October 25, 2011

2012 IELTS Test Dates (IDP)

Am I organized?
Photo credit: koalazymonkey on Flickr.

The IDP Philippines has posted the 2012 IELTS Test dates on its Facebook Page.

A copy of the said schedule is posted here for reference. Regularly check and verify the schedules at the IDP Philippines website for any changes.

Cheers!

2012 IELTS Test Dates - IDP

2012 IELTS Test Dates - British Council Philippines - Jan to Jun

Am I organized?
Photo credit: koalazymonkey on Flickr.

The British Council Philippines has posted the 2012 IELTS Test dates on its website.

A copy of the said schedule is posted here for reference. Regularly check and verify the schedules at the British Council website for any changes.

Cheers!

2012 IELTS Test Dates - British Council Philippines - January to June

2012 British Council Test Dates:

- January to June
- July to September
- October to December

August 1, 2011

3 Tips for Better Coherence in IELTS Writing

Hi. A couple of months ago, we shared with you our tips about cohesion in IELTS writing. For a review, cohesion relates to the way your sentences are connected. Coherence, on the other hand, relates to the way your ideas are organized. As you may have known by now, coherence and cohesion is a criteria checked by your examiners in IELTS writing.

Today we're going to provide you with some quick pointers on how to improve your writing when it comes to coherence. Here you go:

1) Separate each major idea into paragraphs.


When a particular idea or point is complete, end the paragraph. In other words, start a new one, and make it easier for the examiner to understand your essay by not stuffing all your ideas into one very long paragraph.

How would you know if you have to start a new paragraph? Take note of the next tip.

2) Mind the paragraph structure of your essay.


What this means is that your writing task should consist of several paragraphs. Each paragraph should serve a specific purpose in your essay or writing task.

For example, if you are given a "To what extent do you agree or disagree." type of question in Task 2 of IELTS Academic writing, then your essay could be broken down to four to five paragraphs, as follows:
Paragraph 1 - Introduction
Paragraph 2 - Justification of your view
Paragraph 3 - Additional justification of your view
Paragraph 4 - Refutation of the opposite view
Paragraph 5 - Conclusion

There are of course other question types. While the content of each paragraph may not be the same, the point is that each paragraph that you construct should be based on its purpose in relation to the entire essay.

3) Make use of transition words.


As discussed before, transition words and phrases are those which connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs together. Consider these words as  links so that your paragraphs and the ideas that they contain would flow freely from one to the other.

In your IELTS test, we encourage you to use words and phrases such as "moreover," "furthermore," "first," "firstly," "second," "secondly," "although," "while," "by way of contrast," "however," "therefore," or "in conclusion." These words, and many others, could help in showing your reader that an idea or point is to be added, listed, compared, constrasted, or concluded, thus resulting in an essay that exhibits a smooth flow of ideas.

There you have it. Master coherence and cohesion for a more organized essay or writing task.

We hope that you liked our tips for today.

July 11, 2011

Always Remember the Qualifier

Hi. We wanted to share a quick tip with you today.

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 2, candidates could be tasked to present and justify an opinion. Typically this could be in the form of a "To what extent do you agree or disagree." question.

What we notice is that most students have the tendency to merely write "I agree..." or "I disagree..." for this question type. In our humble opinion, this is insufficient, for the task requires that the student clearly express the extent of his/her opinion. In other words, there should be an explicit mention of how much the student agrees or disagrees with a given point of view.

So how do you qualify your view or stand? Make use of appropriate adverbs.


Let's say that this was asked on the IELTS exam:
"Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. To what extent do you agree or disagree."

Instead of merely saying "I agree..." or "I disagree...", include a qualifier - an adverb that describes your act of agreement with, or disagreement against, the provided view. Thus, you could mention "I am strongly in favor of..." or "I partially oppose...", among others. Of course, you have to also justify your stand and supply examples when you draft the remaining parts of your essay.

Keep in mind your qualifiers for this question type. This could help you earn points in the criteria of Task Response.

We hope that you liked our tip. Cheers!

June 22, 2011

3 ways to use parallelism in IELTS writing

parallel worlds
Photo credit: aloshbennett on Flickr.

Here's one tip that you could use to show your skill in writing.

Make use of parallelism. Parallelism in grammar is known as the balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses. In the IELTS, parallelism is important because it could help you demonstrate your understanding of coherence and cohesion as well as the grammatical range and accuracy of your writing task.

To see parallelism in action, we invite you to read an excerpt of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s recent speech after he signed four legislative measures on June 21, 2011. Note how the same grammatical structure of the clauses was maintained. Thus:
"Our administration was voted into office because our people believed in the promise of change—the promise of being able to walk into a hospital and see a doctor when they or their children need to; the promise of being able to overcome the widespread poverty that has for so long crippled this nation; and the promise that our administration would create in this country a level playing field for people and businesses alike."

So how do you use this technique?

The Los Angeles Valley College Writing Center shares 3 ways:

1. Retain the grammatical form of the words contained in a series or list.

Example:

"The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it."

(The words in italics are all nouns.)

2. Maintain the same grammatical structure of the connected clauses and phrases.

Example:

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

(Note the verb-object format)

3. Allow verb tenses in a sentence to stay the same.

Example:

"Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce."

(The verbs in italics are in the present tense.)

Read more about these tips at the Los Angeles Valley College Writing Center website.

Cheers!


Attribution to President Benigno S. Aquino III for his June 21, 2011 speech, to President John F. Kennedy for his inaugural speech on January 20, 1961, and to the Los Angeles Valley College for its article entitled "Parallelism".

June 20, 2011

14 ways to prevent subject-verb agreement errors

Occasionally, we notice that our students commit mistakes when it comes to subject-verb agreement during their IELTS preparation or review. When that happens, we always remind them of the rules and the pointers. A singular subject requires a singular verb. On the other hand, a plural subject requires a plural verb.
EXAMPLES:

Claire (singular subject) checks (singular verb) her Facebook account every day.

The boys (plural subject) communicate (plural verb) through Twitter.


Now we're going to share with you some pointers that you could use when you check your work. Here they are:

1. Avoid making the verb agree with words that come after it.

INCORRECT: A fond memory are the visits we made to grandma and grandpa.

CORRECT: A fond memory (singular subject) is (singular verb) the visits we made to grandma and grandpa

2. Be careful of sentences where the subject appears at the end of the sentence.

INCORRECT: Staying at Suite 1701 was our relatives.

CORRECT: Staying at Suite 1701 were (plural verb) our relatives (plural subject).

3. The verb should agree with its subject even if there are plural words that come between them.

INCORRECT: The common issue of these cases are the legality of his dismissal.

CORRECT: The common issue (singular subject) of these cases is (singular verb) the legality of his dismissal.

4. The verb should agree with its subject even if the phrases "as well as," "together with," "in addition to," and similar others, come between them.

INCORRECT: Jollibee, together with McDonalds, are popular in the Philippines.

CORRECT: Jollibee (singular subject), together with McDonalds, is (singular verb) popular in the Philippines.

5. The verb should agree with its subject even if a phrase starting with the word "not" comes between them.

INCORRECT: Ramon, not the other band members, are going to the party.

CORRECT: Ramon (singular subject), not the other band members, is (singular verb) going to the party.

6. Noun phrases that talk about a unit require singular verbs.

EXAMPLE: The rack and pinion is (singular) a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. It is commonly found in the steering mechanism of cars or other wheeled, steered vehicles.

7. Mathematical phrases require singular verbs.

EXAMPLE: Fifteen and fifteen is thirty.

8. Note your use of collective nouns. If you are referring to the group as a whole, then it requires a singular verb. If, on the other hand, you are referring to the individuals comprising the said group, then use a plural verb.

SINGULAR: Patrick's family is respected in the community. ("Family" here is referred to as a group.)

PLURAL: Patrick's family are doctors.

9. Similarly, note your use of nouns that express amounts.

SINGULAR: Eight hours is the recommended length of time to sleep. ("Eight hours" is referred to as a unit.)

PLURAL: Eight hours for two consecutive weeks were required to finish the course.

10. Indefinite pronouns like someone, somebody, everyone, etc. are considered as singular and thus require a singular verb.

EXAMPLE: Everyone is (singular) invited to my birthday party.

11. Either/or and Neither/nor require singular verbs.

EXAMPLE: Either the Evolution or the Impreza is (singular) at the parking lot.

12. Note that some nouns appear plural. However, they are actually singular.

EXAMPLE: Gymnastics is (singular) a sport I would like to watch.

13. Some nouns ending in "-ics" can be singular or plural.

SINGULAR: Economics is a subject that he wants to teach.

PLURAL: The economics of the situation involve a reduction of unnecessary spending.

14. Finally, note the plural forms of foreign words.

EXAMPLE: The syllabi (plural of syllabus) have been submitted two weeks ago.

There you have it. Feel free to use the tips and pointers whenever you practice or review for your IELTS writing and speaking.

We hope that you liked our tips for today. Cheers! :)

June 15, 2011

Provide more description via relative pronouns and clauses

Here's a tip that could help you supply additional information about a topic.

Use relative pronouns and clauses.


This could be handy when it comes to your IELTS speaking test.

Relative pronouns are used to present details about a certain subject matter. Common relative pronouns are "who," "which," and "that."

"Who" is used for people.
Example:

The lawyer, who cross-examined the witness, is a senior partner of a prestigious law firm.

On the other hand, "which" and "that" are used for things.
Examples:

The red car that I detailed this morning belongs to my father.

My favorite step in the detailing regimen is the machine polishing stage, which I usually do for around 5 hours.

Notice how the relative pronouns/clauses were able to supply us with additional information on the nouns they were modifying.

Please remember though that you could use the relative pronoun "that," when the information is important for the understanding of the main clause. Otherwise, just use "which." Read more about this in Laura Hale Brockway's blog post "'That' vs. 'Which': Easy tips for determining when to use each word"

To sum it up, we recommend that you add information and description to your statements. One good way to do this is through the use of relative pronouns and clauses. Not only would you be able to show your skill in handling complex sentences, but you would also be able to make your language vivid and rich.

June 13, 2011

Using the Passive Voice in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

Photosynthesis
Photo credit: Christy C on Flickr.

In Task 1 of the Academic Writing Module, you could be asked to describe a process. In such a case, one technique we could share is for you to use the passive voice. In the passive voice, the subject is the recipient of the action and it essentially centers on the events that happen to the subject.

To see how the passive voice is used in describing processes, we invite you to read an excerpt of a Wikipedia article that informs us about the chemical process of photosynthesis. Thus:
"Although photosynthesis can happen in different ways in different species, some features are always the same. For example, the process always begins when energy from light is absorbed by proteins called photosynthetic reaction centers that contain chlorophylls. In plants, these proteins are held inside organelles called chloroplasts, while in bacteria they are embedded in the plasma membrane. Some of the light energy gathered by chlorophylls is stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The rest of the energy is used to remove electrons from a substance such as water. These electrons are then used in the reactions that turn carbon dioxide into organic compounds. In plants, algae and cyanobacteria, this is done by a sequence of reactions called the Calvin cycle, but different sets of reactions are found in some bacteria, such as the reverse Krebs cycle in Chlorobium. Many photosynthetic organisms have adaptations that concentrate or store carbon dioxide. This helps reduce a wasteful process called photorespiration that can consume part of the sugar produced during photosynthesis."

Observe how the events as mentioned in the stages focus on the subjects of the highlighted sentences. Notice likewise how the paragraph appears more formal and non-subjective.

To sum up, when describing processes or procedures, you should write in a formal tone. To do this, one of the things we suggest is the use of the grammatical construction called the passive voice. Not only does this make your work have an impersonal tone, but it also highlights each step or stage of the process you're describing.

June 10, 2011

Unlock the secret to your IELTS Preparation

When you decide to prepare for your IELTS, there could be a possibility that you'd find it rather daunting, especially if you find the lessons and activities too difficult to answer. One piece of advice we could share is this: always keep your goal in mind; be eager to do what you can in order to improve yourself.

There are no shortcuts to preparing for the IELTS.


You just have to put in the work. The wonderful thing about it is that when you consistently focus your efforts on improving yourself, you'll begin to notice that you'll slowly, but surely, learn new things. Each practice session that you have and every mistake you make will add to your experience and make you better.

Preparing for the IELTS can be said to have a number of similarities with exercising.


You won't be able to have a healthy body if you don't become physically active for a regular period of your day or week. Your IELTS preparation follows a similar pattern. Your preparation shouldn't take a majority of your time every day. But, it cannot be denied that it does take a bit of your time every single day. Thus, being consistent is really your key here. Sadly, many people desire a high score, but only a few of them actually do anything about it.

If ever you're one of those who find it hard to understand your IELTS lessons, please don’t lose hope.


We all have to start somewhere. Your road to success with your IELTS preparation depends on the quality of your commitment to your goal and on the amount of work you perform on a consistent basis. In other words, just be persistent, and always work a step closer towards your purpose, vision, and goal.

June 8, 2011

Transition phrases for IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 4 of 4)

We're now going to talk about transition words and phrases in relation to cohesion in writing.

Transition words and phrases are basically those which connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs together.


These words and phrases signal that something is to be added, listed, compared, constrasted, emphasized, concluded, or provided with an example or result.

To see the technique in action we'd invite you to read an excerpt of Mignon Fogarty's article entitled "Yoda Grammar." Notice how the article was able to connect the ideas and sentences via a list ("Finally"), example ("For example"), and conclusion ("So"). Thus:
"Finally, both Carson and websites [and here] note that when Yoda has something really important to say, he tends to say it in standard English. For example, he uses standard word order and not Yodish when he tells Anakin, "The fear of loss is a path to the dark side" and when he comments that, "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack." One theory is that Yoda is making an extra effort to speak standard English when his point is critical so that his listeners understand his point.

So, although Yodish may not conform to the most common form of standard English, it's hard to say it isn't real English when we have acceptable phrases like "With this ring, I thee wed." It's certainly a fun topic for linguists."

There are other examples of transition words and phrases such as "moreover," "similarly," "in contrast," and "as a result," among others. Use them well in your writing tasks.

There you have it. We hope that you liked our tips on cohesion and IELTS writing.


Attribution to Mignon Fogarty and her article entitled "Yoda Grammar."


Read the related tips:

June 6, 2011

Synonyms as tools in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 3 of 4)

One cohesive device that you could use for your writing tasks is that of synonyms.

Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as other words.


To see how this technique works, we'd like to invite you to read excerpts of Hamish Fletcher's article at the NZ Herald entitled "Don't upset 'digital natives' bosses told." He writes:
"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

Upon closer examination, you will notice that there were 3 instances where the technique was used:

1) Note how the word "employers" was expressed at the second paragraph.
"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

2) Notice also how the actions of the employers were written.
"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

3) Finally, observe how the workers or employees were described.
"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

To summarize, apart from showing your skill in lexical resource by avoiding to write repetitive words, an advantage that you could have by using synonyms is that you could enable the reader of your writing task to easily determine how the sentences in your paragraphs are connected.

We hope you liked our tips for today.

Next, we will be sharing our tips with regard to cohesion through transition words and phrases. Cheers!


Attribution to Hamish Fletcher and his article at the NZ Herald entitled "Don't upset 'digital natives' bosses told."


Read the related tips:

June 3, 2011

Use conjunctions in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 2 of 4)

In the IELTS writing test, a candidate should be able to use a variety of cohesive devices. The other day, we talked about using reference words. Today, you'll be able to add another tool to improve your writing skill. This involves the use of certain linking words which are known as conjunctions. Some examples of conjunctions that you could use are "and," "or," and "but," among others.

To see them in action, we'd like to invite you to read excerpts of Christine Sheehy's article at the NZ Herald entitled "Introducing 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'".

Re: "and"


Use "and" to connect clauses that have equal ideas.
Example:

I read the first half of two promising books, before tossing them aside. They were decent enough and if I was reading for pleasure alone I would have continued.

Re: "or"


Use "or" to connect clauses that state alternative ideas.
Example:

I'm not expecting a masterpiece every time, but there has to be something challenging about it. Something that engages our emotions, takes us to a new place or encourages us to think about things in a different way. In other words, we need something to discuss.

Re: "but"


Use "but" to show contrast.
Example:

I'm not expecting a masterpiece every time, but there has to be something challenging about it. Something that engages our emotions, takes us to a new place or encourages us to think about things in a different way. In other words, we need something to discuss.

You could use other conjunctions, of course. We encourage you to research for them. With conjunctions, you'd notice that you'll be able to easily connect clauses, which, in turn, would result to a smooth flow of ideas. Therefore, use them to your advantage.

Next, we will be sharing our tips with regard to cohesion through synonyms. Cheers!


Attribution to Christine Sheehy and her article at the NZ Herald entitled "Introducing 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'."


Read the related tips:

June 1, 2011

Why Pronouns/Reference Words are Important (Cohesion, Part 1 of 4)

Coherence and Cohesion is a criteria considered by IELTS examiners when they check your writing tasks. Coherence relates to the way your ideas are organized. Cohesion, on the other hand, relates to the way your sentences are connected.

With regard to improving your writing skill via cohesion, remember to make use of these 4 word types:
reference words;

linking words;

synonyms; and

transition words.

Today we'll share with you our tips with regard to reference words. Reference words are those which refer back to previously mentioned words or phrases. Common examples of these are pronouns and their antecedents.

To have a good score when it comes to cohesion vis-a-vis reference words, be sure that your pronouns agree with their antecedent. To do this, make use of the tips in our previous post "[HOW TO] Check if a pronoun agrees with its antecedent" Thus:

1. Make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender (male or female).

Example:

"I like Rebecca Black. Her music is very good."

2. Make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in person (first person, second person, third person).

Example:

"The candidates here study and practice often. They really strive hard to increase their chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam." ("candidates" and "they" are in the third person)

3. Finally, make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number (singular or plural).

Example:

"The candidates here study and practice often. They really strive hard to increase their chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam." ("candidates" and "they" are plural)

Why is this important for you? Well, if you remember to apply these tips, not only would they enable you to show your prowess in grammar, but they would also help your reader easily understand your writing task.

Next, we will be sharing our tips with regard to cohesion through linking words. Cheers!


Read the related tips:

May 30, 2011

How to Compare and Contrast Data in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

circle graph of traffic
Photo credit: jimmiehomeschoolmom on Flickr.

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you'd usually find that the instructions would ask you to "report on main features" and "make comparisons where relevant." With this in mind, you consequently have to select the most evident similarities and differences within the presented data.

How could you mention similarities?


-One technique is that you could use the phrase "as _____ as".

On the other hand, how could you state differences?


-One tip is that you could state the an adjective's comparative form + the word "than". [Note: Read more about our adjective pointers here.]

To view examples of how these 2 techniques work, please refer to the following excerpts of SocialMediaToday's article "Best Social Media Stats and Market Research of 2010 (So Far)":

Re: Similarities
How are employees using the Internet at work? A recent study concluded that almost 7% of all business web traffic goes to Facebook, twice as much as Google (3.4%) and well ahead of Yahoo! at 2.4 percent. DoubleClick got 1.7% of all business traffic due to its massive online banner advertising network. In terms of bandwidth use, YouTube takes the single biggest share at 10%, followed by Facebook at 4.5% and Windows Update at 3.3%.

[Note: The point of similarity could be found in the discussion about business web traffic, or of how employees are using the internet at work.]

Re: Differences
In a study asking consumers to rate the most influential sources of information for their purchase decisions, 59% said “personal advice from friends or family members,” followed by 39% search engines, 36% articles in newspapers or magazines, online articles 28%, email 20% and social media 19%. Three caveats: first, though low, the influence of social media is growing. Second, social media and search are rated more influential by younger buyers and high-income consumers than by other groups. Third, the survey was heavily consumer-oriented; b2b figures would be different. The key takeaway — companies can’t put all of their marketing eggs in one basket, but need to balance budgets across several areas including email, social media, organic SEO, paid search and offline campaigns.

[Note: The point of difference here could be found in the discussion about how influential is social media and search for young buyers and high-income buyers versus the other groups.]

There you have it. In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, always remember to mention similarities and differences in the data. Again, this could help you improve your skills in IELTS writing.

We hope that you find this post useful. Cheers!


Attribution to SocialMediaToday and its article "Best Social Media Stats and Market Research of 2010 (So Far)".


Review the related tips:

May 27, 2011

How to Describe Data in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

Youth on Twitter
Photo credit: Pew Internet via Read Write Web.

In Task 1 of the IELTS Academic Writing Module, candidates are required among others to describe data. To be good in task 1, they should be able to recognize trends, be able to mention the supporting evidence and periods, and be able to comment to highlight the significance of what was recently described.

To provide an example of how these elements work, please consider the following excerpt from the Read Write Web article "As Facebook Ages, Gen Y Turns to Twitter":
"When looking at specific younger demographic segments, and not just Gen Y, you can see strong Twitter uptake over the past year. For example, 37% of those 18-24 now use Twitter when only 19% did back in December 2008. And in the slightly older 25-34 bracket, a portion of which could still be considered Gen Y, 31% are now using the service compared to only 20% in December of last year. Combined, these two groups account for more than half of Twitter's network."

A closer examination of the said excerpt would reveal that the trends were recognized, the supporting evidence and periods were included, and a comment on the data was stated. Note the presence of the said elements marked in bold. Thus:

Re: Trend

"When looking at specific younger demographic segments, and not just Gen Y, you can see strong Twitter uptake over the past year. For example, 37% of those 18-24 now use Twitter when only 19% did back in December 2008. And in the slightly older 25-34 bracket, a portion of which could still be considered Gen Y, 31% are now using the service compared to only 20% in December of last year. Combined, these two groups account for more than half of Twitter's network."

Re: Evidence

"When looking at specific younger demographic segments, and not just Gen Y, you can see strong Twitter uptake over the past year. For example, 37% of those 18-24 now use Twitter when only 19% did back in December 2008. And in the slightly older 25-34 bracket, a portion of which could still be considered Gen Y, 31% are now using the service compared to only 20% in December of last year. Combined, these two groups account for more than half of Twitter's network."

Re: Period

"When looking at specific younger demographic segments, and not just Gen Y, you can see strong Twitter uptake over the past year. For example, 37% of those 18-24 now use Twitter when only 19% did back in December 2008. And in the slightly older 25-34 bracket, a portion of which could still be considered Gen Y, 31% are now using the service compared to only 20% in December of last year. Combined, these two groups account for more than half of Twitter's network."

Re: Comment

"When looking at specific younger demographic segments, and not just Gen Y, you can see strong Twitter uptake over the past year. For example, 37% of those 18-24 now use Twitter when only 19% did back in December 2008. And in the slightly older 25-34 bracket, a portion of which could still be considered Gen Y, 31% are now using the service compared to only 20% in December of last year. Combined, these two groups account for more than half of Twitter's network."

To summarize today's tips for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, try to include trends, evidence, periods, and a comment in your writing tasks. So candidates, do keep in mind the "trend-evidence-period-comment" format. This could help you improve your skills in IELTS Academic Writing task 1.

We hope that you find this post useful. Cheers!

Attribution to Sarah Perez and Read Write Web for the Article "As Facebook Ages, Gen Y Turns to Twitter."


Review the related tips:

May 25, 2011

2 Tips for Expressing Opinions in the IELTS exam

A few months ago, we shared some pointers for questions that require you to express or justify your opinion in writing or speaking.

In those tips, we basically reminded you to be clear in stating your opinions. Now how could you do this?

Remember these 2 techniques:

1) Make use of phrases that help you convey your stand or view; and

2) Make use of modal verbs to show possibilities or suggestions.

Some examples of phrases are "I think," "I believe," "From my point of view," "It is thought," "It is believed," or "It is viewed," among others.

On the other hand, examples of modal verbs are "can," "could," "may," or "might," among others.

To see the techniques in action, I'd invite your attention to the Eric Thompson article, "Schumacher still has what it takes" at the NZ Herald website. Here, Mr. Thompson wrote:
"Is Schumacher the greatest driver so far in 60-odd years of F1? Who knows. From my point of view you can't compare Fangio, Hawthorn and Clarke etc with today's drivers - it's pointless. The Schumachers and Sennas of the modern era could no better drive a 1960s car than Fangio etc could drive the video cars of today."

Notice the the phrase "From my point of view..." when he stated his opinion on the greatest driver in Formula 1. Note as well how he used the modal verb "could" to manifest his view that it's pointless to compare the great drivers.

To summarize, be sure to include phrases and modal verbs that clearly express your views. Making use of these techniques could help improve your scores in the IELTS.

We hope you liked our tips for today. Cheers!


Attribution to Eric Thompson and the NZ Herald for the article excerpt.

May 23, 2011

Use Word Forms to Ace Your IELTS

Words.
Photo credit: nicasaurusrex on Flickr.

Here's one technique you could use to improve your vocabulary for your IELTS.

The technique involves identifying certain words and determining the various word forms.


English words could have different forms, depending on how they are used. Particularly, a word could either be used as a Noun, Verb, Adjective, or Adverb.

Take for instance the word "manage." "Manage" is a verb. It however has other word forms. When used as a noun, the word is "management," or "manager." If used as an adjective, it's "manageable." And when used as an adverb, it's "manageably." Thus:

manage - verb
management/manager - noun
manageable - adjective
manageably - adverb

Let's take it a step further. Consider this sentence: "Martha managed the family business after her parents retired."

In the Listening and Reading modules, words and phrases in the exam booklet questions are expressed in a different way than those in the audio recording or reading passage, respectively. Thus in the recording or passage, you could perhaps encounter the sentence, "Martha was promoted to manager when her parents stepped down."

In writing and speaking on the other hand, candidates are not encouraged to copy the words as shown in the questions or tasks. Thus, let's say that you were presented with the following question: "Efficient management is an essential part of successful companies. To what extent do you agree or disagree." In the introduction one could write, "Effective business systems are composed of competent managers..."

To sum it up, add your knowledge of word forms to your IELTS skill set. These tips could be very handy for your prediction skills in listening, for your scanning skills in reading, and whenever you need to paraphrase with regard to your writing and speaking tasks. Do remember that lexical resource is a criteria checked by your examiners in writing and speaking. The more words you know and could use to your advantage, the better your chances of having a high score when you take the exam.

We hope the tips help.

April 28, 2011

15 things to know about IELTS speaking

IMG_1993
Photo credit: bpsusf on Flickr.

Today you'll be seeing some basic pointers for IELTS speaking. Read on.

1. The IELTS Speaking test consists of 3 parts.

Re: Part 1


2. Part 1 lasts for around 4 to 5 minutes.

3. The purpose of this part of the test is to enable the candidates to gradually adjust and feel comfortable.

4. Candidates are given a series of questions about familiar topics.

5. This part also assesses how the candidate communicates certain opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences or situations.

Re: Part 2


6. This part consists of what is known as the long turn.

7. It lasts for around 3 to 4 minutes.

8. Candidates are given a task or prompt card that states what they are to talk about.

9. Candidates are given 1 minute to prepare for their answer.

10. Candidates are allowed to make short notes to organize their answers.

11. This part of the test assesses the candidate's skill of speaking at length with regard to a particular topic for 2 minutes.

Re: Part 3


12. It lasts for around 4 to 5 minutes.

13. Questions for this part of the test are related to the topic in part 2.

14. This part consists of a discussion.

15. Candidates are assessed on how they express and justify opinions, analyze, discuss, and speculate about certain issues.

Check out our other IELTS overview posts.

April 26, 2011

Do You Capitalize “God”?

One of our first tips here in our blog was about capitalizing nouns.

In tip no. 8, we wrote that the various names for God and the names of sacred books should be capitalized.
CAPS: God, Jehovah, Allah, the Bible, the Koran

NO CAPS: There were many gods and goddesses in ancient myths.

Recently, we've just discovered an informative post that discusses more about this topic. It provides useful tips on how you capitalize certain religious words, such as "god," "godly," "bible," etc.

Although we have just celebrated the Holy Week, it's still a good time to read up on some tips about religious words. Remember also that capitalization is important in the IELTS especially in writing, and in the sentence completion questions in Listening and Reading.

Read more about Grammar Girl's blog post "Do you capitalize 'God'?"

April 24, 2011

12 Basic Pointers about IELTS General Training Writing

Today you'll get to read some pointers with regard to IELTS General Training Writing. Here you go.


For Task 1:


1) Candidates write a personal letter. The letter may be informal, semi-formal, or formal.

2) The letter for Task 1 should contain at least 150 words.

3) The criterion of Task Achievement is checked here.

4) Candidates should allot 20 minutes for this task.

5) Addresses are not required to be included in the letter.


For Task 2:


6) The candidates may be instructed to discuss a topic by providing general factual information, providing solutions to a problem, presenting and justifying an opinion, or evaluating ideas and evidence.

7) The essay in Task 2 should contain at least 250 words.

8) The criterion of Task Response is checked here.

9) Candidates should allot 40 minutes for this task.


For both Tasks 1 and 2:


10) Candidates must answer both tasks.

11) The criteria of Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy are checked here.

12) Remember that examiners assess Tasks 1 and 2 separately.

Check out our other IELTS overview posts:

April 17, 2011

17 Quick reminders for IELTS academic writing

Hello. Now, we'll be sharing to you some things for you to remember about the IELTS Academic writing.

For Task 1:


1) Your writing task should contain an introductory or summarizing statement.

2) Allot only 20 minutes for this task.

3) Never have less than 150 words for your work.

4) The task usually involves describing information or data from a table, graph, diagram, chart, etc.

5) The criterion of task achievement is checked here.

For Task 2:


6) This task is worth more points compared to that of task 1.

7) Candidates are expected to write a separate introduction and conclusion.

8) Allot 40 minutes for this Task.

9) Never have less than 250 words for your work.

10) The task usually involves a discussion of a problem, opinion, or issue.

11) The criterion of task response is checked here.

For both Tasks 1 and 2:


12) The criteria of grammatical range and accuracy, coherence and cohesion, and lexical resource are assessed.

13) Never copy the words from your examination paper. Always paraphrase.

14) Academic language and style should be used here.

15) Always read, understand, and follow instructions.

16) It helps to plan/brainstorm for your answers.

17) It is recommended for you to leave some time so that you could check your work.

Check out our other IELTS overview posts:

April 10, 2011

11 Things to know about IELTS general training reading

Reading About Cisco
Photo credit: Yellow Snow Photography on Flickr.

Hello. Today you'll be reading some pretty basic stuff about IELTS General Training Reading. You will notice a number of similarities with that of IELTS Academic Reading. However, do note the differences as well. Let's proceed.

1) This exam has 40 total items.

2) It is composed of 3 sections.

3) 2 or 3 short texts could be expected in the first section.

4) 2 texts could be seen in the second section.

5) 1 text is read in the third section.

6) Social topics is a usual feature in the first section.

7) "Workplace survival" is a characteristic of second section texts.

8) Notices, advertisements, official documents, or timetables are some of the sources for the exam.

9) Candidates are penalized for errors in spelling and grammar.

10) Candidates should write their answers directly on the supplied answer sheet.

11) Candidates only have 60 minutes to finish the test.

Check out our other IELTS overview posts:

April 3, 2011

7 Things to know about IELTS academic reading

Hello. Last time, we shared basic stuff about IELTS listening. In today's post, you're going to see some essential pieces of info about IELTS academic reading. Here they are:

1) IELTS Academic Reading is composed of 3 passages.

2) It has a total of 40 questions/items.

3) Every item is worth 1 point.

4) IELTS Candidates have 60 minutes to finish the exam.

5) Magazines, journals, books, and newspapers usually make up the sources of the passages.

6) The passages may contain diagrams or graphs.

7) The exam may contain different question types, such as multiple choice questions, sentence completion, and choosing headings.

Check out our other IELTS overview posts:

March 27, 2011

12 things you should know about IELTS listening

Here are some of the basic stuff about the IELTS Listening test. Read on:

1) The test has 4 sections.

2) It has a total of 40 questions.

3) A recording will be played. Candidates will hear the recording only once.

4) Candidates will hear a number of speakers who may have different accents.

5) Sections 1 and 2 of the test relate to everyday social situations.

6) In the said sections, candidates should listen for factual information.

7) Sections 3 and 4 are situated in an academic context.

8) A lecturer may be the speaker in Section 4.

9) Sections 2 and 4 are monologues.

10) Candidates are given time to read the questions, as well as given time to write down and check their answers.

11) Candidates should be careful when transferring their answers to the answer sheet, as grammar and spelling are checked.

12) Main question types are multiple choice, short answer questions, sentence completion, note/summary/flow-chart/table completion, labelling a diagram, classification, and matching.

Check out our other IELTS overview posts:

March 20, 2011

[HOW TO] Check if a pronoun agrees with its antecedent

Chain Linkage
Photo credit: Max Klingensmith on Flickr.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy is a criteria in the IELTS Writing and Speaking Modules. When examiners check for grammatical accuracy, they find out the number of errors in the IELTS candidate's language.

Occasionally, we encounter some errors with regard to pronouns and their antecedents. For a review, an antecedent is a noun that the pronoun refers to. For instance:
"I am Alma."

"I" is a pronoun. Who or what does it stand for? It stands for "Alma". Thus, the antecedent of "I" is "Alma".

There would be times however, when students would get confused. They would use pronouns then commit mistakes when the said pronouns are linked to antecedents.

Consider these examples:
a. "I like Ricky Martin. Her music is very good." (from Mikey Bustos whose video we featured a couple of weeks ago. :) )

b. "If candidates study and practice often, then you could increase the chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam."

c. "If candidates aim to get high scores in the IELTS test, then he must study and practice often."

You'll notice that the underlined words are pronouns that do not correctly agree with their antecedents. Mistakes such as these prevent you from obtaining a high score in the IELTS.

How do you determine the proper agreement between pronouns and antecedents? Here's a checklist:

1. Make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender (male or female).


Using the the first example above, the sentence should thus be:
"I like Ricky Martin. His music is very good."

2. Make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in person (first person, second person, third person).


The second example should accordingly be:
"If candidates study and practice often, then they could increase their chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam." ("candidates" and "they" are in the third person)

3. Finally, make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number (singular or plural).


The third example should consequently be:
"If candidates aim to get high scores in the IELTS test, then they must study and practice often." ("candidates" and "they" are plural)

March 13, 2011

9 essential things for your IELTS toolbox

Treasure chest
Photo credit: DrBacchus on Flickr.

We highly recommend that you build up your toolkit for your IELTS exam day. Not only would this save you time, but this would also enable you to at least approximate a hassle-free experience during the exam. A number of things mentioned here are the standard things prescribed by the British Council or the IDP. We however added some things that, in our experience, have helped us during special situations and emergencies. Here you go:

1. ID


Make sure that your ID is the same as the photocopy you've submitted when you registered for the exam with the British Council or the IDP.

2. Wooden Pencils


We prefer the No. 2 type. Bring at least 2 or 3 pieces. It's better to be prepared. Who knows... You might be able to gather some good karma should you decide to lend your extra pencil to a fellow candidate who's in need. :)

3. Eraser


Well, some candidates just cross out words whenever they make mistakes. But, an eraser would help keep your written work neat.

4. Sharpener


We love to have this as a sort of insurance against broken pencil tips.

5. Medicines


At times, your body reacts unpredictably to stress. Thus, let your medicine come to the rescue. Bring those which address loose bowel movement and fever.

6. Bottled water


If you need to take your medicine, you'll consequently need to be ready with your bottle of water. Just make sure that you take the label off the bottle, otherwise, you won't be able to bring it inside the test area.

7. Candies


A number of our students have used candies to help them relax during the IELTS exams.

8. Confidence


We can't stress this point enough. Having positive thoughts and thinking that you'll succeed can indeed work wonders.

9. Presence of mind


Remember the things you've learned during your IELTS preparation or review. Also, be mindful and conscious of the errors that you have done during your many practice sessions. Avoid committing these mistakes again during the exams.

To sum it up, be one step ahead. Prepare your way to IELTS success. In the words of self-help author Florence Scovel Shinn, "If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for."

We hope you liked our tips for today. Oh, did we miss something? Feel free to add more to the list.

Cheers!

March 6, 2011

IELTS, Pronunciation, and the Filipino "F," "V," and "TH" Sounds

In the IELTS speaking test, one criteria checked by your examiners is pronunciation. Pronunciation is basically the manner in which a person utters a word. In the IELTS, it is about how the candidates can be easily understood. In other words, to get high scores when it comes to pronunciation, IELTS candidates should always pronounce words in the correct manner. They must also make use of proper stress and intonation. And they should also be mindful of their voice, which needs to be strong and clear.

We've been noticing a number of Filipinos who have difficulty pronouncing the letters "F" and "V". They tend to pronounce "F" as having a "P" sound, and have the habit of making the "B" sound instead of "V". With regard to the "TH" sound, some Filipinos either make a "T" sound, or make a "D" sound. Incidentally, we have discovered a video that describes what we are talking about. We're referring to the funny Mikey Bustos video tutorial on the Filipino accent.



Funny and familiar, right? Well, that could be problematic when it comes to the IELTS speaking test. What if you were talking about a "fact," but because of wrong habits you instead utter "pact"? Also, what would happen if you intended to say the word "vote", but the examiner instead hears the word "boat"?

Without a doubt, your score would be adversely affected by your incorrect pronunciation of the words.

How do you correctly produce the "F," "V," and "TH" sounds? Follow these techniques.


Re: "F"


Make the "F" sound by putting your top teeth on your lower lip and blowing air through your teeth.

Re: "V"


You make the "V" sound by also putting your top teeth on your lower lip and blowing air through your teeth. There is however a difference. In this situation you'd also have to use your voice in addition to merely blowing air.

Here's a video that demonstrates how to do them:



Re: "TH"


There are two different "TH" sounds in English - one for words such as "teeth" and the other for words such as "that". However both are similar in that they are made by putting your tongue between your teeth so that the tip of your tongue is touching the tips of your top teeth.

Note the differences though. The first can be done by making a "TH" sound by blowing air through your teeth. On the other hand, the second involves making a "TH" sound by also using your voice.

Once again, here are some videos that could help:





Now that you've learned how to make the "F," "V," and "TH" sounds, practice them often. You'll be on your way to improving your pronunciation.

Cheers!


Special thanks to our friend Joey-Joy Bach for his insights. Attribution to mikeybustosvideos, Sounds of English, JonTeachesEnglish, and JenniferESL for the helpful lessons and videos.


Other IELTS speaking tips:

February 27, 2011

3 Tips for Discourse Repair and Fluency in IELTS Speaking

1. Well, let's face it. We all make mistakes. There will be times when we'd be inaccurate when it comes to some "factual" matters in our speaking test. If that happens, don't worry about it.

2. Make use of phrases such as "...or rather...," or "...I mean...," among others, if ever you find yourself stating some "factual" mistakes. Focus more on speaking fluently.

3. Finally, never mind any "grammatical" mistakes. Well of course, grammar is also important in IELTS speaking, but in this case it would be better if you rather concentrate on speaking fluently, i.e., clearly and without hesitation. Remember, fluency is one criteria your examiners check in your IELTS speaking test.

Other IELTS speaking tips:

February 20, 2011

2 Tips for Summarizing and Explaining in IELTS Speaking

In the IELTS speaking test, expect that you will have to explain certain topics and summarize your ideas. Remember the following:

1. When you encounter questions that require you to explain, carefully note the task which is required of you. For instance:

-If the task states, "Explain why...," then you should give a reason.
-If the task states, "Explain how/what/which...," then you should give additional information about a topic.

2. On the other hand, when you have to summarize or conclude your statements, use phrases such as "To cut a long story short," "The point is," "In a nutshell," "To get to the point." and similar others. Phrases such as "In conclusion," "To sum up," and "In summary" are not usually recommended because they are very formal.

Next week you will get to read some tips for discourse repair and fluency in the IELTS speaking module.

Cheers. :)

Other IELTS speaking tips: