IELTS Simon

IELTS Writing Task 2: Google my phrases

Take another look at the phrases in this vocabulary lesson. Choose five of the phrases and put them into Google. It's interesting to see some other examples of how those phrases have been used in non-IELTS contexts.

For example, here are the results of my Google search for the highlighted parts of each sentence below.

1. Opinions differ as to whether Edward Snowden should be punished or rewarded.
2. Is poverty a necessary aspect of capitalism?
3. More money does not lead to better educational outcomes.
4. Scientists say yoga is just as beneficial as cardio exercise and could fend off heart disease.
5. You want your employees to be able to apply the knowledge acquired from the training programs.

IELTS Listening: keywords

Here's a table showing 'keywords' from some of the recent listening lessons here on the blog:

Note:
Did you know the phrases to be in line with and a technological marvel, and the words fortnight and refurbished?

IELTS Advice: good writing looks easy (but it isn't)

I sometimes hear from students who believe that my essays seem too easy. Have another look at the essay that I wrote on Wednesday, and the vocabulary list in yesterday's lesson. Is it really as easy as it seems to write like that?

IELTS Vocabulary: groups of words

Individual words (e.g. big, difficult or unusual words) are not the secret to getting a good vocabulary score in IELTS writing or speaking.

Instead, it's your ability to use groups of words (e.g. collocations and phrases) that will impress the examiner.

Look at these examples from the essay that I shared on Wednesday:

• opinions differ as to whether or not
• the setting of homework
• a necessary aspect of
• an unnecessary burden on
• there is evidence to support the idea that
• improve educational outcomes
• regularly top international educational league tables
• countries where..... outperform nations where.....
• setting homework is the norm
• is just as beneficial as
• from the perspective of
• brain development
• has an important role to play in
• the schooling of children
• encourages independent learning and problem solving
• are challenged to work through tasks
• at their own pace
• In doing so, .....
• apply the knowledge
• consolidate their understanding
• concepts taught by their teacher
• develop an independent study habit
• certainly has its drawbacks
• the benefits outweigh them in the long term

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'homework' essay

Here's my full essay for the question below.

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.

People’s opinions differ as to whether or not school children should be given homework. While there are some strong arguments against the setting of homework, I still believe that it is a necessary aspect of education.

There are several reasons why people might argue that homework is an unnecessary burden on children. Firstly, there is evidence to support the idea that homework does nothing to improve educational outcomes. Countries such as Finland, where school children are not given homework, regularly top international educational league tables and outperform nations where setting homework is the norm. Secondly, many parents would agree that the school day is already long enough, and leaves their children too tired to do further study when they return home. Finally, it is recognised that play time is just as beneficial as study time from the perspective of brain development.

In spite of the above arguments, I support the view that homework has an important role to play in the schooling of children. The main benefit of homework is that it encourages independent learning and problem solving, as children are challenged to work through tasks alone and at their own pace. In doing so, students must apply the knowledge that they have learnt in the classroom. For example, by doing mathematics exercises at home, students consolidate their understanding of the concepts taught by their teacher at school. In my view, it is important for children to develop an independent study habit because this prepares them to work alone as adults.

In conclusion, homework certainly has its drawbacks, but I believe that the benefits outweigh them in the long term.

(270 words, band 9)

IELTS Reading: topic research

As I'm sure you know, reading also benefits your writing. As an example, let's look at an article that discusses the 'homework' topic that we've been working on in recent writing lessons here on the blog.

Click here to read the article.

Here are some sentences using vocabulary from the passage. Can you fill the gaps that I've left?

1. Homework bridges a ______ between learning at school and at home.
2. How relevant is homework to the ______ generation?
3. Homework helps children to develop time ______ skills.
4. Students can revise what they have learnt without any ______.
5. Teachers can ______ the progress that their students are making.
6. However, homework eats up* students' ______ ______.
7. Students may also feel burnt ______*.
8. The demands of homework can lead to stress and sleep ______.
9. Some parents help their children too ______.
10. A busy homework schedule may take its ______ on children's wellbeing.

*These expressions are a little informal.

IELTS Advice: study alone or take lessons?

Studying alone

It's certainly possible to prepare for the IELTS test alone. Every week I receive messages from people who tell me that they passed the test without attending any "normal" lessons. Some of them used only the free lessons here on the blog, while others found my video course to be exactly what they needed.

Taking lessons

On the other hand, not everyone likes working independently. You might find that attending English lessons with a teacher suits you better. The good news is that your teacher doesn't need to be an IELTS expert. You already have all the IELTS advice that you need here, so just try to find a good "general English" teacher.

A middle point

A "middle point" between the two paths above could be to study alone but get some feedback from an IELTS teacher every now and then. For example, you could study my blog lessons, and then get an essay checked or try taking a realistic online speaking test with one of my colleagues. If you're working alone, a teacher's feedback will make sure you're on the right track.

IELTS Vocabulary: weekly review

Here's a list of the good vocabulary from this week's blog lessons. Copy the words and phrases, and see if you can use them in your own sentences.

Writing task 2:

• homework is an unnecessary burden on children
• there is evidence to support the idea that...
• improve educational outcomes
• top (verb) international league tables
• outperform (verb)
• setting homework is the norm
• play time is just as beneficial as study time
• from the perspective of

Writing task 1:

• the table compares..... in terms of.....
• experienced (verb) educational problems
• reduce the incidence of
• saw a rise in
• children who were struggling

Speaking part 2:

• a small, family-run place
• all the more welcoming and inviting
• to catch up with someone (informal)
• what we had been up to (informal)
• made us feel at home
• from the moment we walked in
• polite, approachable and attentive
• nothing was too much to ask
• the delicious food, good company and friendly service
• made it an unforgettable evening

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'good service' answer

Last week I gave you a list of "theme" vocabulary for the question below.

Describe a time when you received good service in a restaurant or cafe.
You should say

- when this was
- what kind of restaurant or cafe you were in
- why you were there
- and why you thought the service was good

Here's my sample answer with the theme vocabulary underlined:

• I’m going to talk about the service we received in a restaurant where a friend of mine celebrated his birthday last Saturday evening.
• My friend had decided to book a table in a local Italian restaurant for the party. It was a small, family-run place, but this made it feel all the more welcoming and inviting. The atmosphere was great and the service was excellent.
• As I mentioned, I went to the restaurant because a friend had invited me to celebrate his birthday there. There were about ten of us there - mostly people I’ve known since university - and it was really nice to catch up with them and chat about what we had all been up to since we last got together.
• The service was good because the restaurant staff and owners really made us feel at home. From the moment we walked in, the waiters were polite, approachable and attentive; nothing was too much to ask. They brought out a cake with candles and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to my friend, although we hadn’t asked them to do this, and the restaurant owners kept checking whether we were happy with everything, which was thoughtful of them. All in all, the delicious food, good company and friendly service made it an unforgettable evening.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ideas, sentences, paragraph

Instead of always writing full essays, it's a good idea to practise single paragraphs. Start with ideas (a 5-point plan), then write a sentence for each idea. If you make sure the sentences "flow" properly and work well together, you'll be able to create a good paragraph.

Here's an example:

Planned ideas (arguments against homework)
1. Topic (e.g. People disagree with homework for several reasons)
2. Firstly: homework does not improve educational outcomes
3. Example: achievements of countries like Finland
4. Secondly: school day is long enough, children are tired
5. Finally: play time is equally beneficial for development

5-sentence paragraph using the ideas above
There are several reasons why people might argue that homework is an unnecessary burden on children. Firstly, there is evidence to support the idea that homework does nothing to improve educational outcomes. Countries such as Finland, where school children are not given homework, regularly top international educational league tables and outperform nations where setting homework is the norm. Secondly, many parents would agree that the school day is already long enough, and leaves their children too tired to do further study when they return home. Finally, it is recognised that play time is just as beneficial as study time from the perspective of brain development.

IELTS Advice: a change of mindset

(mindset = established set of attitudes or way of thinking)

It seems to me that too many students have a "grammar mindset". They believe that 'complex structures' are the key to a high IELTS score, and they focus on learning grammar rules and linking phrases.

I prefer the "vocabulary mindset". Students who have this mindset are more concerned about how native speakers really use the language. They 'collect' words, phrases and collocations by doing lots of reading and listening, and they enjoy using the new vocabulary that they have 'copied' from these sources.

To me, the vocabulary mindset seems much more positive and proactive than the grammar mindset. It seems less critical and more curious, and I also think that it makes language learning more fun!

IELTS Grammar: with + ing

Look at the following sentence from one of my task 1 answers:

A dramatic increase in both commodity prices was seen from 2007 to 2008, with oil prices reaching a peak of approximately $130 per barrel and the food price index rising to 220 points.

Notice how this sentence is written: first I state the overall trend, then there is a comma, then I add the statistics using "with + ing".

See if you can write a similar sentence using the information below.

- The number of young people who attended UK universities rose (2006 to 2015)
- Female university entrants: an increase of 20,000 over the 9-year period
- Male university entrants: peaked at 157,000 in 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'theme' vocabulary

One of the suggestions that I make in my video lessons is that you prepare "theme" vocabulary for IELTS speaking part 2. Let's look at a theme that could help us with the task below.

Describe a time when you received good service in a restaurant or cafe.
You should say

- when this was
- what kind of restaurant or cafe you were in
- why you were there
- and why you thought the service was good

We could use the "friendly" theme from speaking lesson 4 in my video course. Here's the vocabulary that I suggested for that theme:

"Friendly" theme (e.g. staff in a restaurant)

• welcoming, inviting
• warm, approachable
• polite, thoughtful, attentive
• great atmosphere
• make you feel at home
• the service was excellent
• nothing was too much to ask
• an unforgettable evening

Can you write a description that includes all of the words and phrases above?

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'homework' essay plan

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.

Here's a 13-sentence essay plan for the question above:

Introduction
1. Introduce the topic (e.g. People have different views about…)
2. Give a general answer, mentioning both sides and your opinion

One view (arguments against homework)
3. Topic (e.g. People disagree with homework for several reasons)
4. Firstly: homework does not improve educational outcomes
5. Example: achievements of countries like Finland
6. Secondly: school day is long enough, children are tired
7. Finally: play time is equally beneficial for development

Opposite view / my view (some homework is necessary)
8. Topic (e.g. In spite of the above arguments, I support the view that…)
9. Explain: encourage independent learning, problem solving
10. Explain: apply knowledge learnt in the classroom
11. Example: maths exercises to consolidate ability to...
12. Result: prepares people to work alone as adults

Conclusion
13. Repeat / summarise your answer

IELTS Vocabulary: a detailed explanation

I've just written a long response to some good questions in the "comments" area below this lesson. If you're aiming for band 7 or higher, I think you should read the little debate we've been having!

IELTS Reading: another keyword review

Here's my keyword table for the last two reading exercises that I've shared here on the blog:

...
Record the keywords like this whenever you do a reading test or exercise. If you do enough practice, the keywords (and therefore the answers) start to "jump out of the page at you"!

IELTS Grammar / Vocabulary: 'advanced and complex'?

In this lesson I'll try to answer Kami's question (see yesterday's lesson). Let's start by looking at the sentence below in more detail.

Fierce debates have been provoked if assignments ought to be done by students.

Grammar
There's really only one grammar mistake in the sentence above: the word "if" is used wrongly. We would need to write something like this: "Fierce debates have been provoked about the issue of whether assignments..."

Vocabulary
However, vocabulary is the real problem in the sentence:

1. The word fierce is much too strong, and seems unnatural or inappropriate in this context. Are people really having fierce (i.e. furious, very angry) debates about homework?
2. I would also question the use of the word debates. Are people really debating this homework issue? Maybe they are, but this still seems a little exaggerated to me.
3. Next, while it isn't grammatically wrong, I would question the use of the word provoked. Has someone or something provoked this debate?
4. Finally, assignments are not necessarily the same thing as homework. Assignments can be done in the classroom, so the use of this word confuses the issue.

While the grammar of the original sentence was almost correct, any native English speaker would find the sentence strange or unnatural, due to the vocabulary issues mentioned above. There's nothing "advanced or complex" about choosing inappropriate or exaggerated words that no English speaker would use.

Final tip:
It's good to be fascinated by new words and phrases, but using them correctly and appropriately is a different challenge. For most people, trying to write like an English-speaking journalist or novelist is like trying to play football at the level of Messi or Ronaldo! If you aim for such a high level, you're likely to make big mistakes.

IELTS Grammar / Vocabulary: too simple?

In Wednesday's lesson I said that the sentence below needed to be corrected and improved.

• Fierce debates have been provoked if assignments ought to be done by students.

In the "comments" below the lesson, I suggested two corrected versions:

• People have different views about whether school pupils should have to do homework.
• Opinions differ as to whether (or not) school children should be given homework.

But a student (Kami) asked a useful question:

Hi Simon. You made it too simple. What if I were fascinated by more advanced and complex structures to use while I apply correct grammar? I failed to find any grammar mistakes in the first sentence.

How do you think I should answer Kami's question? Are my suggestions too simple? And what advice do you think I should give about the issue of "advanced and complex structures"? I'll give you my answer and advice in tomorrow's lesson.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'good service' topic

A student sent me this recent exam question:

Describe a time when you received good service in a restaurant or cafe.
You should say

- when this was
- what kind of restaurant or cafe you were in
- why you were there
- and why you thought the service was good

I think I've already written some sample answers (about a restaurant and a cafe) that could easily be adapted to this question. Can you find those answers here on the blog? Try searching the blog using the method suggested here.