Category: Academic Training

IELTS Academic training guide for students who desire to  migrate abroad for their higher education. Access IELTS online classes and material through our Free IELTS Resources and achieve Band 7.

  • IELTS Speaking Part 3: What to Expect?

    IELTS Speaking Part 3: What to Expect?

    IELTS Speaking Part 3 is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to use English flexibly to describe a topic in depth and detail.

    We will be asked to use increasingly complicated functions including guessing, assessing, and justifying ideas and opinions.

    Unlike IELTS Speaking Parts 1 and 2, this section is on abstract and broad ideas rather than you and your life.

    What Can I Expect During the IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Follow up Round?

    What Happens in Part 3?

    After you have finished your ‘long Turn’ That is Part 2 of your IELTS SPEAKING , the examiner goes on to ask you more questions on a topic related to Part 2. 

    For example, if your Part 2 question was – 

    ‘Describe a time when you helped someone’

    In Part 3, you may discuss more about

    • Voluntary work
    • benefits of helping
    • are children involve in charity
    • Do you think there is a difference in the attitude of people towards social service
    • how should schools help children to participate in free services.

    You can find a lot more questions with samples answers For IELTS SPEAKING PART 3.

    How Can I Best Prepare for the IELTS Speaking Part 3

    The IELTS Speaking Part 3 can be a daunting experience, but with the right preparation, you can ace it! Here are a few tips to help you get ready:

    • Familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be asked.
    • Practice answering questions out loud.
    • Time yourself so you know how much time you have to answer each question.
    • Stay calm and stay focused.
    • Anticipate the questions your opponent might ask you.
    • Make sure you know your own weaknesses and strengths.
    • Be prepared to think on your feet.

    What is the duration of IELTS Speaking Part 3?


    Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking Exam lasts 4 to 5 minutes. Typically, the examiner will ask 4 to 6 questions.

    Some of the questions are scripted, however the examiner may also ask spontaneous (made up) questions depending on your previous response.

    You must provide longer responses than in Part 1. Your responses might run anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds.

    How Should I Respond to IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions?


    Part 3 follows immediately after Part 2, and you have little time to relax, so you must remain calm while being focused.

    To properly answer Part 3 questions, you must provide lengthier responses and expand your views.

    There are other techniques to developing your ideas, but my favourite is to follow these three phases (O.R.E.) and present your answer.

    Opinion – A clear opinion must be present

    Reasoning- Why you believe so

    Example – refer to any fictitious or real time example

    So, let’s say the examiner asks 

    How have Learning changed in recent years

    You might say,

    ‘Well, I’d say the biggest change is it has moved online’ (opinion)

    ‘Because of the upsurge in technology many educational institutes are resorting to online education which is no doubt convenient and offers huge range of courses to students to choose from’ (reason)

    ‘For example, After pandemic my university started accepting students overseas for online programmes, which is actually great ’ (example) 

    This structure will assist you in developing your themes for improved fluency, as well as developing more complex structures (by having more clauses) and so producing higher level grammar.

    What Are Some Common Mistakes Made During the IELTS Speaking Part 3

    When you’re preparing for the IELTS Counter Questions Round, it’s important to be aware of the most common mistakes people make. Here are a few of them:

    Not preparing enough : This is probably the biggest mistake people make. If you don’t know the answers to the questions, you’re going to get flustered and waste valuable time. Make sure you know what to expect and practice as many questions as possible.

    Not paying attention : This is a big one too. When the interviewer is asking you questions, you need to be paying attention and not thinking about your response. If you’re not focused, you’re going to miss key information and make mistakes.

    Answering too quickly : Sometimes people get so nervous they start answering questions before they’ve even had a chance to think about them. This is never a good idea—you need to take your time and make sure your answers are correct.

    Not listening carefully : This is just as important as paying attention. Sometimes people hear what they want to hear instead of what’s actually being said. Make sure you’re listening carefully to the question and giving accurate answers.

    How Can I Avoid Making These Mistakes?

    So, you’re about to take your IELTS test. Congratulations! This is an important milestone in your academic journey. But before you go into the exam room, there are a few things you need to know.

    First of all, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re not sure about something, don’t hesitate to ask the examiner. They’re there to help you, and they want you to do well on the test.

    Second, try to avoid making these mistakes:

    • Don’t speak too quickly
    • Don’t use slang
    • Don’t interrupt the examiner
    • if you don’t know the answer, try to talk related too topic

    Part 3 Sample Questions

    Because IELTS Speaking Part 3 is more of a genuine flowing discussion, you never know what questions you may get. Sometimes the examiner will make up questions in response to what you have stated.

    At the same time, it is beneficial to be familiar with the kind of questions that may be asked in Part 3.

    Here are some examples of IELTS Speaking Part 3 question types you can encounter.

    QUESTIONS

    1. How has ___ changed in recent years?
    2. How will ___ change in future?
    3. How could we make ___ better?
    4. Why do people do ___?
    5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ___?

    EXAMPLES

    1. How has Games changed in recent years? 
    2. How do you think the reading will change in future? 
    3. How could we make our choices  better? 
    4. Why do people people forget things
    5. What are the pros and cons of using Gadgets

    IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions Types

    Because IELTS Speaking Part 3 is more of a genuine flowing discussion, you never know what questions you may get. Sometimes the examiner will make up questions in response to what you have stated.

    At the same time, it is beneficial to be familiar with the kind of questions that may be asked in Part 3.

    Here are some examples of IELTS Speaking Part 3 question types you can encounter.

    Animal
    Wild animals, hunting and extinction, zoos, pets, animals in research
    Home
    Buying and renting homes, types of accommodation, children leaving home, decorating homes, local community
    Sport
    Fitness, gyms, benefits, equipment, extreme sports, Olympic Games, international competitions
    Technology
    Artificial Intelligence, the Internet, safety, computers, mobile phones, stress, robots, social media 
    Cities
    Traffic, city planning, city versus countryside, advantages, pollution, noise pollution, green spaces
    Environment.
    Global warming, pollution, animals becoming extinct, wildlife protection, deforestation, companies responsibility, individual versus government role
    Photography
    Taking photos, storing photos, photos as an art form, photos at home, professional photos, selfies
    Weather
    Global warming, seasons, extreme weather, impact on life, weather forecasts
    Work
    Popular jobs, jobs for the future, robots, salaries, men-women equality, work-life balance
    News
    Local versus international, online news, newspapers, reliability, fake news, getting news, family news, journalism
    Transportation
    Public versus private, advantages and disadvantages, transport in the future, electric cars,
    Clothes
    Fashion, buying online clothes, clothes industry, brand names

    Conclusion

    You’re probably wondering what to expect in the IELTS Speaking Part 3 .

    Well, don’t worry – we’re here to help. In this round, you’ll be asked to respond to a question with a counter-question. This is a great opportunity to show off your critical thinking skills and debating abilities.

    The key to success in this round is to stay calm and think strategically. Be prepared to back up your arguments with evidence, and make sure your responses are clear and concise.

    Good luck!

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  • How to Improve Your IELTS Essay Score ?

    How to Improve Your IELTS Essay Score ?

    You’ve just been given your IELTS essay score and it’s not what you were hoping for. Don’t worry, there are still a few things you can do to improve it quickly.

    Here are a few tips to help you improve your IELTS essay score:

    1. Read the question carefully and make sure you understand it before you start writing.
    2. Make sure your essay is well organized and well written.
    3. Use strong, relevant examples to support your points.
    4. Make sure your grammar and spelling are correct.
    5. Proofread your essay carefully before submitting it.
    6. Practice, practice, practice! The more you write, the better your score will be.
    7. Get feedback from others and learn from their mistakes.

    Follow these tips and you’ll see an improvement in your IELTS essay score in no time!

    Introduction: What Is the IELTS Essay and Why Is It Important?

    The IELTS essay is an important part of the IELTS exam. It’s your opportunity to show that you can communicate effectively in English. The essay is worth 25% of your total score, so it’s important to do well.

    But don’t worry, you can improve your score quickly if you know what to do. Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be on your way to getting the score you need.

    What Are the Main Criteria for the IELTS Essay?

    When you’re writing your IELTS essay, there are three main criteria that your score will be based on:

    1. Task Achievement – how well you completed the task
    2. Coherence and Cohesion – how well your essay is written and how well it flows
    3. Lexical Resource – the range and accuracy of your vocabulary
    4. Grammatical Range And Accuracy – Using correct grammar and adding range of sentence structures.

    How to Quickly Improve Your IELTS Essay Score

    Tips, on the other hand, are an incredibly important and worthwhile component of this test. Tips are required to inform you of the most difficult and easiest sections of the paper. You can begin your preparation by following the instructions.

    Overall, the guidelines give a foundation for the applicants’ preparatory path. It teaches them what to do and how to accomplish it. Let us now move on to tried and true ways for increasing your IELTS writing score.

    Many tips are provided below to help you feel confident and at ease with the IELTS exam. It will provide you with information about the beginning and perfect structure of your answers in order for you to impress the examiners and obtain high scores.

    Read the Statement thoroughly.


    This is critical because if you don’t read accurately, you won’t be able to answer the questions precisely. All applicants must ensure a thorough reading the question. Dont miss to keep track of the keywords, so that you response to the task precisely. This will assist you in processing the meaning of the text. You will comprehend every aspect and become skilled at providing a response.

    Make a rough outline of the essay.


    A basic framework makes it easier to conceive ideas and put them into action. This may appear to be an extra step, but if you have a clear sense of how to approach the issue, it will be quite easy to expand on that.

    The rough style allows you to easily and precisely transfer your ideas to paper. You can begin writing after first thinking and developing thoughts. It will quicken your writing rate and allow you to include all of the important details.

    Make Use of a Variety of Linking Words

    Linking words is the simplest basic and grammatically correct way to link ideas, sentences, or phrases in a piece of writing. You must show the examiner a variety of linking terms that are contextually suitable.

    Watch out for misspelt words and grammar mistakes.

    Nothing ruins an essay more than grammatical mistakes and misspelt words. You must have a keen eye to ensure that your sentences are free of grammatical and stylistic errors, and that your spellings are perfect.

    Using Range in grammatical structures

    Adding variety in grammatical structures showcase your flexibility in using the language. Using various structures like conditionals, clauses, complex structure, compound structures etcetera sophistically can take your band score in writing to 8.

    Read Sample Essays and Get Feedback from expert

    When you’re preparing for the IELTS test, it’s important to get feedback on your essays. That’s why we’ve included a few sample essays in this guide, as well as feedback from our expert team.

    We’ve also highlighted some of the common mistakes people make when writing essays, so you can avoid them yourself. And lastly, we’ve included a few tips to help boost your essay score.

    So what are you waiting for? Start reading!

    Conclusion

    Follow these simple steps to improve your IELTS essay score and get the result you need.

    First of all, read the question carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked. Then, plan your essay carefully before you start writing, making sure you include all of the key points. Be clear and concise in your writing, and make sure your grammar and spelling are perfect. Finally, proofread your essay thoroughly before submitting it.

    If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to improve your IELTS essay score quickly and easily.

  • IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic: Tips to Improve the Score and Get 7+ Bands

    IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic: Tips to Improve the Score and Get 7+ Bands

    In the IELTS test, as per many surveys, the most challenging component of all is IELTS Writing task. The module consists of two tasks, but first, we will look at IELTS Writing Task 1 of Academic and the effective tips and strategies to score a high of band 7 or more.

    Academic writing task  of the IELTS exam requires you to write a report on a data set presented in the form of a graph, table, chart, diagram, or process. You will have 20 minutes to complete the task, and you have to write your answer in at least 150 words to get the score you need.

    Before presenting your report on the given task, you need to understand what the examiner wants from Academic writing task 1.

    Know the Marking Criteria

    The best way to boost your score in writing is to know the marking criteria for each band.

    The following is IELTS writing task 1 band descriptors which you can follow to score a perfect band 8 in your IELTS writing task 1 Academic and accomplish the correct form of a report.

    IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors

    IELTS Writing Task

    There are four factors: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy

    Observe the chart; there are four factors: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy. The examiner marks your score considering these four factors, and therefore each element is 25% worth your total marks.

    While we go through the marking criteria, I will provide you with essential tips to improve each factor.

    • Task Achievement – In this part, the examiner ensures whether your answer covers all the task requirements or not. For instance, for a band 8, you need to satisfy all the task requirements sufficiently, but if you clearly meet full specifications, you get a high-scoring band 9.
    • Coherence and Cohesion – You need to be attentive to your writing style as you reach to complete your task. Under Coherence and Cohesion, the examiner assesses your logical arrangement of ideas, paragraphing, progression, and use of cohesion between sentences being faulty or mechanical. To improve your IELTS writing task 1 Academic be attentive to what you are bringing on the paper.
    • Lexical Resource – Assessment considering Lexical resource monitors your use of vocabulary. Having said that, you must avoid using word choice or word-formation inaccurately. Using a wide range of vocabulary with natural control of lexical features is a must for a band 8 or 9.
    • Grammatical range and accuracy – As IELTS is an exam to test your English language skills, the writing part examines the text for flexible sentence structures. The use of complex and compound sentences, collocations and error-free grammar will aid you to get the best possible score.

    Plan before you write

    A practical tip to boost your score in IELTS Writing task 1 is to plan. While you plan what you are going to write, make a checklist of:

    The main idea of the diagram and jot down the key features to relate to what you are asked [Task Achievement]. For example, in the following diagram, “British emigration to selected destinations for years 2004 -2007” is highlighted, which is the main idea. The key features are: Owing to British emigration, Australia is the most popular place to move to, the USA has remained between 20-25000 over the given years, In 2005 though the number of emigrates spiked in France it is the least popular to move to the destination.

    British emigration to selected destinations for years 2004 -2007” is highlighted

    IELTS Academic Sample

    [Summarize the information & make comparisons where relevant]

    Project the paragraphing structure [Coherence] to structure your paragraphs accurately. Write the essential part first and progress as you go through the diagram. For example, structure your paragraphs from Australia to France and not vice-versa.

    Appropriate vocabulary for repetitive words, Write only words you are confident to correct [Lexical Resourse]. In the task given here, the ratio is either increasing or decreasing. The wide range of vocabulary here could arise, jump to, rise, fluctuate, spiked, high.

    Sentence structure formation and avoiding grammatical errors [Grammatical range and accuracy] help to prepare before writing the text. Use of collocations assists in improved writing style.

    With this checklist, you can do a risk assessment and avoid errors while proceeding with your solution to IELTS Writing Task 1 of the Academic module.

    Read more:-

    Academic Writing Task 1 Sample

    How to prepare for the IELTS exam? 

    IELTS Listening – How to Answer Short Questions?

    How to Boost IELTS Band Scores by Learning Grammar?

    Top 12 IELTS Listening Tips and Tricks to Score a Perfect Band 9

  • Academic Writing Task 1 Sample

    Academic Writing Task 1 Sample

    Directions: You should spend about 20 minutes on Academic Writing task. The graph below shows the lifespan of South African citizens from 1960 to 2015. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

    Academic Writing Example

    Write at least 150 words.

    The line graph displays the expected life span at birth for South African citizens measured in years over a course of 45 years (1960 – 2015) and includes data for both men and women. 

    Overall, the graph indicates an upward progression of increasing life spans among all three categories (Male, Female, and All). This trend rose steadily, peaking around 1992 and then rapidly declined by 2005. At this point, life expectancy began increasing rapidly until all categories recovered in 2015. Another important feature is that men had the highest average life expectancy at birth and women had the least.

     When considering the All category (both males and females), the values for each year were approximately equidistant between the other two categories. Males in 1960 had a life expectancy of 54 years which rose steadily to reach its highest in 2005 (66 years). From there, it drastically declined to approximately 55 years (in 2005). At this point, life expectancy for males increased and recovered by 2015 (around 66 years).


    Women began the period with an expected life span of 50 years. Following a similar pattern as males, life expectancy peaked in 1992 (around 58 years). Just like males, it decreases to its lowest level by 2005 (nearly 50 years). Female life expectancy also recovered and was about 58 years by 2015

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  • Academic Writing Task 1 sample 2

    Academic Writing Task 1 sample 2

    The chart and graph below give information about sales and share prices for Coca-Cola.

    Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.

         » You should write at least 150 words.
         » You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

    Sample Answer

    The pie chart and line graph reveal the global sales ratio of Coca-Cola in 2000 and its share price between 1996 and 2001.

    Overall, It is apparently seen that America was the largest market for this brand. Also the share price of coca cola witnessed an increasing trend despite a minor drop and it was highest in 1998.

    According to the pie chart, Coca-Cola sold 17.1 billion unit case in the year 2000 and more than 55% of this sale was made in North and Latin America collectively, latin america being higher compared to the former. Further, They sold around 20.5 billion unit case in Europe, which was their third largest sales ratio. Asian consumers has market of 16% unit case of Coca-Cola in this year and African and the Middle Eastern citizens together consumed 7% of the total sale in 2000.

    The line graph shows that the share price of this brand was $36 in 1996 and it rapidly increased in the following years. Except in the middle of 1997, the price kept on going up until it reached its peak at around $80 per share in 1998. Hereafter, the price gradually declined and went below $50 in early 2000. Finally, the share price of Coca-Cola stood at around $60 during the mid-2000. 

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  • Academic Writing Task 1 Sample 3

    Academic Writing Task 1 Sample 3

    You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

    Academic Writing Task : The graph shows the revenues City department revenues from 1959-1966. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

    Bar graph depicting Boston revenues from 1959-1965 | Flickr

    Write at least 150 words
    The bar graph illustrates data regarding the city’s income from two different sources (Departmental, the State which includes vehicle tax) for the years 1959 to 1966. Units are measured in tens of millions.

    Overall, the city received much of its income from departmental revenues throughout the entire time period. Moreover, departmental revenues were either double or more than revenue from the state during this period as well. Another interesting feature is that both sources of income rose steadily throughout the six-year period.

    Money collected from the various city departments began at roughly 35 million at the start of the period but dipped the next year to approximately 33 million. From there, it rose until 1962 where it flattened (around 37 million) through 1963. After that year, revenue increased sharply over the next to years to peak at its highest level in 1965 (50 million).

    Also Read : IELTS Listening Tips: Sentence Completion or Fill in the Blanks! Learn with 1 Solve Sample.

    Money paid to the city by the state followed a different trend. In 1966, it was at approximately 12 million and rose until 1961 (around 16 million). Following that year, it dropped slightly in 1962 (nearly 13 million). Then state revenue rose over the course of the next two years, peaking in 1964 at approximately 20 million. From that point, it decreased during 1965 and reached a level similar to that of 1963 (around 15 million)

    Practice More and More for Academic Writing Task.
  • Academic Writing Task 1 Sample 4

    Academic Writing Task 1 Sample 4

    Academic Writing Task: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The maps display the changes made over time in the Village of Stokeford.
    Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

    Chart

    Write at least 150 words (Academic Writing Task)

    The two maps given illustrate how the village of Stockford has changed over a period of 80 years (from 1930 to 2010).


    Overall, Stockford underwent significant changes during the 80 year period. The two most significant changes were the change in land use from agriculture to residential. As a result, all land for farming was changed mostly to residential housing. Moreover, the only facilities that remain still remain are the post office and the school.

    Back in 1930, there was only one road which ran North-South through the village with a side road leading to gardens and a large house to the East.

    North of the Gardens and adjacent to them was a primary school. To the north of the school were 7 houses along the main road (4 on the east side, 3 on the west). Just south of the houses on the west side of the road were two shops that were followed by the post office.

    South of the post office was two houses and opposite these, one house lay adjacent to the gardens in the north. Surrounding this area was farmland. A little south another road branched west of the main road, and it too is lined with houses.

    This all changed by 2010. As mentioned, all farmland was eliminated. Just south of the bridge, a road branched off the main road, and houses were built along with it.

    North of this road are three houses and just south of the east road is one house South of the post office on the opposite side of the main road are several houses that and a road branches eas where the entrance to the gardens was. This road is lined with 4 houses and ends at a retirement home.

    South of the post office, another road branches west and circles back to the main road. This street is also lined with houses and the street returns to the main road just south of the lane that leads to the retirement home. From this point, both sides of the main road are lined with houses.

    Read More :

    Academic Writing Task 1 Sample

    Academic Writing Task 1 sample 2

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