IELTS Online Practice Tests 10/28/2015 03:22:00 PM
Vocabulary For Stating Your Opinion:
By learning the IELTS Key Words and Expressions. you will be able to write more quickly and effectively during exams, when time is limited. Of course, you won't need to use all of the expressions on the IELTS. Ideally, you should be comfortable using at least three or four expressions from each group below, so they come to mind easily during the IELTS. It is also helpful to have someone call them out so you can test your spelling. Unfortunately, students sometimes make spelling errors even in these commonly occurring expressions. Practice sufficiently so you don't lose points unnecessarily on something that's within your control. The Key Words and Expressions For IELTS Writing Task 1 & 2 are as follows:
According to the essay types (Learn what are the IELTS essay types) use one of the following connective words/ linking phrases to write down your opinion However remember that if the question does not ask you to give your opinion but to compare advantages and disadvantages, then you should not strongly express your opinion. Opinion should only be written for opinion essays.
According to me,
Do you like this?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as media for communicating information. State which you consider to be most effective.
How many words? How long?
One Possible Solution: (Nothing is perfect! Please take this as an example only!)
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Nowadays, with the fast pace of technological development, there are more and more means to circulate information. Traditionally, information is communicated through books but now people also deliver pieces of information via films and televisions. Although all the aforementioned media have their own advantages and disadvantages, television is considered the most effective in my opinion.
Books are the oldest means of communication among the tree. They are easy to carry around so people are able to read them wherever they are. For example, in many countries, especially western ones, it is quite common to see people reading books on buses or trains to kill their time. However, a book may contain too detailed information and be regarded as too lengthy for people with limited time.
Alternatively, films can be adapted from books and effectively shorten the time required to grasp the whole idea. Movies can even be more impressive than books as they present information in a vivid form. Apart from that, this type of media still has its shortcomings in terms of affordability and timeliness. Watching movies is still a luxury to many families, and the information in movies may not be the latest.
In contrast, television has overcome the aforesaid disadvantages. It provides 24-hour coverage of news globally and it has become very common for each family to have a TV at home. Besides, television offers various channels and programs, which caters the need of various individuals. However, due to the size of TV, it is not handy to have it around all the time compared to books. People also have to bear the frequency of commercial advertisements on TV from time to time.
Overall, books, films and television are all widely used for sharing information. By comparing their advantages and disadvantages, I personally consider television as the most effective due to its timeliness and full overage of news.
The general format for writing academic writing task 2/ IELTS Essay is as follows:
1) Mobile phone and Internet are two great innovation of science for communication and had been facilitating people for a long time. These two technologies are widely used in almost all the countries of the world and had become parts of our daily lives. We can’t deny the usefulness of these technologies as they had made our life easier than it was ever before. In my opinion the advantages of these two devices far outweigh the demerits they have.
2) Every human being with an ambition of getting higher knowledge requires attending colleges or universities. The main reason of attending universities or colleges may differ man to man. Someone may aspire to achieve greater knowledge, someone may just want to earn a certificate or someone might attribute it as a step towards career development.
3) Compared with people in the past, we concern far less on the preparation of food today, thanks to the development of agriculture and scientific technology. A fair amount of beneficial influence is occurring to us consequently.Vocabulary for the opinion Part:
According to the essay types (Learn what are the IELTS essay types) use one of the following connective words/ linking phrases to write down your opinion However remember that if the question does not ask you to give your opinion but to compare advantages and disadvantages, then you should not strongly express your opinion. Opinion should only be written for opinion essays.In my opinion……
1) But in my opinion, giving the access of mobile phone & internet to each and every unemployed person is a matter of great dispute. I believe, this idea can help the countries who have sufficient funds for the whole fiscal year and already adopted technologies like internet for a very long period. But this might turn out as a complete loss for an undeveloped country.
2) I believe, parents are always teaching us in many ways intentionally and unintentionally; however vocal guidelines and acting in daily bases activities are the ways of the life experience knowledge transfer regardless different culture, language, facilities or economy level of the family.
3) I strongly agree with the idea that the gender issue is only a determinant in the battle of the sexes, not the battles among nations and peoples. It is therefore impertinent, if not irrational, to conclude that world conflicts result from the rule of a particular gender and the finer sex would do a better job at prevailing peace if selectively put at the helm of human nations.Vocabulary for the 2nd paragraph Part: It is true that…..
1) It is true that, an unemployed persons having a mobile phone with internet connection can get more access to the local and foreign job sectors and can use these technologies to get a job or become self-employed.
2) First of all, the maximum numbers of cars are owned by the rich people and fuel price would not restrain them from using the cars. The price of fuel in fact increased significantly over the past 12 years and that has done nothing to reduce the car usages.
3) To begin, houses that are being constructed by those in the lower income groups do look at the most cost effective option. In the process they invariably explore cheaper options that include a compromise on material and construction quality.
1) Besides, unemployed persons living in urban areas; can easily get the information related to the job-offering companies with these technologies……………. Furthermore, the use of these technology give them advantages than others…….
2) Besides, people would learn more about the outer space as the experiment and scientific research is outer space is going on more steadily than ever.
3) Apart from that, computers would become more powerful and they will have superior artificial intelligence. We will have robots to do the hazardous works like mining and outer space research. Surprisingly, e-commerce would be in more convenient form and most of the people will purchase online rather than going to shops in person.Vocabulary to show comparison: In the same way…..
1) Similarly, all the companies and offices are becoming automated and using computers, internet and other technologies vastly than any other time in history…….
2) At the same time software could used for many purposes such as learning through computers, accounting in computers, drawing, storage of information, sending information from one person to other person etc.
3) Also reading books is like peeking into the minds of the greatest people – A book is like a conversation with the writer and reading many books gives us an insight into the thinking process of different writers.Vocabulary to show contrast:
On the other hand…..
On the contrary…..
In contrast to this…..
On the other hand…..
1) On the contrary, poor countries suffer from the lack of sufficient budgets to ensure some very basic needs of people like health, education, medicines etc. Then again, those countries don’t have a chance to spend a lot of money to initiate a superficial project……..
2) Unlike a TV, a radio cannot display an image or a video, and the communication is limited to voice only. Typically, a radio is used for access information such as news and live traffic updates………
3) In contrast to this, the consumption of fuels to run the car is contributing to the rise if global warming and affecting the ozone layer. So, using bicycle in cities would be a better alternative………Vocabulary to show an example: As an example…..
1) For instance, there is no guaranty that all unemployed person will use the technology positively……..
2) As an example, many Government of the first world countries have initiated other projects like:………
3) For example, if a public bus gets busted in the middle of a road, the passenger can easily leave it a look for another one.Vocabulary to show consequence, effects or result: As a result…..
1) Therefore, we should avoid using our budget in an uncertain project……..
2) As a result, people are struggling much to lead a healthy and secure life………
3) Consequently, local residents will be able to find more job opportunities in this factory and have a better socio-economic status………Vocabulary to sum up: To sum up…..
1) In a word, I think, the idea can be very useful for the developing countries but for us, it might be a sinister………
2) That is to say, we must ensure the safety of our children first………
3) In short, overall infrastructure of the area will develope.
N.B. The above vocabulary are speacifically useful while finishing a paragraph. You can use these words/ phrases to re-state your topic of the paragraph.Vocabulary to make a point strong: Although…..
1) Although, Parents are important teachers in our lives and none can deny their invaluable role to make us what we are, but they aren’t always the best teachers…….
2) Thus air and water pollution caused by this factory will ruin the local environment and wildlife fundamentally………
3) Although industrialization is necessary for growth, but it must be regulated. The proper measures must be in place to reduce the negative impacts of byproducts on environment.Other transitional words / connective words: Then…..
1) They take care of the children as much as parents do………………
2) As soon as we realize the problem ………………
3) Otherwise, the unemployed graduates’ number will keep on increasing………………Vocabulary for the conclusion part:
To conclude with…..
To sum up…..
All in all….
On the whole…..
In a nut Shell…..
1) In general, even though it is preferable to study English in an English-speaking country, a reasonable level of English can be achieved in one’s own country, if a student is gifted and dedicated to study.2) To sum up, if the population explosion continues, many more people will die of starvation in poor countries, and life in the cities, even in affluent nations, will become increasingly difficult.
3) To conclude, I recommend that the only sensible way to solve this problem is to educate young people about the dangers of drug use, and to take steps to reduce the pressure of competition placed upon them.
4) In conclusion, nuclear technology certainly has positive uses but is nonetheless dangerous. However, it would have been better if it had never been used to create nuclear weapons. If life on Earth is to continue, all the nuclear nations of the world should agree to disarm as soon as possible.
N.B. The conclusion part of the IELTS Essay or IELTS Academic writing task 2 usually begins with a special concluding phrase that links it to the rest of the essay. Notice that a conditional sentence can be very effective in the conclusion. One reason for this is that it can refer to what might occur as a result of your suggestions or recommendations. Of course, you can use conditional sentences elsewhere in your essay as well. If you do use conditionals, be sure that the construction of your sentences is grammatically correct.
Also, in a short essay of approximately 250 words the conclusion can be just one or two sentences long. The conclusion should briefly sum up what you have said in your essay, and does not usually contribute a new idea, unless it is a minor point. However, it is a good place to make recommendations or suggestions, or to give advice and offer solutions, if you are asked to do so.
How To Tackle the 3 Main Types of IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions
In the IELTS Writing Task 2, candidates must write a short 250 word essay on a given topic. One marking criteria – making up 25% of the score – is the Task Response, which checks to make sure that you answer all parts of the question/s being asked and that your ideas and examples are relevant to the question. Responses that are irrelevant or off-topic will be penalized. One of the problems here is that many students do not understand the types of questions asked and how to answer them. In this post, we will look at the three main types of questions you could see on the exam, how to identify them, and how you should tackle each of them. Knowing this will help increase your chances of scoring high in the IELTS.Opinion on a Point of View
In this question type, the first sentence is an opinion about a social issue. You are then asked to what extent you agree with it or disagree with it.
“The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. 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?”
I totally agree that alternative forms of transportation should be introduced as increased fuel emissions are heavily polluting our atmosphere. Encouraging the use of alternative forms of transport, such as walking or riding a bicycle, have no negative impact on the air quality, and have the additional benefit of keeping a society’s population fitter.
Introducing laws to limit car ownership and providing tax benefits for individuals that ditch driving into work for alternative transport could help reduce the number of cars on the road. A recent survey from UK Car Magazine showed that 65% of car owners would seriously consider selling their car and instead walk or ride a bike to work if the government would reduce their overall taxes by 10%.
In this question type, you are given a problem or issue and two different solutions or opinions about it. Typically, you are then asked to consider both sides.
“Some people think that parents should teach their children how to be healthy and have a balanced diet. Others, however, believe that school is the best place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.”
On the one hand, I believe that it is important for parents to lead by example and practice healthy eating habits at home. A recent survey by the World Heath Organization showed that children are 25% more likely to have their eating habits influenced by their family than by their peers. Therefore it is essential that parents instill these habits at home.
On the other hand, school is also a good place to learn about a balanced diet. Recent TV programs like the Jamie’s School Dinners, has highlighted the importance of serving healthy food choices in school cafeterias. If students are regularly taught and given the opportunity to eat healthy food it is more likely to become a habit.Problem and Solution
Here you are given a statement about a common social issue or problem and are asked to discuss it and provide a solution for it.
“Stress in modern life is increasing. What do you think are the main causes of this? What possible solutions can you suggest?”
I believe that longer working hours is the main causes of stress in the 21st Century. A study by the IMF published in 2014 showed that the average employ is working 10 hours more a week than they did 20 years ago in 1994. In this same study respondents listed this as their number one cause of modern life stress.
One solution to this problem would be for workers to agree with their managers that at least one day a week they can leave the office an hour earlier to their contracted normal working time. The British Working Union recently conducted an employee survey that noted that 75% of UK employees cited that having flexible working hours, such as leaving early one day a week, would greatly help reduce their stress levels.