Travel Notes (Speaking Part 2)

In previous posts, we have mentioned the importance of taking notes during your speaking exam. Making a quick plan of what you will say helps you to speak continuously without hesitation. It will also ensure that you address all parts of the question and maximise the material you can talk about.

Remember: Talking too much is never a problem, but talking too little can devastate your score!

Let's take a look at this common travel topic:

Describe a holiday that you are planning to take or would like to take in the future. You should say:

• Where you would go
• Who you would go with
• What kinds of activities you’d like to take part in

And say if you think you’ll be able to go on this holiday in the near future.

Begin by writing the name of the place, along with some adjectives to describe it. Always explain the reason for your statement. Remember to offer as much information as possible. Do you want to go to New York? Why? Describe an experience which made you interested in New York.

A good set of notes for this topic might look like so:

Morocco - exotic, interesting, foreign, colourful

often in films, photographs

beautiful scenery, landscape

meet my friend there - fun, adventurous, outgoing

activities - shopping, eating local cuisine, trekking in desert

I already have a plan to go

Below you can find some good examples of answers to this question. Pay attention to the smooth flow of information and detailed vocabulary. Also, note that the speaker uses a slow, clear pace. Try to avoid rushing through your answer! See below for transcripts.

Wow, there are just so many holidays I’d like to go on. Because it’s wintertime in New Zealand at the moment, I’d really like to travel someplace warm and sunny. I’ve heard that Fiji is really nice at this time of year, but any tropical island in the Pacific would probably do. I’d most like to travel with my girlfriend so that we could spend some relaxing evenings at the beach together. I find spending time near the sea to be extremely soothing. During the day, I’d swim in the sea and do a lot of reading, then at night I’d have a couple of cocktails, hang out by the pool, and look at the stars. I would also like to try out water-skiing, or maybe take a boat trip and try to catch a fish for my dinner!  Beach vacations are the best because they really take you away from your day to day life; you can sort of take a break from worrying about everything and just enjoy the beautiful scenery around you. I’m not sure how soon I’ll be able to take this trip, but hopefully next year. Or sooner!

I don’t have any travel plans at the moment, but of course there’s a lot of places I’d like to go. First and foremost, I’d like to visit New Zealand’s South Island. I’ve heard that it has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The Southern Alps are a famously beautiful and majestic mountain range. Also, I tend to enjoy active vacations. It’s not my style to just go somewhere and sit around. So, if I go to the South Island, I can participate in adventure sports like mountain climbing, skiing, and maybe even bungee jumping or skydiving, if I can muster up the courage! I’d love to go with a group of friends who would be willing to take part in these adventures with me. Travelling alone is OK, too, but it’s always nicer to share your experiences with others. Will I go there soon? Probably. I need to wait until I’ve finished this semester of University and earned a little money. But after that I will definitely take some time off to travel around the South Island. Actually, I can’t wait!

Well, this is a topic that I’m happy to talk about! I already have plans to go on an amazing trip next autumn. This holiday will be to several different cities in Morocco, which is located in Africa. I’m really excited to go there because I’ve never been to Africa before. It’s one of the only continents that I haven’t visited. I’m especially interested in Morocco because I’ve seen some films about it, and it seems like a very mystical and exotic place. I imagine it’s full of beautiful colours and delicious, spicy food. Maybe it won’t be exactly how I expect, but I’m looking forward to learning more. When I’m in Morocco, I’ll probably take a trek into the desert. I’ve seen some photographs of desert landscapes that have a unique, barren beauty. When I return to the city, I’ll also be sure to do some shopping and taste some local cuisine. When I go on a trip, I just like to explore my surroundings and try to experience as much as I can of the local culture. Though I’m flying to Morocco by myself, I’m planning to meet up with a friend there who is visiting from the United States. I’m excited to go on this adventure!

English about English (Listening)

As many students can tell you, listening is one of the more difficult skills to improve for IELTS. Particularly, to do well on Section 4, it’s not enough to listen to casual conversations or chat with your friends in English. You must do your best to expose yourself to academic English on a number of subjects whenever possible. Watching movies and especially documentaries (without subtitles!) is one great way to hear a variety of English.

The most common subjects for IELTS listening Section 4 are: History, Nature and The Environment, Music and Art, Linguistics and Cognitive Development, International Issues, and Economics.

Below you will find an interesting academic talk on the relationship between language and music in the brain. You should listen carefully and answer the questions posted below. Listen as many times as necessary to answer the questions.

For full understanding, please familiarise yourselves with the following vocabulary and idioms before listening:

• Broca’s area
• Aphasia
• Moonlight (verb)
• Polyglot
• Do I suck or am I great?
• Jet-setting
• You got me beat
• Tone deaf
• Far-fetched
• Off the hook
• Two-way street
• Tune out

During the first few minutes, the speaker reads letters from listeners to the show. One listener states that he likes the speaker’s voice so much that he could listen to him read the ingredients in processed food. The speaker then proceeds to do so!

Click the orange button to begin!

Skip to minute 3:40 to begin academic content. Also, please note that there is a brief advertisement at minute 13:50.

According to the expert speaker, in what ways are music and language similar?

When you undergo musical training, what kind of changes occur in your brain?

Why might Cantonese speakers have an advantage when learning music?

The speaker gave an example of why saying the wrong tone might cause trouble. What was it?

What three groups of people were used for the Bidelman experiment?

In your own words, summarise the results of Bidelman’s experiment.

Aside from musical tests, what two tests were the subjects of the experiment given? What were the results of those tests?

(Correct answers will be posted in the comments section in the near future!)

Pick An Opinion! (Speaking Part 3)

Many students spend a lot of time worrying about Speaking Part 2 because they are required to speak for nearly 2 minutes. Even though the long turn can be tricky, you should not forget about Speaking Part 3, in which you must discuss deeper issues such as politics, culture, economics, and the environment. 

Below you will find typical Part 3 questions and some excellent answers to each one, reflecting different opinions. Notice that the answers are not long, but they do contain complex grammar structures and precise vocabulary. Also, pay attention to introduction and transition phrases such as:

• In my opinion / It is my view that
• For the most part / Mainly
• At this point / These days
• In recent years / Recently
• In many cases / In many ways
• I'm not sure about / I don't have a strong opinion about
• I believe that / I think that
• Obviously / Definitely / Without question

Read the Part 3 Speaking sample questions below and pick the opinion that most reflects your own views. Then, practice reading the questions and answers with a partner or a friend. Below you will find questions which you can try answering by yourself. Feel free to use transition phrases and vocabulary from the examples.

1.    The gap between the rich and the poor is growing in many countries. To what extent do you think this is true in your country?

a.       In my country, there is not a large gap between the rich and the poor. Most people have a reasonable standard of living. Of course, some people are very rich but in many cases I believe it’s because of their own hard work.

b.      This is definitely true in my country. It’s shameful that some people live luxurious lifestyles while others are starving. I definitely think some action should be taken to remedy this problem.

c.       To be honest, I haven’t heard a lot about this issue in my country. Perhaps that means it isn’t a serious issue.

2.    What sort of influence do you think celebrities have on young people these days?

a.       In my opinion, celebrities have a mostly negative effect on children. For instance, many young girls look up to singers who behave badly or take drugs or behave in an overly sexual manner. I really think it’s a shame.

b.      That’s definitely a tricky issue. Some celebrities behave badly while others do noble and charitable things, so I think it really depends on which celebrities you want to talk about.

c.       While some famous people behave badly, I believe that most of them are talented and hard working. They can serve as role models for children and motivate them to work hard.

3.    How are the eating habits in your country now different from those of the past?

a.       I don’t think the eating habits in my country have changed significantly in recent years. Sure, there are some types of international and fast food available, but I think most people still eat in traditional ways.

b.      The eating habits in my country have really worsened in the past few decades. Whereas in the past people would eat moderate amounts of home-cooked food, they now tend to overeat and make unhealthy choices like take out and fast food. It’s had a negative effect on people’s health, for sure.

c.       You know, I think that the eating habits in my country were worsening for many decades, but recently there has been a shift in attitude. I think that people have begun to be more health conscious and make healthier food choices. For instance, people have started to purchase more organic food and avoid fast food.

4.     What effect do you think technology has had on employment in your country?

a.       That’s an interesting question! Of course technology has dramatically affected the way people work and the types of jobs people do. Overall, I believe that this has benefited people and made jobs more comfortable and less dangerous.

b.      Although technology has made many jobs more efficient, it has had a negative effect on some people. For instance, some older people or uneducated people are having problems finding work now. If they can’t afford to learn how to use computers and other electronics, they might have big problems.

c.       For the most part, technology has made jobs easier but that’s not necessarily a good thing. These days, jobs in my country have become very boring and repetitive. People don’t get much physical activity and they often feel dissatisfied with their lives.

5.    In your opinion, what is the relationship between a region’s climate (weather) and its culture? Explain.

a.       That’s a tough question! Certainly, the climate of an area can shape the personalities of people who live in that area. For instance, people who live in warmer climates tend to be more open and friendly than people who live in colder climates.

b.      I’m not sure there’s a strong relationship between climate and the personality of local people. Humans tend to shape their environment to suit their needs, so it’s possible to find all different types of people living in all different types of regions.

c.       There is definitely a strong relationship between environment and culture. A long time ago, people used to worship gods that were related to the land and the weather. Even though we don’t do this today, we can still feel the influence of our surroundings on our local culture.

6.    What should the government do to protect the environment? What should individuals do?

a.       I think it is mostly the responsibility of the government to enforce environmental laws. People are creatures of habit and they are not likely to behave in environmentally-friendly ways unless the government forces them to do so.

b.      Obviously, it is the responsibility of both the government and the people to take care of the environment. The government should pass some laws to protect the environment, but each person ought to participate in small ways such as recycling or riding a bicycle instead of driving a car.

c.       At this point, I’m not certain there’s anything that governments or individuals can do to help the environment. I think that too much damage has already been done and there’s no way to avoid the serious consequences of that. So I think people should just do whatever they want!

Now You Try!

Plan a short answer ( 2 – 3 Sentences) for each of the following Speaking Part 3 questions. Remember to explore the idea fully and use academic vocabulary whenever possible. Feel free to use transition phrases and expressions from the answers above!

1.      What are the benefits of learning a musical instrument at an early age?

2.      What is the most effective way to keep up with current events?

3.      Describe some of the effects of tourism on local communities. Is it generally positive or negative?

4.      Do you think that the skills you need for employment are different from the skills that your parents needed? Explain.

5.      What do you think about government censorship? Do you think the government should restrict what kind of news people receive?

6.      Do you think that men and women generally like different kinds of books and films? Please explain.

7.      Why are festivals and holidays important to people?

8.      How has communication changed in the past 50 years? Are the changes positive or negative?

Respecting the Elderly (Task 2 Writing)

For your consideration, a recent topic which has appeared on IELTS exams in several locations:

In many countries today, insufficient respect is shown to older people.

What do you think may be the reasons for this?

What problems might this cause in society?

This is not a typical argument-based essay topic. In this case, you must write a factual report, giving examples to support your ideas. Make sure to touch on all parts of the question. You could follow a paragraph structure as follows:

• Introduction
• Paragraph giving causes for disrespect toward older people
• Paragraph giving effects of disrespect on society
• Conclusion, with suggestions for how to improve the situation

It's okay to give your opinion at the end of the essay, but you should mostly use a factual approach.

Watch this video for a humorous take on this issue! 

Below you can find an example essay which would receive a Band 9 score. Observe the way it clearly states reasons and gives examples to support all statements.

Due to a large number of societal changes which have taken place in the past 100 years, it’s clear that older people have lost their once elevated position in society. Where we used to cherish our elders and show respect for their wisdom, we now disregard their knowledge or ignore them altogether. There are several reasons for this trend, and many negative consequences which result from it.

            One reason for the devaluation of elderly people in our society is its increasing dependence on technology. As we continually change our lifestyles and update the way we do things, the wisdom once given to us by older people seems to lose its usefulness. Technological skills are now necessary for most forms of employment, but they are often foreign and even frightening to the older generation. Thus, it’s easy for young people to adopt the opinion that old people are falling behind, and that they are no longer useful in the workforce. On a personal level, we may feel annoyed that our mothers and fathers are unable to communicate with technology, such as smart phones, that we use every day.

            Another trend which has led to disrespect for the elderly is the movement away from communities filled with extended families and into so-called “nuclear-family” units. Whereas in the past it was common for grandparents to live nearby and to play an integral role in the upbringing of children, they now live separately and in many cases far away from their children. Single-family living reduces the role that older individuals can play in the family, and therefore decreases their value in society.

            Obviously, the tendency to disrespect and devalue older people has many negative repercussions. While the elderly may not be able to teach us about smart phones, they do possess a great deal of insight into human nature, cultural traditions, and finding inner happiness. It would be a tragedy to lose the philosophical treasures that they offer us. For these reasons, it is my belief that we should constantly strive to maintain our family connections and return respect for the elderly to its rightful place.

The Two-Part Chart (Task 1 Writing)

In a previous post, we learned the basics of writing about bar charts. 

We learned that we must:

• write an introduction telling what the chart is
• make a general statement about the information that we see
• look for the most notable features and give examples
• make a conclusion which restates the introduction

It seems easy, right?

Well, unfortunately bar charts can be more complicated when we are comparing two or more things, or comparing the changes over time.

It's even more complicated when we are given an essay assignment like this one:

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

These charts give information about future sales of blue jeans in Turkey. The bar chart shows the estimated sales of jeans for two companies next year in Turkey. The pie chart shows the projected market share of the two companies in jeans at the end of next year.

Write a short report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.

Write at least 150 words.

Now what??

There are two charts and we must write about both of them at the same time. But don't worry - we can use the same method that we used for writing about one bar chart, as long as we remember this simple tip for writing about more than one chart:

Write about the charts together. 

Do not separate them!

Students have a bad habit of writing about the charts separately rather than together. This will reduce your score. The charts have been shown together because they have a relationship to each other. You must try to understand this relationship and explain it. 

With this in mind, let's see what kind of general statements we can make about the charts.

Remember that your introduction sentence can be more or less taken from the task assignment at the top of the page. We want to begin very generally, giving information that includes both of the charts. 

Here is a good introduction:

These charts give information about the future jeans sales of two different companies in Turkey. The bar chart shows projected sales for each month of next year, while the pie chart illustrates the percentage of market share that will be held by each company.

Please note: we have included information about both charts equally. Now we must see if there's anything that we can say that is true for both charts. Start looking for notable features!

Look at both charts. Generally speaking, which company is projected to sell more jeans next year? Write a sentence summarizing the biggest trend:

From the chart, we can easily observe that Jack & Jones Co. is going to have higher average sales and a larger portion of market share in the coming year. This should be our first statement after the introduction.

From both charts, it's clear that the Jack & Jones jeans company will exceed Mango Co. in both profits and market share in the upcoming year.

Now that we have shown the relationship between the charts, the rest is smooth sailing! Simply follow the model that we used for a single bar chart. Make sure to mention some notable features on each chart:

• Mention a Notable Feature
• Give A Detail to Support Notable Feature
• Mention Another Notable Feature
• Give Another Detail to Support Notable Feature

When we return to the conclusion, it's important that we write about both charts together again. Don't write about just one!

A good conclusion can restate the information from the beginning in a new way. Like so:

Generally speaking, we can conclude that Jack & Jones Co. is projected to be more successful next year in Turkey, both in terms of market share and raw profits.