Improving your Language for IELTS
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This document provides guidance on improving language skills for the IELTS exam by avoiding common mistakes and enhancing vocabulary usage. It emphasizes the importance of paraphrasing, avoiding repetitive and emotive language, and steering clear of overgeneralizations and clichés. Additionally, it encourages candidates to think in English rather than translating directly from their native languages, aiming for clarity and accuracy in their writing.
Improving your Language for IELTS
- 1. Improving your Language for IELTS Avoiding common mistakes and boosting your language skills
- 2. Avoid Using the Word “Very” Why? Because it is too simple and shows a lack of lexical resource (vocabulary) It can sound repetitive It shows a lack of imagination Instead, use some better words with the same meaning as “very _________.”
- 4. Avoid Other Types of Repetition Read through your essay carefully and ask, “Do I use the same words too often?” Look for visual patterns. Look at your use of common words like articles and pronouns. Are the meanings correct and clear? It is better to be clear than incorrect. Always view repetition as a chance to improve your vocabulary through synonyms.
- 5. Practice Improve this boring paragraph: My boss is very annoying because my boss always wants the office to be very clean. My boss is very serious about having us make the office very neat. When my boss gets very worried it’s not long before he becomes very angry. When that happens, I get very afraid of my boss.
- 6. Practice Here are the problems: My boss is very annoying because my boss always wants the office to be very clean. My boss is very serious about having us make the office very neat. When my boss gets very worried it’s not long before he becomes very angry. When that happens, I get very afraid of my boss.
- 7. Practice This is how it can be improved: My boss is insufferable because he always wants the office to be spotless. He is determined to keep the office immaculate. When he gets anxious it’s not long before he becomes furious. When that happens, I become terrified of him.
- 8. Paraphrasing paraphrase /ˈparəfreɪz/ To express the meaning of something using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity
- 9. Develop Your Paraphrasing Why? Paraphrasing is important for the introduction. You should not repeat any part of the question except maybe a few words of key vocabulary. Remember, you are being assessed on your own use of English.
- 10. How to Paraphrase 1. Underline key words in the text and think of synonyms. 2. It may be difficult to change a word, but you can still change related parts of speech. 1. For example, “a decrease” “to decrease” 3. Rewrite using your notes to avoid repeating the same grammar and vocabulary as the test paper.
- 11. How to Paraphrase 4. Make sure that you truly understand the meaning of a question. 5. Think of the text’s main idea and try to summarize it. 6. Read for general understanding and not specific phrases.
- 12. Practice Look at the IELTS Writing Task 1 question on the following slide. How would you paraphrase the question? Don’t worry about the actual data in the line graph. Just focus on the question.
- 13. The graph below shows population figures for India and China since the year 2000 and predicted population growth up until 2050. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
- 14. Practice The graph below shows population figures for India and China since the year 2000 and predicted population growth up until 2050. The graph shows how the populations of India and China have changed since 2000 and how they will change in the future
- 15. Practice Let’s look at a sample Task 2 question now: Some people think that money is one of the most essential factors in promoting happiness. Do you think people can be happy without money? What other factors contribute to happiness?
- 16. Practice Some people think that money is one of the most essential factors in promoting happiness. Money is considered by many people to be one of the most important factors in a happy life.
- 17. More Ways to Improve Some common mistakes or areas for improvement of your IELTS score
- 18. Avoid Emotive Language Emotive language is language that sounds like it is stating a fact, but is actually presenting an opinion. ie An innocent bystander was viciously attacked by a drunken idiot. It is very common in newspapers and some political propaganda.
- 20. Example Non-emotive version: Another person in the bar was injured by the man's glass. Emotive version: An innocent bystander suffered facial injuries when the thug launched his glass across the bar.
- 21. Avoid Overgeneralizations Remember that not everyone can agree, so reflect this in your writing. Try to limit use of everyone, all, always, never There is no need to say, “As we all know…”
- 22. Know Your Cohesive Devices Use words that show your reader where your essay is going. Make sure that your essay has a logical flow. Use a range of devices, not just the basics, and use them accurately. Be consistent with these devices.
- 24. Be Accurate In English there is a big difference between the “almost right” word and the right word. Make sure you know the exact meaning of every word of vocabulary that you use. Guess in your practice; be sure in your exam Be informed and be confident. Note: A good vocabulary means using the right word, not the longest word.
- 25. Avoid Direct Language Translation Try not to think in your native language and translate to English. In English, for example, we can’t start a sentence with “and” or “but” or “because.” In Chinese, you can. Learn to think in English. Learn from reading and listening.
- 26. Avoid Direct Language Translation Be careful of translating certain common terms too directly: 高科技 isn’t “high technology,” but “advanced technology” 政府应该关注这个问题。 We also don’t really say “pay attention to” in the same sense. Instead: “Governments should prioritise this issue” “Governments should make this issue a priority” would work too.
- 27. Avoid “IELTS Phrases” IELTS phrases are clichés or overused phrases commonly found in IELTS essays. Often, training schools and textbooks teach these but they are not helpful to you. Avoid them. Use your own words.
- 28. Avoid IELTS Phrases “With the development of modern technology…” “With the development of society…” “With the development of science and technology…” Don’t use these. They are very annoying for examiners.
- 29. Avoid IELTS Phrases “Every coin has two sides…” “It’s a double-edged sword…” These are clichés. They sound like memorized phrases.
- 30. Avoid IELTS Phrases “Last but not least…” “In a nutshell…” These are too informal. The first one refers to introducing people. It’s not a way of concluding an essay.
- 31. Avoid IELTS Phrases “It cannot be denied…” Oh really?!?!?! I disagree.
- 32. Avoid IELTS Phrases “….broaden my horizons…” This is grossly overused.
- 33. Avoid IELTS Phrases “colorful life” This is not good English. A native speaker would not say this.