IELTS Simon

General IELTS Writing: good vocabulary

Did you notice the following phrases in the letter that I shared last Sunday? This is useful vocabulary even if you're not doing the General IELTS test.

• going to a gig
• an up-and-coming singer
• you'll be blown away by how good he is
• there's a support act on
• catch the main performance
• to help with a product launch
• arrange to meet beforehand
• outside the venue on the night
• I hope you can make it

Note: in the phrases above, gig, blown away, catch and make it are informal. Do you know the meaning of these words / phrases?

IELTS Speaking: correct the mistakes

The following sentences were written by students below this lesson, and describe an enjoyable day in the countryside. But can you find and correct the mistake(s) in each one?

1. If I have chance to go there, I love to visit there again soon.
2. I took too many beautiful pictures on my camera.
3. It's about 80 km far from the city.
4. I am going to talk about one day that I have spent in the countryside on May.
5. It was a countryside near to my city, where some relatives were living there.

IELTS Reading: choose the title

Read the following extract from an article in National Geographic magazine (September 2017 edition, page 26).

The Brazilian pepper tree, an invasive plant in the southern United States, is showing great potential in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. A team of scientists studied historical accounts of its use in traditional South American medicine from as early as 1648. Focusing their experiments on its fruits, which reportedly were used to treat wounds, they then produced an extract that’s able to disarm a virulent type of Staphylococcus bacterium.

Modern antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria. But some bacterial cells survive and pass on their resistance to their offspring, making it increasingly difficult for physicians to fight tenacious infections that threaten their patients’ lives. The Brazilian pepper tree extract deploys an unconventional tactic against infections. It prevents bacterial cells from communicating, which keeps them from ganging up to create tissue-destroying toxins. That, in turn, gives the body’s immune system a change to mount it’s own defence against the bacteria.

One of the four titles below is the real title of the article. Which do you think it is? Try to explain why.

A)  A weed that busts bacteria
B)  Traditional medicines make a comeback
C)  The problem of resistant bacteria
D)  New plant-based medicines are on the way

Teacher training update

I promised to make an online version of my IELTS teacher training courses a long time ago. I've had too many problems trying to create an app, so I've decided on a new approach.

My new service is called "How to Teach IELTS" and you can read about it here. It starts next Sunday 1st October.

General IELTS Writing: 'concert ticket' answer

Here's my band 9 answer for the question that I showed you last Saturday. Can you find any good vocabulary in my answer?

IELTS Advice: get Cambridge IELTS book 12

It's always a good idea to do the most recent tests that have been published in the official Cambridge IELTS books, so get a copy of book 12 if you can. I'm going to start working on the tests in book 12 with my students, so you can expect to see some lessons about it here on the blog soon.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'countryside' vocabulary

Before we try the 'countryside' task that I shared in last week's lesson, let's see if we can find some good ideas to help us. There are plenty of tourism websites with descriptions of places to visit in the countryside, so we should be able to "steal" some nice phrases.

I searched online for descriptions of a real place that I've visited, called the "Tissington Trail". Here are some words and phrases that I found:

• following the route of a former railway line
• transformed into a recreational trail
• ideal for walkers, cyclists and horse riders
• mostly flat, with a few dips and gentle inclines
• passes through a picturesque / charming village
• takes you through a historic railway tunnel
• an eerie sound installation in the tunnel
• the whistles and clunks of a steam train
• tearooms and picnic areas
• a dramatic limestone ravine
• stunning scenery
• fantastic views
• an abundance of colourful wild flowers
• a feeling of peace and tranquility
• breathe in the fresh air
• traffic-free, and away from the hustle and bustle

I'll try to use some of these phrases in my full answer.

IELTS Writing Task 2: paragraph with two ideas

If you've read enough of my blog lessons, you'll know that I often include three ideas in my main body paragraphs (e.g. firstly, secondly, finally). But what if you only have two ideas? Let's have a look at a "two-idea" paragraph today.

Here's my plan for a 5-sentence paragraph about the negatives of CCTV:

1. Topic sentence: there are two main arguments against CCTV
2. The first negative: video cameras in public invade our privacy
3. Explain more: intrusive, feels like state control, curtails our freedom
4. The second negative: cameras instead of police officers
5. Explain more: if cameras replace police, we will not feel safer

And here's my 5-sentence paragraph using the ideas above:

There are two main reasons why people might disapprove of the use of video cameras in public places. The first objection is that these cameras invade our privacy, in the sense that we are constantly being watched by the authorities or by private security firms. Many people find this intrusive and feel that the recording of their movements is a form of state control that curtails their individual freedom. The second argument against the proliferation of CCTV cameras is that they are being used as an alternative to police officers patrolling the streets. If this is indeed happening, then it is unlikely that members of the public will feel safer.

IELTS courses in the UK this weekend

If you're living in the UK, there's still time to book a place on one of my one-day IELTS courses this coming weekend.

On Saturday 23rd I'm running a course in Manchester, and then on Sunday 24th I'm teaching in London. For more information click here.

IELTS Advice: how good at paraphrasing are you?

A fast way to test someone's ability to speak a language is to ask them to paraphrase something - to express the same idea in a variety of ways. Some students find this difficult, and they usually need more help with vocabulary and ideas. By contrast, the students who do this well tend to reach their IELTS goal much more quickly.

If you're looking for the secret to a high IELTS score, paraphrasing might be it!

General IELTS Writing: 'concert ticket' topic

We haven't looked at a General Writing Task 1 question for a while, so here's one for us to work on. If you're doing the General test, give it a try.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'countryside' topic

Here's a recent question that a student told me about:

Describe an enjoyable day out in the countryside that you had.
You should say

- where you went on this day out
- who you were with
- what you did
- and explain why you enjoyed the day

Feel free to share your ideas in the comments area below this lesson. I'll continue with this topic next Friday.

IELTS Writing Task 1: passive for processes

When describing a graph or chart, you almost never need to use the passive. However, you probably will use the passive when describing a process diagram.

Imagine we have a diagram that shows the process of recycling used glass. One step in the process is labelled "grinding machine" (to grind means to crush or reduce into small particles).

Do you know the past participle of the verb grind? If you don't, you won't be able to make a passive sentence. But don't worry; there are various ways to describe this step.

Using a different verb:
1. Next, the glass passes through a grinding machine. (active form of 'pass')
2. Next, the glass is passed through a grinding machine. (passive form of 'pass')
3. Next, a grinding machine is used to crush the glass. (passive form of 'use')

If you know the verb 'grind' and its past participle 'ground':
1. Next, a machine grinds the glass. (active)
2. Next, the glass is ground in a machine. (passive)

I would probably use the last sentence above in my report, but the others are all acceptable.

IELTS Writing Task 2: unfinished essay about CCTV

A student asked me to go back to the question below. I started to look at this topic back in October 2014 (here), but I didn't share a full essay about it.

In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce crime, but some people believe that these measures restrict our individual freedom.
Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks?

Here's the introduction that I wrote:

It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in recent years. While I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy, I believe that there are more benefits than drawbacks.

Tasks:
- Quickly analyse the introduction above. What does it contain?
- Suggest some benefits and drawbacks for the main body paragraphs.

IELTS Listening: 'no more than... words'

You'll often see instructions like this in the listening test:

1. Write one word only for each answer.
2. Write one word and / or a number for each answer.
3. Write no more than two words and / or a number for each answer.
4. Write no more than three words for each answer.

1) The first instruction is easy: make sure you only write one word. If you write two words (e.g. "a pen"), your answer will be wrong.

2) The second instruction means that your answer can be any of the following: one word, one number, a word and a number (e.g. 12th September).

3) The third instruction means that your answer can be any of the following: one word, one number, a word and number, two words, two words and a number (e.g. 15 Bank Road). If you see this instruction, it is likely that one of the answers in that section will require two words or two words and a number.

4) The fourth instruction means that your answer can be any of the following: one word, two words, three words. If you see this instruction, it is likely that one of the answers in that section will require three words.

Note:
- Hyphenated words (e.g. hard-working) are counted as one word.
- You won't be tested on contracted words (e.g. doesn't).

IELTS Reading: paraphrasing

Yesterday I wrote about paraphrasing in the context of writing task 1. But paraphrasing is even more important in the reading test.

In every IELTS reading test, the majority of questions paraphrase something from the passage. If you can find and understand the part of the test that has been paraphrased for each question, you'll probably get the right answers. When I write about the "keyword technique" in my lessons, I'm really talking about paraphrasing.

IELTS Advice: warning about templates!

From the comments that people wrote below Wednesday's lesson, it seems that many students find essay templates useful. However, I think it's important to repeat the warning that I gave in my own comment below that lesson.

Warning about templates:

Templates can certainly be useful, as they can help us to quickly organise our ideas. Also, it is inevitable that we will need to use some 'linking' words and phrases in our essays.

However, there is also a danger that people focus more on the template than on answering the question with good ideas. Templates and linking are not the secret to a high score in the writing test. They just do a simple job - they help you to organise your ideas, that's all. In the end, your score will depend on the quality of language that you use to express ideas, not simply to organise them.

So, learn some basic template / linking / organising language, but don't become obsessed with it. Spend most of your time working on topic vocabulary and your ability to express and develop "real" ideas.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: be ready to adapt

If you've prepared ideas for the six main topic areas in part 2, are you also ready to adapt those ideas if the topic is slightly different?

For example, if you've prepared a description of a family member, would you be able to use some of the same ideas to describe a famous person? Or if you've prepared a description of a film, would you be able to use some of the same ideas to describe a book or an advertisement?

My tip: when preparing the topics, think about 'theme language' and then think about how you could adapt your ideas for similar tasks.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'template' language

Let's compare the 'template' language that I used to organise the ideas in my two most recent essays.

Essay 1
In last week's permissive parenting essay, I didn't use much template language at all. Here are the linking / organising phrases from that essay. I don't think we can really call this a 'template'.

..........

It is true that
In my opinion,

I believe that
Having + past participle (personal example)
In my view,

The first and most obvious
One consequence of
A second negative
This may lead, for example, to

In conclusion, … should …, and I do not believe that…

..........

Essay 2
Now look at the homework essay that I wrote back in June. In that essay I used a more typical 'template' structure.

..........

People’s opinions differ as to whether or not
While there are some strong arguments against….., I still believe that

There are several reasons why people might argue that
Firstly,
Secondly,
Finally,

In spite of the above arguments, I support the view that
The main benefit of
For example,
In my view,

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

..........

Question:
What do you think we can learn by highlighting the 'template' language from my essays in this way?

IELTS Grammar: having + past participle

Did you notice the following sentence in Wednesday's essay? This is a nice way to introduce a personal example in the writing or speaking test.

Having worked with children myself, I have learnt that clear expectations and boundaries are necessary.

Try creating your own personal examples with "having + past participle". You can also add the word "never" to make a negative. For example:

• Having lived abroad myself, I understand how important it is to learn about local customs.
• Having never tracked my fitness goals before, I found the new app really useful.

IELTS Vocabulary: essay review

Here's the 'band 7-9' vocabulary from the essay that I shared on Wednesday:

• overly permissive
• tend to spoil their children
• parenting style
• a range of negative long-term consequences
• to raise respectful and well-behaved children
• a certain amount of discipline
• Having worked with children myself,.....
• clear expectations and boundaries
• to push against these boundaries
• to regulate their desires
• develop self control
• constantly give in to their children’s demands
• doing more harm than good
• failing their children
• indulgent or lenient parents
• negative personality traits
• The first and most obvious danger
• self-centred adults
• show little consideration for the feelings or needs of others
• One consequence of such an attitude
• unable to work successfully in teams
• impulsiveness
• lack the patience
• to carefully consider options
• compulsive shopping
• unwise financial decisions
• criminal activity
• I do not believe that..... supports this objective

Notice that this is all "topic vocabulary", which contributes to the 'task response' and 'lexical resource' scores. The words and phrases above are the key reason why my essay would easily achieve a band 9.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: finish my sentences

How would you finish my answers to the questions below?

1) Do you like watching television?

Yes, I like watching television, especially in the evenings, because.....

2) How much time do you spend watching TV programmes?

On an average day, I watch..... and..... , so I probably watch about.....

3) What types of programmes do you prefer? Why?

My favourite types of programmes are..... and..... because.....

4) Do you think it's bad for children to watch television?

Maybe too much television would be a bad thing, but I think that.....