IELTS Simon

IELTS Advice: phrases for any essay?

I've written about this several times before, but people still ask me for lists of phrases for any essay. For example, I received this question the other day:

"Please send me some common phrases that I will write in many essays."

If you've followed my lessons on this blog, you'll know that "any essay" phrases are not the secret to getting a high score in IELTS writing. In fact, I recommend that you work on the opposite: vocabulary for specific topics like education, family, work or the environment. You can use linking words/phrases in any essay, but these only help your coherence and cohesion, not your vocabulary score. So please forget the idea of "phrases for any essay", and focus instead on vocabulary for topics.

IELTS Advice: big words don’t impress

One of my IELTS examiner friends sent me a message the other day. Here’s a short version of what he said:

”Who is teaching candidates words like ‘plethora’, ‘myriad’ and ‘recapitulate’? These words stand out like a sore thumb.”

As I’ve said many times before, individual big words won’t impress the examiner. They’re more likely to have the opposite effect.

PS. The 25% discount on my writing course runs out in three days.

IELTS Advice: linking

Many IELTS students become obsessed with 'linkers' - words or phrases that link ideas together in a paragraph e.g. firstly, secondly, furthermore, moreover. There is nothing wrong with using linkers, and they can certainly help you to write good paragraphs.

However, linkers become a problem when they are the only thing that students care about. Examiners care much more about the content between the linkers.

As an experiment, try writing a paragraph without linking words. Can you still make your paragraph coherent? Note: you probably don't use many linkers when you write in your own language!

IELTS Advice: vocabulary is the key!

As I've said before, there is no 'secret' way to improve your IELTS score. You just need to study hard and keep practising. However, if I had to give one piece of advice, it would be this: work on vocabulary.

If you use a wide range of vocabulary in the speaking and writing exams, you are more likely to get a high score. Vocabulary is also the key to finding the answers in the reading test and understanding the speakers in the listening test.

So, are you writing new words and phrases in a notebook every day? Do you read something in English every day? Do you use a dictionary? Do you use Google or Wikipedia to look up words and phrases? If you don't do these things, start now!

IELTS Advice: smiling won't help your score, but...

Regarding the advice that I gave yesterday (stop and smile), I just want to clarify that there are no marks for body language in the speaking test. The "stop and smile" idea is simply a way to show the examiner that you're ready for the next question in part 1 of the test.

So, smiling won't help your score, but it can help with the "flow" of questions and answers in part 1.

IELTS Advice: the week before your exam

What are the best things to do in the last week before your exam? Here are some tips:

1. Nothing new
It's often best not to study anything new just before an exam. "Revision" means studying what you have already studied to make sure that you know it well. The aim is to be confident about what you do know, rather than worrying about what you don't know.

2. Common topics
It's always a good idea to look again at the most common topics for IELTS writing and speaking. Make sure you have some ideas, opinions and vocabulary for topics like 'education', 'environment' etc.

3. Test practice
If you have never done a full test (e.g. a full one-hour reading test) before, you might get a shock in the real exam! Timing is a big problem, so practise a full test in strict exam conditions. Don't worry about your score; just focus on finishing everything within the time limit.

IELTS Speaking Advice: tell stories

At the end of yesterday's lesson I mentioned that you could prepare some examples or stories to make your descriptions more interesting (for speaking part 2, and maybe part 3).

When speaking in our own languages, we tell stories all the time. For example, you might tell a member of your family about what happened at work today, or you might tell your friends about a film you saw last night.

The ability to tell a story in English is a sign that you are becoming a proficient user of the language. Test yourself: try telling a story in English now. Start with something easy, like "what I did yesterday".

Students' Questions: too many grammar mistakes

A student wrote the following message:

"My teacher told me that I have to practise grammar because I make too many basic grammar mistakes in my essays."

Here's my advice for this student, or anyone in a similar situation:

First, I hope your teacher helped you to understand your grammar mistakes, instead of just telling you to go away and practise grammar.

Second, maybe the problem is that you are trying too hard to "show off" and use "difficult" language or structures. What will happen when you stop trying to write like this, and start writing in a simple but accurate way instead? The answer to your problem might not be to "practise grammar"; it might just be that you need to adjust your aim.

IELTS Advice: do the basics well

People who become good at things do the basics well, and they only show off occasionally.

For example, native speakers (of any language) spend most of their time using clear and relatively simple language. They might add a 'flourish' here and there, but it's rare to meet a native speaker who tries to make every sentence seem impressive.

I try to persuade students to aim for this 'natural' native-speaker style of writing and speaking. Learn to write and speak in a clear, simple, accurate and coherent way. Leave the rhetorical flourishes to politicians and professional writers!

IELTS Advice: a little every day

Instead of worrying about study timetables or how many hours of IELTS practice you think you need to do, just make one simple rule for yourself: do something every day, no matter how small.

A lot can be achieved if you commit to doing a little every day.

IELTS Advice: methods and principles

Every IELTS teacher will suggest a slightly different way of doing each part of the test. In other words, teachers have different methods.

An example of a method is my 13-sentences approach to writing a task 2 essay. This is how I like to break down the writing task, but it isn't the only way. Other teachers' methods can be equally good.

On the other hand, there are principles that all IELTS teachers should agree on. For example, when you write an essay, you need to present a clear position and answer all parts of the question.

Many IELTS students are confused by all of the different 'methods' that teachers give them. Perhaps we need to focus more on 'principles'.

IELTS Advice: understanding vs using

I've written about the difference between understanding and using before, but I think it's worth repeating this idea.

Have another look at the list of phrases in yesterday's lesson. Perhaps you understand all of the individual words in that list. But ask yourself this: would you have been able to use those words to create correct phrases, and a coherent essay, in the same way that I did?

Using words and phrases is much more difficult than simply understanding what they mean. While understanding only requires a quick dictionary search, using requires considerable language experience and practice.

IELTS Advice: reading vs studying

There's a big difference between reading a book and studying a book. When you study something, you analyse it in detail and you learn a lot more.

Maybe you read the essay that I shared on Wednesday, but did you study it? The deeper you study something, the more you'll learn from it. So go deeper, study hard, and you're sure to improve!

Students' Questions: using words from your own language

Here's a question that a student asked me about the 'festivals' topic:

"When describing a festival, can we use words from another language?"

The answer is yes. Maybe there is no English name for some special food you eat, or particular clothes that people wear. In this situation it's fine to use a word from your language.

Just describe what the word means so that the examiner understands e.g. We eat a type of food called (word in your language) which contains... This food is special because...

Students' Questions: how can I improve?

Students still ask me, "How can I improve my English for the IELTS exam?"

My answer is that I'm trying to help you by writing this blog. In my opinion, your English will gradually improve if you do something useful every day. That's why I write this blog every day!

I'm not saying that this blog is the complete solution to IELTS (I think the best thing is to have a real teacher). But if you want to do something every day to improve your English for the IELTS exam, following a blog seems to be a good place to start.

IELTS Advice: it isn't about 'big' words

The list of less common vocabulary in yesterday's lesson didn't contain any words that are 'big' or impressive on their own.

In fact, if you're trying to impress the examiner with good vocabulary, you shouldn't be worrying about individual words at all. Instead, you should be trying to show that you can use interesting groups of words.

Here's an easy example. The three words below are not particularly special or impressive on their own:

- incredible
- beautiful
- images

But look at how I put these words together in the sentence below:

The TV trailers were really eye-catching because they showed incredibly beautiful images of nature.

The phrase "incredibly beautiful images" is much more interesting (and 'less common') than the three individual words that it contains.

Remember: It's only when you start putting words together that the language comes alive. Focus on groups of words, not individual 'big' words.

IELTS Advice: 'easy' can be difficult

IELTS isn't simply a test of how much 'difficult' vocabulary and grammar you can use. It also tests your ability to do 'easy' things with the language, like making a simple sentence that contains no mistakes.

Speaking part 1 is a good example of this. In this part of the speaking test, you will impress the examiner by answering without hesitation, by speaking in a natural and fluid way, and by using error-free simple sentences. You can show off your best language later in the test, but you should start, in part 1, by showing the examiner that you can do the 'easy' things well.

Note: many people don't do the easy things well.

IELTS Advice: fear of failure

A colleague asked me for some advice about how to help a student who is so worried about the IELTS writing test that she feels unable to write an essay. She says she has a mental block and just can't start writing.

In my opinion, this student's problem is that she is aiming too high too soon. She wants to write the perfect essay now, but she is afraid that she won't. She's putting too much pressure on herself to be successful.

So here's some advice for people who feel stuck or afraid: aim much lower! Imagine you're a lazy student who just wants to do his/her homework as quickly as possible, and write an essay that you know isn't your best work - write it quickly and carelessly. Write another 'bad' essay the next day and the day after that. Soon the fear of essay writing will have disappeared, and you'll start wanting to improve your 'bad' essays. When the fear of failure has gone, you'll be free to enjoy the challenge and to do your best work.

Note: if you are not suffering from this essay writing 'fear', please ignore the advice above. Aim high, enjoy the challenge, and do your best work now!

IELTS Advice: don't ask the examiner questions

In the speaking test, some candidates try to involve the examiner in the conversation. For example:

Examiner: Do you like cooking?
Student: Not really, I prefer eating in restaurants. And you?

You should definitely not do this!

In fact, the only time that you might need to ask a question is if you don't hear what the examiner said. Just say: "Sorry, can you repeat that please?"

IELTS Advice: basic study plan

People often ask me to give them a study plan. If I haven't taught the student, I can't suggest a detailed plan because I don't know anything about him/her.

However, I often suggest a basic study plan like this:

1. Spend Monday to Friday preparing vocabulary for common IELTS topics, working on exam 'methods', and practising small parts of tests with no time limit.
2. Test yourself on Saturday or Sunday (in all four parts) to see if what you studied during the week has helped you to improve.
3. Don't spend any time working on grammar, unless you have identified specific problems / mistakes that you keep making.

IELTS Advice: learn by copying

Yesterday I wrote that your English teacher should take you just outside your comfort zone. Your teacher should also be your best source of language and the 'model' that you try to copy.

Don't be afraid to copy the way I write or the way your favourite English speaker speaks. Copying is the best way to learn a language; it's much more reliable than translating word by word using a dictionary.

IELTS Advice: just outside your comfort zone

In the comments below Wednesday's lesson, one student wrote that he/she isn't able to write at the same level as me. This is a good thing!

If you can already write at the same level as me, you don't need my help!

The best way to learn is to have a teacher who takes you just outside your comfort zone. If the work is too easy you won't progress, and if it's far too difficult you won't be able to do it. A good teacher should give you work that is difficult, but achievable with help. Hopefully the paragraph that I wrote on Wednesday fits that description.

IELTS Advice: how I can help you

Yesterday I suggested that you'll need to work on both exam technique and English language as you prepare for the IELTS test. So how can IELTS-Simon help you with these two things?

Exam technique
The fastest way to learn how to approach the IELTS test is to watch the video lessons that I published on this website. The videos take you step by step through each part of the test, and you'll see me giving band 9 answers using clear and simple exam techniques. I consider the video lessons to be my best work, and I don't know of any other course that provides such a methodical and effective approach.

Of course, this blog contains the same advice that you'll find in the video lessons. The difference is that the blog isn't written as a step-by-step course. If you have the time, go back through the blog's archives or search the blog for anything that you need. I think I've probably written a lesson about almost any IELTS problem that you might have.

English language
The ultimate aim of this blog is to help you to improve your English. You'll find many lessons in which language, rather than exam technique, is the main focus.

I'm also trying to cover as many IELTS topics as possible here on the blog, and you'll find plenty of vocabulary ideas (words, phrases, examples, opinions etc.) that you can 'copy' from me and use in your own answers.

IELTS Advice: advice for the new year

Let's think about what you're going to do in 2019. Broadly speaking, you'll probably need to work on two main things:

1. Exam technique
2. English language

Both of these areas are important, but if we're talking about a whole year of study, I think it's far more important to improve your English.

Imagine yourself at the end of 2019. Surely your priority should be to have a better overall level of English, not just to collect more exam tips and techniques.

IELTS Advice: 'I know this already'

Language learners often think they know something (e.g. a word, phrase, grammar rule) because they understand it or because they have studied it before. However, there is a huge difference between understanding something and really knowing it.

'Really knowing' means being able to use the word, phrase or grammar rule.

For example, you might understand the vocabulary in this lesson. But does that mean that you know it? Could you use those words and phrases in different contexts in your own essays or spoken answers?

IELTS Advice: your 'repertoire'

'Repertoire' is an interesting word. It is used by musicians to mean 'all of the songs or pieces of music that they can play or that they perform'.

Instead of learning linking words or worrying about grammatical structures, it might be better to think about your 'IELTS repertoire'. For example: What topics can you write or speak about with confidence? What band 7 words and phrases are you confident about using?

A large repertoire of ideas, opinions, words and phrases for a wide range of topics is the sign of someone who will probably get a high IELTS score.

IELTS Advice: concise and succinct

Yesterday I advised you not to "waffle" in the speaking and writing tests. As one of my high school teachers used to tell us, the opposite of waffling is to be "concise and succinct". Look these two words up if you're not sure what they mean.

IELTS Advice: give direct answers

Hopefully you noticed what was wrong with the beginning of the student's answer in yesterday's lesson: the first two sentences were unnecessary and irrelevant. Let's take another look:

Question:
Describe an interesting house or apartment.

First three sentences of the answer:
Well, living in an apartment is an overgrowing trend not only in my country but all over the world. We have our own apartment which is really awesome. By the way, I would like to talk about a new apartment/flat that I have recently visited.

The real answer begins in the third sentence with the words "I would like to talk about". This is where I would begin. Everything before that is just background waffle*. Examiners don't like this waffle; you'll impress them more if you get straight to the point and answer directly.

waffle = lengthy but vague or trivial talk or writing (i.e. useless extra words that you don't need)

IELTS Advice: just find a good English teacher

Instead of worrying about finding a good IELTS teacher, just look for a good English teacher.

If you practise with the official Cambridge books and follow the advice on this blog, you don't really need any more IELTS help.

Many IELTS students would benefit more from taking 'normal' English lessons, rather than attending a 'tips and techniques' course.

IELTS Advice: if you have a teacher

If you are taking IELTS preparation lessons with a teacher, here's a tip:

Make sure that your teacher is helping you to improve your English, rather than just giving you exam tips and techniques. If you don't seem to be improving your overall knowledge of the English language, you might need to consider changing your teacher.

Remember: exam tips and techniques are useful and important, but the surest way to improve your IELTS score is by improving your English.

IELTS Advice: deviating from the topic (writing)

Yesterday I suggested that it is possible to deviate from the topic a little in the speaking test, as long as you do this skilfully (read yesterday's lesson to see what I mean).

But can you do the same thing in the writing test? No. You should never deviate from the topic in either of the writing tasks. You'll get a lower score if you do.