Students' questions

Here are a few useful questions that people have asked me this week:

1. Are writing tasks 1 and 2 examined by the same person?

Yes, always.

2. Can you do a writing task 1 lesson about how to describe the 'shape' of lines on a graph?

Personally I rarely describe the 'shape' of a line. Instead of following the trend of one line, it's much better to compare two or more lines at a particular point. Have a look through my task 1 lessons to see how I describe changes and make comparisons. I don't think you need to learn any other 'shape' or 'trend' language.

3. Can you do a lesson about how to use prepositions?

I'm afraid that 'how to use prepositions' is a HUGE area, and I won't be able to explain it here. It's one of those things that you have to learn gradually. In fact, it's better to treat that area as 'vocabulary' (that you gradually learn) rather than 'grammar' (that someone can explain).

4. Can you do a lesson about 'low, less, little, few, much, more'?

This is another big area, and a dedicated grammar book or website is the best place to read about that kind of thing.

5. Is it better to use 'he' or 'she' when writing about a person in general?

I would try to avoid choosing between 'he' and 'she' by using plurals (e.g. they) and alternative words (e.g. individuals, employees). For example, instead of writing "when a child starts school, he learns...", you could write "when children start school, they learn..." or "school pupils learn...".

Comments

[Aminu Nass]

I just come back from IELTS exam:
writing 1: Table showing satisfaction of student in UK university about three different facilities cafeteria service,social,academic facilities in bedrooms.
writing 2: Money will be use to build a new public building rather than renovating an existing one. to what extant to you agreed of disagreed.

[Aminu Nass]

Hi Simon firstly i have to think you so much for ur website, it really help me alot no matter.
And for such question about, is this good to disagreed and said other sector is more important to consider the construction public building such as say providing social amenities? thanks

[artimis]

Hi simon
I have been preparing for ielts and I was busy,hope you remember me once I told im happy that I have found an ielts examiner,well I read your answer today.i wanted to say that I told so bacause im thinking about being an ielts examine and as im not familiar with I wanted to ask some questions about that.
And meanwhile I have a question :in my speaking test the examiner interrupt me and in most question he didnt let me to describe my opinion,is it bad?does it mean that examiner interrupt me because my answers were irrelevent?

[kenny]

Hi,simon:
I have a problem when I was taking my ielts speaking test today.
The examiners kept turning over the documents in front of her during the whole speaking test. She asked questions in an not patient and impolite way. I didn't know the reason why she did that. At that time, I really wanted to speak out to ask her please be polite but I didn't and I was afraid of that which affected my result.
Can you give me some advice? Should I complain this examiner?
Thanks!!!!!!!

[kenny]

I mean the examiner kept looking at the documents and turning over the pages several times. Also, she didn't have eye contact with me during the whole time.

[Huong]

Hi, Simon
could you answer some of my questions about speaking and writing in Ielts? I am wondering if
-we can use phrasal verbs and idioms such as proverbs or similes in speaking or writing task 2 of just focus on specific-topic vocabulary and collocations?
- do we need to use formal words in our speaking test?
I'm looking forward to hearing from you
Many thanks

[Simon]

That's fine Aminu. Thanks for sharing your questions.

...

Hi Artimis,

Don't worry about the examiner interrupting. It just means that he/she thought you had already said enough.

...

Hi Kenny,

You need to forget about what the examiner is doing. Her lack of politeness and eye contact should not worry you at all - just focus on the questions and giving good answers. Other students have complained about the same thing, and then they've received really good scores!

...

Hi Huong,

I've written several lessons about those issues. Start with this one:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2012/02/ielts-advice-what-is-an-idiom.html

Then look through my Questions/Advice category for more lessons about vocabulary.

[meenakshi]

hi simon,
could u please tell me that how the marks converts into the band score?
for instance , i would get 21-25 marks in reading and listening, what would be the band score?
please tell me about 21-40 marks.

[Simon]

Hi Meenakshi,

The official scoring system is on this page (look down the page to find the tables):

http://www.ielts.org/researchers/score_processing_and_reporting.aspx

[Neil]

Just want to thank you, it has been a wonderful time going through the scribbles in this site.It took lots of effort to get what I needed to score. Scoring 7 in each band was a nightmare for me not until I came across your site. The strategies you use to help the IELTS student is phenomenal, easy to understand and apply in practice. Eventually, I have scored 7.5 in listening, 9 in reading, 7 in writing and 7 in speaking. which was 8 in listening and reading, 6.5 in speaking and writing. It was really helpful being acquainted with your website and your suggestions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you Simon.
keep up the good work

[TALHA]

Hey Every Body,
I have got my Ielts(Academic) result as below :

L,R,W = 6 bands , and S 6.5 bands from AEO KARACHI PAKISTAN...

I am really deperrest and heart broken and wondering to recheck L ,W & S...again...can any body sugesst me for the same...pls............!

Alot thanks in Adavnce.
TALHA

[siddeswar reddy]

hello simon

my name is siddeswar,i have written my exam on march 14th and i got my result on march 29th thats two days after the actual result time and till now i didnt get my trf and so when i asked with the head office they r telling that my score is under investigation and its take time to ge ur score,so please help me with dis am helpless the score which i got through online is final or do they change my score i am too tensed yaar please help me