Describing a graph & describing trends | Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 To get a high score in Task 1 of IELTS Academic Writing test you need to show you have a good range of vocabulary to descrive visual information.  You also need to be  accurate when you use adjectives, adverbs and phrases to describe the information. Here are some useful words and phrases to help describe trends. Nouns a rise an increase a growth a surge a fall a decline a drop a decrease a peak a fluctuation a variation a period of stability a plateau a plateux Verbs to rise to increse to grow to surge to fall to drop to decline to decrease to peak to fluctuate to vary to stabilize to plateau Phrases to show an upward trend to show a downward trend to hit the lowest point to hit a trough to reach a peak to show some fluctuation to show some variation to remain stable to remain constant to reach a plateau to level off to flatten out Adjectives & A

TOEFL Integrated Speaking Questions 4 and 6 This video gives an overview of the TOEFL Integrated Speaking questions 4 and 6. These questions are about academic subjects. You will learn about: The structure of these questions Tips on how to approach these questions How the questions are scored A high-score sample answer Tips to build and develop your TOEFL speaking skills The video shows the structure of the questions, what they ask, how you should approach these questions, and how your answers are scored. There is also a high-score sample and tips for improving your own speaking skills for TOEFL. This is the format of Question 4: Reading passage Listening passage 30 seconds preparation time 60 seconds response time You will be given a passage to read relating to an academic topic. You will then hear part of a presentation (lecture) on the same topic. You will be given 30 seconds preparation time and then 60 seconds when you record your response to the question. This

Cambridge 9 | IELTS Writing | Task 2 | Children learning a foreign language at primary school IELTS Writing Task 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. International English Language Testing System IELTS Sample Essay | Bilingual Education Learning a second language has many benefits for children apart from simply additional linguistic ability. Experts have already shown that bilingual children are more adept at problem solving and processing information. It is also commonly believed that children learn a second language more easily and quicker when they are younger – certainly easier than adults le

English Grammar Common mistakes when using 'the' Many people are worried about the bad effects of mobiles on brain. [incorrect] Many people are worried about the bad effects of mobiles on the brain. [correct] We need to look at factors such as the availability of health care. [correct] We need to look at factors such as availability of health care. [incorrect] We use the before nouns which describe a general type of thing rather than a specific example of that thing: These are problems for students living away from the family . We don’t know the effects of such chemicals on the body . The role of the student at university level varies greatly from country to country. Most of our business is carried out over the telephone . The is also used before abstract nouns which describe a situation, a quality, a process or a change. These words are often followed by of something. There is a problem with the availability of clean water in som

Navigating the IELTS examination can seem daunting, particularly when test day looms on the horizon. However, with the right approach, cracking the IELTS and unlocking doors to English-speaking countries is within your grasp. How To Pass IELTS This guide, brimming with IELTS tips and insights, aims to enhance your English skills and equip you with the confidence to excel under exam conditions - and pass IELTS! From understanding the core structure of the test that the British Council and IDP administer to creating a regimen of mock tests simulating real-life scenarios, you'll become proficient in strategies that have proven effective time and again. So, whether you're preparing for IELTS or other tests of language proficiency, read on to unlock the secrets of how to pass IELTS . Learn About The IELTS Exam Format The official IELTS web page is written by the organization that administers the IELTS exam. This should be your first place to visit and find out a

Crime & Law 2 | English Vocabulary Quiz 1. The Police don't have a __________ yet, so I wouldn't expect an arrest anytime soon. lawyer suspect jury 2. The two men were __________ to three months in jail for selling stolen goods. sentenced arrested suspended 3. The government has promised to crack down on football __________ . criminals vandals hooligans 4. Last week a _________ broke into my house and stole my laptop. burglar pickpocket shoplifter 5. She took the newspaper to __________ and won the case. law justice court Score = Correct answers:

Crime & Law [1] English Vocabulary Quiz 1. There was no __________ linking him to the case so the Police had to let him go. statement evidence suspect 2. Justin was found guilty of __________ downloading the music. falsely wrongly illegally 3. Police are appealing for __________ who saw the accident to get in touch. viewers audiences witnesses 4. The hijackers took 45 people __________ on a flight to Egypt. passenger hostage witness 5. Bradley __________ more than 25 crimes before he was caught. made performed committed Score = Correct answers: Crime & Law Quiz 2

English Vocabulary Quiz Travel & Holidays 2 1. It's often cheaper to stay in a youth __________ than a hotel. campsite motel hostel 2. How was your weekend __________ to Paris? tour trip voyage 3. What time do we have to __________ ? check in departure destination 4. A lot of people are taking __________ holidays these days. reservation booking package 5. Do you know why we're being __________ for so long? delayed cancelled landed Score = Correct answers:

English Vocabulary Quiz - Money 1. How much money would you like to __________ from me? lend borrow loan 2. You have to pay by __________ . cash credit loan 3. Tom sold his car and made a $500 __________ . investment interest profit 4. Let me see if I have the right __________ . change deposit charge 5. They'll be able to afford it, they're quite __________ . fortunate poor well-off Score = Correct answers:

English Vocabulary Quiz | Feelings & Opinions 1. It's important to make a good __________ . attraction behaviour impression 2. Try not to be so ___________ , I'm sure you can do better. careful careless caring 3. Oops! Never __________ , we can always get another one. head mind brain 4. That was so ___________ . bored interested interesting 5. What's wrong? You seem quite ___________ . careless nervous annoying Score = Correct answers:

Test your knowledge of vocabulary related to work and employment with this multiple choice quiz. Good luck! English Vocabulary Quiz Work & Employment 1. What do you do for a __________ these days? work living job 2. Do you have any previous __________ in a similar job? prospects experience qualifications 3. I'm not sure if I would __________ any of the candidates, they're all unsuitable. give work employ 4. I'm looking for a job where I can _________ more money than I do at the moment. win gain earn 5. Brad works as a porter in a ___________ in London. field restaurant hotel Score = Correct answers:

English Grammar | More ways of comparing We use less / the least to mean the opposite of more / the most You might imagine that the General Training IELTS test would be less difficult to pass. The morning I sat my exam was probably the least enjoyable time I've ever head. We can add emphasis with words like even , far , a great deal , a little , a lot , much + comparative: A reading comprehension test requires much greater concentration than simply reading a book. In formal English with words like slightly , considerably , significantly + comparative: The number of exam candidates in 2013 is significantly higher than that for the year 2012. The number of women sitting Academic IELTS to enter into higher education is only slightly lower than the number of men. We cannot use very with comparatives (not the number of women was very lower ). We can say two things are the same or similar with as + adjective / adverb + as : My exam preparation course i

Future with 'Going to' The future with 'going to' is used to speak about future intentions or plans made before the present moment. Examples: We are going to study Russian next semester. Where are you going to stay in New York? She isn't going to take a vacation this year. The future with 'going to' is used to express events you have already planned in the future and your intentions for the future. We sometimes also use the present continuous for planned events in the near future. Examples: She's going to attend university and study to become a doctor. We're going to make the presentation next week. Future with Going to Structure Positive Subject + to be + going to + verb I am going to attend the meeting. He, She is going to attend the meeting. You, We, They are going to attend the meeting. Negative Subject + to be + not + going to + verb I'm not going to visit Rome next year. He, She isn't going to visit Rom

Future Future with 'Will' the future with 'will' is used to make a future prediction or express a decision about the future made at the moment. Examples: It will be sunny tomorrow. I think the government will help the poor. I'm hungry. I'll buy something to eat. The future with 'will' is used to make future predictions and promises. Often the precise moment the action will occur is unknown or not defined. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: soon next month / year / week Basic Construction Positive Subject + will + verb + object(s) + time Expression The government will increase taxes soon. Negative Subject + will not (won't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression She won't help us much with the project. Question (Question Word) + will + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression Why will they reduce taxes?

Present Perfect Continuous The present perfect continuous is used to express how long a current activity has been going on. It is often used in context to provide a reason for a present result. Remember that continuous forms can only be used with action verbs.  This tense is often used with the following time expressions: since + specific point in time for + amount of time Basic Construction Positive Subject + has / have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time expression Example He's been cleaning house for two hours. Negative Subject + has / have not (hasn't / haven't) + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time expression Example Janice hasn't been studying for too long. Question (Question Word) + has / have + subject + been + verb + ing + object(s) + (time expression) Example How long have you been working in the garden?

English grammar | Present Perfect The present perfect is used to say what has happened recently and has an effect on the present moment. We often use 'just', 'yet' and 'already' to express the relationship to the present moment. Examples Have you seen Mary yet? They've already had dinner. She's just been to the dentist's. The present perfect is also used to express something which has happened up to the present moment of time. Examples Have you worked here for a long time? Peter's lived here since 1987. She hasn't had much fun this week. Positive Form Subject + have + past participle + object(s) Examples Peter's lived here since 1987. We've been very busy today. Negative Form Subject + have + not + past participle + object(s) Examples I haven't been to class very often this month. She hasn't had much fun this week. Question Form (Wh?) + have + subject + past participle? Examples

Past Perfect Simple They had lived in New York for 3 years before they moved to Seattle. (up to the time they moved to Seattle) Past Perfect Continuous She had been studying for 4 hours when he arrived. (The four hours directly before he arrived) Now, let's take a look at the specific differences between the two forms: Past Perfect Simple is used to express finished activity before a specific point of time in the past. Example: He had already eaten when his wife came home. Past Perfect Continuous is used to express continuous/progressive activity up to a specific point of time in the past. Example: They had been waiting for 2 hours before their friends finally arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous Listed below are uses with examples, and the structure of the past perfect continuous tense. Something that had been happening before something else took place I had been working for three hours when you arrived. Susan had been thinking about the idea for a while when Bob made the suggestion.   Something that had been happening over a period of time in the past up until another point in the of past I had been playing tennis for two hours when I sprained my ankle. Jack had been studying for two years when he was drafted into the army.   Something that had been happening in preparation for something else I had been practicing for three days and was ready for the concert. Tom had been studying hard and felt good about the test he was about to take.   In the third conditional to express imagined conditions If I had been working on that project, we would have been successful. She would have been ready for the test if she had been prep

Past Perfect There are two past tenses used to describe things that happen before another point in time in the past. Use the past perfect to talk about an event which had happened at some point in time before something took place. Tom had interviewed five times before he got his first job. She had already eaten by the time they arrived. Past Perfect Structure Positive Subject + had + past participle I, You, He, She, We, They had finished before I arrived. Negative Subject + had + not (hadn't) + past participle I, You, He, She, We, They hadn't eaten before he finished the job. Questions Question word + had + subject + past participle What - had he, she, you, we, they thought before I asked the question? Past Perfect Listed below are uses with examples, and the structure of the past perfect tense. Something that had happened before something else took place I had eaten lunch before they arrived. Susan had already finished the pro

Past Continuous Listed below are uses with examples, and the structure of the past continuous tense. Something happening at a specific point of time in the past I was watching TV at 9 o'clock last night. They were working on the report at six. Something that was happening during a period of time in the past We were studying during the recess. Peter was sleeping during class. Something that was happening when something important took place She was speaking on the phone when he arrived. When he won the game, I was cooking. Something that was happening while something else was happening She was working on her homework while I was preparing dinner. They were finishing the project while we were putting together the proposal. Common time expressions used with the past continuous: at six, nine o'clock, etc. during, while, when Structure   Positive Subject + conjugate the helping verb "be" + verb + -ing. I was, You were