•Work on your vocabulary and learn new words, to make sure you will be able to understand the topic or at least take a very good guess.
•Read as many IELTS essays as you can. Reading other people’s essays helps with the ideas, if you don’t have any of your own – “borrow” from others.
•Read as much IELTS essay topics, as possible.
Important! Don’t try to memorize essays. IELTS examiners are trained to look for memorized essays and they will disqualify your work on the spot.
The connectors or connecting words in English are expressions that are generally used to improve the flow of your writing as well as speaking. It helps create a link between two sentences or paragraphs. These words and phrases link the candidate’s thoughts in a more cohesive way thereby leading to a smooth communication.
The common connectors used in writing are-
On the contrary– (stating by suggesting that opposite is the case)
Example- On the contrary, I didn’t even wanted to go for the party.
At the same time– (at once)
Example- The public should take precautions but at the same time the government must initiate too.
Even though– (despite the fact that)
Example- Even though he was rude, I helped him at the time of need.
Furthermore- (in addition)
Example- Reading is a good habit, furthermore, it can improve one’s vocabulary and communication skills.
Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone you did not know.
You should say:
Who the person was?
Where the conversation took place?
What you talked about?
and explain why you found the conversation interesting.
(Download CUE Card)
SAMPLE ANSWER-
Last month during my flight from Dehradun to Delhi, I met a lady by coincidence and the conversation I had with her during the journey was unforgettable. As I was the last passenger to board the flight, the flight attendant requested me to settle down quickly on any vacant seat within reach. After the plane took off, I noticed a lady who was seating adjacent to me seemed anxious about something. By courtesy, I asked her if she needed help with something. She requested to make a call from my phone as she lost her cell phone at the airport.
We were already away from the cellular network zone and it wasn’t possible to make any call till the time we landed. She then narrated the actual incident of how she didn’t lose her phone but her fiancé smashed her phone after he came to know that she was moving to Delhi to pursue her dreams. She then told how he started humiliating and insulting her in front of his family members.
I tried to convince her that she wasn’t at fault and shouldn’t feel guilty for the step she took. Having this conversation made me realize that life is full of struggles. The lady even told me about how her in-laws were against her dream to become an IAS officer and serve the country.
I hardly realized when we reached our destination and it was time to bid goodbye. This conversation was interesting as I learned about the cruelty that prevails in the male-dominated community and how women today are taking their stand and fighting independently to succeed. It motivated me to never let anyone dominate or command your thoughts and actions.
(283 words)
Another Similar Cue Card
Describe a long walk you ever had.
When did you take this walk and from where to where?
Why did you take this walk?
Who was with you for that walk and what were you doing all the way?
And how did you feel after that?
(Download CUE Card)
SAMPLE ANSWER TWO-
I usually prefer to take brisk walks in the mornings and after dinner. Generally, I walk for 30-40 minutes at a stretch. But one fine evening in last autumn, I walked for nearly two hours. I used to take coaching classes for my IELTS exam at GMS Road in Dehradun. I used to come and go by scooter only as my home was nearly 10 kms away from the institute, near deer park. One day, it happened like my father had to take the scooter for some urgent work. As I could not afford to miss my class, so I decided to take up the auto. To my surprise, there was not any auto that could have fared me up till my institute, in a single go. I had to change 4 autos till there, which was very cumbersome.
Therefore, after my classes were over, I decided to walk instead. I knew that it was a long walk but I didn’t want to face that hassle of waiting and changing autos in a row, either. Moreover, I was free of any heavy belongings so I started treading my path.
As such, there was no one who joined me from the beginning. I was pondering over the technicalities discussed by my teacher in the class. I was also focusing on the tips, which were provided by my teacher to improve spoken English score. I was walking on the pedestrian pathway, amid the usual huzzbuzz of the city. Just then, I happened to see one of my previous classmates. His name is Dilip. We exchanged our greetings first and then, he informed me that he had to go to his uncle’s place unexpectedly, for a party, which is near deer park only. When I informed him about our common destination and my resolve to walk the entire distance, he volunteered to join me. So, in this way, I found my partner for the way. We then, started discussing our present careers and the vision for future. He was preparing for medical entrance and he too used to come to an institute close to mine.
To my surprise, we were so busy conversing with each other after a long time, that we paid no heed to the distance or the time taken in our walk. Later, I said good bye to him and reached my place. Although I was not used to such a long walk, but it had no strenuous effect. Rather, I felt so refreshing as if every pore in my body has opened for receiving the environment. It felt like the familiar adrenalin rush and I felt extremely happy.
STRONG WORDS
Word
Meaning
Cumbersome
inconvenient: selecting the best cricket team out of so many good Players is a cumbersome task.
Strenuous
tiring: one needs to put up the strenuous efforts in a game to excel in it.
Follow-up Questions
Q. 1 Do you consider walking as good for health? Why?
Sample answer: It is a proven fact that physical exercises are good for the health. On the same line, walking is also beneficiary for our overall health. It involves movement of almost all parts of the body. This locomotion helps the proper flow of blood and adequate oxygen supply in our body. This, in turn, helps in better metabolism and functioning of all the body organs.
Q. 2 Should youngsters get involved in walking as exercise?
Sample answer: As mentioned, walking is indeed a good exercise. But, for youngsters, I would suggest that they should take up more enervating exercises like running, as they have more energies than the older people. When a person grows old and becomes inefficient to run properly, then walking can act as a good substitute.
Q. 3 Do you prefer walking alone or with someone? What about exercises?
Sample answer: I am a young fellow and as such walking taken up my me occasionally doesn’t come under the category of strict exercises. Nor do I prefer to walk extra fast like some people do. Therefore, for me, walking is a kind of leisure exercise and hence I enjoy the others’ company, if I could get that. As far as the pure strict exercises are concerned, I don’t prefer anyone else to give me company, as, then it becomes a task of focus and attentiveness.
Giving IELTS is the most important thing if you are interested in studying or living abroad. The more marks you score, the better are your chances of getting scholarship. Now, IELTS provides you with the option of writing with pen or pencil and it often comes to confusion to students as to what should be done.
Pen Or Pencil?
It is preferred that while writing the listening or the reading section, you use pencil and make sure you carry your eraser with you. This is because these two sections consist of the multiple choice questions. There might be chances that you mistakenly mark the wrong answer and when choosing the correct, if you use a pen, it will make your answer sheet dirty.
With writing section, it is your choice as to what you want to do. Some people write better with pen while others with pencil. So, it all depends on what you are comfortable with.
Tips For Pens And Pencils
When writing with pen there is no option of deleting, as it will leave your answer sheet messy, something you surely would like to avoid.
When writing with pen, if you make any mistake, make sure you cross it with more than one line. The examiner should be able to clearly see that the word has been cut off.
Prefer using a smoothly running pen. Also, make sure that there is enough ink in it. Using different pens, might make your answer sheet look untidy.
If writing with pencil, make sure that it is sharpen well. If you write using blunt pencil, it looks untidy. Also, use a pencil that is quite dark. The examiner should be able to clearly see what you are trying to show.
While erasing a word make sure it is clearly erased so that the new word that you write is clearly visible.
Make sure your handwriting is neat. You can choose to write in whichever style you want but it has to be nice. Also, it is better if you practice your IELTS exam in the official writing sheet. This allows you to get an idea of how to write words in the IELTS exam.
