Unfortunately, many candidates give shallow answers in their IELTS speaking and writing tests. They mention a few different ideas, but fail to develop any of them in detail. They would get higher scores if they just took one idea and developed it in detail; this is what I call a deep answer.
Practise explaining just one idea in as much detail as you can. The ability to do this could really benefit your speaking and writing scores.
Hi Simon
Could you give a example please?
Posted by: Janice | November 11, 2018 at 09:25
How we can develop deep idea?
Posted by: Ankit Joshi | November 11, 2018 at 09:33
how many ideas should write in a body paragraph? suppose I get 4 ideas, either I need to go for all in details or tow for deep explanation and another pair just write in sentences?. Because sometimes paragraph becomes so long with all descriptions.
Posted by: Raju | November 11, 2018 at 11:29
This advice sounds good.Could you give an example or two for a clearer understanding?
Thanks
Posted by: RJ | November 12, 2018 at 00:12
this tip sounds great. could u please give an example?
thank you
Posted by: hang | November 12, 2018 at 01:44
Hi Simon,
My speaking test was on Saturday.
I tried to give longer and more detailed answers but the examiner stopped me after my two sentences and moved to the next question in Part 1 and 3. I felt a little bit bad but then I thought that may be my answers satisfied her :) Am I too optimistic?
Posted by: hyptia | November 13, 2018 at 12:06
I have noticed many IELTS aspirants comment that mostly examiner stop them to give the lengthy answers particularly in part 1 and 3. They immediately move to the next question and candidate loss the confidence.
Ultimately, test taker will not be able to expand or deepen their answers and this kind of response from examiner lowers the score.
If the examiners are fully trained than why they do not give a positive gesture?
Posted by: Ameet | November 13, 2018 at 15:08
I think the answers you gave sounded a bit forced and less natural. That is why the examiner stopped you several times and she might thought those answers were prepaid.
Has the score been released yet?
Posted by: mrnewzland | November 20, 2018 at 04:04
Hi Simon and everybody,
I got 6.5 in speaking test :( I was expecting at least 7. As I've written above, the examiner prevented me to give details. I have to retake it.
I read all information about the assessment of the speaking test on IELTS Official Practice Materials, watched all videos of the candidates, read the explanations why they deserved the scores they got etc. What I see there proves my examiner's bad attitude. Non of the examiners stopped the candidate impatiently, instead they give him/her enough time to give their answers.
Dear Mrnewzland non of my answers were unnatural and forced. I've been teaching English for 5 years, I worked as a TA at an international university for 3 years where my instructor was an American academic. My next door neighbour is an American who works as an English teacher at an international school says that my English is perfect :)
Posted by: hyptia | November 23, 2018 at 11:45
Hi Simon,
I got 5 in academic writing test but, I did more rather than other parts of test. How many score reduct if I write less than required number of words?
Thank you
Posted by: Abiramy | November 27, 2018 at 08:50
Abiramy
Writing less that the required number of words will drops your score that Task by a quarter of a band, or more if really short. Sometimes this will cascade, dropping your overall result half a band after the two Task scores are averaged.
Posted by: Mona | November 29, 2018 at 17:07
Raku asked:
""how many ideas should write in a body paragraph?""
One!
"Practise explaining just one idea in as much detail as you can."
A lot of ideas with little support using explanations, reasons and examples isn't a good idea.
Posted by: Joko MacKenna | December 07, 2018 at 18:40