rrramble / ielts

Notes about my learning of the IELTS exam, checklists, strategies, structures, and tips

Short notes about the IELTS exam

These texts are still being built up.

The notes are summarized extraction from the best source I have found — IELTS Academy. Here are links to their selected youtube videos I find most useful. They also offer paid courses.

Sections of the IELTS

1. Writing
   1. Writing Task 1 General
   2. Writing Task 1 Academic
   3. Writing Task 2
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Listening

Criteria for the sections:

• Band descriptors for the Speaking section
• Band descriptors for the Writing section

Main tips for the Speaking and Writing parts

IELTS is a communication test, not a knowledge test

It tests if you can go to the UK, Australia, the USA, or Canada and communicate with people clearly and meaningfully.

Your ideas must be clear, concise, and logical. It does not test your knowledge of fancy words, impressive ideas, or intelligence.

Complying with Lexical resource criteria

Accuracy first: do not use the below hints if you are not 100% sure of them.

Checklist for accuracy:

• Correct spelling
• Correct grammar
• Correct meaning
• Correct collocation
• Do not show off using 'a high-level word'.

Other hints related to Lexical resource:

• Appropriate collocations: not luxurious dinner but delicios dinner; not delicious hotel but luxurious hotel.

Paraphrase

This covers the criterion Range of vocabulary: paraphrase meaning, synonymize words, and use a range of topic-specific words.

Find a synonym that covers the same meaning absolutely.

However, it is better to use the same word again than to use a synonym with an error or to use an improper synonym.

Consider changing the ending or adding a suffix, like -ing or -ed. This also counts as the use of another word.

Criterion of Using less-common words

Less-common means topic-specific or, more broadly, — widely used but in a topic-specific context.

For example, for the topic of Photography, really 'less-common' words are: focus, exposure, lighting, or scene. You see, they are not 'high-level'.

Often this criterion is misunderstood as 'use rare words that are high-level' like mellifluous, cornucopia, or plethora. In reality, these words are actually 'common words' in the sense that they can be used for every topic.

Complying with Coherence and Cohesion criteria

• Use linking words appropriately:
  • Do not put them everywhere, trying to achieve the 'Cohesive features' of the criteria.
  • Furthermore is used when adding a new point.
  • However is used only to contrast or negate.
• Use referencing it, this, they etc., instead of a once-mentioned word.

Vocabulary

• Check collocations on Just The Word
• Thesaurus from Collins Dictionary

Official information

You must know the difference between real and made-up questions. Here is a list of authoritative sources (Cambridge, British Council, IDP)