#ielts survival kit! - by b.lab | bocconi

RIPASSONE DI 3 ORE SUI TRUCCHI MIGLIORI PER SOSTENERE L’IELTS!

IELTS, writing&speaking – how is it structured?

¨  Writing Task 1 – 150 words – 20 minutes ¨  Writing Task 2 – 250 words – 40 minutes

¨  Speaking Part 1 – questions about yourself

¨  Speaking Part 2 – describe a given topic ¨  Speaking Part 3 – discuss that topic

First…

¨  Let’s have a look at the various types of questions!

single line graph

¨  150 words ¨  20 minutes

double line graphs

bar charts

pie charts

tables

processes

Now… let’s give yourself a try!

¨  Two examples: ¤ Double line graph ¤ A veeeeery easy process!

Double line graph

A sample answer… what do you think of it?

Now… …take your B.lab survival kit!!! 5 minutes to look at it – what is completely new to you?

¨  Introduction: two sentences ¤  1°: to say immediately what the graph is about ¤  2°: to sum up the overall trend, cosa si capisce a prima vista dal grafico?

¨  Body: meaningful segments ¤  Summarise the graph ¤  Choose the important details only ¤  Choose the order to present them

¨  Conclusion: one or two sentences ¤  1°: summarise the report ¤  2°: draw your conclusion

Now look at a much better answer…

Some last tips:

¨  Be consistent: past goes with past, present goes with present! ¨  Leave a blank line between the paragraphs ¨  There’s an increase of [200 units] VS It increases by [200 units] ¨  The graph compares… ¨  This is in stark contrast with 1945, when only 30% of students… ¨  As something happens here… something else happens there ¨  Which …

¤ Was followed by… - led to… - preceded … ¨  Upward trend VS downward trend… leftward, rightward, northward,

etc

Some last tips:

¨  The rate of something in men dropped throughout the whole period from 1992 to 2014

¨  From (a certain year) to… (another year) ¨  For (x years) ¨  Since (a certain year) onward

¨  According to the figures, as people age in Someland their social lives reduce.

¨  It raised steadily until 2008, at which point it started to decrease ¨  The male figures are higher than female figures

Try to guess – using the survival kit…!

EXAMPLE Two: HOW TO DESCRIBE A PROCESS

¨  Brief introduction •  describe each important stage in the process and expand where necessary ¨  link your descriptions of each stage ¨  use the present simple passive

¨  Try to work out what the stages are and their order

LINKERS:

¨  To begin with/first of all/ first/secondly ¨  Then/Next/After that/Later on ¨  Now it is the moment ¨  In the meantime ¨  At the same time/Concurrently ¨  As a consequence/Consequently ¨  The last stage consists in/To conclude

Example:

¨  Pencilmaking is a long and complex process that involves different stages.

¨  First of all, it is necessary to produce pencil leads which are made of ground graphite, clay and water. These three ingredients are mixed together in a graphite dough and poured into a forming press, which shapes a graphite rod. Later, this is cut into small leads and it undergoes a drying process in an oven at 800C.

¨  In the meantime, the process that gives birth to pencil cases is started. Wooden bars are sawed into thin slats and grooves are created into each slat. Now it is the moment to glue the graphite leads into each groove and cover them with a second slat (the so called "sandwich" of slats).

¨  The last stage consists in cutting the sticks, which are also smoothed thanks to a shaping machine. Once this has been done, pencils are ready to be sold.

DO NOT PANIC!!!

¨  Pencilmaking is a long and complex process that involves different stages.

¨  First of all, it is necessary to produce pencil leads which are made of ground graphite, clay and water. These three ingredients are mixed together in a graphite dough and poured into a forming press, which shapes a graphite rod. Later, this is cut into small leads and it undergoes a drying process in an oven at 800C.

¨  In the meantime, the process that gives birth to pencil cases is started. Wooden bars are sawed into thin slats and grooves are created into each slat. Now it is the moment to glue the graphite leads into each groove and cover them with a second slat (the so called "sandwich" of slats).

¨  The last stage consists in cutting the sticks, which are also smoothed thanks to a shaping machine. Once this has been done, pencils are ready to be sold.

SPEAKING SESSION! (useful for the writing as well…)

¨ Stay hungry…stay foolish!

¨ Are you shy to sound like a brit?! ¨ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZa_wX9qezM

¨ Take a step in the dark!

¨  Speaking Part 1 – questions about yourself ¨  Speaking Part 2 – describe a given topic

¨  Speaking Part 3 – discuss that topic

¨  Never have I thought about this ¨  Rephrase the question ¨  There’s a lot of/a great deal of debate on this issue ¨  In respect of this/With respect to this/For what concerns/Concerning… ¨  Furthermore/However/Moreover/Nonetheless ¨  Apparently (evidentemente!) ¨  It is deemed that

Learn these by heart… and your score will boom!

Do not dare using these!

¨  For me ¨  Meglio usare I think… o ancora meglio… In my opinion/I DEEM

¨  I like ¨  Meglio usare:

¤  I enjoy doing ¤  I am keen on doing ¤  I appreciate doing, I am passionate about doing

TIPS… to be a bomber! (on the way to a 8.0 score!)

¨  Should/Would/Had I + verb (per fare il condizionale figo!) ¤ Es. Should I ever go studying at Bocconi, I would definitely join B.lab!

¨  Definitely (assolutamente) ¨  Eventually (infine, alla fine) ¨  Potentially (possibilmente/potenzialmente) ¨  Ultimately (in definitiva/in sostanza/infine) --- molto utili per il

writing! ¨  My opinion/Such effect/Something stems from