Archives for March 2020

Is it ok to wear a face mask for your IELTS test? Will Speaking Test examiners wear face masks? Find useful tips and information.

IELTS Face Mask Policy

On the official IELTS page, you will find information about IELTS policies regarding face masks during this Coronavirus outbreak of 2020. Below I have summarised the policies for you:

1. It is possible that staff in the test centre might be wearing face masks. Do not panic about this. It will just be a precautionary measure and not because they have the Coronavirus.
2. IELTS Speaking Test examiners might wear face masks. This is also a precautionary measure and not because they are sick.
   1. However, this might make it more difficult for you to understand them. We often read lips as well as listen when someone speaks. So, wearing a face mask might make it more difficult for you to understand what the examiner is saying.
   2. In this case, ask the examiner to repeat the question again more clearly: “Please could you say that again more clearly because I couldn’t hear you properly” or “Could you say that again, please, because I didn’t catch what you said.”
   3. It is 100% fine to ask the examiner to repeat the question. It will NOT affect your score in a negative way at all.
3. Test takers can wear face masks. This means you can go to your IELTS test and wear a face mask.
   1. However, you might be asked to remove it so they can confirm your identity. You must be prepared for that.
   2. If you wear a face mask for your Speaking Test, please make sure you speak very clearly and enunciate even more carefully than normal so the examiner can hear you and understand you through the face mask. 
   3. PLEASE, do not go to any IELTS test centre if you have the following symptoms: respiratory problems (that are new), a persistent cough and a fever. These are the symptoms of Coronavirus and you must be careful not to have contact with others if you have those symptoms. In such a case, contact your test centre to arrange a refund or reschedule your test.

Hygiene During your TEST

I would also like to point out some other basic hygiene tips.

1. Wash your hands when you arrive at your IELTS Test Centre to make sure you don’t bring germs in from outside.
2. Continue washing your hands frequently while you are at the Test Centre. This will help you and others.
3. Try to keep a good distance from others when possible.

I hope this will help you feel more relaxed about going to your Test Centre. You can find out which Test Centres are closed on this page: Official List of Suspended IELTS Tests Worldwide. You will find the above information confirmed on that page.

Coronavirus Vocabulary

Learn new vocabulary with pronunciation audios for the coronavirus. This is essential learning at this time. Click here: Coronavirus Vocabulary

Self-Study at Home

To continue self-studying from home, my website has hundreds of pages of free lessons, tips, model answers, videos, topics etc that you can learn from for FREE. Go to the HOME PAGE or use the RED MENU BAR at the top of the website to open the main pages.

All the best and stay safe!

Liz

Below you will find both the questions and answers for the exercise on Coronavirus Vocabulary.

If you have not completed this lesson, please review the vocabulary before you attempt the exercise. The vocabulary list is very comprehensive and contains essential vocabulary for this time in our lives. Click here: Coronavirus Vocabulary

Questions

1. In some countries, governments advise that the entire family should (a)……………. if just one member experiences symptoms such as a (b)……………….. cough, (c) ………………problems or a fever.
2. Avoiding large gatherings and practising social (a)…………………….. can help reduce the (b)…………………. rate of the virus.
3. When you seek information regarding Covid-19, always go to official sources and be careful of ………………. spread online.
4. Many countries are ……………………. their efforts to try to contain the spread of this virus.
5. As yet, there is still not enough known about the ………………………….. of the virus and precisely how long it survives on cardboard or plastic.
6. People with pre-existing medical conditions that affect their breathing, such as ………….., should take extra precautionary measures.
7. Covid-19 was declared a ……………..  by the WHO on March 11th 2020.
8. In the current situation, we are likely to see good examples of ……………. behaviour as neighbour helps neighbour.
9. Most governments around the world are doing their ………….. to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Answers

1. 1. a) self-isolate. The answer is not quarantine. This is something you are expected to do on your own in your own home, not in another designated place.
   2. b) persistent. The answer is not “dry”. Although Coronavirus does cause people to have a “dry cough”, so does central heating and other things. What we need to look out for is the persistent nature of the cough. It does not go away. Another possible answer might be “a persistent dry cough”.
   3. c) respiratory or acute respiratory. However, generally speaking if the person already has symptoms of Coronavirus and then develops acute respiratory problems, that is the time to reach out for medical help rather than just self-isolating.
2. 1. a) distancing
   2. b) transmission
3. misinformation
4. ramping up
5. surface transmission
6. asthma
7. pandemic
8. altruistic
9. utmost

If you got some of these answers wrong, please review your vocabulary relating to Coronavirus. Click here: Coronavirus Vocabulary

I hope you found this useful. Stay safe!

All the best

Liz

For more useful vocabulary for topics, click here: Vocabulary

 

Vocabulary with pronunciation audios relating to coronavirus Covid-19. The aim is to help you develop your English language on an issue that is affecting all our lives at the present moment. These keywords will help you communicate and understand official information more easily. The audios will help you with pronunciation as some of the words are not easy to say correctly. This page is for non-native English speakers.

Vocabulary Practice: After all the words lists below, you will find an exercise to test your understanding of the vocabulary. Let me know if you want more practice lessons for this vocab.

High Level Coronavirus Vocabulary & Pronunciation

The list of words below are either high level words or words that are difficult to pronounce. Read the list and definitions first. After that, listen to the audio to learn the pronunciation.

A-N Word List

1. acute respiratory problems
   1. acute – quickly becomes severe
   2. respiratory problems = breathing difficulties
2. alcohol based antimicrobial hand sanitiser
   1. antimicrobial = kills bacteria and microorganisms.
   2. hand sanitiser = a hygienic cleaner for the hands
3. altruism (n) / altruistic (adj)
   1. selfless concern for the welfare of others – without agenda.
4. asthma
   1. a respiratory condition due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
   2. (pron – silent “th”)
5. contact tracing
   1. tracking who might have had contact with an infected person.
6. contagious
   1. spread of a disease through direct or indirect contact with other people.
   2. this can also be used in reference to emotions: “The feeling was contagious as the excitement spread.”
7. to contain an outbreak
   1. to control the spread of an illness
8. to contaminate
   1. to infect
9. curfew
   1.  a specific time when people must stay indoors
10. epicentre
    1. this word usually relates to earthquakes – the point on the surface which is the focus of the earthquake.
    2. in terms of Covid-19, it is being used to describe the area where the virus is most active.
11. fomite / fomites
    1. an object or objects that becomes contaminated with infected organisms
    2. such objects can transmit illness from one person to another
    3. examples of such surfaces: kitchen surfaces, toys, bathroom surfaces, mobile phones etc
    4. To practise good hygiene relating to the coronavirus, we must disinfect surfaces, including our smart phones, regularly. Soft surfaces, such as children’s toys, can be washed.
    5. (pron = fomites has more than one type of pronunciation)
12. herd immunity
    1.  when a significant proportion of the population are immune to a disease either through a vaccine or by having naturally built up immunity by having had the disease and recovered from it.
13. incubation period
    1. the time between exposure to an illness and when the symptoms start to become apparent. 
14. misinformation
    1. false or inaccurate information 
    2. this is a common problem online
    3. always take your advice about Covid-19 from official sources
    4. this is also the case with IELTS – misinformation online confuses people about the test
15. a new strain
    1. new strain = a genetic variant or subtype
    2. in this case, Covid-19 is a new strain of coronavirus
    3. it is sometimes referred to the novel coronavirus (new coronavirus not previously known)

Audio A-N Word List

.

Download Word List: Coronavirus Vocabulary Download

.

P-Z Word List Coronavirus 

1. pandemic
   1. a global outbreak of a disease
2. patient zero
   1. the first person to contract the disease (relating to outbreaks)
3. persistent cough
   1. persistent = doesn’t go away / continuing
   2. (pron cough = kof)
4. pneumonia
   1. a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. See this page for details: NHS UK Pneumonia and WHO Pneumonia
   2. severe cases of coronavirus Covid-19 can develop pneumonia
   3. (pron = silent “p” at the beginning of the word)
5. precautionary measures
   1. steps taken in order to be safe
6. to ramp up
   1.  increase
   2. this is usually used in spoken English rather than formal writing
7. respiratory droplets
   1.  small drops when someone exhales
   2. one way the novel coronavirus is spread is by droplets from an infected person breathing, coughing or sneezing being inhaled by someone else in close proximity
8. respiratory problems
   1.  breathing problems
9. quarantine
   1. a time when someone who has been potentially exposed to an illness is put in isolation away from others to prevent the spread of a disease
10. a state of emergency
    1. a time of danger when the government introduces temporary rules to deal with a situation
11. stockpiling
    1. collecting large amounts of an item or items for future use, often in an emergency
    2. at present some people are stockpiling food in panic which is causing a shortage of some items
12. stringent
    1.  strict
    2. stringent measures 
13. super-spreader
    1.  a person who transmits infections more than other people do
14. surface transmission
    1. when an disease or bacteria is spread through contact with contaminated surfaces
    2. see “fomite”
15. transmission rate
    1.  the speed at which a disease is spread 
    2. this can also be used in reference to data
16. vaccine
    1. a substance that stimulates the production of antibodies in a person to give them immunity from a disease
17. ventilators
    1. a machine that provides artificial respiration for a person
    2. at present governments around the world are urging for an increased production of ventilators to help support those patients who are severely affected with Covid-19 and who have acute respiratory problems
18. vigorous action
    1. strong action
19. vulnerable person
    1. vulnerable = easily physically hurt
    2. this can also apply to those who are at risk emotionally or mentally as well
    3. relating to Covid-19, it means people with certain medical conditions or of a particular age who are more likely to have severe symptoms or die when infected
    4. the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) have a list on this page: CDC at risk groups  relating to the coronavirus
    5. when the government asks people to stay at home, it is not only to protect themselves but also to protect the vulnerable who are more at risk of this illness 
20. wheezing
    1.  making a rough noise when breathing due to breathing difficulties
    2. (pron = the “h” is silent)
21. zoonotic
    1.  relating to a disease that is transmitted between animal and people

Audio P-Z Word List

.

More Useful Vocabulary

The words below are more commonly known which is why I have not put a definition with them. If you are in doubt, check in your dictionary. I have put an audio with these words so that you can check if you are pronouncing them correctly.

1. acceleration phase
2. anxiety
3. to catch a disease
4. community spread
5. death toll
6. to disinfect
7. face mask
8. to be hospitalised
9. large gatherings
10. lockdown
11. physical distancing
12. precautions
13. protective clothing
14. to self-isolate
15. severity
16. social distancing
17. symptoms
18. utmost (adj & noun)

Audio for Above List

.

Download Word List: Coronavirus Vocabulary Download pdf

.

Vocabulary Practice

Complete the sentences below using a word or words from the list above. If the gap requires a verb, you might need to alter the verb form to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct on completion.

1. In some countries, governments advise that the entire family should (a)……………. if just one member experiences symptoms such as a (b)……………….. cough, (c) ………………problems or a fever.
2. Avoiding large gatherings and practising social (a)…………………….. can help reduce the (b)…………………. rate of the virus.
3. When you seek information regarding Covid-19, always go to official sources and be careful of ………………. spread online.
4. Many countries are ……………………. their efforts to try to contain the spread of this virus.
5. As yet, there is still not enough known about the ………………………….. of the virus and precisely how long it survives on cardboard or plastic.
6. People with pre-existing medical conditions that affect their breathing, such as ………….., should take extra precautionary measures.
7. Covid-19 was declared a ……………..  by the WHO on March 11th 2020.
8. In the current situation, we are likely to see good examples of ……………. behaviour as neighbour helps neighbour.
9. Most governments around the world are doing their ………….. to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Download Word List: Coronavirus Vocabulary Download pdf

ANSWERS

The answers are not available for this lesson.

CLICK HERE: ANSWERS TO CORONAVIRUS VOCABULARY EXERCISE

From Liz

———————————

Suspended IELTS Tests

Use the following link to check if your test has been suspended and find information on dates when the tests are likely to continue in your area. Click here: Suspended Test Updates

Free Vocabulary & Listening Practice

Get free topic based vocabulary on this page: Vocabulary Main Page.

Get free listening practice on this page: IELTS Listening Main Page

All the best and stay safe!

Liz

Below you can find the answers to the reading exercise about 3D Printers in Space.

If you have not completed this lesson yet, please do so before looking at the answers below. Click here: 3D Printer Reading Lesson

Answers

Answers are given in capital letters to make them easier to read. This is important for hand written answers, but less important for computer based IELTS.

1. WRENCH
   1. You cannot have “a wrench” because the word “a” is given in the question statement and is not missing. Your task is only to provide what is missing.
2. EMAILED
3. MONTHS
4. SELF-RELIANT
   1. You cannot have “more self-reliant”. The words “to a much greater extent” already supplies the meaning of “more” in the question statement. This means, you do not need to have that meaning twice in the sentence.
5. LAUNCHING COSTS
   1. This cannot be singular. You cannot have “launching cost” as an answer. If it was singular, you would need an article: “a lower launch cost.”. Because the sentence must be grammatically correct, you must copy it as given in the passage – as a plural.
   2. You also cannot have “costs” only. The meaning would be wrong. This isn’t about general costs being lower, it is about launch costs being lower. It is a specific answer which requires both words or the meaning is lost.
6. FIRST OBJECT
   1. The answer cannot be “socket wrench” because the grammar and meaning of the sentence would be wrong. Looking at the grammar, the sentence would have “a” instead of “the” if the answer was “socket wrench”.
7. ON THE FLY = on the go / quickly / while moving / in motion
   1. This term does have other meanings depending on the context it is used.

More Reading Practice

Click here: Free Reading Practice Exercises & Tips

Is Your IELTS Test Suspended or Rescheduled

Click here for a page which gives you a link to updated information: IELTS Test Updates

Hi guys,

Below you will find useful contact links for updated information from ielts.org and from the British Council and IDP regarding the situation of the Coronavirus. Find out if your test has been suspended and when it is likely to be rescheduled.

Please remember that this situation is changing week by week and even day by day in some places. No one can predict what will actually happen which is why test centres cannot give you guarantees of dates – see keep checking the links given below. Also make sure you make sensible decisions for yourself and your family. Most test centres are offering for people to cancel their test date and get a refund if they are worried about being in close contact with others. This is something you can consider. The British Council and IDP will always follow official advice when it comes to the decisions they make about suspending their services. This is not a situation to be angry or upset about, it is just a consequence of the worldwide situation and we must accept it with calm and with a positive mindset. Meanwhile, use this time to continue preparing for your future. Learn English and develop your IELTS skills. See my IELTS Liz HOME Page for useful links.

Official Page of Suspended Tests & Reschedule Dates

If you go to the official page, you will see information and a list of countries and test centres affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. It will list country by country and city by city which tests are suspended and when they will start again. CLICK HERE: OFFICIAL LIST OF SUSPENDED IELTS TESTS WORLDWIDE. Check this official page regularly because the situation in different countries and cities is frequently changing.

However, you might also want to check with your test centres in the country where you are. See below for BC and IDP links.

British Council

If you click on this page: BC Cornoavirus Response, you will be taken to the British Council official page for their response to this outbreak. Select your country from the drop down box on that page and then read any update information about what the BC is doing in your country regarding tests and lessons. If you are in further doubt, contact them on the BC Facebook Page and ask a question specific to your country and the city where your test centre is.

IDP

If you registered for your test with IDP, see the following page: IDP Coronavirus Notice. On that page you will find general information about their response and also a link to “contact your local IDP office”. If that doesn’t give you the information you need, send a message via FB: IDP IELTS Facebook Page. Remember, they might been getting a high volume of messages so be patient waiting for a response.

Keep Learning and Stay Positive

I will continue to post lessons each week to help you continue to develop your English and your skills – subscribe below to get them. Next week, I will post vocabulary relating to the Coronavirus to help you read official WHO advice more easily.

Below are some useful links to FREE lessons.

For Free Listening Lessons, click here: Listening Practice

For Free Reading Lessons, click here: Reading Practice

For Free Writing Task 1 and Task 2, click here: Task 1 and Task 2

For Free Speaking, click here: Speaking Topics, Answers & Tips

For Free Vocabulary: Vocabulary Lists

Ideas for Topics E-book & Advanced Lessons

This is a good time for you to prepare ideas and vocabulary for topics. Even if the Coronavirus has disrupted IELTS test dates, it should not disrupt your development of English and IELTS. My Ideas for Essay Topics E-book will help you learn both English and ideas for IELTS while you are at home. The Advanced Lessons will teach you techniques to push your score above to band 7 and above.

All the best and stay safe!

Liz

……………….

Free Subscribe to get New Lessons & Information by Email

Many of you wrote to let me know that your tests have been suspended. For others, there is still uncertainty about what will happen next. However, one thing will not change. You can still continue to learn and develop.

I will continue posting lessons each week so that you have a chance to develop your English in preparation for your future, which I’m sure will still be bright, regardless of our current situation.

Here are links to common topics for IELTS. Start preparing for them. Click below to open:

• Speaking Part 1 Topics
• Speaking Part 2 Topics
• Speaking Part 3 Topics
• Free Speaking Tips, Model Answers & Lessons
• 100 Essay Questions
• Free Writing Task 2 Tips, Model Answers & Lessons

If you need ideas and vocabulary for essay topics, get my Ideas E-book. Click here: IELTS Liz Store. 

My new Grammar E-book will soon be ready. Hopefully in about 6 weeks. It is a great e-book which will really help you all. It focuses on all the aspects of grammar you need to be able to create complex language with accuracy. If you want to study from home, it will be the perfect e-book for you and comes with a Workbook full of exercises. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

I’ll post a free practice lesson on Thursday for you all. I really hope that by continuing to post lessons, it will help you all keep positive during this difficult time.

All the best

Liz

Hi guys,

Has your test been suspended? When will tests start again? Here in the UK, more and more steps are being taken to protect the public from the Coronavirus (Covid-19). Some European countries are already in lockdown. This will have an impact on some IELTS tests. Some countries around the world have already seen IELTS tests suspended. This page was last updated March 20th.

Has my IELTS Test been Suspended?

Click on the following link to learn which places have IELTS Tests Suspended. It is a link to an Official IELTS list of test dates around the world showing which ones have been suspended. Make sure you check that link regularly because the situation is changing daily: CLICK HERE: IELTS OFFICIAL UPDATES ON SUSPENDED TESTS.

When will IELTS Tests start again in My Country?

On the official link above, it will show not only which countries and cities have tests cancelled but also when IELTS tests are likely to start again in those areas. So, click on the link above to check.

HOWEVER, please note that due to the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 situation, no dates are set in stone (this means no dates are 100% guaranteed). The date the tests are set to continue are an estimate and will depend on what happens with the virus in your area. This is not the fault of IELTS. This means, as I stated before, you need to keep checking that page for updates. Do not be disheartened. Aim to prepare for the new date given, but also be ready for further delays. These are uncertain times and we must all adapt from day to day with as much positivity as possible. See the links to free lessons below to keep positive and keep learning.

Your Concerns of IELTS Test Cancellation

Share your experiences and concerns. Feel free to post your comments.

1. Have you had your IELTS test suspended or are worried about your test being suspended? Do you have new dates for another test?
2. Has this changed your plans for your future?
3. How are you all feeling about this situation?
4. Are you concerned about Coronavirus in your area?

Free Lessons to Study at Home

If you are in lockdown or your IELTS test has been cancelled due to Coronavirus, I hope you are using your time to improve your English language and develop your IELTS skills. Below are some useful links to FREE lessons.

For Free Listening Lessons, click here: Listening Practice

For Free Reading Lessons, click here: Reading Practice

For Free Writing Task 1 and Task 2, click here: Task 1 and Task 2

For Free Speaking, click here: Speaking Topics, Answers & Tips

For Free Vocabulary: Vocabulary Lists

Ideas for Topics E-book & Advanced Lessons

This is a good time for you to prepare ideas and vocabulary for topics. Even if the Coronavirus has disrupted IELTS test dates, it should not disrupt your development of English and IELTS. My Ideas for Essay Topics E-book will help you learn both English and ideas for IELTS while you are at home. The Advanced Lessons will teach you techniques to push your score above to band 7 and above.

All the best and stay safe!

Liz