A Japanese student wrote to me about an interesting cultural difference:
"In Japan, students are told to correct their work using an eraser. They are not allowed to insert words or cross words out."
This is not true in the IELTS exam. You don't need to waste time using an eraser. Your writing needs to be clear, but it doesn't have to be perfect.
Wow, this is an important reminder. Thanks, Simon. I do feel that a neat handwriting takes so much time.
Posted by: Tingting | October 11, 2017 at 09:48
Nowadays managers and team leaders in different organisations are much younger compared to the past. What are the causes of this ? Is this a positive or negative development?
Recently , various organisations have young leaderships in comparison with the past. Youngsters are full of energy and more creative than elders , so they are preferred . Personally , I am against this development because it is unethical .
Companies choose youngsters as their bosses because of the following few reasons . One of the main causes is that the young people are generally more energetic and teams usually need a leader who is active and quick in every aspect instead of a dull or boring old man. In other words , young brains have more innovative and creative ideas to add a boost to their organisations . Another factor is that only those people manage to reach a top post at a young age who are hard working, motivated and devoted to their field of work from an earlier age. Hence they are more inspirational than the aged people of the same level . Canadian prime minister is the best example in this regard whose personality and leadership is motivational for the youth as well as for his country's progress .
However , I consider this a negative development to make only young people a manager or a leader . Firstly , it is unjust to replace an older person with a younger one as no one wants to be replaced . For example , if a person deserves a position which he is not given because of his age is definitely against ethics and justice. Secondly , the knowledge and practical skills which elders have learnt through their experiences are incomparable with a smaller age person . Finally , an elder boss will have a better control and hold on all the members because of he has achieved this goal after passing through all the stages which they are going through now .
In conclusion , creativity and motivation force organisations to welcome young people as leaders , I however , believe that it is unfair to deprive greying individuals of their rights.
Posted by: Sara | October 11, 2017 at 12:01
Kinldy evaluate this essay is it right the way I wrote it. Because I think I've written advantages in first para instead of causes I'm not sure about it
Posted by: Sara | October 11, 2017 at 12:02
It is true that Japanese societies believe the neat and correct writing is the beauty. As I am Japanese, i used to use an eraser all the time and my notebooks were like an reference book. I guess this cultural custom creates polite and punctual Japanese character. However, it wont apply to IELTS exam, at all as Simon said. Now my notebooks were very messy and many squible all around the books.
Posted by: Tae Verrall | October 11, 2017 at 13:11
I could not agree more. Using eraser is really wasting time.I had encountered this issues while I took IELTS.
Since then, I prefer a pen to do writing test and cross the word if it is wrong
Posted by: dona | October 11, 2017 at 13:31
Simon, Is it OK to Cross the incorrect Spelling Word ,And writ the correct one just beside it on the answer Sheet Of the 1istening or Reading .
Posted by: JJ | October 11, 2017 at 14:45
Thanks Simon for making this clear!
Posted by: Ngoc Ninh | October 11, 2017 at 16:03
That's a great insight for me. I can save more time during the writing section.Thanks.
Posted by: takahiro | October 12, 2017 at 02:38
Sara
The following article contains topic vocabulary and examples :
https://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/the-workplace/workplace-discrimination/type-of-discrimination/age
re "the following few reasons":
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=for+the+following+*+reasons%2Cfollowing+few+reasons%2Cfor+a+few+reasons%2Cfor+few+reasons%2C+for+the+few+reasons&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2Cfor%20the%20following%20%2A%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20two%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20three%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20obvious%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20main%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20four%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20additional%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20principal%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20cogent%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20important%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bfor%20the%20following%20plain%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cfor%20a%20few%20reasons%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cfor%20few%20reasons%3B%2Cc0
Posted by: kanji | October 12, 2017 at 06:05
Hii Simon
First of all I really dont know how to thank you for this amazing website.You are the best :)I also would request something from you:) Can we practise the essay question type of''What are advantages and disadvantages of smth ? '' without give your opinion statement.I always tend to give my opinion even though the question does not ask for it and always struggle to write an introduction or conclusion for this type as i am not supposed to give my opinion.
Posted by: berrak | October 13, 2017 at 18:09
Hi Simon,
I would like to thank you for the effort you put in this blog to provide us with valuable IELTS resources. I'm from Sri Lanka and I did IELTS examinations very recently. I referred only your blog and did self studying. I got following results.
Overall Band: 7.5
Listening: 8.0
Reading: 8.0
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 8.0
A big thank again for you guidance.
Posted by: Nilani Algiriyage | October 17, 2017 at 05:19
Thanks very much!
However, The College Entrance Exam in China, the most important exam to mant students, lay great emphasis on one's handwriting. The examiner will even score by how neat your handwriting is ONLY.
Posted by: Tiger | February 22, 2018 at 13:08