IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 1

IELTS Tips & Tricks

You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay

you.

- John Bunyun

This file is a combination of some frequently asked questions asked by members.

We have collected and compiled different responses given by several experts who

frequent the board. We hope this will be helpful for all aspirants.

IELTS Tips & Tricks‟ is a platform of scholars and volunteers from all over the

world who are helping the community selflessly. The beauty of this platform is in

these talented members who are helping voluntarily.

How this group will help you or how you can get maximum benefit from this

forum?

First of all go to the „Pin post‟ and „file section‟ of group, and explore them. The comments

of the pinned pictures contain a lot of information for those just getting started.

Due to the large number of daily posts, it may take time for evaluation, so you shouldn‟t lose

hope or become impatient. You should, however, keep tagging and reminding members.

While waiting for evaluation of your essay, try to read previously evaluated essays.

Group admins will never compromise on rules and regulations; this scrutiny is

crucial for the benefit of the forum and aspirants. Everyone must read the rules

of forum from the pin post.

Always support each other

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 2

General Questions

Which is easier? IDP or the British Council?

There is no difference between exams taken at either IDP or the British Council. Tests are

designed jointly by them. Exams are marked using the same assessment criteria.

Shelly Cornick, Charles Cornelius

My test is next month. What should I focus on?

You need to identify your personal strengths and weaknesses. Take a practice listening or

reading test and find out what your score is. Try to get some feedback on your speaking and

writing. Basically, find out your weakest area and try to improve that.

Shelly Cornick, Charles Cornelius

What is IELTS UKVI?

UKVI is a special accreditation needed when applying for a UK visa. UKVI is taken at a

Secure Test Centre with greater security in place, such as CCTV everywhere to decrease the

possibility of cheating. Only certain test centres are therefore able to offer the UKVI

accreditation. It is not a separate exam: “IELTS Academic” is the same test as “IELTS

Academic UKVI”

Rafael Salguero, Charles Cornelius

Can we ask for the correct answers for the IELTS test we attempted to see where we

went wrong?

No. Whole exam papers are not repeated but sections might be repeated a few months later so

R & L sections/passages remain confidential.

Rafael Salguero

Should I ask for a re-mark?

If you just missed your required band score in one part of the test (e.g. you gained 6.5 in

writing but you need a 7.0) then a re-mark might be beneficial.

If you just missed your required overall band score (e.g. you gained 7.0 overall but you need

7.5), then a remark is less likely to be beneficial.

But also consider the specifics of your numbers. For example, to achieve an overall 7.0, the

sum of the 4 band scores must be at least 27 (27/4=6.75, which is rounded up to 7) So, if your

overall band is 6.5 with Listening Reading Writing Speaking of 7.5/7/6/6 (26.5), then yes, it‟s

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 3

a consideration as only 0.5 of a band is needed to get to 7.0. However, while an LRWS of

7/6.5/6/6 (25.5) will also see an overall score of 6.5, you need to increase the sum of your

scores by 1.5 to get to 7.0. A re-mark would be unlikely to improve your overall band score.

If there is a large difference between one of your band scores and the others (e.g. L 9 R 9 W 8

S 6) then you will get an automatic re-mark by your test centre. This means that an examiner

and a senior examiner will have already re-assessed your test, so a further re-mark is unlikely

to make any difference. If your results were withheld or delayed, then it is possible this was

because the test centre was re-marking your result.

Note: a re-mark is officially called an “Enquiry On Result” by the British Council and IDP,

and you must request it within 6 weeks of the test date.

Shelly Cornick, Charles Cornelius, Joko MacKenna

Which practice test materials are the best to use?

The best practice test materials are the “Cambridge English Authentic Examination Papers”.

Each year, Cambridge publish a new set of practice papers, each with a different number (the

2019 publication is called “Cambridge English IELTS 14”).

Since “IELTS 11”, Cambridge English have published separate books for Academic and

General Training.

Other reputable publishers of practice materials include Macmillan and Collins.

Writing (General Questions)

What are the assessment areas in IELTS Writing?

NOTE

If you submit your essays for assessment by mentors in the Tips and Tricks group, many

mentors will talk about these assessment areas. It‟s important to understand what these are.

Task Achievement (TA) - Task 1 only

Task Achievement is about how well you meet the requirements of your task. So in General

Training Task 1, it‟s about how well you answer the questions in the bullet points, and in

Academic Task 1, it‟s about how well you summarise and compare the information in the

charts, diagrams, maps, etc.

Task Response (TR) - Task 2 only

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Task Response is about how relevant your response is, how well you develop and support

your ideas, and how clear your position is.

(Note: Task Response used to be called Task Achievement, but it was renamed by IELTS a

few years ago. However, some older IELTS teachers still call it Task Achievement!)

Coherence and Cohesion (CC)

Coherence and Cohesion is about the structure and organization of your essay and the ideas

within it, and how well these ideas are linked together.

Lexical Resource (LR)

Lexical Resource is about the variety, precision, appropriateness and accuracy of your

vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

Grammatical Range and Accuracy is about the variety, and accuracy of your grammatical

structures, as well as the overall control you have of your grammar.

The assessment descriptors for CC, LR and GRA are the same for both Task 1 and Task 2.

You can download a copy of the assessment criteria for each of these areas here:

https://www.ielts.org/-/media/documents/online-tutorial/writing-assessment-criteria-

t1.ashx?la=en

https://www.ielts.org/-/media/documents/online-tutorial/writing-assessment-criteria-

t2.ashx?la=en

Or

From the Files section of the IELTS Tips and Tricks Facebook group.

Why am I stuck at 6.5 for Writing?

There are many different reasons for this, and you would need to get feedback on your Task 1

and Task 2 practice essays to know exactly why. But here are some common reasons:

Note: examiners and teachers are not 100% sure how your overall writing band score is

calculated, as this is done by computer. However, it is thought most likely that your overall

band score will be rounded DOWN, so if you get a 6.75 average for Task 1 and Task 2, this

will be rounded down to 6.5.

Writing a weak Task 1

It is true that Task 2 is worth double the marks of Task 1. But that does not mean Task 1 is

unimportant. If you get 7.0 in every assessment area in Task 2, then a single 6.0 in Task 1

could bring your overall band score down to 6.5. In other words, you need to write a good

Task 1 to get 7.0 overall

Only aiming for Band 7

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If you get Band 7 in every assessment area in both Task 1 and Task 2, you will get a Band 7.0

overall for IELTS Writing. However, if you get a Band 6 in just one area, you are likely to

get a Band 6.5 overall. Here‟s how to avoid this problem: aim for Band 8 in at least one of the

assessment areas, especially in Task 2 (as Task 2 is worth double the marks of Task 1).

Not planning your Task 2 essay carefully

If you don‟t plan your Task 2 essay carefully, then you risk losing marks in both Task

Response and Coherence & Cohesion. Band 7 and Band 8 require an essay that shows

progression (CC) and developed ideas (TR) and it‟s easier to do this when you plan your

essay before you write.

Using „advanced‟ / „high level‟ words

To get a Band 7+ in IELTS writing, you need to use clear, concise and precise vocabulary.

Many students try to use so-called “advanced” words, but they often do not know how to use

these words correctly. This can make your essay confusing and unnatural. This will lower

your band score, not increase it.

If I use “high level” vocabulary in my writing, will this increase my score?

You need to use clear, precise vocabulary to get a high band score for lexical resource. So

focus on clarity and precision, not "high level" vocabulary.

Where should I get essay questions for practising?

Always try to get questions from published materials, especially those by Cambridge English,

Collins or Macmillan. The best source of questions is the “Cambridge English IELTS

Authentic Papers” series, which are published each year (number 14 should be published in

2019). Essay questions from these publishers have been carefully worded, and are on topics

that you should be able to answer: this means your practice time is used reliably and

effectively.

As it can be difficult for some students to get hold of published materials, we recommend

Shelly Cornick‟s list of 100 questions:

http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/100-ielts-essay-topics/

Warning! Many essay questions found online have not been worded carefully enough, and

may be on topics which are difficult or confusing to answer. For example, many teachers

have reported that essay questions found on the Testbig website are unreliable, so avoid using

this website. Questions reported by exam candidates may also not be reliable, as the wording

may have changed from the original. Even essay questions written by schools can be

unreliable.

If you want to submit essays to the IELTS Tips & Tricks group for assessment by

mentors, please use questions from reputable publishers like Cambridge English,

Collins and Macmillan, or use Shelly Cornick‟s list of topics (see link above).

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How can I avoid repeating the key words in the question?

Shelly Cornick

This is dangerous advice. Yes, you need topic specific vocabulary, but don‟t be afraid to

repeat key words throughout your essay. Too many test-takers think they have to use new

synonyms every time they mention something, and this can lead to some really terrible

paraphrasing. For example, how many synonyms are there for the word “sport”? I can‟t really

think of any. Therefore, using crazy synonyms like “pastimes” or “games” will only LOWER

your score“. Yes use a wide range of vocabulary in your arguments, but don‟t be afraid to

repeat words that describe the topic itself. ::Joko adds::: If you change the meaning of the

words in the question through paraphrasing, you lower not just LR, but also Task Response.

You would no longer be „addressing the question‟.

What happens if we write below the word limit?

In Writing Task 1, you are told to write at least 150 words, and in Writing Task 2, you are

told to write at least 250 words.

Before 2018, examiners reduced your band score for TA / TR by a whole band score.

However since 2018, there has been no fixed penalty for under length writing. However,

examiners have the right to limit bands for all 4 criteria if they feel there is not enough

'evidence'. So anyone who writes below the word count is unlikely to achieve 7+.

Rafael Salguero

What‟s the difference between Task 2 essay topics in Academic and General Training?

General Training topics will be more day-to-day, so you might find it easier to generate ideas

for them (although not necessarily).

There are also differences between the wording of questions:

Academic: “To what extent do you agree or disagree?

General Training: “Do you agree or disagree? or “What is your opinion about this?”

Academic: Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

General Training: What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Shelly Cornick, Charles Cornelius

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How is the band score for IELTS Writing calculated?

When your Task 1 and Task 2 pieces of writing are assessed, examiners give them a band

score in each of four assessment areas: Task Achievement / Response (TA/TR), Coherence

and Cohesion (CC), Lexical Resource (LR) and Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA).

For example, a test taker might get:

Task 1: TA 7, CC 6, LR, 6, GRA 8

Task 2: TR 6, CC, 7, LR, 6, GRA 7

The examiner then hands these scores to an IELTS administrator at the test centre who enters

them into a computer. Your overall writing band score is scored in half bands, such as 6.0,

6.5, 7.0.

Since IELTS examiners are not involved in the calculation of your overall writing band score,

neither examiners nor teachers know for sure how your overall writing band score is

calculated. However, it is safest to assume that your average score (e.g. 6.75 or 6.125) will be

rounded down (e.g. to 6.5 ot 6.0).

Therefore, if you want to get a 7.0 for IELTS writing, then your average score needs to be at

least 7.0.

Should I skip a line when I start writing a new paragraph?

You can indent or start a new line. You just have to make it clear that you are starting a new

paragraph. Leaving a line is the easiest way to do this.

Shelly Cornick

How can I score Band 7 in grammatical range and accuracy?

You need to write a variety of error-free complex sentences to get a 7.0 or higher in GRA.

This means your general English level will need to be at least B2 in the CEFR scales (Upper

Intermediate). If your General English level is not at that level yet, you should focus on

improving your General English skills, not your IELTS skills.

How can I improve my writing band score from 6.5 to 7.5 in 3 weeks?

Joko MacKenna

I would advise you to reconsider your plans. To score a 7 in writing is difficult. Millions of

people struggle to do it. In 3 weeks, it could be done with good guidance from people who

know what they are doing. To get to 7.5, double the difficulty. To do that AND increase ALL

of the other skills by half a band? There simply aren't enough hours in the day.

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The reason why IELTS is so popular amongst various institutions is its accuracy. There are

no tips or tricks you could learn in that amount of time to achieve a miracle. All 4 categories,

that would take months.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Just giving you my professional opinion.

Michael Chambers

I agree with Vu Hoang's advice. Ultimately, however, it's difficult to make solid progress

without feedback and training. You may already be close to 7.5 or you may be far.

Can I use idiomatic language / proverbs in the writing test?

Idiomatic language is typically used in everyday conversations but is rarely used in academic

writing. Idiomatic language could, however, be used in General Training Task 1 when

writing an informal letter (e.g. to a friend).

Grant Richardson

Idiomatic language used naturally and accurately in the speaking test can lead to higher

marks in Lexical Resource, but it may lead to a lower score in Task 2 because the style of

idiomatic language is too informal for academic writing.

Proverbs are also not a feature of academic writing in the West. For example, many Chinese

students write: “every coin has two sides “ whereas in formal academic writing this could be

written as something like: “most issues have at least two contrasting viewpoints”. In

addition, a proverb is a chunk of memorised language so the examiner will ignore it.

Rafael Salguero

The problem also is that I can't think of a proverb that isn't culturally specific. If you're very

careful, and you don't phrase it as: "There's an old saying which says...", you could try a little

bit of simile. "As sure as the sun rising in the east, these problems will continue..." something

like that.

Joko McKenna

Writing Task 1

How should I start a Task 1 body paragraph?

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In the body paragraphs of an IELTS Academic Task 1 report, you need to describe the main

features and make comparisons. Whereas your overview paragraph should start with a

signalling phrase like “overall”, the body paragraphs do not always need to start with a

signaling phrase. Simply identify a feature of the graph, table, etc. and describe it using

specific data.

One exception to this is the process diagram, where a sequencing phrase can be useful (e.g.

“first of all”, “next”).

Many IELTS candidates seem to use the expression “to begin with”. This phrase introduces a

list and is sometimes used in conversation, so it is not really appropriate for a Task 1 body

paragraph.

Charles Cornelius, Joko McKenna and Michael Chambers

How do I write an overview for a process diagram or map?

You need to write a summary of what the diagram or a map is showing you. It‟s probably

better to start your overview with “in summary” rather than “overall”.

Charles Cornelius

How do I score highly in Task Achievement in Task 1?

The following instructions are found in every Task 1: “Summarize the information by

selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant”. Focus on

the four verbs in that sentence:

-Summarize: writing about the most important information in as few words as possible.

-Select (the main features): These are not automatically the extremes, the high and the low.

-Report: carefully, clearly and accurately.

-Make comparisons - of relevant information.

Joko MacKenna

Writing Task 2

What types of Task 2 questions are there?

Discuss both sides and give your opinion. (Academic and General Training)

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? (Academic)

What are the advantages and disadvantages? (General Training)

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To what extent to you agree or disagree? (Academic)

Do you agree or disagree? (General Training)

What is your opinion? (General Training)

What are the problems (or the causes of the problem) and the solutions? (Academic and

General Training)

Other question types

These are sometimes called “direct questions” or “2 part questions”. These are often 2

questions, and may include one of the questions above.

How should I structure different Task 2 essays?

Here are some simple, 4 paragraph structures, that you can use when writing Task 2 essays.

Note: clear essay structures like these can help you get Band 7 for TR and CC, but they do

not guarantee Band 7 or even Band 6. What you write in the paragraphs is just as important!

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Paragraph 1: introduction

Paragraph 2: discuss what you think of the first view

Paragraph 3: discuss what you think of the second view

Paragraph 4: summarise your view.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

To what extent to you agree or disagree? / Do you agree or disagree? / What is your

opinion?

Paragraph 1: introduction and briefly state your opinion

Paragraph 2: give a 1st reason for your opinion

Paragraph 3: give a 2nd reason for your opinion

Paragraph 4: summary

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Paragraph 1: introduction

Paragraph 2: discuss the advantages

Paragraph 3: discuss the disadvantages

Paragraph 4: summary.

What are the problems (or the causes of the problem) and the solutions?

Paragraph 1: introduction

Paragraph 2: discuss the problems (or causes of the problem)

Paragraph 3: discuss the solutions

Paragraph 4: summary.

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2 part questions

Paragraph 1: introduction

Paragraph 2: discuss the first question

Paragraph 3: discuss the second question

Paragraph 4: summary.

How can a beginner achieve Band 7.5 in writing, especially Task 2?

This depends on what you mean by “beginner”.

If you mean someone who is just beginning to study IELTS, entire books are written on that

question. Writing at a 7.5 level means you need to have a good feel for what natural, written

English is like you. This means you need to do a lot of reading. So read as much English as

you can. Some language learners can never achieve this level because they don't have the

opportunity to have exposure to native-speaker English language use.

If you mean „beginner‟ as in the level of English (CEFR: A0), then the short answer is no, it

can‟t be done. One reason the IELTS is used so broadly is its accuracy. Despite what some

paid-tutors promise, a true beginner in English cannot write at the 7.5 level.

Go and find a good local language school and have a placement test done. If your overall

ability is in the beginner to pre-intermediate range (A0 to A2), you‟re probably not ready to

study IELTS. Complete an Intermediate course. Once you have done this, come back and

start to learn the academic skills needed to get a 7.5 in writing - however, until you have the

language skills to use, it will be a waste of your time. –

Joko MacKenna

How do I use complex structures in IELTS writing?

If you are extending and explaining your ideas sufficiently in the body of your essay, you will

automatically use complex sentences. There are particular structures that you can use in

introductions and conclusions (contrast clauses in „discuss both sides‟, for example, or

inversion in a „to what extent‟ essays), but never think about grammar first. You should focus

on having a strong argument, and then use the complex sentences that help you to express

this most.

Shelly Cornick

My essays are more than 300 words long because I use at least 2 examples in each

paragraph when asked for more than 1 causes/solutions. Does word count effect band

score?

I don‟t have a problem with 300-320. If you can ‘control’ your grammar and vocabulary, you

could even higher. If you want a 7.5, you will definitely need to fully extend all of your

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points. “Examples” for every idea is not the best way to do this though - you should focus

more of explaining your idea (if that‟s what you meant by “example” then I apologise!)

Shelly Cornick

Is the active voice preferable to the passive voice in essay writing?

Michael Chambers

Don't use passive when you need to make your personal position clear. Avoid expressions

like "it is believed that" if you need to express your position. (“It is believed that” is an

example of the „impersonal passive‟, which actually distances the writer from the idea).

Generally, active verb expressions are more common and more necessary in task 2. One

recommendation is to include "use of passive verbs" on your list of things to check at the end.

If you find you've not used any, see if you can easily transform two or three active

expressions, where it would be natural.

It is more natural to use passives where the identity of the subject is obvious or not important,

or where the object deserves more emphasis e.g. taxes must be paid (by workers).

What are the most common topics for General Training Task 2?

Rafael Salguero

www,writefix.com is a good place to start. But key is understanding the question types,

answering the question precisely and having good general knowledge.

Rafael Salguero Will this help? • Education (you need to know vocabulary for university

education because this is often in the Listening Test)

• Technology & Science

• The Environment

• Travel & Tourism

• Business & Advertising

• Globalisation

• The Media

• Entertainment

• Sports & Leisure

• The Arts

• Architecture / Town Planning

• Social Issues

• Charity Work

• Culture (food, music, celebrations, traditions etc in your country)

Can you express your views on ethics / morality (without discussing religion) ?

Joko MacKenna:

Comment [1]: Add: "It is

said/believed/thought" is what is called the "impersonal passive" and it used to distance the

writer from the idea.

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 13

I would say these are the 6 most common general categories:

1. Modern technology and its effects

2. Climate change/the environment

3. Health and well-being

4. Education

5. Work

6. Childhood development/parenting

How can I increase the variety of grammatical structures in my essays?

Rafael Salguero

Review of Problem-Solving Essays

• Remember to have an introductory paragraph that paraphrases the question and includes “In

this essay I will...OR “The aim of this essay is to...”.

• Remember your answer needs to include examples and reasons for your ideas.

• Remember to have a short but clear conclusion/summary at the end.

Variety is extremely important in your use of vocabulary and grammar, so do not use the

same language again and again.

For example:

The government should increase teachers‟ salaries. (active)

Teachers‟ salaries should be increased. (passive)

What the government should do is increase teachers‟ salaries,

What is needed is immediate action to...

If the government increased teacher‟s salaries, more people would join the profession. (a

second conditional sentence)

A/The solution is for the government to raise teachers‟ salaries, which would attract more

people into the profession. („which‟ = relative pronoun)

To tackle this issue, parents must/need to give their children a sense of respect for teachers, in

order to make pupils behave better in class/so that children...

This problem could be addressed by –ing...

The way forward could be to..

The top priority in the short-term is to...

The first priority is to do something about.../to take action/measures/steps to...

...can be a viable alternative.

....is another option.

An alternative/other approach is (for the government) to...

...This solution has been most effective/very successful in [example place/country].

...This is one solution that has worked successfully/with considerable success in [example

place/country], for example.

In agree / disagree essays, do I need to discuss both sides?

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The IELTS assessment criteria says that you need to "address all parts of the task" - in other

words, you need to answer all parts of the question. It does NOT say that you need to

"address all sides of the argument."

So, if you are ONLY asked whether you agree or disagree, or to what extent do you agree or

disagree, you only need to explain your view. You do NOT need to discuss the view you

disagree with.

However, if you want to get a Band 8 or higher in Task 2, it's a good idea to explain why you

think the other side is wrong, or why you only partly agree / disagree, as this is a more

developed response to the task. But for Band 7 Task Response, if you are only asked to state

your opinion, you can ignore the other side.

Charles Cornelius

How can I get Band 8+ Grammatical range and Accuracy in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Shelly Cornick

Almost all of your sentences will need to be error free. You will need some C2 level

constructions - inversion, cleft sentences, advanced modal verbs, etc (these are only

suggestions, not what you MUST include - look in any good Advanced or Proficiency book

for the type of language that is considered C1/C2)

I write too much in the essay, because I want to develop my ideas as much as possible. My

average word count is over 400!

Make sure you plan your essay carefully before you write. If you have two main body

paragraphs, then don‟t discuss more than 2 main points in each body paragraph. Also limit

each body paragraph to a concise topic sentence, a one sentence explanation and a one (or

two) sentence example. You shouldn‟t need to discuss your ideas in any more detail than this.

One common mistake in long essays is this: students repeat their main points several times.

They think they are developing their ideas, but they are actually just repeating themselves.

Michael Chambers, Charles Cornelius

My General English skills are at an Advanced level. Do I need to prepare for IELTS?

If you go to the IELTS website (https://www.ielts.org/teaching-and-research/test-taker-

performance), you will see that the average overall score for English native speakers is 6.92,

and the average writing score for English native speakers is 6.35. This shows that language

skills are not enough.

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The IELTS test is a test of a very specific set of skills, including your ability to write

academically, and to answer some very specific types of questions in the reading, listening

and speaking tests.

IELTS Gareth, Charles Cornelius, Michael Chambers

Additional remark by Michael Chambers

“I am an IELTS tutor and I scored 8 in the W exam, despite receiving professional grading of

some of my essays as 9 beforehand. I don't know anyone who has got 9 in W. Beyden Dingle,

a tutor here, got 8.5. I attribute the difference in our scores to his relative youth, compared to

me, and I am not jealous at all!”

Is it possible to guess the questions or topics of writing task 2?

The speaking test has fixed questions for a 3 or 4 month period. Since some students often

share their speaking test questions online, you might be able to prepare from a list of about 50

different topics.

Writing changes all the time - certain topics repeat, but exact questions never do.

Should I use a „general statement‟ at the start of an essay?

A general statement, in itself, has no effect on your band score. There is no requirement to

have one.

However, if your general statement includes some less common vocabulary it will help your

LR score, and if it includes some complex grammatical structures it will help your GR score.

But you can say that about every sentence in your essay.

A well-thought out general statement, which shows you understand the topic, may help with

TR.

However many IELTS candidates write general statements like this:

"The issue of X has become a topic of hot debate in recent years."

Or

“Nowadays, X is a burning issue”

Such general statements are pointless give the examiner a poor impression of the writer.

Charles Cornelius

In an advantages / disadvantages essay, do I need to discuss more than one advantage

and one disadvantage?

Comment [2]: might

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You are advised to write 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages for these reasons:

1. If you only discuss one advantage and one disadvantage in your essay, your response

is likely to become repetitive - this will affect your band score for CC

2. IELTS essay questions are very carefully considered: advantages / disadvantages

essays are likely to be on topics where there is more than one possible advantage and

disadvantage. If you only write one of each, the examiner might feel that your essay

lacks development, which affects your band score for TR

(In theory, one advantage and one disadvantage should be enough - IELTS have to use the

phrase "advantages and disadvantages" to give candidates the option of writing more than

one of each should they choose to do so.)

Charles Cornelius

Speaking

IELTS Speaking Tips

Speak Clearly...and NOT too fast

Speak with a clear voice. Make sure you can be heard. It will make you seem more confident

and fluent.

A common misconception among IELTS candidates is that you should speak as fast as you

can to prove to the examiner how quickly you can speak. This is wrong.

Speaking too fast reduces the accuracy of your pronunciation, weakens your coherence, and

doesn't give you time to properly think of ideas. Instead, speak slowly but smoothly. Native

speakers often speak quickly, but they can slow down too and still sound native. This is

because they use 'connected speech' (e.g. “Y'av't'cunsiduh” for “You have to consider”), and

this can be done at a slow, easy-to-understand pace as well as a fast one.

It's far more important that you are COHERENT in your speech than fast. Slow down.

Breathe. Focus on pronunciation. And gather your thoughts. The examiner will appreciate it.

Use Your Imagination

Don't limit your answers by always giving true information. Use your imagination. Imagine

you have the money, experiences ,time to do anything, and abilities. The examiner is only

testing your English. Don't make up crazy lies. Just keep it sensible.

Keep Speaking

If you have finished talking in part 2. Continue to talk. You don't have to talk about the topic

card. You can talk in general about the topic. Continue to speak until the examiner tells you

'thank you'.

Use Idioms

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Use as many idioms as you can.

Smiling

Try to smile when you aren't speaking. And don‟t worry if the examiner doesn't smile. Some

students are worried because they think that means they haven't answered well.

Pausing

Take it easy. If you have to pause to think for a few seconds, that's fine.

Ask for Clarification

If you don't hear the examiner in part 1, ask for them to repeat the question. If you don't

understand the question in part 3, ask the examiner to rephrase the question.

Test Day Preparation

Speak in English while you are waiting for your exam. This will help you to warm up your

speaking muscles.

Safwan Izruna

It is essential that you keep talking and do not spend a long time in silence while you think

about your answers. So, while you are thinking use phrases like:

• “That‟s an interesting question.”

• “As a matter of fact, I saw a TV programme about this subject recently.”

• “I suppose it depends on individual taste/opinion.”

• “This is a current topic in my country.”

But make sure the phrases are relevant to what you are saying!

You can ask the examiner to repeat a question but in Part 1 the examiner has a script and

cannot rephrase the question. If you misunderstand a question, the examiner will not correct

you. So be sure the question is about „working‟, not „walking‟ if you are not sure.

Also, link and connect your sentences with phrases like:

• “Actually,…”

• “In fact,…”

• In other words…”

• “Personally speaking,…” etc.

Remember to use a range of linking words. If you mainly use „and‟, „but‟ or „because, it will

reduce your grade.

Fluency includes using the appropriate register, Part 1 tests your ability to „chat‟ informally

but in Part 3 you need to be „formal‟ and discuss ideas in the same way you would in a job

interview or university tutorial.

You need to use a variety of words so try not to use the same words as the examiner. For

example, Q “Would you like to visit the USA?” A „Not really. The idea doesn‟t appeal to

me.”

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 18

If you mainly use adjectives like „good‟, „nice‟, ‟important‟ and „interesting‟, you are likely

to get a low band for vocabulary. Perhaps 4.0! It is important to use adjectives in Part 2 to

describe and show your feelings. Always try to speak with „passion‟ in Part 2.

As well as using a range of vocabulary, remember to use collocations. So don‟t just say

„factor‟, say „there are several factors which contribute to the situation‟, „tackle the problem‟,

take measures/steps to solve/remedy the situation‟ etc. In Part 1 also try to use a few phrasal

verbs.

You need to use a variety of language so do not just use short simple sentences, even if they

are correct. It is better to use more complex sentences with some errors than correct, short

sentences.

• Make sure you say, “I go…/he goes…” correctly.

• Make sure you say, “I went…”, not „I go….last week‟.

• Make sure you say, “I went to London two weeks ago”, not “I went to London two weeks

before.”

• Try not to only use the present simple or past simple tenses. Variety is essential.

• Try to use the past continuous tense. For example, “I was studying at college when I first

met my best friend.”

• Try to use the present perfect tense. For example, “I have lived in Birmingham for four

months/since January” or “It‟s the best party I‟ve ever been too.”

• Make sure you use a few „if‟ sentences. For example, “If you visit my country, you can

see…” (1st conditional) or “If I had a lot of money, I would buy a big house”. Also,

remember that „Provided that”/”Providing”/‟As long as”/”Unless” (= „if not‟ in 1st

conditional) are similar in meaning.

• Try to use comparatives or superlatives if you have an opportunity. For example, “The cost

of living in my country is (much) higher/lower than in the UK.”

• Try not just to say „will‟ if the examiner asks you about the future in Part 3. Use „X is likely

to…‟/‟might‟/‟could‟ etc or „it is predicted/expected‟ etc.

• Don‟t keep saying “I think…” Also use, “What I think is…”/”What the government should

do is…” etc.

• Try to use a few sentences beginning with „-ing‟. For example, “Living in Birmingham

means it is easy to travel to other places in the UK” or “Being a student means I don‟t have

much money.”

• You need to join a few sentences with „which‟/‟who‟. For example, “I live in Birmingham,

which is in the centre of England.”

• Try to use a few sentences in the passive. For example, “I was given a watch by my father

and I got a mobile from my brother”, not just “My father gave me a watch and my brother

gave me a mobile.”

• Please be careful not to make the usual „Arabic‟ mistake of saying, “My friend he lives in

Manchester.”

Pronunciation and Fluency are connected. So if you speak slowly, it will affect your

Pronunciation grade.

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If you have a noticeable problem with a particular sound, your band will be limited to 6.0. If

the examiner has difficulty in understanding parts of what you are saying because you

mispronounce words, you will be limited to 5.0.

Remember what you have practised in class about stressing important words and using falling

intonation for new information or when you have finished speaking,

The best website to practise sounds is:

• www.cambridgeenglishonline.com/Phonetics_Focus

Rafael Salguero

What are the 4 assessment areas in IELTS Speaking?

Should I use idioms in the speaking test?

If you are aiming for a band 7, you should use some idioms. 3-4 should be enough for the

examiner to take note of. Any more than that and you will be forcing them.

One thing to be careful of is that when you are using idioms for emotions that you use the

idioms with feeling. One thing I hate is when a student uses something like over the moon

without any emotion. It sounds so bad. Normally when we are excited about something, our

intonation goes wild, and when we are sad, our intonation goes down.

Safwan Izruna

Reading

To improve reading, which magazines should we read?

Rafael Salguero

"New Scientist". "The Economist". "The Week". These are quite expensive but might have

free sample articles on their websites.

Matching headings questions: how to answer them?

You are often asked in the IELTS Reading test to match headings with paragraphs. These

questions test your ability to identify general information quickly.

In reading texts, each paragraph will be organized around a single main idea. You need to

identify the main idea of each paragraph, and match it to the heading that is closest in

meaning to this main idea. These „main ideas‟ might discuss particular problems, the effects

of something, the causes of something, a particular period of time in someone‟s life, and so

on.

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 20

Here are some ways to quickly identify the main idea of a paragraph:

● Read the first sentence of the paragraph. This is called the topic sentence, and it often

contains information that helps you understand the main idea in the paragraph - be

careful though, because sometimes it does not!

● Skim read the paragraph for content words: these words add meaning to the

paragraph, so should indicate what the main idea of the paragraph is

True / False / Not Given questions: how to answer them?

You are often asked in the IELTS Reading test to state whether a statement is true, false or

not given, using information contained in the text. These questions test your ability to identify

specific information; this means it is partly testing your vocabulary knowledge.

True: there is information in the text that shows the statement is clearly true

False: there is information in the text that shows the statement is clearly false. (You can

correct a false statement using information in the text.)

Not Given: there is no information in the text to tell you if the statement is true or false. (You

cannot correct a „not given‟ statement because you do not know if the statement is true or

false.)

There is no real „trick‟ to answering True / False / Not Given questions. It is, in part, a test of

your vocabulary knowledge, so improving your vocabulary is the best way to improve your

ability to answer these types of question.

Note: you can write T, F, NG on your answer sheet. However, make sure you write clearly

because T and F can look similar if written carelessly. It‟s therefore advisable to write the full

forms: True, False, Not Given.

IMPORTANT: always use authentic IELTS practice tests. Many practice tests found online,

and even those written by schools, are not worded carefully enough. This can cause confusion

and ambiguity, especially in the T / F / NG and Y / N / NG questions. In authentic or genuine

IELTS tests, answers will be clearly true, clearly false, or clearly not given. There should be

no ambiguity.

How can I improve my listening and reading scores above 34?

I would go and study a proficiency book for a few weeks. 2 or 3 items in each reading exam

are usually targeting specific C2 level vocabulary or grammar structures. If your scores have

plateaued at 34, it means you are lacking language not reading skills (and you teacher will

have no idea how to help you!) Objective Proficiency is a great book - it might be hard to

self-study, but you can do the reading / vocabulary exercises and check the answers at the

back.

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 21

Shelly Cornick

Listening

Can I ask for listening to be re-marked?

You can apply for your whole test to be remarked. However, answers in the reading and

listening tests are either right or wrong. The only way there could be a change is if the marker

made a mistake.

Rafael Salguero

How can I improve my listening skills?

Use this BBC website. It has hundreds of audio lessons with downloadable audio and

transcripts. You'll love it and benefit from it so much!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

Recommended by Safwan Izruna and Rafael Salguero

Try doing transcription exercises. Take an IELTS Section 4 and write it down EXACTLY

word-for-word as they say it. You will need to stop and go back and listen again many times,

but it forces you to listen CLOSELY to every single word. It's time-consuming and boring,

but I believe that it helps. For listening, it's not so much about training your BRAIN as it is

about training your EAR.

Ielts Gareth

Grammar and Vocabulary

Recommended Books and Websites

“IELTS Language Practice “ - Vince & Lamb (Macmillan)

Pauline Cullen, Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS

Collins Vocabulary for IELTS (both this and Pauline Cullen‟s book divide the lexis by topic

and give you practice in the other areas too)

IELTS Tips & Tricks Page 22

How can I improve my vocabulary?

Read and listen to as much natural English as possible. It‟s also important for IELTS to read

and listen to the kind of material that you are likely to find in IELTS tests, so one way to

improve your vocabulary is to read the texts found in the Cambridge English IELTS

Authentic Papers series, and learn words from these texts.

Charles Cornelius

Always keep a vocabulary notebook with you. Use it to make lists of words that you're

unfamiliar with, need to use more or often make mistakes with.

Watch films or listen to radio programmes in English, and note how words are used in

different ways, such as informally or in business situations.

When you learn a new word, think of how you could use it in a conversation, and make notes

of how it could be used in a writing task.

Allison Burgess

How should I learn idioms?

It‟s a good idea to use a few idioms in the speaking test. I suggest that you learn idioms that

you can use for all speaking topics, not for specific topics. Idioms that describe emotions are

great because you can have emotions about any topic.

I suggest, after selecting some idioms, you search YouTube for videos on how to use them,

and find as many examples in context of them being used.

It's also a good idea to limit the number of idioms that you use to about 10-15. Many students

learn hundreds of idioms, but in an exam can't even use one. It's not about how many you

know; it's about how many you can use, and use correctly. Focus on quality more than

quantity.

Practice using them daily until you can use them with ease naturally. After these words have

been memorized, I suggest practicing speaking about random topics and using the idioms

instead of the normal words used. You can also write sentences on cards and practice

changing the words in the sentences into idioms.

Safwan Izruna