IELTS Simon

IELTS Writing Task 1: two different charts

When the task is to describe two completely different charts, there's no need to compare them; we can simply write a separate paragraph about each one.

So here's the paragraph structure that we can use for this question:

1. Introduction: paraphrase the question statement (see this lesson)
2. Overview: write one general sentence about each chart (like this)
3. First chart: describe the details (2 to 4 sentences)
4. Second chart: describe the details (2 to 4 sentences)

I'll show you my full answer in next Thursday's lesson.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'permissive parenting' answer

Here's my full answer to the question below.

Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children. In my opinion, this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative long-term consequences.

If parents want to raise respectful and well-behaved children, I believe that a certain amount of discipline is necessary. Having worked with children myself, I have learnt that clear expectations and boundaries are necessary, and it is important to be able to say ‘no’ to children when they misbehave or try to push against these boundaries. This is the only way to help young people to regulate their desires and develop self-control. In my view, parents who do the opposite and constantly give in to their children’s demands, are actually doing more harm than good. They are failing their children rather than being kind to them.

The children of indulgent or lenient parents are likely to grow up with several negative personality traits. The first and most obvious danger is that these children will become self-centred adults who show little consideration for the feelings or needs of others. One consequence of such an attitude could be that these adults are unable to work successfully in teams with other colleagues. A second negative trait in such people could be impulsiveness. A person who has never lived with any boundaries is likely to lack the patience to carefully consider options before making decisions. This may lead, for example, to compulsive shopping, unwise financial decisions, or even criminal activity.

In conclusion, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect for others, and I do not believe that the permissive parenting style supports this objective.

(283 words, band 9)

IELTS Grammar: singular or plural after %

I was surprised to see how many people made the mistake below:

49% of the trips made by Americans was for...

We need to use "were" instead of "was". When you have a percentage, the verb needs to agree with the noun that comes after it. For example:

- 50% of people were happy with the service. ('people' is plural)
- 50% of the project was completed last year. ('project' is singular)

IELTS Grammar: find the mistakes

Here are some sentences that people wrote below Thursday's lesson. Can you find the mistake(s) in each sentence, and explain what the problems are?

1. In 2009, 49% of the trips made by Americans was due to travel to work.
2. In 2009, 49% of the trips made by Americans was for the purpose of moving to work.
3. In 2009, 49% of the trip made by Americans commuter.
4. In 2009, 49% of the trips made by Americans tended to commute to and from work.
5. In 2009, 49% of the trips made by Americans who were to commute to and from work.
6. In 2009, 49% trips made by Americans in order to travel to and from workplace.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: analyse my answer

If you've read my advice about how to answer part 3 questions, you'll be able to analyse the answer below. Can you comment on the way I've organised or "built" the answer, and point out any good vocabulary and/or grammar? You should find several verb tenses, for example.

Do you think people will watch less television in the future?

Yes, I do think people will watch less television in the future, although that doesn't mean that they will watch fewer programmes or spend less time looking at screens. What I think will happen, and it's already happening, is that people will watch things on the Internet, through websites like YouTube. To use a personal example, I used to watch TV in the evenings, but now I often choose to stream videos, films and TV series through my computer instead.

IELTS Writing Task 1: repeat, but with numbers

In last week's lesson I wrote the following sentence in my overview paragraph:

It is clear that the principal reason why Americans travelled in 2009 was to commute to and from work.

Moving on to the 'details' paragraphs, it's fine to repeat this point because we're now going to include the number or statistic. For example:

In 2009, 49% of the trips made by Americans.....

Can you finish the sentence above?

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'permissive parenting' question

Let's continue with the question below, which we started looking at a couple of weeks ago.

Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

Here's my "essay skeleton". I'll finish the main paragraphs next week.

Introduction
It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children. In my opinion, this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative long-term consequences.

Topic sentence, main paragraph 1
If parents want to raise respectful and well-behaved children, I believe that a certain amount of discipline is necessary.

Topic sentence, main paragraph 2
In my view, the children of indulgent or lenient parents are likely to grow up with several negative personality traits.

Conclusion
In conclusion, parents should help their children to develop self control and respect for others, and I do not believe that the permissive parenting style supports this objective.

IELTS Listening: 'health and old age' topic

Here's another TED talk that I found interesting. The presenter speaks very clearly, and she uses lots of good vocabulary about the topic of health and old age. Maybe you could make a vocabulary list as you watch.

IELTS Reading: keyword review

The table below shows "keywords" from the three most recent reading lessons here on the blog.

Note:
Did you know the phrases "over time" and "from the ground up"? Can you make your own sentences that include these two phrases?

IELTS Advice: you don't need a grammar book

Yesterday a student asked me to recommend a good grammar book. My answer to this question is that you don't need one. Let me explain my reasons for this view.

When I was at school, language learning meant studying two things: 1) grammar rules and 2) lists of vocabulary. The idea was that we should use the grammar rules to construct sentences, and the vocabulary would fill in the gaps. To me this seemed like a "mathematical" approach, where each grammar rule is like a formula. If you use a grammar book, you're probably following this method.

Nowadays I prefer a different approach, especially when teaching IELTS. Here are five reasons why I've moved away from the "grammar book" method:

1. I believe that students can pass the test more quickly if they remember that grammar only accounts for 25% of their score, and they focus instead on the other 75%.
2. I believe that the "mathematical formula" approach causes people to create unnatural sentences.
3. I think that a better use of your time is to read and listen to as much native-speaker English as possible, so that you pick up the words, phrases and constructions that English speakers really use.
4. If you want to improve your grammar for IELTS, I recommend that you ask a teacher to highlight your mistakes. Instead of learning rules from a book, just aim to learn from the mistakes that you make, and therefore gradually "edit" your English.
5. You can check any grammar point with a quick search on the Internet. There's no need to slowly work through a book any more!

IELTS Advice: more about 'templates'

On Wednesday I wrote about 'template language', and there's a useful comment from sjm (another IELTS teacher) below the lesson. Here's what he said:

The problem with a lot of templates is that they contain too many memorised words and phrases. This then lowers the amount of topic vocabulary. Simon even uses a basic template (for example, he uses a five sentence body paragraph with a clear topic sentence, and similar linkers). However the key is that a template (or what I would call 'good organisation') does not dominate the essay. I always say from an examiner's point of view that candidates should keep memorised words and linkers to under 20% of the total word count.

This made me think: Which words or phrases in some of my own essays could we highlight as 'template language' or 'good organisation'?

If you have time, make a list of the template / organising language in the two essays linked below. We can then compare the two lists.

1. Traditions and technology essay
   
2. Homework essay

IELTS Speaking: 3 parts, same topic

A useful way to practise IELTS speaking is to work on one main topic that might appear in all three parts of the test. For example, take the topic of "television":

Part 1 questions:

1. Do you like watching television?
2. How much time do you spend watching TV programmes?
3. What types of programmes do you prefer? Why?
4. Do you think it's bad for children to watch television?

Part 2 task:

Describe a television programme that you enjoyed watching. You should say
- what type of TV programme it was
- where you watched this programme
- what the programme was about
- and why you enjoyed watching it.

Part 3 questions:

1. Why do you think television is so popular among people of all ages?
2. Do you think people will watch less television in the future?
3. Do you see television as being educational or just a form of entertainment?

IELTS Writing Task 1: two charts overview

When you are given two different charts, the overview paragraph is quite easy: just write one sentence about each chart, describing a main feature of each.

Here's the two chart task that we've been looking at in recent lessons:

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The charts below show reasons for travel and the main issues for the travelling public in the US in 2009.
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And here's my 2-sentence overview paragraph:

It is clear that the principal reason why Americans travelled in 2009 was to commute to and from work. In the same year, the primary concern of Americans, with regard to the trips they made, was the cost of travelling.

Note:
I've used several examples of paraphrasing in the paragraph above (when you compare it to the question statement). Can you see them?

IELTS Writing Task 2: templates and 'firstly, secondly, finally'

Here's a question that someone asked me yesterday (I've rewritten it in my own words to make it shorter):

I've heard that examiners in China are lowering scores when candidates use prepared writing templates. The linking words "firstly, secondly, finally" are considered as 'template words' for writing task 2, so how can we replace them to avoid getting a lower score?

First, there are a couple of problems with this question:

• It assumes that examiners in one country have decided to create their own rules about how tests should be marked. This is not true! All examiners are trained to use the band descriptors in the same way.
• It implies that the use of just three simple words (firstly, secondly, finally) will automatically bring your score down. This is also wrong! Your score will not be lowered on the basis of just three words.

Next, let's look at what the band descriptors say about this issue:

• The band descriptors refer to "over-use of cohesive devices" at band 5 level. In other words, if you use too many linking words or template phrases, you're in danger of entering band 5 territory for "coherence and cohesion", which is worth 25% of your score.
• On the other hand, if we look at the descriptor for band 7, we can see the phrase "uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately". This tells us that we do need to use some linking words, but only where they help the flow of ideas.
• No specific examples of good or bad linking or 'template' words are given in the band descriptors, so there is nothing inherently wrong with using "firstly, secondly, finally". Personally I dislike the word 'moreover', but I've never lowered a candidate's score just because he/she used this word once or twice.

To sum up, here's a more direct answer to the student's question:

Examiners in every country (not only in China) want to read essays that are full of 'real content'; they don't like essays that mainly consist of 'phrases for any essay'. I think it's true that too many candidates rely on templates, and I believe that people should focus on preparing topic ideas instead.

Having said that, you do need to link and organise your ideas, and simple words like "firstly, secondly, finally" can help you to do that. These words will only have a negative effect on your score if you overuse them, or if you use them wrongly. But if you still want to avoid using "firstly, secondly, finally", there are plenty of other ways to organise your ideas (click here and here to see some examples).

IELTS Listening: another gap-fill

Listen to the recording and fill each gap in the summary with ONE word only.

Click here to listen

Opening or switching a bank account can seem ______, so it’s important to start by thinking about why you need a bank account. You may need it in order to receive ______ or benefits, to pay ______ bills, to take money out of cash ______, or to make payments using a debit card.

Different types of accounts are available. Current accounts are good for ______ your day-to-day money. They allow you to go ______, so you’ll have to pass a credit check when you apply for one. If you go into the ______ you’ll have to pay fees and ______. Basic bank accounts are similar to current accounts, but they don’t let you go overdrawn.

IELTS Reading: choose the correct statements

Read the following passage and complete the task below it.

Cultivation Theory

Cultivation theory examines the long-term effects of television. Its primary proposition is that the more time people spend 'living' in the television world, the more likely they are to believe social reality aligns with reality portrayed on television.

Cultivation theory suggests that exposure to television, over time, subtly "cultivates" viewers' perceptions of reality. Researchers George Gerbner and Larry Gross, the originators of this idea, assert: "Television is a medium of the socialisation of most people into standardised roles and behaviours. Its function is in a word, enculturation”.

Initial research on the theory establishes that concern regarding the effects of television on audiences stem from the unprecedented centrality of television in American culture. Gerbner posited that television as a mass medium of communication had formed into a common symbolic environment that bound diverse communities together, socialising people into standardised roles and behaviours. He thus compared the power of television to that of religion, stating that television was to modern society what religion once was in earlier times.

Which THREE of the following statements correctly describe cultivation theory?

1. It looks at the physical impact of watching too much television.
2. It proposes that television influences the way we see the world.
3. It suggests that the effects of television occur gradually.
4. It is an established theory that is widely accepted by researchers.
5. It refers to a uniquely American phenomenon.
6. It looks at the role of television in society.

IELTS Grammar: verb and noun collocations

The problem with the following sentences is that the verbs and nouns (underlined) don't go together. Do you know what the correct verbs should be?

1. I gave the IELTS exam last week.
2. I usually take a coffee in the morning.
3. This will bring a negative impact on people.

The correct 'verb + noun' groups are examples of collocation.

IELTS Grammar: uncountable nouns

Students often make mistakes with uncountable nouns. These are nouns that you can't count. Most importantly, they don't have a plural form.

For example, you can't say "an information, two informations, many informations". You can say "some information, more information, a lot of information, a piece of information".

Below are some common uncountable nouns. Do you know any others?

• give advice, some advice, a piece of advice (an advice, advices)
• do research, carry out research (a research, researches)
• gain knowledge, share knowledge, increase knowledge (knowledges)

IELTS Speaking: real opinions and experiences

Some students are worried about expressing their real opinions in the speaking test. They think that the examiner might disagree and therefore give a lower score.

Don't worry about this. The examiner only cares about your language. Express your opinions, talk about your interests, and give examples from your own experience. The examiner will find 'real' opinions and experiences more interesting than general, superficial answers.

IELTS Writing Task 1: synonyms for 'shows'

In this lesson I explained why I only recommend using shows, illustrates and compares in your task 1 introduction. There are plenty of other synonyms for the word "shows", but almost all of them will look strange in the context of a description of a graph or chart.

One other possibility that I also occasionally use is the phrase "gives information about". Look at the introduction below, for example.

Click here to see the task. Here's my introduction:

The bar chart and pie chart give information about why US residents travelled and what travel problems they experienced in the year 2009.

IELTS Writing Task 2: one-sentence conclusion

Some students learn to write two or three-sentence conclusions that contain future predictions or recommendations. Personally I think this is an unnecessary waste of time, and it may even have a negative effect on your essay (if the question doesn't ask for a prediction or recommendation, you're going "off topic").

I advise my students to write simple one-sentence conclusions, and spend more time perfecting the main body paragraphs.

Task:
Look at the question and introduction in last week's lesson. Can you write a simple one-sentence conclusion that answers both parts of the question? Avoid using "showy" language, but aim to make your sentence completely error-free!

IELTS Listening: 'seafood' or 'sea food'?

People often ask about compound words. For example, if the answer in the book is "seafood" or "clubhouse", would "sea food" and "club house" be accepted?

The answer is normally yes. As long as the question instruction doesn't say that answers must be one word only, "sea food" and "club house" would be fine.

Click here to see a useful list of compound words.

IELTS Advice: do your own mock test days

A full day of testing isn't easy, and you'll probably get a shock on your exam day if you've only practised individual parts of the test at home.

So, as part of your IELTS preparation, why not do a full day of testing at home, maybe once every two weeks? In the morning, start with a full listening test, then go straight on to a reading test, and follow that with both writing tasks. Have lunch, and then ask a friend or family member to be your speaking examiner in the afternoon.

Don't worry too much about your scores. Just get used to the difficulty of maintaining concentration for a full day. You'll be much better prepared when your exam day arrives if you've done a few of these mock test days at home.

IELTS Advice: advice vs rules

If a teacher, website, book or friend tells you that you must do a particular thing in the writing test, you can check the band descriptors to see whether it's true.

For example, I often receive questions like this:

My teacher told me that I must add a second sentence, containing a recommendation or prediction, to my task 2 conclusions? Is this true?

Here's my answer:

No, this is not true. There's nothing in the band descriptors about conclusions needing a recommendation or prediction. I think it's fine for teachers to say "this is how I think we should write a good conclusion", but they should make it clear that they are giving advice rather than stating a rule. If it's not in the band descriptors, it's not a rule.

Download Writing Band Descriptors Task 1

Download Writing Band Descriptors Task 2

IELTS Speaking: the importance of part 2

Students often ask me what will happen if they do badly in part 2 of the speaking test. Is it still possible to get a high score?

Yes, in theory, it is still possible to get a reasonably high score (maybe band 7) if you do badly in part 2, but you would need to give excellent answers in part 3. In practice, candidates rarely recover from a bad part 2; I don't remember anyone who made a mess of part 2 but suddenly did a fantastic part 3.

My advice: You should consider part 2 as the core of your speaking test. It's your best chance to show how good your English is, and it's the examiner's best chance to listen carefully to your use of language. In fact, it's probably the point at which most examiners get a clear idea of what score to give you.

The good news is that you can prepare for part 2. Click here to get started!

IELTS Writing Task 1: bar chart and pie chart

Let's have a look at a task with two different charts:

The charts below show reasons for travel and the main issues for the travelling public in the US in 2009.
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(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation)

IELTS Writing Task 2: paraphrase + basic answer

Let's look at a simple 2-sentence introduction for the question below. Notice how I paraphrase the main ideas in my first sentence, and I manage to answer both parts of the question in my second sentence.

Question
Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

My introduction
It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children. In my opinion, this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative long-term consequences.

IELTS Listening: something interesting

The video that I have chosen for today doesn't come from an IELTS test, and I haven't made any questions about it. I just thought I would share something interesting that is related to yesterday's reading exercise. So, here's Bill Gates talking about the physicist Richard Feynman:

Note:
What do you think the title of the video (The Best Teacher I Never Had) means? Can you paraphrase it?