IELTS Vocabulary: paraphrasing

Let's review the paraphrasing that I used in Thursday's lesson:

the pie charts compare = the pie charts give information about

water usage = the water used

water usage = water is consumed

the rest of the world = the world as a whole

the rest of the world = worldwide

for residential purposes = by homes

San Diego and California = two American regions

Remember: Paraphrasing is considered to be a 'high level' language skill. The ability to

say or write the same thing in several different ways is the sign of an 'advanced'
language user.

IELTS Vocabulary: weekly review

Have you noted down the following good vocabulary from this week's lessons?

should do the trick (informal) = should be enough

resist the urge to

ramble on (informal) = say too much

dive right in (informal) = go straight to

with the sole aim of

maximising profit

a wider role to play in society

treat employees well, rather than exploiting them

pay a "living wage"

ensure that they have a good quality of life

use a proportion of their profits

support local charities

environmental projects

education initiatives

minimise tax payments

accounting loopholes

contribute to society

in the world as a whole

accounts for the vast majority of

they've used up their energy

leave a good impression on someone

IELTS Vocabulary: paraphrasing and comparisons

Did you notice the paraphrasing that I used in Thursday's lesson?

the amount of time = the time spent

10 to 15-year-olds = aged between 10 and 15

chatting on the Internet = chatting online = chat online = engage in online

conversation

playing on games consoles = playing computer games = play on their consoles

more popular = boys favour = girls prefer

the majority of = most of them = most girls

and the comparisons that I made?

...is more popular than...

Boys favour... / By contrast, girls prefer...

while 85% of boys..., only 55%...

close to 70% of girls..., compared to about 50% of this cohort who...

most of them..., whereas most...

IELTS Vocabulary: band 7-9 phrases

Did you note down these good phrases from Wednesday's lesson?

it is an abstract concept with no definite meaning

it can mean or represent

depending on a person's age, culture or background

a feeling of pleasure in a particular moment

a state of mind

adults equate happiness with...

health, security, financial stability or success

we seek contentment

in our own individual ways

If you want to write at a band 7-9 level, vocabulary is the key!

IELTS Grammar: mistakes with the passive

In which of these sentences is the passive used correctly?
1. The amount of rainfall was increased last month.
2. An increase in rainfall was seen last month.
3. The UK was experienced an increase in rainfall.
4. Rainfall has been reduced this year.
5. Income tax has been reduced this year.

IELTS Grammar: corrected (simplified) sentences

Here are my suggestions for correct, simplified versions of the sentences in yesterday's
lesson:
1. People who live in cities face various problems.
2. The problems that urban inhabitants face include a high cost of living, social
problems, and poor air quality.
3. People who live in cities face various problems.
4. People who live in urban areas face various challenges.
5. City life is much more challenging than many people are led to believe.
Notes:

Sentences 1 and 3 were trying to communicate the same simple idea, so I used
the same easy sentence for both.

Notice that I removed the words 'dwelling' and 'denizen'. Don't try to show off
with difficult words in your introduction.

Notice how the verb 'face' is used: A face(s) B. For example: people face
problems.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

Can you see the mistakes in the following topic sentences?
1. On the one hand, people facing different situation living in a city.
2. The problems that urban inhabitants may face with are high cost of living, many
kinds of social problems as well as poor air quality.
3. People dwelling in cities are facing different kind of issues every day.
4. On the one hand, the denizen need to face the challenge life in urban sprawl.
5. The fantasy of high standard city life is infact faced with reality of many daily
challenges.

IELTS Vocabulary: essay analysis

Did you analyse the essay in Wednesday's lesson? Here are some good phrases that
you could try to use yourself:

seen as places of opportunity

major drawbacks

a large metropolis

the average inhabitant

the cost of living

urban areas, rural areas

high crime and poverty rates

the air quality is poor

public transport systems are overcrowded

take steps to tackle these problems

affordable housing

ban vehicles

promote the use of cleaner public transport

traffic congestion, a congestion charge

curb the traffic problem

provincial towns

reduce the pressure on

implement a range of measures

enhance the quality of life

Remember that 'topic vocabulary' is the key to a high score in writing task 2.

IELTS Vocabulary: 'less common' not 'advanced'

In the comments below Wednesday's lesson, a few people said that they didn't see any
"advanced" vocabulary* in my essay. But examiners are not looking for "advanced"
vocabulary; they are looking for "less common" vocabulary.
"Less common" vocabulary means words and phrases that most students wouldn't think
to use in their essays. For example, in the first line of my essay, I used the verb "to
rival". You might know the noun "rival", but have you ever used it as a verb? This is not
an "advanced" word, but it is certainly less commonly used by IELTS candidates, and
the examiner would be impressed to see it used in this way.
Here are the "less common" phrases from my essay:

the Internet is beginning to rival newspapers

the traditional press

vital source of information

the Internet age

traditional means of communicating

rural areas

the ability or opportunity to get online

trusted as reliable sources

employ professional journalists and editors

news in real time

gadgets and mobile devices

contribute with our own updates on social media

an explosion in the use of platforms

Note:
Although you probably understand the phrases above, most candidates would
not use them in their essays.
*I never use the terms "advanced vocabulary" or "difficult vocabulary". Anyone can find
a "big" word in the dictionary and translate it. The difficult skill is to use words together
in collocations and phrases.

IELTS Vocabulary: useful phrases

I used some good phrases in yesterday's letter task. Even if you're doing the academic
IELTS test, I recommend that you note them down.

at short notice

made the spontaneous decision

to eat out

we could not have chosen a better restaurant

the ceremony had taken place

my friends and I

we were relieved to have finally (+ past participle)

we were in good hands

friendly and obliging

such a memorable evening

Task:
Think about how you could use these phrases in your speaking test.

IELTS Vocabulary: 'less common' phrases

Did you note down the following 'less common' phrases from the description that I wrote
yesterday? Could you use these phrases in your own sentences?

each episode featured

spectacular footage

it was broadcast

the DVD box set

it was advertised repeatedly

it was aired (means 'it was shown on TV')

the trailers were eye-catching

incredibly beautiful images

the voice of the narrator

stunning photography

global scope

to film such interesting creatures in so many locations

opened my eyes to the hidden wonders of our planet

Note:
The phrase 'less common vocabulary' (or 'uncommon lexical items') is used in the
examiner's mark scheme. It refers to any vocabulary that examiners don't expect most
candidates to use. But this doesn't mean 'difficult' words; it means the kind of 'natural'
phrases that native speakers use. A good example is "DVD box set" - this isn't a difficult
phrase, but it's something that English learnersmight not be expected to use.

IELTS Vocabulary: weekly review

Did you note down the good vocabulary from this week's lessons? Here's a list of some
of the best words and phrases. Try using them to make your own sentences.

erratically

precipitation

mishandling, bungling

convenient, handy

certain key subject areas

the courses of their choice

from a personal perspective

on the societal level

job opportunities, career progression, better salaries

knowledge and skill gaps are covered

greater future prosperity

passionate about what they are learning

value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills

if this were the case

I personally prefer the current system in which...

IELTS Vocabulary: from yesterday's lesson

Here's some of the good vocabulary that I used in yesterday's speaking lesson. Would
you be able to use these phrases in your own sentences? If you're not sure, look the
phrases up in a dictionary, or use Google to search for examples of their use.

local neighbourhood

pedestrianisation

traffic diverted

clogs up the main street

congestion, noise and pollution

pressure from local people

bring a problem to light

a campaign by residents

come up with some possible designs

a bypass

blocked off

quality of life

outdoor seating

a safer and more pleasant place

a positive knock-on effect

IELTS Vocabulary: investigate!

Whenever you see a new word or phrase, it's a good idea to investigate. By this I mean
that you should search for the word or phrase online, and see how it is used in a variety
of sentences.
For example, take this phrase from yesterday's lesson: "I'm not one for...". If you
search for this phrase on Google, you'll see examples like:

I'm not one for complaining, but...

I'm not one for writing reviews, but...

I'm not one for settling for mediocrity.

I'm not one for love songs.

I'm not one for celeb news.

I'm not one for too much structure.

I think you need to see five or more examples of a new phrase before you start to really
see how you could use it yourself. Can you see any 'rules' for the phrase "I'm not one
for"? Can you explain what it means? Can you use it in your own sentences?

IELTS Vocabulary: from this week

Here are some good words and phrases from this week's blog lessons:

an exact replica

a mock-up

to gauge

painstaking work

hands-on experience

priceless

outdated

a career for life

fixed roles of men and women

take pride in your work

the Hollywood formula

a popular subject for film-makers

share the experience

replicate that cinema atmosphere

Did you notice that the noun 'replica' and the verb 'replicate' both appeared in this
week's lessons, and in very different contexts?

IELTS Speaking: verb tenses and vocabulary

In yesterday's lesson I asked you to find examples of verb tenses and good vocabulary
in my sample answer about a film that I would like to see.
Here are examples of different verb tenses that I used:

Future with 'going to': its going to be called Spectre

Future with 'will': I dont know exactly what it will be about

Present simple for the future: when it comes out later this year

Present simple: I think Spectre refers to...

Present perfect (active): I've seen the official trailer

Present perfect (passive): hasn't been released yet

Past simple: I saw in the news

Past continuous: when I was watching the news

Here are some examples of 'band 7-9' vocabulary:

when it comes out (meaning: when it is released)

refers to the name of

the imaginary criminal organisation

hasnt been released yet

on a mission to save the world

an arch-criminal

a plot line involving lots of twists and turns

to defeat his nemesis

the official trailer

cast to play supporting roles

James Bond films are always big news

action scenes and special effects

take place in spectacular locations

unrealistic, you could even say ridiculous

like a roller-coaster ride

IELTS Vocabulary: weekly review

This week's lessons contained some good vocabulary. Here are some of the words and
phrases that you could put in your notebook:

cartography

symptoms manifested

fundamental things

balance, symmetry and repetition

soul-destroying

rigid, bleak, relentless, harsh

established film industries

huge budgets, big-budget films

shoot scenes in spectacular locations

Hollywood blockbusters

global appeal

they star the most famous actors

made by the most accomplished producers

suffers in comparison

in theory, in practice

made a mess of (informal)

the core of

the point at which

IELTS Vocabulary: weekly review

Do you keep a notebook for useful words and phrases? And do you review the
vocabulary in it regularly?
For example, here's a quick review of some useful vocabulary from the last seven days
of lessons on this blog:

compile a list

build a repertoire

the current generation of language learners

don't know how lucky they are

they have the Internet at their disposal

they have access to videos, podcasts and audiobooks

they have the chance to immerse themselves in the language

to take advantage of

overuse of a word

the charts compare three countries in terms of...

dispose of harmful waste

hazardous materials

are buried underground / are recycled

know the basics

rely on pre-prepared meals

that would surely be a good thing

Remember: Understanding a word is not the same as being able to use it. Practise
using the phrases above in your own sentences.

IELTS Vocabulary: from this week's essay

Did you write down the good vocabulary from the essay that I shared on Wednesday?
Here are the 'band 7-9' words, collocations and phrases that I used:

are increasingly likely to

take on the role of househusband

breadwinners

equal rights movements

made great progress

gain qualifications

pursue a career

become socially acceptable

the rising cost of living

marriage partners

starting a family

personal preference

should be seen as progress

equal opportunities

put under pressure

sacrifice their careers

assume childcare responsibilities

parental role

their particular circumstances and needs

wider changes in society

these developments are desirable

Try writing your own full sentences using each vocabulary item above.

IELTS Vocabulary: future plans

Here are the band 7-9 phrases from yesterday's lesson. Remember that I'm not trying to
use strange or difficult words; I'm trying to speak in a natural way, using 'native speaker'
collocations and phrases.

a future aim of mine

the plot would be fictional

influenced by some of my own experiences, ideas and views

I might suddenly be inspired

a vague objective

time, commitment and passion

to set a goal

Ive always wondered how

create a work of fiction

bringing a story to life

follow in the footsteps of my favourite authors

IELTS Vocabulary: band 7-9 phrases

Let's review the vocabulary that I used in yesterday's speaking lesson. Here are the
phrases that I think would impress an examiner:

volunteer to run activity clubs

help out (phrasal verb)

residential homes for elderly people

support people living below the poverty line

there isnt a scale of importance when it comes to helping others

all forms of help are positive

experience difficult times

run the risk of losing our jobs

people help others because they empathise with them

Its impossible to generalise about...

from one generation to the next

judge or compare how altruistic people are

IELTS Vocabulary: less common phrases

Here is some 'less common' vocabulary from yesterday's lesson:

defeat the other player

trapping his King... checkmate

portable chess set

the chance to hone my skills

I made it onto the school team

the challenge of thinking ahead

trying to outwit my opponent

a very mysterious and intellectual game

taught me to learn from my losses

to congratulate the person who had beaten me

IELTS Vocabulary: review

Let's review the useful vocabulary that we've seen in this week's lessons:

inconvenient

nearby

surfing the web

an initiative

communal

tuition fees

applicants

surveillance

commonplace

an invasion of privacy

aged (adjective meaning 'elderly')

Would you be able to use all of these words and phrases in your own sentences?

IELTS Vocabulary: nice bits of language!

There were a few nice bits of language that you might have noticed in yesterday's
speaking lesson:

all sorts of things

a certain amount of

I pick up a newspaper most days

I usually have a book on the go

I couldn't put it down

opens the door to all aspects of education

These phrases made my answers sound very natural and "native-speaker-like". Try
using them in your own sentences.

IELTS Grammar: be careful with the 's'

Notice where we put the "s" on the end of a word and where we don't:

Thousands of people watched the show.

Fifty thousand people watched the show.

over a period of ten years

over a ten-year period

The fish weighed 5 kilos.

It was a five-kilo fish.

The boy is three years old.

He is a three-year-old boy.

IELTS Grammar: easy sentences

Here are my suggestions for the sentences in Friday's lesson. Remember, the aim was
to make the sentences as easy as possible.
1. I like learning languages because they help me to communicate with people
from other countries.
2. I do lots of reading in my spare time.
3. If you can speak the local language, it's easier to make friends.
4. Knowing a foreign language can help you to get a better job.
5. The best time to learn another language is when you are young.
6. Learning a foreign language opens your mind and expands your horizons.
7. The more you practise, the easier it becomes to communicate in a new
language.
IELTS vocabulary review

Here's a quick review of the band 7-9 vocabulary from this week's lessons:
- the current generation of language learners
- have the Internet at their disposal
- the chance to immerse themselves in
- upset by
- opposed to... for ethical reasons
- carry out research
- stalls are spread across several sites
- the centrepiece
- an array of
- mouth-watering food and drink
- spilling over into other pedestrian streets
- attracting thousands of visitors
- the fantastic atmosphere
- Manchester seemed to come alive
- the streets were bustling
- there was a real festive feel to the city

IELTS Grammar: cause and effect

Here are some useful phrases for describing causes and effects (for IELTS Writing Task
2 and maybe Speaking Part 3). I'll use the topic of 'global warming' to show how the
phrases work.
1. Cause and Effect
Pollution causes global warming.
Pollution leads to global warming.
Pollution results in global warming.
Pollution is the main cause of global warming.
Factories pollute the atmosphere. As a result, global warming is occurring.
2. Effect and Cause
Global warming is caused by pollution.
Global warming is the result of pollution.
Global warming is due to pollution.
Global warming occurs as a result of pollution.
Notice the different uses of 'result' (results in, is the result of, as a result). Students
make a lot of mistakes with these phrases.

IELTS Grammar: punctuation

Here are some simple rules to help you with punctuation for IELTS writing:
Full stops
Full stops are very important. Put a clear full stop at the end of each sentence, and then
begin the next sentence with a capital letter. If you don't do this, you will get a low score.
Commas
1. When you start a sentence with these words, put a comma after them:
Nowadays, Recently, Firstly, Secondly, Finally, Furthermore, In addition, Also,
However, By contrast, On the other hand, In my opinion, ...
2. We use commas in lists:
e.g. This problem affects individuals, communities and society in general.
3. We don't usually put a comma after the word "that":
e.g. It is clear that the rate of immigration increased.
4. Don't worry about other uses of commas. The use of a comma is often optional
in other situations.

Apostrophes
Avoid contractions in IELTS writing. Use "do not" instead of "don't".
You may sometimes need to show possession e.g. the government's decision.
Other punctuation
You don't really need to use any other punctuation in IELTS writing.
My advice is to avoid trying to use colons and semicolons.

IELTS Grammar: verbs with 'exam'

A lot of students write to me saying "I gave the IELTS test yesterday". Please note that
"give an exam" is not correct.
Don't say:
- I gave an exam.
- I gave the IELTS test.
Do say:
- I took the IELTS exam/test.
- I passed the exam. (i.e. you were successful)
In other words, use "take" not "give".
IELTS Grammar: 'highest' or 'the highest'?

Most grammar books will tell you that you need "the" before a superlative like "highest"
or "lowest", but this is not always true.

We use "the" when there is a noun after the adjective e.g. the highest number, the
highest proportion.

When we put the noun before, we don't need "the" e.g. the number was highest, the
proportion was highest.

So, compare these 2 sentences:

- The UK had the highest rate of unemployment.
- The unemployment rate was highest in the UK.
IELTS Grammar: number, amount, proportion, figure

Somebody asked me about the difference between these 4 words (for IELTS writing
task 1). I'll try to explain some basic ways to use them.

number
- Use "the number of + plural noun" e.g. the number of visitors.
- Don't use it to describe percentages or uncountable nouns e.g. money.
amount
- Use "the amount of + uncountable noun" e.g. the amount of money.
- Don't use it with countable nouns e.g. the amount of person/people.
proportion
- Only use this to describe percentages (not numbers).
- Use "the proportion of + plural noun" e.g. the proportion of people.
figure
- Use "the figure for + plural noun" e.g. the figure for visitors to the UK.
- Use it with uncountable nouns e.g. the figure for unemployment.
- Use it with countries e.g. the figure for Canada.
- Use it with percentages e.g. the figure (for...) rose to 10%.
Note:
If you've read any of my task 1 essays, you'll see that I like "the figure for" because it
can be used in almost any situation.
IELTS Grammar: verb + noun collocations

When deciding whether to give a band 7 in IELTS speaking or writing, one of the things
that examiners look at is your use of collocations.
'Collocation' basically means using the right words together. Many students know a lot
of nouns, but they don't always know the right verbs to use with those nouns.
Here are some useful 'verb + noun' collocations:

to make a mistake (not 'do' a mistake)

to do/carry out/conduct research (not 'make' research, not 'a' research)

to make/take/reach a decision

to have/gain/lack experience

to have/face/experience difficulties

Think about this, especially when you are writing essays. Check in a dictionary to make
sure you have used the right verb with the right noun
IELTS Grammar: while, whilst, whereas, as

Joshua asked me the following question:

"Can you explain while, whilst, whereas, as? Either can be used to connect two
sentences, but I am not sure how to identify them and quite often I use them wrongly."
Here's my simplified explanation:
1. While and whilst are the same, but whilst is a bit more formal (according to one
famous grammar book).
2. Whereas is always used for contrast. While/whilst can be used for contrast, OR to
mean "at the same time".
3. As can mean "because" or "exactly at the moment when".

Try to write an example sentence using each of these words. Feel free to share your
sentences in the "comments" area below.
IELTS Grammar: 'however' and 'whereas'

You can't use 'however' and 'whereas' in the same way. Follow these general rules in
order to avoid grammar mistakes:
Use 'however' (followed by a comma) at the beginning of a sentence to contrast
with the previous sentence:

Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behaviour of their students.
However, others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents.

Use 'whereas' (after a comma) to contrast two ideas in the same sentence:

Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behaviour of their students,
whereas others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents.

You can use 'on the other hand' or 'by contrast' in the same way as 'however'. You can
use 'while' instead of 'whereas'.
IELTS Grammar: 'because of'

Last week I looked at how to use the word 'because'. One of my students then asked
me to explain the difference between 'because' and 'because of'.
Compare these two sentences:
I stayed at home because the weather was bad.
I stayed at home because of the bad weather.

The important difference is the use of the word 'was' in the first sentence. After
'because', you need a subject and a verb (e.g. the weather was). After 'because of', we
don't use a verb, only a noun, nouns or noun phrase.
IELTS Grammar: fall or reduce?

These two words are the opposites of 'rise' and 'raise' (see last week's grammar
lesson):

something falls (e.g. the price fell)

somebody reduces something (e.g. the company reduced the price)

You will probably use 'fall' to describe numbers on a graph or chart for IELTS Writing
Task 1:

In 2008, the number of customers fell. (verb, past)

There was a sharp fall in Internet usage. (noun)

'Reduce' and 'reduction' are probably more useful for Writing Task 2:

We need to reduce the amount of pollution from exhaust fumes. (verb)

Recycling leads to a reduction in waste. (noun)

IELTS Grammar: before or ago?

Don't say: I came to Manchester before two weeks.

Do say: I came to Manchester two weeks ago.
Use "past time + ago"

10 years ago, a long time ago, a few weeks ago, a couple of days ago

Use "before + action / event"

before you left, before we start, before lunch

Don't use "before + past time" (before two weeks, before three days)