IELTS Simon

IELTS Writing Task 2: festivals essay skeleton

My students and I decided to write a balanced answer to the question below.

Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Here's our balanced answer essay 'skeleton':

Introduction
Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of festivals, and that most of us treat them as opportunities to have fun. While I agree that enjoyment seems to be the priority during festival times, I do not agree that people have forgotten what these festivals mean.

Paragraph 2 topic sentence
On the one hand, religious and traditional festivals have certainly become times for celebration.

Paragraph 3 topic sentence
However, I disagree with the idea that the meaning behind such festivals has been forgotten.

Conclusion
In conclusion, although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during festivals, I believe that they are still aware of the reasons for these celebrations.

IELTS Listening: multiple choice keywords

One reason why multiple choice questions are difficult is that you probably won't hear the exact words that are given in the answer choices. Instead, you'll hear similar words that have the same meaning (synonyms or paraphrasing).

For example, here are the 'keywords' for the multiple choice questions in section 3 of test 3 in Cambridge IELTS book 10:

IELTS Reading: difficult gap-fill

Try the following exercise from Cambridge IELTS book 10 (test 2, passage 2). My students found the two questions quite difficult.

Part of the passage about 'gifted children':

A very close positive relationship was found when children’s IQ scores were compared with their home educational provision (Freeman, 2010). The higher the children’s IQ scores, especially over IQ 130, the better the quality of their educational backup, measured in terms of reported verbal interactions with parents, number of books and activities in their home etc.

To be at their most effective in their self-regulation, all children can be helped to identify their own ways of learning - metacognition - which will include strategies of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and choice of what to learn. Emotional awareness is also part of metacognition, so children should be helped to be aware of their feelings around the area to be learned, feelings of curiosity or confidence, for example.

Fill the gaps below with no more than TWO words from the passage.

1. One study found a strong connection between children’s IQ and the availability of ………. and ………. at home.
2. Metacognition involves children understanding their own learning strategies, as well as developing ………. .

IELTS General Writing: new video lesson

I've just published my second video lesson for General Writing task 1. You can find it at the bottom of this website.

In the lesson, I write a formal letter at band 9 level, and I talk about the use of "less common" vocabulary, as well as the use of some typical phrases to begin and end formal letters. I'm afraid this lesson isn't a free one.

IELTS General Writing: formal or informal?

Tomorrow I'll share a video lesson about formal letters for General Writing Task 1. If you're doing the General test, think about the question below.

Would you write a formal or informal letter to the following people?

1. a hotel manager
2. your boss
3. the local council
4. your child's teacher
5. a friend
6. a work colleague
7. a neighbour

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'proud' topic

Here's another interesting part 2 task:

Describe something you did that made you feel proud of yourself.
You should say

- what you did
- when you did it
- why you felt proud of what you had done
- and explain how you felt when this happened.

Easy topics to choose could be: an academic achievement, a new job or achievement at work, doing well in a competition, an achievement related to a hobby, an act of kindness etc.

Before practising a full answer, you could prepare some good vocabulary on the theme of 'achievement' or 'feeling proud'. Try searching for other words and phrases related to these two ideas.

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'waste graph' answer

The graph below shows the amounts of waste produced by three companies over a period of 15 years.

The line graph compares three companies in terms of their waste output between the years 2000 and 2015.

It is clear that there were significant changes in the amounts of waste produced by all three companies shown on the graph. While companies A and B saw waste output fall over the 15-year period, the amount of waste produced by company C increased considerably.

In 2000, company A produced 12 tonnes of waste, while companies B and C produced around 8 tonnes and 4 tonnes of waste material respectively. Over the following 5 years, the waste output of companies B and C rose by around 2 tonnes, but the figure for company A fell by approximately 1 tonne.

From 2005 to 2015, company A cut waste production by roughly 3 tonnes, and company B reduced its waste by around 7 tonnes. By contrast, company C saw an increase in waste production of approximately 4 tonnes over the same 10-year period. By 2015, company C’s waste output had risen to 10 tonnes, while the respective amounts of waste from companies A and B had dropped to 8 tonnes and only 3 tonnes.

(192 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'festivals' plan

The best way to answer the question below depends on your own personal experience of traditional and religious festivals in your country.

Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Last week I recommended that we should start by thinking of some examples before we decide how to answer this question. I'm English, so the easiest examples for me are: Christmas and Easter (religious festivals), Halloween and Bonfire Night (traditional festivals). Now let's look at two possible ways that I could answer.

Completely agree

1. Introduction: completely agree
2. Paragraph about religious festivals
3. Paragraph about traditional festivals
4. Conclusion

Partly agree

1. Introduction: partly agree - people mainly want to enjoy themselves, but we do still remember the meaning behind festivals
2. Paragraph about people enjoying festivals
3. Paragraph about remembering the meaning
4. Conclusion

Both approaches are equally good, but which one would you find easiest?

IELTS Listening: lifespan transcript

Here's the full transcript of the recording in last week's lesson:

For centuries people have been able to improve their lifespans through dietary changes, public health policies and other factors. However, a recent study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine has found that the limits of human longevity may have already been reached. In fact, researchers believe the maximum lifespan likely peaked decades ago, around 1995.

According to a news release issued by the school, the team used two different data sets, the ‘Human Mortality Database’ and the ‘International Database on Longevity’, as the basis for the study. Based on their calculations, they concluded that humans can typically live a maximum of 115 years, but the absolute upper limit is likely 125 years.

And while they acknowledge that medical breakthroughs could increase the average life expectancy, researchers believe the maximum will likely remain unchanged. As such, they suggest that efforts should focus on improving the health and quality of life, instead of trying to live longer.

IELTS Reading: more keywords

Here's a keyword table with vocabulary from the last two reading exercises on this blog. I always recommend keeping a list of keywords, even the easy ones.

IELTS Advice: from a student who passed

This week I received an email from a student who passed the IELTS test with high scores. I'd like to share a simple piece of advice from that person.

Here's what she said:
When I took my exam, I always asked myself, “What would Simon do?”

I think this sums up the whole aim of my blog. If I can help people to "think like me" in the IELTS test, then I'm happy with the job I'm doing!

IELTS General Writing: task 1 video (free)

I've just published my first video lesson for General Writing Task 1. You can watch it for free here.

In the lesson, I explain the seven steps that you should follow when writing your letter. I also answer some questions that people asked me about the letter task.

IELTS Writing Task 1: introduction and overview

Let's look at the first two paragraphs of my sample answer for the question below.

The graph below shows the amounts of waste produced by three companies over a period of 15 years.

Introduction (paraphrase the question):
The line graph compares three companies in terms of their waste output between the year 2000 and the year 2015.

Overview (two main / general points):
It is clear that there were significant changes in the amounts of waste produced by all three companies shown on the graph. While companies A and B saw waste output fall over the 15-year period, the amount of waste produced by company C increased considerably.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'festivals' topic

Read the question below, and try to think of some examples that could support or disprove the opinion given. Let's start by thinking of examples before we decide what our view is.

Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

IELTS Listening: lifespan gap-fill

Listen to the following recording, and fill the gaps in the summary below.

Click here to listen

Fill the gaps with a maximum of TWO words and/or a number.

For centuries people have been able to improve their lifespans through _____ changes. However, a recent study has found that the limits of _____ may have already been reached. It is believed that the maximum lifespan may have peaked around the year _____. Researchers concluded that humans can typically live for a maximum of _____ years, and that the absolute upper age limit is _____. They recommend that we make efforts to improve the _____ of life, rather than to extend life expectancy.

IELTS General Writing: task 1 videos

I was planning to publish a video lesson for General Writing task 1 today, but I haven't managed to finish it on time. I'll publish it later this week.

Before I finish the lesson, you have the opportunity to ask me any questions about GT task 1 (the letter writing task) in the 'comments' below. Let me know if there's anything that you are particularly worried about and would like me to include in the video.

IELTS Writing Advice: use more examples

I included several good examples in the 'extreme sports' essay that I wrote a couple of weeks ago, and some of you noticed this. I mentioned:

- skydiving
- motor racing
- mountain climbing
- base jumping (click here to find out what this is)
- big wave surfing
- parachuting

Examples help the reader (the examiner) to follow and understand your ideas. They make your essay more interesting, but also more coherent and more persuasive. In fact, examples can really breathe life into your writing and help you to get a higher score. So use more of them if you can!

IELTS Speaking Part 2: no need for eye contact

When answering questions in parts 1 and 3, most people naturally make eye contact with the examiner (although it doesn't matter if you don't).

However, in part 2 you don't need to worry about eye contact at all. It's more important to look at the question and the notes you made.

Remember: the examiner will not reduce your score for lack of eye contact, but he/she will reduce your score if you don't answer the question well.

IELTS Writing Task 1: overview points

Here are some main points that most people noticed about the graph in last week's lesson:

• There were significant changes in the amounts of waste produced by all three companies.
• Waste produced by companies A and B decreased, but waste produced by company C increased.
• Company A was the biggest waste producer at the beginning of the period, but C was the biggest producer by the end of the period.
• Company A produced the largest amount of waste in total.

I recommend choosing just two of these main points for a two-sentence overview paragraph. For example:

It is clear that there were significant changes in the amounts of waste produced by all three companies shown on the graph. While companies A and B saw waste output fall over the 15-year period, the amount of waste produced by company C increased considerably.

IELTS Writing Task 2: one-sentence conclusion

Looking at the conclusions that people wrote below last week's lesson (here), I noticed that many people wrote more than one sentence.

Remember:

• The job of a conclusion is to quickly repeat and summarise your overall response to the question.
• Don't include any detailed reasons or new ideas.
• Your conclusion won't really help or change your score. The main paragraphs are much more important.
• One sentence is definitely enough.
• Instead of writing a longer conclusion, use any extra time to check your essay or to improve the main body paragraphs.

So here's my conclusion for last week's essay:

In conclusion, I would argue that people should be free to enjoy extreme sports as long as they understand the risks and take the appropriate precautions.

IELTS Listening: transcript

Here's the full transcript of the recording in last week's lesson:

Photographic Film

The use of photographic film was pioneered by George Eastman, who started manufacturing paper film in 1885, before switching to celluloid in 1889. His first camera, which he called the Kodak, was offered for sale in 1888. It was a very simple and relatively low-priced box camera aimed at the average consumer. The Kodak came with enough film for a hundred exposures and needed to be sent back to the factory for processing when the roll was finished.

IELTS Reading: match the synonyms

This isn't an exercise that you would ever see in a real test, but it's a useful way to look at vocabulary and synonyms.

Use the following passage to help you with the exercise below it.

A fundamental question in ageing research is whether humans and other species possess an immutable life-span limit. A theoretical study suggested the maximum human lifespan to be around 125 years. The longest-living person whose dates of birth and death were verified to the modern norms of Guinness World Records and the Gerontology Research Group was Jeanne Calment, a French lady who lived to 122.

Reduction of infant mortality has accounted for most of the increased average life span longevity, but since the 1960s, mortality rates among those over 80 years have decreased by about 1.5% per year. The progress being made in lengthening lifespans and postponing senescence is entirely due to medical and public-health efforts, rising standards of living, better education, healthier nutrition and more salubrious lifestyles.

Match the words in column A with their synonyms in column B.
Try to do this without a dictionary; use the passage above instead.

IELTS General Writing: 'purpose' sentence

When writing a GT task 1 letter, I normally begin with a sentence to introduce the purpose of the letter.

A student asked me for help with the "purpose" sentence for the question below:

Although the overall purpose of the letter isn't stated in the question, I think we can still write a good purpose sentence. Here's an example:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to give you some feedback after the party that my company recently held at your hotel.

IELTS Vocabulary: note it down, then use it

Are you keeping a record of good words and phrases? Have you noted down the good vocabulary from the paragraphs that I shared in Wednesday's writing lesson, and from the answers in yesterday's speaking lesson?

When you read my sample answers, I hope that you sometimes think to yourself: that's a good word/phrase; I'll take that and use it myself.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'name' answers

Here are some sample answers for the 'name' questions that I shared last week. Notice that most of these answers are negative ones; it's completely acceptable to answer in this way.

1) How did your parents choose your name?

To be honest, I'm not sure how they chose it; I've never asked them. I suppose it was just a name that they both liked, and maybe they thought it suited me.

2) Does your name have any special meaning?

It might do, but I don't know what that meaning is; I've never looked it up. Maybe I'll google it later today; you've made me curious to find out!

3) Is your name common or unusual in your country?

Yes, it's quite a common name. I remember that there were two other people with the same name as me in my class at school.

4) If you could change your name, would you?

No, I definitely wouldn't. My name is part of my identity now, and it would feel strange to suddenly change it. I don't think my friends and family would like that either.

IELTS Writing Task 1: more 'overview' practice

Several people asked me for some more practice seeing the "big picture" when writing the overview paragraph. First, read this lesson and this lesson. Then try to write a two-sentence overview about the line graph below.

The graph below shows the amounts of waste produced by three companies over a period of 15 years.

IELTS Writing Task 2: suggest your conclusion

Can you suggest an appropriate conclusion to finish my essay below?

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

In recent years, extreme sports have become increasingly popular, and some people argue that governments should prohibit them. I completely disagree with the idea that these sports are too dangerous, and I therefore believe that they should not be banned.

In my opinion, so-called extreme sports are not as dangerous as many people think. All sports involve some element of risk, and there should always be clear regulations and safety procedures to reduce the possibility of accidents. People who take part in extreme sports are usually required to undergo appropriate training so that the dangers are minimised. For example, anyone who wants to try skydiving will need to sign up for lessons with a registered club, and beginners are not allowed to dive solo; they must be accompanied by an experienced professional. Finally, the protective equipment and technology used in sports from motor racing to mountain climbing is constantly improving safety.

While I support regulations and safety measures, I believe that it would be wrong, and almost impossible, to ban extreme sports. In the first place, we should all be free to decide how we spend our leisure time; as long as we understand the risks, I do not believe that politicians should stop us from enjoying ourselves. However, an even stronger argument against such a ban would be the difficulty of enforcing it. Many of the most risky sports, like base jumping or big wave surfing, are practised far away from the reach of any authorities. I cannot imagine the police being called to stop people from parachuting off a mountain face or surfing on an isolated beach.

In conclusion,…

IELTS Listening: 'photographic film' gap-fill

Listen to the recording about the history of photographic film, and fill the gaps in the sentences below.

Click here to listen

1. Eastman started manufacturing celluloid film in ______.

2. The "Kodak" was available to consumers from the year ______.

3. It was bought by normal people because it was ______ and ______.

4. The camera was able to take ______ pictures before a new film was needed.