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A good vocabulary and content are important for the speaking exam. Adopt good presentation skills such as eye-contact, pauses, speaking not too fast or slow. Read up and visualize a few possible questions. Make your answers exciting and passionate. The IELTS examiner expects you to show ‘some awareness of style and collocation’ to reach a Band 7 or Band 8.
Compare the sentences – which is better?
Smoking is bad for your health.
Smoking has a major impact on your health.
Acid rain is bad for buildings.
Acid rain does enormous harm to buildings.
Team games make children’s social skills better.
Team games lead to an improvement in children’s social skills.
Living in a city is better than living in a rural area.
Living in a city has many advantages over living in a rural area.
Imported films and music are bad for local traditions.
Imported films and music have a negative effect on local traditions.
The sentences on the right are better because they show style because they have academic tone, and collocation because you are using the correct verb, adjective and preposition with the noun.
Remember that possessing a good stock of words is important, even more so than the writing exam where you have the luxury of review and edit. However, fluency takes precedence over vocabulary, and if you feel you have forgotten the words, it is better to display a level of fluency with simple terms you know rather than struggle with numerous pauses while searching for the perfect word.
Question:
What students have to do in IELTS Speaking Part Two?
a. The examiner gives the candidate a task sheet on which is written a topic that they must speak about on their own for one minute.
b. The examiner gives the candidate a task sheet on which is written a topic that they must speak about on their own for two minutes.
c. The examiner gives the candidate a task sheet on which is written a topic that they must speak about on their own for three minutes.
Task 1 総合ライティング問題では、求められている解答は、
150〜225語という比較的短いものですが、
得点を上げるためには、” well organized ” （構成が整っている）が必要です。
構成が整っているエッセイはTOEFLの得点が高くなる
ばかりではなく、あなたのエッセイに読み手を引き込むことができるのです。
” well organized ” （構成が整っている）にするために役立つのがTransition word ＆phrasesです。
▮ Transition word &phrasesは段落、文章同士の接着剤
Transition word &phrasesとは、各文章や段落を結ぶ言葉やフレーズです。
各段落がストーリーとして結ばれて初めてエッセイとして成り立ちます。 段落、文章同士の接着剤のような役目ですね。
序文（Introduction)で示したthesis statement(主文）の具体的な内容を、本文（body)の中で、
Transition word ＆phrasesを上手に使うことで、一つひとつ、論理的に説明を展開していきます。
つまり、Transition word ＆phrasesは”well organize” エッセイの構成に大変重要なのです。
以下に、代表的なTransition word ＆phrasesを紹介しますので、是非、覚えて使えるようになってください。
▮ 代表的なTransition word ＆phrases
1. TIME – when explaining sequence of events ( 事の経緯を説明するときに使います） Before next then often After during always sometime Since at the same time while meanwhile 2. DEGREE – when explaining why one thing is more or less important than another thing
(より重要か又は重要でないかを説明するときに使います）
Most important first primarily essentially Less important second secondary principally Basically subordinate lesser chiefly 3. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST – when explaining how two or more things are similar or different （２つの意見を比較して、相違点又は類似点を説明するときに使います）
To Compare （類似するときに使います） Similar to similarly like, alike either/or Correspondingly resemblance almost the same as at the same time as As just as in a like manner in the same way Common in than also neither/nor To Contrast （相違するときに使います） Differ from however otherwise still Nevertheless even though different from less than More than unlike in contrast to on the other hand Although while yet but instead 4. CAUSE AND EFFECT – when explaining how something caused a change in something else
（物事の変化を説明するときに使います） So thus consequently therefore For this reason as a result because, because of owing to Since due to although so that 5. EXPLANATION – when explaining what something is by giving an example or when restating something for emphasis
（例えを出したり、強調するために言い換えに使います） In other words to clarify to explain to paraphrase As like that is for example Such as for instance to illustrate namely 6. ADDING MORE INFORMATION – when adding information to make your point stronger
（主張を強調するための情報を加えるときに使います） In addition besides furthermore as well as Moreover similarly also what’s more
IELTS READING PREPARATION, TIP #14 UNDERSTANDING THE SCORING SYSTEM
-edited by Shanti
IELTS reading test is similar to listening, it has 40 items which is also the highest score a candidate can get. One correct answer is equivalent to one point for the score that ranges from Band 1 to Band 9 and the scores are reported in whole and half bands. Take a look at the raw scores illustrated below to give an indication of the score you want to achieve.
General Training
Academic Reading
Band Score
Raw score out of 40
Band Score
Raw score out of 40
4
15
5
15
5
23
6
23
6
30
7
30
7
34
8
35
On the actual Reading test, a candidate will be asked to read three different passages, which contains 2,150 – 2,750 words in total, and answer the questions deliberately. The purpose of the test is to asses one’s reading skills on how well a candidate read the general sense of a passage, the main ideas, the details and also how wide the understanding of inferences and implied meaning; how good one can recognize a writer’s opinion, attitude and purpose and how good one follows the development of an argument.
Whichever version of IELTS one gets, the test takes 60 minutes and a candidate is not allowed to get more time to transfer the answers so it’s wise to write them straight to the answer sheets. Time management here is very essential.
Be mindful of the questions and read instructions carefully. There are 40 variety of question types used. The candidate will be asked to fill gaps in a passage or table, to match heading to text, diagrams or charts, to complete sentences, to give short answers to open questions and answer multiple choice questions. Take note that one word is sometimes asked to answer the questions, short phrases or a simple letter or simple.
There are no penalties for incorrect answers so answer all the questions because you have nothing to lose and if you have more time don’t forget to check and review your answers.
IELTS READING PREPARATION, TIP #13: THE DONT’s IN TAKING IELTS READING Written/Edited by Shanti Esther A. Bonachita
Reading section is always very confusing and surely encounter tricky questions. Here are some tips you need to remember to avoid mistakes.
There are many task types you need to locate the answer and most cases you need to skim through it so don’t waste time reading the passage for every question. You may read it carefully but don’t read it too slow.
Don’t answer the questions based on your knowledge, experience or feelings. Always read the text with comprehension and when you answer the questions make sure that they are in the passage.
You have to be calm and don’t be anxious especially when the questions are difficult. You leave the hard ones and proceed to the next questions then come back to the items you couldn’t answer after you are able to answer the easy ones.
Don’t worry. Free your mind from worries if you have a hard time understanding every word. It is always not necessary to understand every word to be able to answer the questions correctly. Get the whole idea of the sentence that’s being asked.
Don’t forget to write your answers on the answer sheet. There will be no more time to transfer your answers at the end of the test.
Don’t write many answers when there’s only one required. Always be careful to write only one answer, otherwise you will not receive a mark even if one of your answer is correct.
Question:
What is the meaning of the band score zero (0) and nine (9)?
a. satisfactory; native speaker
b. did not attempt the test; expert user
c. zero english level;100 IQ
IELTS READING PREPARATION, TIP #12 IELTS READING TARGET BAND, 9 Written/Edited by Shanti Esther A. Bonachita
For those candidates who get a band score of 9, the most important advice they always give is to read a lot of different kinds of English texts. Also, practice taking the test under timed-conditioned training and learn how to get a strategic ideas of the different questions IELTS reading test are also helpful. Here are some tips from Debashis ,an IELTS candidate,who got a band score of 9 in his Reading exam.
He carried a red pen with him, which he thought was invaluable. His key points are–
1. Scan the ‘reading sections’ and ‘questions’
2. decide the sections you will answer first.
3.After picking a section, read the questions relating to it in detail,then read the section in detail. While reading, underline and annotate them with key words in bold red for easy reference. Quick referencing is vital.
In the actual test he received 4 reading sections. He rapidly scanned through all 4 sections and questions to identify the easier sections, and then tackled them in that order.
4. After selecting a section, he read it’s questions in detail, underlying key words in a red pen, and summarizing it in 2-3 words in bold red next to it. For e.g. if the question was “how many times did the explorer Captain Scott return to England after his first trip”, it would be written next to it in red “RETURN UK > 1st ?”. This helps in quick referral to the question when studying the main body.
5. He then went back to the reading section, studying it in detail, and annotating it with my red pen. For e.g., if there were ten paragraphs, it would be written in bold red what the paragraph related to right next to it. This assists in quickly determining the likely paragraph a question relates to. He further underlined the possible answers, a task made easy as he could rapidly and readily read questions from their red summary in 3.2.
In overall, he found this module easy, as though he did not get time to practice, he is accustomed to reading large reports. He finished half-way through, and then proceeded to check his answers, twice. He noted with satisfaction that he did not need to change a single answer on revision. He got grade 9.
QUESTION:
How much score in IELTS should an applicant need to pass the prospective immigrants’ competence in English in the UK?
「埋め」言葉や台詞は、考えたり、答えを準備する時間を確保するために使います。
例えば、少し自信がないときや考えがまとまらないときは、” Erm” や ”Hmm” を挟みます。 埋めフレーズとしては、”Well, I don’t really know but I think … ” や ” Let me see… ” が使えます。
Well, in my honest opinion
Well, to be honest
Well, frankly
I have to say that
I’m of the opinion that
..it’s my opinion that
..the vast majority of information on the web
..some of the information found on the web
..a very small percentage of information taken from the web
..is completely reliable
..is particularly unreliable
..lacks any reliability
For example, just look at
Take ___ as an example,
___ is a case in point,
IELTS Speaking part is designed to stretch you as far as possible to see just how good you really are. The examiner has a couple of related sub-topics and question ideas but adapts the questions to you. Try to give longer answers and explain what you mean with examples. Listen to the type of question you are asked and answer it appropriately, don’t always say “yes…” because it probably won’t be a Yes/No question in this part. Here are some useful phrases that would help you in answering.
Well, in my honest opinion
Well, to be honest
Well, frankly
I have to say that
I’m of the opinion that
..it’s my opinion that
..the vast majority of information on the web
..some of the information found on the web
..a very small percentage of information taken from the web
..is completely reliable
..is particularly unreliable
..lacks any reliability
For example, just look at
Take ___ as an example,
___ is a case in point,
Speak fluently and give long, complex and very detailed responses without any loss of coherence, repetition or language searches. Use a wide range of discourse markers naturally and precisely. Your range of vocabulary allow you a high degree of precision and flexibility with plenty of examples of stylistically appropriate language. Use a wide range of complex structures and features, such as intonation and contrastive stress, to convey meaning.
Question:
How are EILTS Speaking Test scores reported?
a. Scores are reported in half bands.
b. Scores are reported in whole bands.
c. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
