Question 1: Directors of large organizations earn much higher salaries than ordinary employees do. Some people think it is necessary, but others are of the opinion that it is unfair. Discuss both views and give your own opinions.

Body Paragraph 1

Necessary

They have often invested in their skills, work / sacrifice more, risk more (entrepreneurs). 

They get results 

Often performance based 

Elon Musk, Bezos, richest, but it is based on share ownership, value of the shares 

 

Body Paragraph 2

Unfair 

Their workers are on minimum wage, big disparity between the top and the bottom 

Unfair for society – those at the top get the best – 

Engenders generational wealth 

Completely unnecessary 

Conclusion 

It is unfair, at the billionaire stage action needs to be taken by governments… 

 Question 2: Some people say that TV advertisements are helpful for viewers, while others disagree. What is your opinion?

 

Body Paragraph 1 

Advertising is positive 

Informs of choice 

Can instil belief 

A form of education 

TV needs advertising to subsidise the cost of production. 

In England they have the unpopular TV license, a tax whereby British people have to pay for the BBC. This is why the bbc has no ads – in the UK. 

Body Paragraph 2 

TV Advertising is negative 

Can cause discomfort, body shame – beauty products etc 

Adds to the cost of the product being sold

Invasive into a program. 

More modern alternatives are available eg product placements within the tv show. Or endorsements of the products by the actors in the programme, in another medium such as the internet. 

Question 3: Some people argue that holding sporting events is beneficial to a country’s development. However, other people hold the opposite opinion. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Body Paragraph 1 

Beneficial

Publicity for the country, build infrastructure, build new events. 

Also the hosting country will also invest heavily in their own national teams prior to the event. This benefits the country and builds a positive self image. 

London 20?? Olympic games…. 

Legacy plan to help disadvantaged children in sports after the games… 

Body Paragraph 2

Bad 

Money laundering opportunity – Hungary’s people were strongly against it because they did not trust their government. 

The Hungarians wanted other issues such as housing and education resolved before hosting international events. 

Brazil had a few construction scandals and hid their favelas from the public eye. 

Conclusion

Good if there is a trustworthy government involved, a clear plan for the use of the facilities afterwards. 

 

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

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These may be your common issues the first time you see an IELTS Writing Task 2 question:

“I don’t know this topic!”

“What should I write here???!!!”

“How can I start my essay???!!!”

“My mind is going blank!”

“This is the first time I’ve heard about this word!”

To help you with this common problem, I decided to make a part 2 tutorial answering more recent IELTS task 2 questions.

In this tutorial:

* I breakdown each of the question

* Suggest IELTS essay answers and

* Organise them into paragraphs

The formula I use in this tutorial is similar to the one I teach on the “Jump to Band 7 or it’s Free” online IELTS course.

1. Prison is the common way in most countries to try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide people with a better education. Do you agree or disagree?

Introduction

Body Paragraph 1 

* Prison is common because it is effective

* Takes criminals off the street 

* Big problem is that it is only a short term problem – what happens upon release?

Body Paragraph 2 

Better Education

Will solve the problem because:

* Better prospects 

If people have jobs it drastically reduces the need for crime  EG recent study in Norway…

Conclusion

* Prison is a short term solution, education is definitely better. 

* I think using both because after all, prison is necessary as a deterrent. 

2. In some countries, there are fewer young people who listen to or play classical music these days. Why is this? Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music?

Introduction

Body Paragraph1 

* Why less playing? 

* An age of opulence of distractions – internet, video games, abundance of distractions

* Develop the argument further. There is no powerful force behind classical music. EG Social media is fuelled by titans like FB, TikTok…  so the competition for attention is even more harder

Body Paragraph 2

Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music? Yes.  

* Cultural heritage for some countries, in Austria Mozart is a source of national pride, so having no Austrian classical musicians could be an embarrassment. 

* Could be safer than social media because it’s harder you cannot be cyber-bullied if you have a clarinet instead of a Facebook account.  

* Musical intelligence

 Conclusion

Summarise both points. 

 

3. Some people feel that the effects of advertising are positive for individuals and businesses, while others think they are negative. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Body Paragraph 1

* Advertising is positive

* Informs of choice

* Can instill belief

* A form of education – Youtube is full of educational content creators who rely on advertisers for their income.

Body Paragraph 2

* Advertising is negative

* Can cause discomfort, body shame – beauty products etc

* Adds to the cost of the product

* Retargeting can be seen as invasive – hence new privacy concerns and regulations cropping up. EG just recently GDPR EU.

ConclusionMy opinion is that advertising is fine, if it is in moderation.

 

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here |

Parambir is now going to Canada thanks to finally passing the IELTS exam. 

After getting feedback he realised his essays were: 

* taking too long to write * had too many ideas * sounded too intelligent

He solved this by: 

* getting feedback on his essays* switching to the computer based test format * writing essay after essay after essay (to improve his writing speed). 

Parambir took his exam and achieved: 

L8.5 R9 W7 S7

Well done Parambir!

Take a look at our online IELTS course to help you pass IELTS!

 

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

 

Learning a new language is never easy, there are so many skills that you have to work on improving.

In our episode this week, we look at ways that you can improve your reading skills.

We will:

Discuss common problems students face

Look at strategies to improve your speed and comprehension

Share some tools and techniques to apply

For the full comprehensive article, click here: https://www.ieltspodcast.com/improve-english-reading-skills/

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

In this tutorial we cover:

* Understand the questions and context for the letter in general task 1.

* Think about what to write – how to use the prompts that you are given in the question rubric.

* Work out how creative to be? Is it ok to make up lots of strange facts and information?

* Understand how to Start and how to Finish your letters – this is so important and at IELTS level you cannot make mistakes on this!

And finally …

* How to get your letter in a logical order which will help your coherence.

* How to use great grammar but make it sound natural

I am really enjoying marking so many of your amazing letters – they are intelligent, clever, accurate, creative and sometimes so funny that I am laughing while I am correcting them- thank you all for those ones!

However, I feel that letter writing is sometimes an area which is a bit neglected – that means not focused on enough- and in this two part tutorial I am going to look at the main types of letters which come up in the IELTS exam, help you think about the CONTEXT (the situation) the CONTENT (what to write ) and the REGISTER (the level of formality) needed for IELTS letters and share with you some KEY functional language which you will need for these kinds of letters!

You can see the  letter questions I am going to talk about (and a few extra ones as a bonus) on the website page which links to this Podcast.

Let’s start with an overview of General Training Task 1 for those of you who are not familiar with it. You will be asked to write a letter – this could be to

* Request information

* Give personal or factual information

* Explain a problem or situation

* Explain wants or needs / make a request

* Complain about a service

* Make a suggestion or recommend something.

All these letters require what we call ‘functional language’ which is specifically the kind of language used to perform certain tasks for example:

I am writing to complain about … / I am writing with reference to… / I would be grateful if you could answer a few questions for me…. It is very important to build up a list of these phrases and learn them before your exam. Each essay will require different phrases and I will show you some as we go along! You can find a really great list of all these important phrases on our website. 

The instructions will say

You should spend about 20 mins on this task. Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses and it may tell you to begin your letter Dear Sir or Madam, but this is not always the case.

Marking – your letter will be marked according to Task Achievement – does your letter answer all parts of the question? Are all your ideas relevant?

Coherence and Cohesion – are your ideas well organised, clear and well connected?

Lexical resource– Have you avoided repeating the same words and copying words from the question – this means paraphrasing and we talk about this a lot both in Task 1 and Task 2 questions.

Grammatical range and accuracy– have you made any grammatical mistakes and shown a good range of grammatical structures? Incidentally – very common mistakes in letters are in the use of tenses and prepositions and we will look at this later.

So, here are the instructions for the first letter I want to look at:

IELTS for UKVI is an official UK government approved English language test that can be used in support of a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) application. 

There have been a lot of questions surrounding this topic, so in our latest tutorial, we will:

* Explain exactly what is UKVI* Talk about IELTS for UKVI and the requirements to work in the UK* Discuss the requirements to study in the UK* Talk about EU and Brexit Requirements

To read our full comprehensive guide, click here: https://www.ieltspodcast.com/ukvi/

 

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

In this tutorial we answer MORE Speaking parts 2 and 3 questions recently seen in the IELTS exam. Read through our list of IELTS speaking Sample questions.

Cue Card (Part 2)

Describe a place in your city that you would like to visit

You should say:

– where it is

– what people do there

– how you know it

– and explain why you want to go there

Useful phrases to use:

* apparently

* venue

* Although, I’m not entirely sure to be honest

* I heard

I would love to talk about a place in London. London isn’t strictly my city because I’m from the North, however, there is a place that I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time.

It’s called the Rooftop Gardens, apparently, they are owned by a successful business man called Richard Branson. He apparently got refused for entering this venue because of his looks.

So he returned the next day and bought it!

I think it’s a casual cafe, and a restaurant in the evening. Although, I’m not entirely sure to be honest. I think they also might hold private events and parties. I heard it’s really popular in London, and it’s usually full, I also heard it has rather sporadic opening times.

I know about these gardens because my mum went there a few times when she lived in London. She explored a lot of the city and told me numerous times all of the new spots she had found. When my mum lived in the capital, she loved exploring it. Everyday she would explore a new neighbourhood, a new restaurant, a new museum.

I’d really like to go there because I’m a keen plant enthusiast, and there are supposed to be lots of flowers, tropical plants, and exotic trees up there. It’s also rather unique to have a large botanical garden on the roof of skyscraper. Also, this rooftop garden has been on my bucket list for long time!

And that’s my talk about a place I’d like to visit, I hope you liked it.

Discussion (Part 3)

What kinds of tourist sites are popular in your country?

Useful phrases to use

* so to speak

* It’s difficult to say because

* for example

 The tourist sites that are popular in my country are probably the ones associated with “Englishness”, so to speak. Perhaps these would include Big Ben, the little tea cottages, and of course Trafalgar Square. It’s difficult to say because I haven’t lived there for a while. There are also a lot of areas classed as having outstanding natural beauty, for example the White Cliffs of Dover, and perhaps even the Yorkshire Dales. Personally, I prefer visiting these types of areas, in the countryside.

What can governments do to prevent pollution in tourist sites?

I’ve never actually thought about this to be honest

I’ve never actually thought about this to be honest, I guess they could educate the tourists before they arrive in the area. They could also place more litter bins around the areas. I think also the tourist sites could be better managed, for example, the government could clearly mark the paths to be taken, or even limit it to guided tours -this would reduce the amount of people and most likely reduce the amount of pollution. But it isn’t an easy problem to solve.

What are the advantages of visiting less known places?

* Well, to start with

* One last advantage

I love visiting less known places. Well, to start with, there are considerably less tourists around. You probably have more chance to meet the locals, and even interact with them, depending on the languages you speak though. These areas are probably considerably cheaper too. For example, a few years ago I went to Lviv in Ukraine, and it was extremely cheap, and also a beautiful beautiful city, with hardly any tourists.

In this podcast you will learn how Demi managed to boost his writing score from 6 to 7.7, despite some horrible advice from his local academy. 

Demi also scored Band 8 in the reading, and shares his great strategy (surprisingly simple). 

With his Band 7.5 in the writing he now has enough points to apply to work in the UK as a doctor after taking our IELTS course. 

Well done Demi! 

 

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

Make passing your IELTS exam one of your New year’s resolutions!

We recently published a post explaining the 7 reasons WHY you should pass IELTS in 2021! Read it here

In our tutorial today, we share some advice on HOW to prepare for your IELTS exam!

In this episode you will find out:

Ben’s best advice to prepare for your IELTS exam

How to identify your weak points and focus on improving them

How getting feedback in your writing and speaking will help you improve your band score

Read some of our latest success stories from 2020 here.

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

|Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

In this tutorial you will learn:

* How to efficiently prepare for IELTS Speaking Part 1.

This will help you in your IELTS Speaking exam because:

* You will learn practical tips for IELTS Speaking Part 1 preparation.

* You will learn how to avoid the most typical mistakes many test-takers make in Speaking Part 1.

IELTS Speaking is a short but somewhat demanding exam section, which, if approached with the right amount of preparation, can be an absolute breeze! In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about Part 1 of the Speaking exam, and namely structure, content, stress management, evading typical errors, and practical tips to achieve a good score.

* Remember that it is important to manage your stress before the exam. If your mind is peaceful your speaking quality will soar!

When you are less stressed, you speak more coherently, remember better examples and detail and feel genuine and energetic, which is a huge benefit for your Speaking score.

Tips for efficient stress management: 

* Think of the exam as an interesting conversation with a new classmate/co-worker.

* You know what the exam is like, that’s why there’ll be no surprises.

* Don’t try to correct yourself, if only winds you up and freaks you up too. Just go on.

* Embrace the questions. It’s a chance to show what you know and love.

* When you feel the tension build up, try to slow down.

* If you’re stuck at some specific word, replace it with a basic synonym and move on.

Make sure you know what the exam is like because when you know what awaits you, you are less likely to be stressed.

* Duration: 10 – 15 minutes

* IELTS Speaking Exam Structure

* Part 1 (4–5 minutes) short questions about yourself and everyday situations.

* Part 2 (3–4 minutes) one – to two-minute talk, based on your own experience, on a simple topic provided on a cue card.

* Part 3 (4–5 minutes) general but more abstract questions on topics related to Part 2 topic.

* What is the test like? – there’s ONE examiner who will ask you questions and record the entire exam session. THAT is very important: many candidates are often shocked by the fact that they are recorded during the exam and freak out, which leads to poorer scores.

* What should your general approach to the test be? – Follow the examiner’s instructions, listen carefully and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something. Speak clearly and answer only the questions that you are asked. Don’t add irrelevant, off-topic information! Don’t come with pre-memorized answers because the examiner will know it and you will lose marks.

* How is the IELTS Speaking test marked? – You answer will be assessed using a 9-band scale applied to 4 aspects of your language: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and accuracy and pronunciation. You get 4 marks for each of these criteria, which are then calculated into the final Speaking score.

Now more specifically IELTS Speaking Part 1 contains familiar information questions, which means that everything you will be asked deals with things about yourself – your background, origin, preferences, hobbies, etc.

This is done to assess if you can sustain conversation about yourself in trivial, everyday situations.

It is certainly the easiest part of the Speaking exam and works as a warm-up for the following Speaking sections – Part 2 (the long turn with cue cards) and Part 3 (more abstract analytical questions).

Now here is the complete list of our tips and rec...