Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 117
February 18, 2021
How to stop using ‘because’ to quickly improve your IELTS score
Linking words play an important role in IELTS, and examiners pay close attention to the way you are using them. If you watched Adam’s previous video in this blog post, you know that ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and ‘because’ are the 4 linking words that are famously overused.
Last week Adam covered some ways how you can stop saying ‘and’ too much. Today he is talking about ‘because’ and giving you many alternatives to use instead.
Don’t miss a chance to raise your score – simply watch this video, learn and start using the brilliant synonyms Adam recommends in it. He will also teach you how to pronounce them correctly and show you how to use them in a sentence.
Watch the lesson on YouTube, or below:
Here are just a few examples:
Since – Let’s have a cup of coffee since we have a few minutes to wait (instead of ‘because we have a few minutes to wait’).
As – I went to bed early last night as I have my IELTS exam this morning (instead of ‘because I have my IELTS exam this morning’).
In consequence – They lost a lot of money in consequence of some risky investments (instead of ‘because of some risky investments’).
To – I went to the mall to buy a present for my friend (instead of ‘because I wanted to buy a present for my friend’).
Due to – Due to a knee injury, he had to leave the match (instead of ‘because of a knee injury’).
And of course there are more ways to avoid saying ‘because’ in the video.
Happy learning!
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February 17, 2021
IELTS test in the USA – February 2021 (Academic)
Thanks to two caring people who just took their IELTS tests in the USA, here are the questions they remembered:
Listening test
Part 1. A conversion about a theater club.
Questions: Multiple choice, matching information.
Part 2. A talk about the red Squirrel.
Questions: Multiple choice.
Part 3. A student and his school counselor were talking about tourism and university courses.
Questions: Multiple choice, matching information.
Part 4. A lecture about a painter in NY.
Questions: Multiple choice, matching information, table completion.
Reading test
Passage 1. A text on Alfred Nobel.
Questions: True/False/Not Given, sentence completion.
Passage 2. A passage on agroforestry (a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around crops/pastureland).
Questions: True/False/Not Given, matching information.
Passage 3. Brand to last.
Questions: Yes/No/Not Given, sentence completion using words from a box.
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given a chart showing the percentages of men and women who were overweight between 1980 to 2010.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people say that children who find subjects such as mathematics and philosophy difficult do not have to study them at school. These subjects should be optional, not compulsory. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What’s you full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where do you live?
– Do you live in a house or an apartment?
– What do you see from your window?
– Why do you live in a house?
– What does your house look like?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a sports event that you watched live. Please say
– What event it was
– Where it was
– Why you watched it
– And explain how you felt about this event.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What sports are popular in your country?
– What sports do people usually play?
– What motivates people to play a sport?
– How is playing sports beneficial for people?
– What sports do children prefer?
– Let’s talk about reading books.
– What is the best place to read books? Why?
– Do people nowadays read as much as in the past?
– Do you think people’s reading habits change with age? Why?
– Are famous writers good role models?
February 16, 2021
IELTS test in Turkey – February 2021 (General Training)
Thanks to our lovely Instagram follower A. T. from Turkey, we are sharing the most recent IELTS questions she sent:
Listening test
Part 1. A conversion about renting an office.
Part 2. Don’t remember.
Part 3. A student and her teacher were talking about a project and a test.
Part 4. A lecture on music and culture.
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
Your photograph won in a photography competition and will be presented in an exhibition. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
– Describe the photograph you sent to the competition
– Tell him/her about the exhibition where your photo is presented
– Invite him/her to the exhibition.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
The developments in technology allow more and more machines to be used rather than human employees. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Do you work or study?
– What are you studying?
– Do you find this subject easy to study?
– Where would you like to work in the future? Why?
– Let’s talk about picnics.
– Do you like picnics?
– Did you like them as a child?
– Where do people usually go for a picnic in your country?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe an energetic person that you know well. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How do you know him/her?
– What does he/she do?
– And explain how you feel about this person.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Are you an energetic person?
– Do you think energetic people are successful?
– Do you think people in physically hard jobs should be paid more?
– Do you think we need mentally energetic people now more than in the past? Why?
February 15, 2021
IELTS Results competition winners in January 2021
There’s no denying that 2020 was a hard year. Most of us were trying to just get through it and hoping for a much better 2021. Today we are about to introduce 7 people for whom 2021 will most definitely be a great year, because of the IELTS results they got at the very start of the year!
The seven winners of our January 2021 IELTS Results competition round come from six different countries and speak seven different languages. The one thing they have in common is their determination for success, which resulted in some remarkable scores. And the winners are…
Academic Module – 1st place
Academic Module – 2nd place
Malavika Sudarsanan from India, Band 7.5Samer Mohammed Qasem Hussein from Yemen, Band 7.5Asanka Aruna Kumari Ranasinghe from Sri Lanka, Band 7.5General Training Module – 1st place
Hongzhi Ren from China, Band 8.5General Training Module – 2nd place
Jagdish Kaur from India, Band 8General Training Module – 3rd place
Shahlo Tursun-Zade from Tajikistan, Band 7.5Congratulations! Head over to our Instagram where we celebrate 7 success stories, and show them your appreciation! Winners will also receive their special certificates of achievement via email, and winning IELTS results will be displayed in the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – so if you won, please feel free to show them off to your friends!
How did they score so well?
It feels awesome to see some of our students among the winners. Hongzhi Ren (Band 8.5) and Asanka Ranasinghe (Band 7.5) used our writing correction service, Jagdish Kaur (Band 8) prepared for IELTS with our practice tests and Shahlo Tursun-Zade used the book ‘Ace the IELTS’ in her exam preparation.
We contacted all the winners and hopefully they will be able to share their best exam tips with everyone because learning from other students’ experience is a great shortcut!
If YOU got a high score in IELTS, no matter when – this month, last month, a few months ago – we want to hear from you! We would like to extend our warm invitation to everyone who is happy with their IELTS score. Take part in our IELTS results competition today, and share your IELTS tips when you win!
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February 14, 2021
Recent IELTS Test Questions and Topics Worldwide – January to February 2021
Welcome to our new latest IELTS exam questions page! Here you will find the most recent IELTS questions that test takers remembered and shared, updated daily in real time.
Last updated: February 14, 2021
Test questions are organised by month when they were reported. Identical questions that appeared in two or more countries on the same day posted only once (no duplicates).
Click below to jump to recent IELTS questions from your country.
Recent IELTS questions from January 2021IELTS Speaking test in Iran – January 2021 IELTS Speaking test in India – January 2021 IELTS test in Nepal – January 2021 (Academic Module) IELTS Speaking test in Canada – January 2021 IELTS Speaking test in Japan – January 2021 IELTS test in Iran – January 2021 (General Training) IELTS Speaking test in India – January 2021 IELTS test in Russia – January 2021 (Academic Module) IELTS Speaking test in India – January 2021 IELTS Speaking test in Taiwan – January 2021 IELTS test in Australia – January 2021 (Academic Module) IELTS Speaking test in Oman – January 2021 IELTS Speaking test in Kuwait – January 2021 IELTS test in India – January 2021 (General Training) IELTS Speaking test in the USA – January 2021 IELTS Speaking test in Iran – January 2021 Recent IELTS questions from February 2021Recent IELTS Test Questions and Topics Worldwide – January to February 2021 IELTS Speaking test in India – February 2021Go here for the most comprehensive list of recent IELTS questions from 2020
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IELTS Speaking test in India – February 2021
Thanks to our caring friend K. we are sharing the questions from a recent IELTS Speaking test in India:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Can I see you ID please?
– Do you work or study?
– What subjects did you study in high school? Why?
– Why did you choose these subjects?
– Which subject was your favourite? Why?
– Was there any subject that you didn’t like?
– Let’s talk about mathematics.
– Do you like math? Why or why not?
– Is math an important subject to study?
– How is math helpful in your daily life?
– Can you give me an example?
– Let’s talk about museums.
– Have you ever been to a museum?
– Do you think museums are important?
– How are they helpful?
– Do you prefer to visit a museum alone or with friends?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe your favourite weather. Please say
– What kind of weather is it?
– What do you usually do during this weather?
– How does this weather affect you?
– Why do you like this kind of weather?
Part 3 (Discussion)
– How does the weather affect people?
– How does it affect their lifestyle?
– Do you often pay attention to the weather forecast? Why or why not?
– Do people wear different clothes in different types of weather or different seasons?
– Why do people wear cotton clothes in summer?
February 11, 2021
How to stop using ‘and’ to quickly improve your IELTS score
As an examiner Adam saw many IELTS test takers overuse the linking words ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and ‘because’. Perhaps you are doing this too.
Did you know that by replacing these words with their synonyms your IELTS score will go up?
Surprisingly, not only your Writing and Speaking score can be positively affected by this change, but also Listening and Reading! The way it works, if you know the other linking words, they signal to you when one point or idea ends and another begins. These words help you understand the text or the listening recording better. If you’re listening and you think you heard the answer, and then you hear one of the linking words synonymous with ‘and’ – you know that the speaker isn’t finished, and you need to keep listening.
But what are the synonyms for ‘AND’? Don’t worry if you don’t have an answer straight away, because in today’s video Adam will give you many such synonyms, teach you how to pronounce them correctly and show you how to use them in a sentence.
Watch the lesson on YouTube, or below:
Here are just a few examples:
Additionally – “Additionally, we need you to leave your passport with us”
Also – “I am a teacher most of the time; I also make IELTS YouTube videos.”
Then – “Let me finish this job, then I’ll be able to relax.”
Moreover – “The entire essay is poorly written. Moreover, it’s inaccurate”.
There are many more synonyms in the video, so make sure to watch.
Happy learning!
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February 10, 2021
IELTS Speaking test in Iran – January 2021
Thanks to the kind D. from Iran we are sharing the most recent IELTS questions he sent:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where do you live?
– Let’s talk about transportation.
– Do people in your city use public transportation?
– Describe public transport in your city.
– Do you use it often?
– When was the last time you used public transport?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a skill that someone taught you when you were a child. Please say
– What the skill was
– Who taught you
– Why you learned it
– And explain how you felt about it.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What skills do children need to learn before school?
– Who is more effective at teaching children, teachers or parents?
– Can adults teach themselves new skills?
February 9, 2021
IELTS Letter Samples of Band 9
Here you can find IELTS Letter samples of Band 9, written by a native English speaker and a former IELTS examiner. Robert Nicholson is the co-author of ‘High Scorer’s Choice’ IELTS Practice Tests book series, created in collaboration with Simone Braverman, the founder of this website.
New letters are being added weekly. Last updated: February 9, 2021
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IELTS Letter, topic: Thanking a friend for a nice birthday present
This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.
Set 1 General Training book, Practice Test 2
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
A friend of yours recently gave you a nice birthday present.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,
– thank her for the present and say why you particularly like it
– describe some other presents that you received
– explain some of the things you did on your birthday.
You should write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sarah,
Sample Band 9 Letter
Dear Sarah,
Now that the weekend of my birthday party is over and you have hopefully arrived home safely, I just wanted to let you know again how much your birthday present means to me. I don’t think I’ve ever received something quite as original as this lovely, hand-made photo album with photos and notes reminding me of our childhood. I think that these memories have helped us stick together and I hope that, although we live a long way apart now, I can add to this album every year when we see each other. With the stationery collection that my mother gave me and the calligraphy set I got from my dad, I can easily continue to add to this work of art!
It’s sad that you could only be there for the party and not for my actual birthday. I went canoeing with my parents and my sister at Barley Creek, the lovely lake resort that we often used to go to when we were young. Do you remember the tall trees and the calm atmosphere there? Well, everything is still as it used to be. Even the castle restaurant is still there, where I topped the day off with a fancy dinner. What a memorable day it was!
I hope you can be there next time.
Lots of love,
Amanda
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Letters
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