February 13, 2011

4 Tips for Comparing and Contrasting in IELTS Speaking

In part 3 of the IELTS speaking test, you will encounter questions where you'd need to compare and contrast things or situations. Here are some pointers to remember:

1. Formulate your answer by stating your opinions and reasons. Then, always make it a point to provide examples.

2. Make use of comparative forms (e.g. more beautiful, less skillful, larger) and superlative forms (e.g. the most beautiful, the least skillful, largest) in order to express comparisons.

3. Comparative forms are used for comparing different things with each other

Example: Logging into Facebook is much more interesting than chatting in Yahoo Messenger.

4. Lastly, superlative forms are used to compare a thing with the other members of the same group

Example: I'd say that Facebook is the most popular social network in the Philippines.

Next week you will get to read some tips when you need to summarize or explain in the IELTS speaking module.

Cheers. :)

Other IELTS speaking tips: