ielts-simon.com

IELTS Grammar: 'by/in contrast' and 'on the contrary'

A few people have asked me about these phrases recently. Do they have the same meaning? When is each one used?

By contrast / In contrast
I often use these two phrases in both writing task 1 and 2. They are exactly the same, and are used in a similar way to "however" or "on the other hand" to introduce a contrast / comparison. Put "By / In contrast" at the beginning of a sentence, with a comma after "contrast".

Example
Unemployment rose in the UK. By contrast, the number of unemployed people in Canada fell.

On the contrary
I've never used this phrase in any of my IELTS lessons. It doesn't mean the same thing as "by / in contrast". We use "on the contrary" to deny that something is true, and to explain that the opposite is true.

Example
- Person 1: "You had some problems with your hotel, didn't you?"
- Person 2: "On the contrary, the hotel was great, but the airline lost my suitcase."

IELTS Speaking Part 2: which tense?

- Can you use the past tense when describing a person who is still alive?
- Which tense should you use when describing a person?

The answer to the first question is yes. You can say: "My father was always a good role model for me when I was growing up." This doesn't mean that your father is no longer alive; it just means that you are no longer growing up!

The answer to the second question is it depends. As we saw above, you can use the past tense, but it would also be easy to add the present and/or future tense: "My father was always kind to me when I was a child, and he still helps me whenever I need something. I'm sure he will always be there for me."

IELTS Writing Task 1: analyse model essays

Maybe you read my line graph essay last week, but did you really study it?

Here's some example analysis of last week's essay:

• Structure - 4 paragraphs: introduction, overview, 2 specific details
• Paraphrasing - proportion of the population = percentage of people (find more examples)
• Overview - overall trend, then biggest change
• Selecting key information - first year (1940), middle years (1990, early 2000s), end of period (2030 to 2040)
• Comparing - in each country, most dramatic, and, compared to, by contrast, while, slightly lower, respectively (analyse my sentences to learn how to use these words correctly)
• Verbs - compares, increases, is expected to see, were, rose, remained... (look carefully at the use of tenses)

It's possible to read model essays quickly and learn a little. It's also possible to spend a long time studying them carefully and learn a lot!

IELTS Writing Task 2: four question types

Here are 4 questions that illustrate the different types of task 2 question. Can you name each type? Can you explain the big difference between the first and the second type?

1. Some people think that the only purpose of working hard is to earn money. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
2. Some people believe that punishment is the only purpose of prisons, while others believe that prisons exist for various reasons. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
3. The number of plants and animals is declining. Explain this problem and suggest some solutions.
4. Many people around the world are choosing to move to live in cities. What problems do people experience in big cities? Should governments encourage people to move to smaller towns?

I'll explain the differences in detail next Wednesday, but feel free to discuss your ideas in the "comments" area below.

IELTS Listening: more numbers and letters!

Here are some examples from Cambridge IELTS book 7. Listen to the recording, and fill the gaps in the questions below.

Click here to listen

1. Surname: _____
2. Flight number: _____
3. Credit card number: _____
4. Surname: _____
5. Room number: _____
6. Passport number: _____

IELTS Reading: multiple choice

Read the following text and answer the multiple choice questions below.

In linguistics, a corpus (plural corpora) is a large and structured set of texts (now usually electronically stored and processed). A corpus may be used to help linguists to analyse a language, or for the purpose of dictionary writing or language teaching. The British National Corpus (BNC) is a 100-million-word text corpus of samples of written and spoken English from a wide range of sources. The corpus covers British English of the late twentieth century from a wide variety of genres with the intention that it be a representative sample of spoken and written British English of that time.

1. What is a corpus?

A) A type of large dictionary.
B) A single written text.
C) A tool for language analysis.

2. Why was the BNC compiled?

A) For the purpose of language teaching.
B) To document written and spoken English from a particular period in time.
C) To document the history of the English language.

Students' questions

Here are some useful questions from this week:

1. What is the difference between "By contrast" and "In contrast"?

There is no difference. You can use either.

2. Can I use idioms like "pain in the neck" or "it was raining cats and dogs" in academic speaking part 2 and 3?

It really depends on the context, and there are various types of idiom. Read this lesson for more information. Note: I'd definitely avoid saying "it's raining cats and dogs" because no English speakers really use this expression nowadays.

3. What percentage of the writing score is task 1?

Task 1 is worth one third of the score (33%).

4. What should I write in the conclusion if the question only asks me to discuss (it doesn't ask for an opinion)?

Don't write an opinion. Just repeat / summarise the main points that you discussed.

5. Will I get a half point in the listening test if the answer is half correct?

No, there are no half points. The answer is either right or wrong.

6. Is "15th November" two words or three?

It's two words, or one word and a number.

7. Is it ok to write "T, F, NG" instead of "true, false, not given"?

Yes, it's acceptable, but I would write the full word because that's what the question tells you to do.

IELTS Advice: 'know what you know'

People often ask me what they should do in the final week before an exam.

My advice is that it's probably too late to learn anything new. It's best to review what you have already studied and make sure you "know what you know".

Go through the topics and techniques that you have studied, and make sure that you have learnt from any mistakes you have made. It's too late to worry about what you haven't studied; just focus on what you have.

IELTS Speaking: use real examples!

To improve your IELTS speaking score, use good examples to extend your answers. Real examples or stories about yourself are the best.

Use examples in part 2 when you need to make your presentation longer. Use them in part 3 to support your opinions.

Here's an example that helps me to extend a part 2 presentation about my mobile phone:

"For example, yesterday I used my phone to call some friends to arrange a get-together this weekend. Some of them didn't answer, so I either left a message in their voicemail or I sent them a text. I also replied to a few emails while I was waiting in a queue at the bank."

IELTS Writing Task 1: full essay

Here's my full essay for last week's line graph question:

The line graph compares the percentage of people aged 65 or more in three countries over a period of 100 years.

It is clear that the proportion of elderly people increases in each country between 1940 and 2040. Japan is expected to see the most dramatic changes in its elderly population.

In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over, compared to about 7% of Swedish people and 5% of Japanese people. The proportions of elderly people in the USA and Sweden rose gradually over the next 50 years, reaching just under 15% in 1990. By contrast, the figures for Japan remained below 5% until the early 2000s.

Looking into the future, a sudden increase in the percentage of elderly people is predicted for Japan, with a jump of over 15% in just 10 years from 2030 to 2040. By 2040, it is thought that around 27% of the Japanese population will be 65 years old or more, while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be slightly lower, at about 25% and 23% respectively.

(178 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: topic sentences

A good way to start a paragraph is with a short, simple sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Teachers often call this a ‘topic sentence’.

I normally write my topic sentences by thinking about how many points I want to mention in the paragraph:

1. If I only have one point or idea, I usually state it straight away:

In my opinion, junk food is the main cause of childhood obesity.
(then explain this opinion and give examples in the rest of the paragraph)

2. If I have two or three points or ideas, I don’t usually mention them directly in the topic sentence:

There are two main causes (or ‘several causes’) of childhood obesity.
(then explain using “firstly, secondly...” or something similar)

Have a look through the essays that you’ve written in the past, and compare them with some of mine. Did you begin your main paragraphs with good topic sentences?

IELTS Listening: numbers and letters

Today's exercise gives you some practice listening to numbers and letters. Listen to the recording, and fill the gaps in the questions below.

Click here to listen

1. Flight number: _____
2. Flight number: _____
3. Reference number: _____
4. Reference number: _____
5. Surname: _____
6. Surname: _____
7. Address: _____ _____
8. Address: _____ _____
9. Telephone number: _____
10. Telephone number: _____

PS. Thanks to Mohamed Salamat for suggesting this exercise!

IELTS Reading: keywords

Vocabulary is the key to doing well in IELTS Reading. Usually there are "keywords" in the questions that are similar to the words you need to find in the text. For example, if the text contains the word "global", the question might use the word "international".

The table below shows keywords for Test 4 in Cambridge IELTS book 4:

Try making your own keyword tables for other practice tests. It's a good way to improve your vocabulary, and it will help you to see how IELTS reading questions are made.

Students' questions

Here are some of the questions that people asked me this week.

1. For process diagrams, can we suggest ways of improving the process?

No, you should never include opinions or suggestions in your task 1 essay. Just describe what you see.

2. Can I use "illustrates", "indicates" or "mentions" instead of "shows"?

I tell my students to use "shows", "illustrates", "compares" or "gives information about". You don't need to learn any more ways. I wouldn't use "indicates" or "mentions" because they're not quite right for the context.

3. If the examiner asks me where I come from, should I say where I live now (e.g. in the UK) or should I talk about the country I was born in?

It doesn't matter. You can say either, or both!

4. In the speaking test, do examiners look at the notes we made for part 2?

No, your notes do not affect your score at all.

5. In the writing test, what is considered as 'memorised' language?

'Memorised language' usually refers to phrases or sentences that can be used for any topic e.g. "This is a controversial issue nowadays, but every coin has two sides." These phrases don't help you to get a good score; the key to a high score is what I call "real content". Click here to see what I mean by this.

6. Isn't the phrase "different countries" strange? All countries are different, so it seems absurd.

I see what you mean, but I can tell you that "different countries" is a normal and common phrase in English. Languages are not always perfectly logical.

Note:
Please remember that I can't answer every question that students send me. I'm sorry if I missed yours.

IELTS Advice: how to know when you're ready

How do you know when you're ready to take the IELTS exam? Here's my advice:

1. If you've never taken the exam before, take it as soon as you can. You'll be surprised how difficult a full day of testing is! Treat your first attempt as a practice test to get used to what it 'feels' like. Also, taking the exam is the best way to assess your level.
2. Your next step could be to read about the best ways (techniques, methods) of doing each part of the exam; this is what I try to provide here on the website. Read my advice, analyse my model answers, and try to copy the way I approach each part of the test.
3. Using what you have learnt, you need to practise and train yourself. This is not the same as testing yourself. Read this lesson to understand the difference.
4. Finally, you need to do some tests and get feedback. You need to find out what you are doing wrong and what you need to do to improve. The best form of feedback is from a teacher who can read your essays or listen to you speak.

You will know that you are ready when you consistently get the score you need in all of your practice tests.

IELTS Speaking: which part is the most important?

Do the 3 parts of the speaking test carry equal weighting when your score is calculated, or is one part more important?

The simple answer is that the 3 parts are not scored separately; the examiner rates the student's performance as a whole. In this sense, neither part is more important.

However, it's useful to think about the 3 parts like this:

• Part 1 is supposed to be quite easy (like a warm-up), so you won't get a high score if you only do well in this part.
• Part 2 is when the examiner really gets a chance assess how good you are. He/she will now have an idea of what scores to give you.
• During part 3, the examiner is making his/her final decision. A good performance here can boost your score.

When preparing for the exam, my advice is to spend most of your time on part 2. This is the part that you can really work on in terms of topics and techniques.

IELTS Writing Task 1: graph showing future years

Several students have asked me about the following question from Cambridge IELTS book 5 (page 29).

The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.

Here are the steps I would follow to write my essay:

1. Introduction: write one sentence to introduce what the graph shows. Just paraphrase the question statement (i.e. change a few words).
2. Summary: describe 2 main things e.g. the overall trend for all 3 countries, and the biggest change that you can see.
3. Details: compare all 3 countries in 1940, then in 1990.
4. Details: describe the dramatic increase predicted for Japan, and compare all 3 countries in 2040.

Note:
Try writing some essay plans like the one above. Planning makes you think about selecting and organising, so it's a useful skill to practise (even if you don't do a plan in your exam).

IELTS Writing Task 2: agree, disagree, or both?

For 'agree or disagree' essays, do you think you should give both sides of the argument or just one side? The answer is that you can do either.

A) Essay structure for one side of the argument:

1. Introduction: topic + your opinion (either agree or disagree)
2. First idea to support your opinion
3. Second idea to support your opinion
4. Conclusion: repeat your opinion

B) Essay structure for giving both sides:

1. Introduction: topic + say that you 'partly agree'
2. On the one hand,...
3. On the other hand,...
4. Conclusion: repeat that you accept elements of both arguments

Remember: it's very important to get the introduction right. This tells the examiner whether you are going to give one side of the argument or both sides.

IELTS Listening: gap-fill

Today's video is about the same topic as yesterday's IELTS Reading text. The presenter gives some good tips on how to deliver a short sales presentation.

Fill the gaps in the following summary of the video:

A good elevator pitch is made up of two key ______. First, you have to lay out the "______ statement": What problem is it that you are trying to solve? Second, you must show the "______ proposition": How does your ______ solve that problem?

Every great elevator pitch must meet four key tests: First, it must be ______. Second, it must be easy to understand; there's no ______ for "tech-talk". Third, it must be greed-inducing; after all, ______ want to make money, and lots of it. Finally, it has to be irrefutable; if your elevator pitch leaves investors with more ______ than ______, you'd better go back to the ______ board.

If you can't see the video, listen to the recording below.

Click here to listen

IELTS Reading: find the similar words

In the IELTS Reading test, you need to be able to match words in the questions with words in the passage. Read the following text, then try the exercise below.

What is an 'elevator pitch'?

An “elevator pitch” is an overview of a product, service, person, group, organisation or project, and is often part of a fund-raising, marketing, brand or public relations program. The name "elevator pitch" reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver a short but effective presentation in the time span of an elevator ride from the ground floor to the directors’ boardroom on the top floor of a building.

An elevator pitch is often used by an entrepreneur pitching an idea to an investor to receive funding. Venture capitalists often ask entrepreneurs to give an elevator pitch in order to quickly weed out bad ideas and weak teams. Other uses include job interviewing, dating and professional services. Proposals for books, screenplays, blogs and other forms of publishing are often delivered via an elevator pitch, which may be presented in oral, written or video formats.

Which words or phrases in the passage are similar to those below?

1. a summary
2. succinct
3. gain financial backing
4. eliminate
5. spoken

Students' questions from this week

1. Can I ask for an explanation if I don't understand a question in the speaking test?

In part 1, you can ask the examiner to repeat a question, but he/she is not allowed to explain what the question means. In part 2, the examiner will not help you. In part 3, you can ask him/her to explain the question in a different way.

2. How can I get band 7 in all four parts?

This is a big problem for many people, and I'm afraid there is no easy solution. You just need to keep practising. Click here for some more advice.

3. Do I need to mention all of the numbers in writing task 1?

No, you don't need to mention all of the numbers; just select the key information. On the other hand, if you don't mention any numbers, you'll get a lower score.

4. Can I translate expressions from my language?

No, this is probably not a good idea. If you translate "it's a piece of cake" (meaning "it's easy") into your language, does it make sense?

5. Are you sure we don't need a conclusion in writing task 1?

Completely sure. A conclusion is really a 'final judgment', so I prefer to use the word 'summary'. You can put the summary either after the introduction or at the end.

6. Can I improve from 5.5 to 7 in one month?

Probably not, but I suppose it's not impossible. Click here to read my advice.

IELTS Grammar: uncountable nouns

Students often make mistakes with uncountable nouns. These are nouns that you can't count. Most importantly, they don't have a plural form.

For example, you can't say "an information, two informations, many informations". You can say "some information, more information, a lot of information, a piece of information".

Here are a few more uncountable nouns:

• give advice, some advice, a piece of advice (an advice, advices)
• do research, carry out research, research shows (a research, researches)
• gain knowledge, share knowledge, increase knowledge (knowledges)

IELTS Speaking Part 1: short, simple answers

The first part of the IELTS Speaking Test lasts around 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner asks about 10 questions related to you, your daily life and your interests. Common topics are hobbies, family, friends, food, music etc.

Part 1 questions are supposed to be easy, and the examiner must get through all of the questions in 5 minutes or less. That's only about 30 seconds per question. If you try to give long answers, the examiner will interrupt you. My advice is to keep Part 1 answers very simple:

Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?

I prefer home-cooked food because I think it's healthier and you know exactly what you're eating. I also enjoy cooking for family and friends.

You don't need to say any more than this. Just answer the question with a full sentence, give a reason, and maybe add one extra piece of information. Then stop speaking. Stop with confidence and look at the examiner, ready for the next question.

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'process diagram' details

Here are my 'details' paragraphs to finish the essay I started last week:

Looking at the coffee production process in detail, coffee beans must first be picked in the fields. These beans are then dried, roasted, and cooled before being put in a grinding machine, which turns the beans into coffee granules.

At the sixth stage in the process, the ground coffee is mixed with hot water, and the resulting mixture is strained. Next, the mixture is frozen and then passed once again through the grinder. After that, the ground, frozen liquid is dried in a vacuum so that the water evaporates, leaving the coffee granules. Finally, these granules are packed into coffee jars for delivery to shops.

Did you notice the passives and sequencing phrases?

- Passives: must be picked; are dried, roasted and cooled; is mixed...
- Sequencing: then; and; at the sixth stage; next; after that; finally...

IELTS Writing Task 2: firstly, secondly, finally

A few people have asked me whether using "firstly, secondly, finally" to organise a paragraph is too easy.

My answer is that using easy organising language like "firstly, secondly, finally" allows you to focus on the real content of what you are writing - topic vocabulary, collocations, examples. This is what the examiner wants to see. You can get a band 9 using "firstly, secondly, finally" if the ideas between these linking words are good.

Some simple alternatives to "firstly, secondly, finally" could be:

• The main reason why I believe... is... / Another argument is... / Also,...
• One problem is that... / Furthermore,... / Another drawback is that...
• From a business perspective,... / In terms of education,... / From a social point of view,... (this could work for the paragraph in last week's lesson)

IELTS Listening: 'the earth is full'

Here's another interesting video from ted.com:

I noted down some useful vocabulary while watching the video. Click here to download my notes.

IELTS Reading: paragraph headings

Read the following passage about cognitive behavioural therapy:

A) Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach: a talking therapy. CBT aims to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviours and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic procedure in the present.

B) The particular therapeutic techniques vary, but commonly may include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts and behaviours; questioning and testing cognitions, assumptions, evaluations and beliefs that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities which may have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and reacting. Relaxation, mindfulness and distraction techniques are also commonly included.

C) Going through cognitive behavioural therapy is not an overnight process for clients; a typical course consists of 12-16 hour-long sessions. Even after clients have learned to recognise when and where their mental processes go awry, it can in some cases take considerable time or effort to replace a dysfunctional process or habit with a more reasonable and adaptive one. CBT is problem-focused and structured towards the client. It requires honesty and openness between the client and therapist, as a therapist develops strategies for managing problems and guiding the client to a better life.

Choose the best headings for paragraphs A, B and C from this list:

1. A slow process
2. A new type of therapeutic approach
3. The benefits and drawbacks of CBT
4. A goal-oriented therapeutic approach
5. CBT therapists are always honest with their clients
6. The range of CBT interventions

Students' questions

I'm afraid I don't have time to answer all of your comments individually. However, I do read them all, and I choose a few to answer every week. Here are my answers to a few questions from this week:

1. For the writing task 1 introduction, can I copy words from the chart?

Yes, try not to use too many words from the question, but it's a good idea to take a few words from the graph/chart itself. The labels on the chart can help you to paraphrase the question statement.

2. Is it ok to use "firstly, secondly, finally" in both main paragraphs?

It would be nicer to vary the way you organise or link your ideas in each main paragraph. However, the ideas and vocabulary are more important than the linking words, so using "firstly, secondly, finally" twice isn't a big problem.

3. I explained both sides for an "agree or disagree" question. Is that ok?

Yes, but I hope you made it clear in your introduction that you 'partly agree'. Have a look through my writing lessons until you find something about 'strong opinions' and 'balanced opinions'.

4. Which is correct: "per household" or "per a household"?

After "per" we don't put the article, so "per household" is correct.

5. What score would I get if my average is 6.125?

Your score would be 6. You need at least 6.25 to get a 6.5.

6. Who writes the IELTS exam, and does it differ according to provider?

Click here for official information. The exam is written and marked in the same way wherever you take it.

IELTS Advice: small, gradual improvements

Many students ask how long it will take to get from an intermediate level (maybe IELTS band 5) to an advanced level (band 7).

If you were learning to play the piano, would you expect to go from intermediate to advanced in a few weeks? Would you expect to find a special technique that suddenly makes you an advanced pianist? The answer is no. Most people know that they would need to work hard and practise every day to get to an advanced level on the piano.

In my opinion, learning a new language is a similar challenge. You should aim to make small, gradual improvements because it isn't realistic to expect sudden changes.

IELTS Speaking: how to talk for 2 minutes

Students often ask whether it's necessary to speak for the full 2 minutes in part 2 of the speaking test. The instruction is: speak for between 1 and 2 minutes, so it's not strictly necessary to speak for the full 2 minutes. However, my advice is that you should try to keep speaking until the examiner stops you.

Here are some tips to help you keep talking:

1. Go through the bullet points on the task card in order.
2. Try to develop each point, even easy ones. For example, if the first bullet point for the topic "describe a person" is "who is it?", don't just say "I'm going to describe my father". Add more information, such as your father's name, age, what he looks like, where he is now, how often you speak to him...
3. Give examples and tell stories (click here for more advice about this).

IELTS Writing Task 1: 'process' introduction and overview

Last week I gave some advice about how to write an overview (summary) for process diagram questions. Here's the question again:

The diagram below shows how coffee is produced and prepared for sale in supermarkets and shops.

(Click on picture to make it bigger. Source: 'Meanings into Words Upper-Intermediate')

Here's my introduction and overview:

The picture illustrates the process of coffee manufacture and preparation for sale on the market.

It is clear that there are 11 stages in the production of coffee. The process begins with the picking of coffee beans, and ends at the packing stage.