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Hi, dear followers (and curious readers). Now is the best time for you to send queries about the IELTS. Tell me about what YOU want to know. This way, you could help me build topics for this blog, and I could help you ace your IELTS! Place your questions on the comments box and don't forget to follow me! :)

-Regards,
tripleniner

UPDATES HOLLA!

Hello dear seekers of the Sorcerer's Stone (nines in the IELTS of course).

 I have been doing some reading, research and workshops; and thus, will be updating the writing tasks to make it simpler for everybody.This is great news for you, since you don't need to be a prodigy in writing just to arrange things correctly. Until then, I suggest that you still read the former writing tasks, for you to obtain thoughts and ideas should you encounter any topic that may be similar to the ones that I have previously posted.

Anyway, it would be a  BAD IDEA for you to COPY these EXACTLY, as I will be clarifying several parts soon. It's going to be easier, I promise.:D

In the mean time, why don't you share YOUR story? Which parts of the IELTS do you think are challenging? I'll be waiting for your comments!

Cheerio!

-tripleniner

WRITING ABOUT TABLES

THE TABLE

•        table is a set of data with elements (values) that is organized using a model of vertical columns (which are identified by their name) and horizontal rows.

PARTS:

1.      Introduction

2.      Body

3.      Conclusion

For the IELTS:  You will be given one table of figures. Your task is to describe the information given in the graph by writing a 150 word report. You are not asked to give your opinion. You should spend around 20 minutes on the task.

What is being tested is your ability to:

• objectively describe the information presented in a table
• compare and contrast
• report on an impersonal topic without the use of opinion
• use language appropriate to the description of tables

Writing task one: tables You will be given one table of figures. Your task is to describe the information given in the graph by writing a 150 word report. You are not asked to give your opinion. You should spend around 20 minutes on the task. What is being tested is your ability to: objectively describe the information presented in a table compare and contrast report on an impersonal topic without the use of opinion use language appropriate to the description of tables Sample task You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information in the table below. You should write at least 150 words. Your task Complete the Task One report exercise above. Spend only 20 minutes. Then look at the notes and the sample answer below. Guidelines for a good answer Does the report have a suitable structure? Does it have an introduction, body and conclusion? Does it include connective words to make the writing cohesive within sentences and paragraphs? Does the report use suitable grammar and vocabulary? Does it include a variety of sentence structures? Does it include a range of appropriate vocabulary? Does the report meet the requirements of the task? Does it meet the word limit requirements? Does it describe the whole graph adequately? Does it focus on the important trends presented in the table? Sample answers We will now compare two sample answers, one better than the other. How well does each one follow the guidelines? Sample answer one The table shows how people in different age groups spent their leisure time in Someland. It can be clearly seen that the amount of leisure time available varied considerably across the age groups. Teenagers in Someland spent 1,200 hours a year watching TV and those in the over 70s group spent 100 hours less at 1,100. They spent 150 hours on socialising with 4 or less people compared with 200 hours at the other end of the scale. They spent 350 hours socialising with 4 or more people compared with 25 hours. The teenagers spent 450 hours on group exercise but retired people didn’t do any. In conclusion, we can see that in Someland the teenagers and retired people prefer to spend their free time in different ways. Teacher's comments on the sample answer Here is what an IELTS teacher said about the sample answer. The report structure is clear and well organised with an introduction, body and conclusion. The candidate uses repetitive grammatical structures and vocabulary which would bring the mark down considerably. The tense used is not appropriate as there is no indication on the table that the figures refer to the past. Also the reader doesn’t know who is being referred to in the two sentences on socialising. The word ‘prefer’ in the conclusion is inappropriate because the table does not give any indication of people’s reasons for spending their time on one activity rather than another. Someone may choose indoor rather than outdoor activities because of their health although they would prefer to go outside. In terms of task requirements the report has serious problems. Although in writing about a table you will have the difficulty of there being too much information to put into a 150 word report, you can’t solve this problem by ignoring whole sections of the table. In this case the candidate simply compared two age levels and ignored the rest. Sample answer two Here is an example of a better answer to this task. Notice how it follows the guidelines. The table shows how people in different age groups spend their leisure time in Someland over the course of a year. It can be clearly seen that the amount of leisure time available varies considerably across the age groups and that people of different age levels have very different ways of spending their leisure time. According to the figures, as people age in Someland their social lives reduce. Teenagers and people in their twenties spend on average 500 hours per year on socialising and 350 hours of that time is with a group of more than 4 people. Although the total hours of socialising in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s is fairly constant (between 300-350), socialising with more than 4 people drops dramatically to 50 hours in the 30s and 40s age groups and only 25 from 50 years old. Group and individual exercise follow a similar pattern. People of all ages spend a good part of their leisure time on entertainment such as TV/video viewing and cinema. In both cases, teenagers and retired people spend around twice as much time as those who are at working age. Home entertainment ranges from just over a thousand hours for teenagers and retired people and an average of 600 hours for everyone else. Cinema accounts for 100 hours of the teenagers and retired people’s leisure time and 25-50 hours for the rest. In conclusion we can see there is a significant trend towards solitary and smaller group activities as people grow older and that teenagers and retired people spend a lot more time on entertainment than those of working age do. Strategies for improving your IELTS score Selecting information Like the line graphs your report should be structured simply with an introduction, body and conclusion. Tenses should be used appropriately. Use two standard opening sentences to introduce the table and your report. These opening sentences should make up the first paragraph. Sentence one should define what the table is about; that is, the date, location, what is being described in the graphs etc. For example: The table shows how people in different age groups spend their leisure time in Someland over the course of a year. Notice that the sample opening sentence does not simply copy the words used on the graphic material. Copied sentences will not be assessed by the examiner and so you waste your time including them. The body of the report will describe the information presented in the table in detail. You will need to decide on the most clear and logical order to present the material. Generally you will choose one of the categories given in the table; that is, the age or activity in the example task above. Your choice would depend on whether you could see the most significant trends occurring by age group or by activity. In this case distinguishing the age group is your primary concern in describing this table, and you would do this by highlighting some differences between the activity preferences of the age groups. Ideally your report should end with one or two sentences which summarise your report or draw a relevant conclusion. For example: It can be clearly seen that the amount of leisure time available varies considerably across the age groups and that people of different age levels have very different ways of spending their free time. Notice the tense used. In this case there is no date given and so we must take the table information as being current now. Grammar and vocabulary You will receive a higher mark if your writing uses a range of structures and vocabulary correctly rather than a limited number. Selecting your information In completing this task it is important that you cover all of the information given. However, this does not mean that you should note every detail. In tables there is invariably too much information for you to mention each figure. You will therefore need to summarise the table in meaningful segments. In other words, you will describe the significant trends in your report. To see the trends in a table, start by finding patterns under the horizontal and vertical headings. In the sample task you would analyse the age groups and activities. We can see that at different times in their lives Someland people have more or less free time and their priorities for how they spend their free time are different. In analysing the activities we can look for which age groups spend more time on individual or group, cheap or expensive, home or outdoor, strenuous or restful activities. By describing trends in this way, we can avoid having to describe every age group across every activity. Source: http://www.ielts-exam.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=44

Causes of the absence of a sense of community and measures

Individuals and families who work hand in hand toward the progress of their locality have always been ubiquitous in many different areas, especially in our close-knit Philippine society. However, as an effect of urbanization and other factors such as urban migration; cities flourished but were stripped off their sense of community. A lot of people in these city dwellings become nameless and faceless; thus, widening the disparity among its constituents. This essay will discuss the causes of this trend and possible solutions to alleviate the problem.

The lack of communication among neighbors is one of the main reasons behind the absence of community. People fail to talk to each other or even wave or smile because they are too busy with their own lives. Some are busy with work or are looking for jobs; therefore, they have very little time left for small talk with neighbors. If they do have time left, most would be bent over doing other activities that they believe would be beneficial. Consequently, this lack of face to face interactions makes people strangers to each other, who could not care less about each other.

In the Southern area of the Philippines, conflicts often arise between Moslems and Christians –some even leading to violence and mortalities. Although not necessarily as violent, groups in cities are also disparate, not only because of religious beliefs, but also because of cultural differences. A lot of people do not understand why certain people act like a certain way; thus, the stereotypical comments that certain regional groups are stingy, garrulous, quarrelsome and the like. This is compounded by urban migration as a lot of people from many different places start to settle in these so-called “melting pots”. Indeed, different beliefs play a huge role in the conflict between locals.

The prosperity of an area depends on how united its residents are. Therefore, everyone should be working towards alleviating this ever-growing problem. Gatherings should be encouraged in order to allow everyone to take some time off their busy lives and talk to each other. Activities such as parties, sports festivals and the like may also spark interest in these get-togethers. Also, respect is the key. We may not be able to fully understand each other’s habits and preferences; but if we respect our neighbor’s inherent dignity, no issues will arise.

The absence of community will continue to persist unless we do something about it. Our religion and culture might be different; but if we only take time to be proactive, instead of being reactive, we could catalyze change.

NONFICTION vs FICTION (DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS AND GIVE YOUR OPINION)

The realm of entertainment has evolved dramatically to meet the changing tastes of audiences from changing times. Tear-jerking and heartwarming stories that remind us of our personal challenges have never gone out of most people's preferences. However, vivid narratives from the filament of the storyteller's imagination have captivated the people who would like to free themselves from daily worries and enter a whole new world.

The realistic view that non-fiction stories provide is precisely the reason why these are able to catch the interest of the readers or viewers. The fact that people can relate with the characters or the plot may have a cathartic effect People feel that they are not alone, hence find comfort in watching or reading stories similar to their lives. The true-to-life context of anecdotes also make them less baffling and easier to understand. These have no hidden and covert complexities--just what plainly meets the eye.

On the other hand, the artistic creations of the human mind expressed through stories also lures people into appreciating fiction stories. These take the spectators into breathtaking places that they have never been to and pulls them into understanding iconic characters that they have never heard of. Some people find that they are reliving childhood fantasies through these stories--giving them a break from the stressful reality.

In my opinion, both types of stories satisfy the need of people to be entertained. Ultimately, the variations in what we expose ourselves to that matters, as we would be able to grow with these stories/ True-to-life anecdotes remind us of our humanity, while fictitious stories remind us of the depth and breadth of the human imagination.

Viewership or readership is important for a story to continue. These provide faculties for introspection and contemplation. Whatever stories people prefer, it is important to continue communicating ideas, may it be factual, or imagined.

VOCAL WARM UP FOR PRONUNCIATION

Pronouncing properly is indeed important in every affair where your speaking skills are needed. The following is a vocal warm-up in order for you to practice vowel sounds, consonant sounds and commonly confused sounds. Make sure to record yourself so that you could point out your mistakes and monitor your progress. Enjoy. :D

Eat each green pea. Aim straight at the game. Ed said get ready.

It  is in Italy. I tried  my  kite. Oaks grow slowly.

Father was calm as he threw  the bomb on the dock.

An awed audience applauded Claude.

Go slow Joe, you’re stepping on my toe.

Sauce makes the goose more succulent.

Up the bluff, Bud runs with a cup of love.

Red led  men to the heifer that fell in the dell

Maimed animals may become mean.

It’s time to buy a nice limeade for a dime

Oil soils doilies.

Flip a coin roy, you have the choice of oysters or poi.

Sheep shears should be sharp

At her leisure, she used rouge to camouflage her features.

There’s your cue, the curfew is due.

It was the student’s duty to deliver the Tuesday newspaper.

He feels keen as he schemes and dreams

Much of the flood comes from under the hutch.

Boots and shoes lose newness soon.

Ruth was rude to the new recruit

Vivid, Livid, vivifying. Vivid experiences were lived vicariously.

Oddly, the ominous octopus remained calm.

The pod will rot if  left on the rock

Look, you could put your foot on the hood and push.

Nat nailed the new sign on the door of the diner.

Dale’s dad died in the stampede for gold.

Thoughtful thinkers think things through.
Engineer Ethelbert wrecked  the express at the end of Elm street.

Be patient. :D

REFLECTIONS ON TASK 2

Whenever I say "essay writing is easy", I get a lot of cynical, unappeased stares from my students. Indeed, essay writing has evolved as one of the biggest fears of most people; which, in my own opinion, is completely unnecessary. I mean, I would rather write an essay than memorize history, or mathematical equations, or worse, the conversion values of English to metric systems.  However, I also understand the quandary. In a world where pretty much everything is "dumbed down", hardly anyone ever appreciates the simple joy of writing. Upon checking hundreds of essays throughout my career, I have noticed chronic and common challenges among my dearest "essayists".


There is ALWAYS a lack of confidence among my students whenever I check their tasks. Most would recite their own version of  a "my work is not good enough" spiel--and that's when the problem arises. What a lot of people don't understand is that they DO NOT NEED TO BE PERFECT-- they just need to see to it that they are understood. I think that they try to compare their works to my examples or the examples from our orange book. Of course these would never be the same! But it doesn't mean that these essays are bad. However,  the fact that they are trying extremely hard to copy the styles makes them mindless drones bound by "ideals". So instead of using their brilliant ideas, they often end up parroting other ideas in a "not-so-good-enough-way".  Here's a secret: there is no ideal way of making an essay. There isn't. So don't stress yourself out, it's like copying the clothes of a movie star and saying that the piece of clothing does not look good on you. Don't copy their clothing, get inspired. Show your individuality. In the same way, don't mindlessly copy model essays, get inspired by them so that you could come up with your own idea. Trust yourself, all ideas are great only when you get to build them.

Another common faux pas is NOT ANSWERING the question. This is sad. There are times when I have to explain the question before my student understands it. The questions are painfully simple, but the poor student was not able to evaluate correctly. Again, it is the lack of thought (or too much of it) that leads them to destruction. So before you even scribble on your papers, take time to understand the question. Breathe. Don't rush. Try to rephrase the question. Make it simple. No one wants you to fail. If you can't understand the question, you can't write about it.

If you don't edit your work, you will never get it done. A lot of my students fail to proofread. This is a crucial part of writing essays (and writing for that matter) as we are not native English speakers. We make errors.  We have to recognize them and correct them. Silly spelling mistakes, subject verb agreement, tense, capitalization and punctuations are just among what you need to double check. Leave time for editing.

Sure, not everybody can be Shakespeare. I understand that very clearly. But this is not creative writing. It is INFORMATIVE writing. Explain your thoughts clearly and cohesively. Remember: make every thought count. :)

PS
(On my next blogs, I will be sharing practical tips to write better essays)

MOCK 1 TASK2

Serving as vivid repositories of our culture, museums have always been temples where minds are fed with information. Traditionally, these are places where knowledge and information can be sought. However, as technology evolved, these places also blossomed into visual, auditory and kinaesthetic stimulators that entertain the public.

Museums have always held a vast array of exhibits that are always visually pleasing. Customarily, people go to museums as part of educational field trips. A tour guide feeds more information about the relics displayed, thus facilitating learning among scholars. There are different kinds of museums which foster varied themes, not the least of which are culture and history. Many students relish at the vast detail provided by museums that facilitate their learning. For instance, instead of listening to saturating and exhaustive lectures in class or pouring over books, they could easily appreciate historical events or the richness of our traditions and customs with the collection of displays parading the museums.

On the other hand, not all museums reflect history, science or culture. Some display art or are becoming increasingly innovated that allows seeing, hearing and even feeling the exhibits. A lot of people flock these places, not just to get informed, but also to have quality leisure time. As an example, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum does not display historical artefacts but wax figures of iconic people. A lot of visitors enter its halls every year, feeling happy and content as they leave this building that reflects pop culture.

In my opinion, a museum made to entertain people is not a bad idea; neither is building one to educate people. Also, I believe that it is hard to separate both as we could learn a lot from even the most mundane things. It is then possible to merge learning with entertainment, which is practically the rudiment of effective learning.  After all, the learning process does not need to be very rigid and serious.

Museums house the past, present, and future and adding the element of fun does not defeat its purpose. Although the original purpose of these glorious structures is to archive history, it also needs to grow, change, and evolve.