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05/06/2019

IELTS Speaking: advice about errors

Today I want to share some advice

First, here's the question from a student called Vishaal:

Please guide me on how I can reduce the grammatical errors in my speech. Although I reduced these errors significantly in writing, I'm still making quite a few mistakes during the speaking.

And here's the advice from the teacher, sjm (thanks again!):

The only real way is to sit with a native speaker, and ask them to stop you every time you make a grammar error, and give you a correction. You then repeat the correct version back to them.

It is time consuming, but eventually your error rate should drop. The problem with speaking is that errors are often 'fossilised' in the mouth, which means that you are so used to saying them that your mouth has 'memorised' them. You need to almost 'reprogram' your mouth.

An extra tip:

Vishaal's issue is very common, and I completely agree with sjm's advice. But if you don't have a private teacher or native speaker who can help in the way that sjm suggests, your best solution is probably to become better at copying. Instead of trying to translate ideas from your own language, or trying to construct sentences using your knowledge of English grammar, aim to build your sentences using phrases or 'chunks' of language that you know to be correct (because you have seen or heard them being used by native speakers)

IELTS App for learning IELTS: Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hono.ieltswritingiOS link:...
31/10/2018

IELTS App for learning IELTS:
Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hono.ieltswriting
iOS link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ielts-speaking/id1332742436

IELTS application is to provide useful, free preparation materials and resources for self-study about the IELTS exam. IELTS is equipped with offline mode, which allows you to develop your writing techniques while you are actually offline. IELTS app including Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading skills all represented in the sample contents and tips or tricks to solve test lesson.

Recent IELTS Questions

Here are some IELTS exam questions from the last few weeks:

IELTS Writing Task 2:
- Many people claim that massive investment in technology for space exploration is a waste of money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Do the disadvantages of private health care outweigh the advantages?

IELTS Writing Task 1:
- Table about population, birth rate and elderly people
- Bar chart showing how 4 countries deal with waste (landfill, burn, biological treatment, recycling)

IELTS Speaking Part 2:
- Describe a film
- Describe a hobby
- Describe traditional music in your country

Advice:
You don't need to know anything about space exploration for the first question. I would just agree that it's a waste of money, and argue that governments should spend this money on schools, hospitals etc.

IELTS App for learning IELTS:
Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hono.ieltswriting
iOS link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ielts-speaking/id1332742436

31/10/2018

IELTS Reading: true, false, not given

Read the following passage about ancient uses of the word 'talent'.

The word ‘talent’ comes from the Latin word ‘talentum’, meaning a sum of money, and from the Greek ‘talanton’, meaning a unit of money or weight. An ancient Greek talent was 26 kilograms, which was approximately the mass of water required to fill an amphora - an ancient jar or jug.

When used as a measure of money, the word ‘talent’ typically referred to a weight of gold or silver. A Roman talent was around 33 kilograms of gold, while an Egyptian talent was 27 kilograms and a Babylonian talent was 30.3 kilograms. At the current price of around 38 US dollars per gram, a Roman talent of gold would cost roughly 1.25 million dollars.

Another way to calculate the modern equivalent to a talent is from its use in estimating military pay. During the Peloponnesian war in Ancient Greece, a talent was the amount of silver needed to pay the crew of a trireme (a warship requiring about 170 oarsmen) for one month. Alternatively, a talent of silver was said to be equivalent to the value of nine years of one man’s skilled work.

Are the following statements true, false or not given?

For the ancient Greeks, a talent was the weight of water in a particular container.
In modern terms, the Roman talent would be equivalent to a considerable amount of money.
A ‘trireme’ was the name of a group of ancient Greek warriors.
The Greeks were the first people to use the word talent in its modern sense.

IELTS Writing Task 1: verbs for processesLooking at the 'cement process' diagram below, let's think about the verbs that...
31/10/2018

IELTS Writing Task 1: verbs for processes

Looking at the 'cement process' diagram below, let's think about the verbs that we'll need to use. There are various options.
Let's start with the 5 nouns that mark the 5 stages of this process:
crusher, mixer, heater, grinder, bags

We can convert these nouns into passive verb forms:

Limestone and clay are crushed.
The resulting powder is mixed.
It is heated.
Then it is ground.
The final product, cement, is bagged.

Or we can keep the original nouns, and use active or passive verbs:

Limestone and clay are placed in a crusher. (passive)
The resulting powder goes into a mixer. (active)
It then passes through a rotating heater. (active)
The heated mixture is put into a grinder. (passive)
The cement is packaged in large bags. (passive)

Of course, the best approach is to use a mix of the above options:

At the first stage in the production of cement, limestone and clay are crushed to form a powder. This powder is then mixed before it passes into a rotating heater. After heating, the resulting mixture is ground, and cement is produced, Finally, the cement is put in large bags.

IELTS Writing Task 1: process diagram answerHere's my full answer for the process diagram task below.The diagrams below ...
31/10/2018

IELTS Writing Task 1: process diagram answer

Here's my full answer for the process diagram task below.

The diagrams below show the stages and equipment used in the cement-making process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes.
The first diagram illustrates the process of cement manufacture, and the second diagram shows the materials that go into the production of concrete.

It is clear that there are five stages in the production of cement, beginning with the input of raw materials and ending with bags of the finished product. To produce concrete, four different materials are mixed together.

At the first stage in the production of cement, limestone and clay are crushed to form a powder. This powder is then mixed before it passes into a rotating heater. After heating, the resulting mixture is ground, and cement is produced. Finally, the cement is packaged in large bags.

Cement is one of the four raw materials that are used in the production of concrete, along with gravel, sand and water. To be exact, concrete consists of 50% gravel, 25% sand, 15% cement and 10% water. All four materials are blended together in a rotating machine called a concrete mixer.

(160 words, band 9)

31/10/2018

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'dress code' essay skeleton

Here's my 'essay skeleton' for the question below.

Question
Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress, because what matters is the quality of their work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction (balanced opinion)
In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results than on the rules that employees must follow. While I agree that the way people dress should be seen as irrelevant in many work contexts, I believe that dress codes still exist for good reason in certain professions.

Topic sentence, paragraph 2
On the one hand, many employers have stopped telling their staff how to dress, and I see this as a positive trend.

Topic sentence, paragraph 3
However, I would also argue that rules regarding employees' clothing are still relevant or necessary in other work situations.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I support the trend towards relaxed dress codes for workers, but I do not see it as applicable to all occupations or sectors of the economy.

31/10/2018

IELTS Writing Task 2: make your 'position' clear

If you want to get a band 7 or higher for 'task response' (which is 25% of your task 2 score), your "position" needs to be clear "throughout the response".

The means that you need to answer the question clearly and directly in your introduction, explain and support your answer in the main body paragraphs, and repeat (paraphrase) or summarise your answer in the conclusion.

Look at the three introductions below. Do all three of them present a clear "position"? Which introduction would you prefer to use?

Here's the question again:
Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress, because what matters is the quality of their work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction 1
In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results than on the rules that employees must follow. There are strong arguments for both points of view.

Introduction 2
In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results than on the rules that employees must follow. I completely agree with the view that workers should be judged on their work alone, and that they should be allowed to dress however they want.

Introduction 3
In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results than on the rules that employees must follow. While I agree that the way people dress should be seen as irrelevant in many work contexts, I believe that dress codes still exist for good reason in certain professions.

31/10/2018

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'employee dress code' topic

Last week I asked you to think about how we could give a balanced answer to the question below.

Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress, because what matters is the quality of their work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here's my suggestion: start by thinking of real examples.

Are there any companies that allow employees to dress casually or wear whatever clothes they want? Yes. Technology companies like Google and Facebook are famous for their relaxed dress codes. They aim to create an informal, fun and creative environment.
Now let's think about the opposite: In which jobs would casual clothes seem strange or inappropriate? Perhaps we could write about doctors, lawyers, teachers or even sales people. We usually expect these people to dress in a smart and professional manner.

I think these examples help us to see that the way employees dress depends on the type of company or job. This is a good way to give a balanced answer.

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