Tips/Strategies
What is a "thesis statement," and for what type of question should you write one?
Thesis statement = main argument of your entire essay.
You should use them for questions that ask your opinion!
Tell me 2 objects that can complete the sentence (collocations):
I laid the ___________.
carpet
table
If a graph is rising and falling rapidly over a period of time, it is _______________.
fluctuating
to get
What is the ideal speaking time for TASK 2 of the speaking test?
2 minutes!
If your grammar is PERFECT for the writing section, you still may not get a 9 for the grammar part of the rubric... why not?
Because it also depends on your RANGE of grammar (using different types of sentences)
If you feel fulfilled, you have __________.
fulfillment
If something increases quickly, it ____________, but if it decreases quickly, it ____________.
rockets
plummets
I am (fascinated/fascinating) by different cultures around the world. I find the way people live (interested/interesting) and think it's (excited/exciting) to meet new people.
fascinated
interesting
exciting
Name 3 types of diagrams you may be asked to write about for TASK 1 of the writing section!
charts/graphs
process diagrams
maps
Name the 6 types of sentences you should try to include for any writing task (to improve your grammar score!)
Simple sentence
Compound sentence
Complex sentence
Question
Passive voice sentence
Conditional sentence
What's the difference between "Although" and "Even though?"
Both used for contrast, but "even though" is used for contrast that is surprising, or the opposite of what we expected!
If something stays at the same value over time, it _____________ at that value (one word)
hovers
I'm interested in ___________ (make) different types of art, so I need to learn _____________ (draw) in many different styles. The main things are practicing every day and ______________ (not give) up!
making
to draw
not giving
There are 5 types of questions for TASK 2 of the writing section... name 3 of them!
Opinion (Agree/Disagree)
Advantages/Disadvantages
Problems/Solutions
Discussion (look at both sides of an argument)
Two-part essays (answer 2 different questions)
What are the 3 things you should try to do when paraphrasing something?
1.) Change the vocabulary (use synonyms)
2.) Change the grammar
3.) Change the order of the sentence
Give me 3 conjunction we can use to focus on or highlight specific information.
specifically
particularly
in particular
If something increases over the entire time period, it has an _____________ trend, but if it decreases over the entire time period, it has a _____________ trend.
upward
downward
Last year, Zaw ____________ (decide) to become a famous rapper. He ___________ (not succeed) yet, but while he _____________ (practice), he wrote an entire album of songs.
decided
hasn't succeeded yet
was practicing
Tell me the 4 types of graphs/charts we might see on the IELTS (Writing Task 1)
Bar chart
Line graph
Pie chart
Proportional bar chart
Tell me the 3 types of conjunctions we learned about, and the things each of them connect!
Coordinating: Any 2 parallel structures
Subordinating: Independent and dependent clause (subject + verb)
Adverbial: 2 sentences (usually)
What's the difference between "lay" and "lie"
Lie: You lie down (you do it yourself)... no direct object!
Lay: You put an object down (direct object)
Give me 3 adverbs that mean "almost" (to use if you aren't sure of the value, or it's very close)
virtually
nearly
approximately
While Austin ______________ (play) guitar last week, he lost track of times and was late to class. By the time he ______________ (get) there, everybody _______________ (start) already.
was playing
got
had started
Name 4 things about your pronunciation that are considered by the rater during your IELTS speaking test.
Word stress
Syllable stress
Intonation
Chunking
Correct pronunciation of vowel sounds and consonant sounds