following things in it?
There are also some 'band 7-9' phrases in the paragraph. Did you notice them?
