IELTS Advice: 'meaning' and 'usage'

Many people think they know a word when they understand its meaning. In my experience, students often don't know the words that they think they know!

You only really know a word when you can use it in a variety of ways and contexts. Don't take it for granted that you know a word until you have studied its usage.

Comments

[Kasia]

Hi Simon,

I didn't know where to post my message,so I decided to write it below your IELTS advice...I would like to ask you,how long usually does it take to improve from band 6.5 in writing into band 7.5 and is it possible to simply do it at home or do you suggest joining an IELTS course?I need to score 7.5 from each domain and I've just received my IELTS results(it isn't my 1st attempts,unfortunately) and each time I score from speaking/listening/reading band 7.5 or even higher but when it comes to writing it's always 6.5...

I'm disappointed :( I purchased your book but maybe didn't study it well enough,I don't know what to really do and how to perform better.

A year ago I attended an IELTS course( 12 weeks) and later on, I always prepare to the exam by myself. I don't know if I should rather take private writing classes?or how else to improve this band...I'm thinking of giving the exam within next 2 months,but I'm not sure if I can simply do it in this short of time...

any advice?

[Simon]

Hi Kasia,

My advice for someone in your situation is that you would probably benefit from some individual help (private lessons). You might not need many lessons, but it seems that you need someone who can tell you what you are doing wrong, and how you can improve.

You can do a lot alone, but some individual help from a teacher might make the difference.

PS. I don't think a private teacher would need to teach you any new 'techniques' - you just need someone who can give you feedback on your essays.

Best of luck!

[Kasia]

thanks for your advice Simon.One more question,do you think that I should postpone my next attend and give myself a few months more to prepare or is it possible to achieve in 2 months band 7.5, in writing,if I usually score 6.5 from this domain,once I got 7.0 from writing .

[Kathy]

Hi Simon,
I am confused about the right usage of the verb "consider";
He considers himself to be an expert or He considers himself an expert.
It seems like both are right, but which sentence is better?

[fakhra]

Hi Simon,
I need your help to understand one questions (16) given in Cambridge IELTs book 3 Test 3 passage 2, on page no 67. In answer key the answer of Q 16 is "No" but i am not convinced with.

Here is the relating text for Q 16:

The apparent simplicity of Indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaptation to forest ecology, living proof that Amazonia could not - and cannot - sustain a more complex society.
Would you please clear the ambiguity.
Thanks

[fakhra]

Hi
I forgot to text the question, here it is:
The reason for the simplicity of the Indian way of life is that Amazonia has always been unable to support a more complex society.

[Angelina]

Hi Simon,

I'm a bit confused which is better to use in IELTS Speaking "a secondary school" or "a high school" when you answer to the question "Do you work or are you a student?"

Thank you.

[Simon]

Hi Kasia,

If I were you, I would wait a couple of months. Take some time to study and prepare before the next test.

...

Hi Kathy,

Both are right, and both are equally good.

...

Hi Fakhra,

When you read that part of the test, the answer seems to be true. However, after that, in paragraph C, the writer says that it's not true. Read paragraph C carefully - the writer says that there have been several complex societies in Amazonia. The reason for the simplicity is given in the last 3 lines - it's a recent adaptation.

Be careful - sometimes you read a sentence which is followed by a contradiction that changes the answer.

...

Hi Angelina,

Both are fine - they mean the same thing, so it doesn't matter which you use.

[Angelina]

Thanks Simon for your reply
I know that their meanings are the same but I am just not sure which one is better to use. Mainly because "a high school" is American word and I suppose IELTS exam requires usage of british english.
Am I correct?

[Simon]

Hi Angelina,

No, that's not correct. Both varieties of English are accepted equally. Neither is better or worse.