Common English Names for Boys

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Below is a list of common English names for boys. You will also find an audio so that you can listen to the pronunciation of the names as well. For students preparing for their IELTS test, it is useful to learn common English names for your listening section 1.

Next to some names are the nicknames. These are familiar names often used instead of the real name. You can also listen to common girls’ names or watch a video with practice listening for names.

Boys Names

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Choosing a Title IELTS Reading: Practice & Tips

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Choosing a title for IELTS reading is quite a common question type. This is a practise lesson for choosing headings in IELTS. You will be given a list of possible titles for the whole passage you must choose the one that you think most appropriate.

IELTS READING CHOOSING A TITLE QUESTION

This reading question is usually the last question you might get in a reading passage. It would come after all the other questions. Why?

The answer is because this question requires you to have insight into the whole passage, not just locate answers in part of the passage. So, by giving this question as the last question, you will have had time already to look at the passage and know the contents of the passage. So, it is given last as a way to help you.

Choosing a Title: Reading Instructions

Here is an example of what that question would look like in your test:

IELTS Reading Choosing a Title Question

You will be given a list of possible titles for the passage. You need to select the best one.

IELTS Reading Choosing a Title Question – Techniques

Read this list of tips to that you approach this type of question with the right techniques.

  1. Never try this type of question first. 
    • You need a depth of understanding of the whole passage to get the answer right so tackle it last.
  2. Read though the possible titles and pay attention to similarities and differences.
  3. Look at specific words that stand out.
    • For example, is the title referring to a city or an entire continent. Look at each word individually. 
    • Don’t skim read the possible titles. Analyse them carefully.
  4. Nearly all possible titles will seem appropriate at first because they will all relate to aspects of the passage.
  5. This question is NOT about matching an answer option to part of the passage or specific information found in the passage.
  6. This is about choosing a title that reflects the aims of the whole passage.
  7. This doesn’t mean that the title matches the start, middle and end – but that it is about the aims of the whole passage.
  8. You need to think carefully about what the role of a paragraph is to the whole passage. 
  9. Always look at the introduction sentence and concluding sentence of paragraphs to see if there is a similar message or whether the aim of the paragraph is different to the opening line.
  10. Your answer must be a letter, not the words. If you write the words, your answer will be marked wrong.

Choosing a Title Reading Passage

Note: to make this more realistic to an IELTS reading given in your test, I’ve added some Matching Paragraph Information Questions to this lesson.

A   Babies learn to see over a period of time, much like they learn to walk and talk. They are not born with all the visual abilities they need in life. The ability to focus their eyes, move them accurately, and use them together as a team must be learned. Also, they need to learn how to use the visual information the eyes send to their brain in order to understand the world around them and interact with it appropriately.

B   From birth, babies begin exploring the wonders of the world with their eyes. Even before they learn to reach and grab with their hands or crawl and sit-up, their eyes are providing information and stimulation important for their development. Healthy eyes and good vision play a critical role in how infants learn to see. This is why it is important that parents take this into consideration when preparing a new born baby’s room. Providing interesting visual stimulus is crucial for a baby’s visual development. This can include the use of colours, mobile toys and images.

C   Babies as young as two to three months have shown that they have some form of depth perception. One method researchers have used to study babies and depth perception is through using a “visual cliff”. A visual cliff consists of a glass platform that is raised a few feet off the floor. One half of the cliff has a shallow side, where there is a checkerboard pattern directly underneath glass. The “deep end” of the cliff shows the pattern several feet below, creating the impression of a drop-off. Researchers found that infants as young as two months showed changed in heart rate when lowered face down over the shallow and deep ends of the visual cliff. Specifically, the infants’ heart rates decreased when they were lowered over the deep end, and were changed when over the shallow end.  Note that this experiment does not show that infants this young are afraid of the deep side. Usually, a decrease in heart rate indicates interest, while fear leads to an increase in heart rate. The experimental differences in heart rate indicate the infants could perceive a difference between the deep and shallow ends of the visual cliff.

Questions 1- 4

Which paragraph contains the following information. Choose the right letter from the paragraphs above (A-C). Letters might be used more than once.

  1. Babies should have a room containing a lot of interesting things to look at.
  2. Infants have different physical responses to downward visual distances.
  3. Having moving visual stimulus and a range of hues is good for a baby’s vision development.
  4. Babies are not born with the visual ability of an adult.

Question 5

Which is the best title for the reading passage above? Choose the best title from the options below (A-D).

  • A   The importance of vision in babies
  • B   The role of vision to human development
  • C   The development of perception in babies
  • D   Research into visual cliffs

VOCABULARY AND ANSWER

Click below:

Vocabulary
  • grab (vb) = clutch / grasp / seize
  • crawl = move on their hands and knees
  • depth perception = able to see downward
  • shallow = thin / not deep
  • pattern = design
  • infant = child / pre-school toddler
Answer
  1. B
  2. C
  3. B
  4. A
  5.  C

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Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback

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Below is some feedback to an IELTS opinion essay introduction written by a student in response to the following essay question.

IELTS Essay Question

Due to the development and rapid expansion of supermarkets in some countries, many small, local business are unable to compete. Some people think that the closure of local business will bring about the death of local communities. To what extent do you agree?

Student Introduction Sample

Small business are unable to competition supermarkets, which are rapidly increasing and developing in a number of countries. It is believed that close small business will bring negative impact on local societies. In my opinion modern buildings and comfortable service are important for new societies. However, local business increased the number of job opportunity.

General Feedback

The student introduction does not give a clear answer to the statement and the main points introduced are not completely relevant. It is important to spend time:

  1. to understand the issues in the statement
  2. to find main points which answer the statement.

Below are detailed comments on both the background statement and thesis statement for the student’s introduction.

Background Statement Feedback

Small business are unable to competition supermarkets, which are rapidly increasing and developing in a number of countries. It is believed that close small business will bring negative impact on local societies.

The content of the background statement is fine. The student has paraphrased most of the statement given by IELTS. This means the student is attempting to use the correct technique for IELTS with an academic style. The student has also used a clause in the first sentence which is great to increase the band score for grammar.

Unfortunately, there are also some errors in grammar and vocabulary.

  • to competition = to compete (check the form of the word – don’t use a noun if a verb is needed)
  • to compete supermarkets = compete with supermarkets (check all verbs to see if there needs to be a preposition after them)
  • it is believed that close small business will … = it is believed that the closure of small businesses will … (check the form of the word – it should be a noun not a verb / check the use of plural nouns)
  • will bring negative impact = will have a negative impact (check the use of (a / the etc) articles / check which verb to use)

Here is a model background statement:

Many small, local business are closing, owing to a boom in large supermarkets, and, according to some, this will have dire consequences for local communities.

Thesis statement Feedback

In my opinion modern buildings and comfortable service are important for new societies. However, local business increased the number of job opportunity.

This thesis statement does not address the task or offer a clear answer to the issue. The thesis statement should provide a clear answer to the issue: Do you think the community will die because many small shops close down and people go to do their shopping in large supermarkets instead? Here are some comments on the thesis statement above:

  • The student thesis statement above does not answer this question
  • It gives information about modern buildings which is off topic
  • The thesis contains information about comfortable services which is also off topic
  • It gives information about local business offering jobs – this is also not relevant to the topic

To write the model thesis statement we must understand all aspects of this issue and think more deeply. Here are some questions to consider:

  1. Why do people shop in supermarkets rather than small businesses? Answer
    The reason is that it is more convenient to buy everything in one large shop, for example a supermarket, than have to visit different shops to buy the same things. Supermarkets reduce shopping time and people can find what they want more quickly.
  2. What is the result of people shopping in supermarkets rather than small shops? Answer
    People no long need to go into the town center and walk around the shops to buy their goods. Instead, they can drive to a large supermarket, often located on the outskirts of town, to get what they want.
  3. How does this affect the community? Answer
    Local people no long need to go into the town center. This means that the town center no longer is a place to socialise and meet other people while shopping. As small shops close, town centers become empty and local people become more distant to each other.
  4. Is this the death of the community? Answer
    It certainly means that there are negative effects for communities but communities still survive through social events, through clubs, through schools and other institutions in society. Also there are a number of shops which will not be affected by supermarkets because they are not in direct competition for example, supermarkets do not offer top quality products so high end shops will not be affected by supermarkets.

Here is a model thesis statement:

In my opinion, I agree that communities will suffer as some small, local businesses close but it is doubtful that it will cause the death of local communities.

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IELTS Listening: Section 4 Practice

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IELTS Listening Section 4 is an educational lecture below are tips and a practice lesson to help you prepare. All candidates take the same listening test so this is the same for Academic and GT candidates. This is the most difficult section of the listening test. The listening exercise below is based on section 4 and it focuses on short answer questions. It is possible to get any question type in section 4.

IELTS Listening Section 4 Tips

  1. Section 4 is an academic talk by one speaker, a lecture.
    • Please note, for candidates taking the General Training IELTS Test, you will be taking the same listening test and the same speaking test as the Academic candidates.
  2. Academic lectures are usually structured:
    • Introduction – what the talk main points will be
    • Middle
      • Main Points with Detailed and Examples
    • Conclusion – a summary
    • This logical organisation of information will help you.
    •  
  3. Signposts:
    • As the speaker moves from one point to another, they will say things like:
      • Looking at X
      • Moving on to Y
      • Another interesting point is …
    • You need to pay attention to these words.
  4. Linking words
    • Talks will also use linking words to add information, give an opposite point or give an example. All these words will help you understand the information and follow the points. Example words:
      • Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly
      • Also, in addition, moreover, furthermore
      • by contrast, conversely, on the other hand
      • for example, such as, like, namely
    • You can find a list of common linking words on this page: Linking Words. Although the page is for writing task 2, they are formal linking words used for formal talks as well.
  5. Academic talks contain vocabulary relevant to the topic. Such vocabulary often isn’t paraphrased, which can be very useful in navigating the recording.
  6. Don’t try to understand everything. Focus on listening for answers only
  7. Predict the type of answer you need to listen for.
  8. Listen out for paraphrases of common words.
  9. For the listening practice below, answers will come in order
  10. Section 4 usually has 10 questions. The lesson below is a practice lesson rather than a test. The aim is for you to get used to the language and layout of listening section 4.

When you finish your listening practice, listening again and read the transcript at the same time. Answers are given below.

Practice for IELTS Listening Section 4

Section 4 Practice Lesson

Dolphin Intelligence

Questions 1-6: Write no more than three words and/or a number.

1. The lecture will concentrate on tools, communication, sonar and what other aspect of dolphin intelligence?
2. How big is the brain of the bottle-nosed dolphin?
3. What other species use tools?
4. What can dolphins copy from other species?
5. Can dolphins see out of the water?
6. What does a dolphin hear through?

RECORDING:

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TRANSCRIPT & ANSWERS

Click below to reveal the transcript and answers:

Transcript
Today I’m going to talk to you about dolphin intelligence and in particular their use of tools, methods of communication, sonar and also their sensory capacity.
But first let’s look at how the dolphin brain compares to the brains of other species in terms of size. The largest brain in the world belongs to the sperm whale. Weighing some 9,000 grams, it is six to seven times larger than the human brain. The second largest brain in the world is the killer whale (or orca) at 6,000 grams. The next largest brain among the marine mammals is the bottlenosed dolphin at 1,500 grams, followed by human brains at approximately 1,200 grams. Strong connections between the sensorial and motive areas of a dolphin’s brain to the body indicate that it is very much sensitive to pain and stress.
Looking at the way dolphin’s use tools, while many believe that primates, such as chimpanzees, are the only species who use tools for activities, dolphins studied in the wild have been seen using sea sponges to protect their snouts from getting scratches as they scavenge for food on the ocean floor. Dependent calves, young baby dolphins, are also provided with sponges from their mothers, as research in the wild has seen infant dolphins wearing tiny sponges on their snouts while swimming close to their mothers.
With regards to dolphin communication, dolphins utilize “signature whistles” to identify themselves to others. In other words, these whistles can be seen as representing their names. Furthermore, dolphins also mimic movements, of both humans and other animals.
Another interesting point about dolphins is of course their sonar. It has been suggested by several noted scientists that dolphins may be able to create acoustical holographic images from the interlacing of their sonic output. It is well known that dolphins can see inside the bodies of their fellow dolphins, and other animals in the water. This is because dolphin sonar evolved to pass through water and does not reflect until it hits something like bone or air sacs. Since animal bodies are more than 50% water, their sonar enables them to literally “see” inside other animals.
And finally, dolphins have fantastic sensory capacity. They have the ability to focus their eyesight due to the curvy characteristics of their lenses, thus they are able to see both in and out of water. Moreover, dolphins have little more than a small hole for hearing, as having larger ears would severely affect the creature’s ability to swim. Rather, studies show that sounds are obtained through tiny bones, and then are transferred to the inner ear through the fatty material that surrounds the eardrum. Adapted from Bluevoice.org
Answers
1. sensory capacity
2. 1500 grams / 1500g
3. primates / chimpanzees
4. movements
5. yes
6. (a) small hole

note: when you see brackets in an answer key, it means the word in brackets is optional. Your answer is right with or without it. You can’t use brackets in your test.

Vocabulary
  • capacity = ability
  • indicate = show / point to
  • primate = monkey
  • snouts = noses (for dolphins and pigs)
  • scavenge = hunt / forage
  • infant = new born / child
  • mimic = copy

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Parts of the Face: Vocabulary for People

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It is common to be asked to give a description of a person in IELTS speaking. Here is some useful vocabulary to help you describe a person in detail.

You can see that one word in the diagram is missing. Do you know that word?

face parts vocabularyListen to the recording below to complete the diagram. Words will not come in order so you will need to make notes to find which is the missing word. Answer is given below.

Answers

The missing word is “eyebrow”

Note: many of these words are often used as plurals, for example, “she has rather thick lips” or “he has high cheek bones”. Make sure you use this vocabulary accurately.

 

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Matching Paragraph Information: IELTS Reading Exercise

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Matching paragraph information question in IELTS reading requires you to match the sentences given with information that is contained in different paragraphs. You must have strong skills of paraphrasing for this type of question. See if you can complete this practise lesson which I have written for you.

IELTS Reading Paragraph Matching Tips

There are two types of questions in IELTS reading that people confuse: Matching Headings and Matching Paragraph Information. They are not the same questions. Matching Headings requires you to choose the best heading for the paragraph. A heading is a title. Matching Paragraph Information requires you to locate specific information in one of the paragraphs.

  1. The question will be in the form of a statement containing information.
  2. The information in the statement given needs to be located in one of the paragraphs.
  3. The paragraphs in the reading passage will be labelled with letters: A, B, C etc.
  4. You need to locate the paragraph that contains the information given in the statement.
  5. Sometimes a single paragraph might contain the answer to more than one question. IELTS will always indicate this in the instructions:
    • Letters may be used more than once.
    • Always look out for that kind of instruction.
  6. Your answer will always be a letter. If you write any words, they will be marked wrong.
  7. Look for keywords in the question statement.
    • keywords are words that will help you find the same information in the passage.
  8. Keywords are often paraphrased.
    • Think about these possible paraphrases BEFORE you look at the passage to locate the answer.
  9. Answers do not come in order.
    • This means you could choose to tackle the questions in any order you want.
    • So, you could start with the easiest questions first
  10. Paragraphs usually have a central topic and that can help you decide which paragraph is likely to contain the information you are looking for.

IELTS Matching Paragraph Information Practice

Below is a reading lesson to practice Matching Paragraph Information questions.

Amundsen’s Expedition to the South Pole

A ) The first expedition to reach the geographic South Pole was led by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. He and four others arrived at the pole on 14 December 1911, five weeks ahead of a British party led by Robert Falcon Scott as part of the Terra Nova Expedition. Amundsen and his team returned safely to their base, and later learned that Scott and his four companions had died on their return journey.

B ) Amundsen’s plans had focused on the Arctic and the conquest of the North Pole by means of an extended drift in an icebound ship. He obtained the use of Fridtjof Nansen’s polar exploration ship Fram, and undertook extensive fundraising. Preparations for this expedition were disrupted when, in 1909, the rival American explorers Frederick Cook and Robert E. Peary each claimed to have reached the North Pole. Amundsen then changed his plan and began to prepare for a conquest of the South Pole; uncertain of the extent to which the public and his backers would support him, he kept this revised objective secret. When he set out in June 1910, even most of his crew believed they were embarking on an Arctic drift.

C ) The expedition’s success was widely applauded. The story of Scott’s heroic failure overshadowed its achievement in the United Kingdom, unable to accept that a Norwegian had been the first person to set foot in the South Pole, but not in the rest of the world. Amundsen’s decision to keep his true plans secret until the last moment was criticised by some. Recent polar historians have more fully recognised the skill and courage of Amundsen’s party; the permanent scientific base at the pole bears his name, together with that of Scott. (passage from wiki)

Questions 1-6

In which paragraph (A-C) is the following information found. Letters may be used more than once.

  1. The success of Roald Amundsen was celebrated worldwide, except in one country.
  2. Amundsen only heard about the death of Scott after he had reached the South Pole.
  3. The base at the South Pole bears both Amundsen’s name and Scott’s.
  4. Amundsen had originally planned an expedition to the North Pole.
  5. When Amundsen decided to aim for the South Pole he did not reveal his intentions.
  6. The British did not celebrate Amundsen’s success as did other countries due to the death of Scott.

ANSWERS

Click below to reveal the answers.

ANSWERS

  1. C
  2. A
  3. C
  4. B
  5. B
  6. C

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Speaking Part 1 Topic: Sleep

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This is a new topic which has appeared in the least few months in part 1 of the IELTS speaking test. Below are some questions for this topic.

Sleep

  • How many hours do you usually sleep at night?
  • What time do you go to bed?
  • Do you go to bed at the same time everyday?
  • Do you ever have a  nap during the day?
  • Do you think sleep is important?
  • Should older people sleep more than children?

Here is a question with a model answer for this topic:

Q. Do you often take a nap during the day?

A. To be honest, I hardly ever nod off during the day but, I suppose, if I’ve had a really exhausting day, which is pretty rare, I may have a short siesta after lunch.

Useful Vocab

  • nap (a short sleep)
  • snooze (a short sleep)
  • nod off (go to sleep – often used for daytime sleeping)
  • drift off to sleep (slowly go off to sleep)
  • deep sleep
  • struggle to get to sleep
  • sleeping pill (medication to help someone get to sleep)
  • 40 winks (short sleep of a few minutes)
  • siesta (short sleep after lunch – Spanish in origin)

The Importance of Sleep is an IELTS reading exercise to practice summary completion for this topic. It contains some more useful vocabulary for you.

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20 Common Essay Topics for IELTS Writing Task 2

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Below is a list of the 20 most common IELTS essay topics that appear in writing task 2 with subtopics.  Although the essay questions change, the subject of the essays often remains the same. Each topic is divided into subtopics which you should prepare.

You should practice developing ideas for all common essay topics used by IELTS so that you can write your essay within the given time limit. Follow this link to get over 100 IELTS essay questions for the topics below.

Common Essay Topics with Subtopics

  • Art
    • censorship of art and artists
    • creativity
    • art at school
    • the benefits of art for individuals and society
    • funding
  • Business & Money
    • small vs large business
    • international business
    • family run business
    • management and leadership
    • success in business
    • business and technology
    • skills vs knowledge for business
    • materialism and consumerism
  • Communication & Personality
    • technology and communication
    • family and communication
    • face to face vs long distance communication
    • types of communication
    • the development of character and personality
    • innate or developed personalities
    • female / male characters
  • Crime & Punishment
    • prisons vs rehabilitation
    • capital punishment vs other types of punishment
    • criminals – what makes a criminal
    • major vs minor crime
    • crime and technology
    • teenagers and crime
    • role of policemen
    • men and women in law enforcement
  • Economics 
    • cash vs credit cards
    • saving vs spending
    • globalisation and economy
    • world economic issues
    • economic progress and success
  • Education
    • children and education
    • relevant subjects
    • education and technology
    • role of teachers
    • discipline and rules in school
    • single-sex schools
    • uniforms
    • funding
    • educational aid to poorer countries
  • Environment
    • animals
    • protection of endangered species
    • zoos
    • environmental problems
    • saving the environment & solving problems
    • government vs individual roles
  • Family & Children
    • family roles
    • family size
    • the generation gap
    • discipline
    • role models
    • family and education
  • Food
    • health diets
    • education of diet
    • traditional vs modern diets
    • fast food
    • children and diet
  • Health
    • prevention vs cure
    • funding
    • health and education
    • poor countries and rich countries
    • health aid
    • dealing with global epidemics
    • hospitals and treatment
    • obesity
    • exercise and health
  • Language
    • having only one language in the world
    • methods of language learning
    • travel and language
    • the disappearance of languages
    • language and culture
  • Media & Advertising
    • censorship, control and freedom of speech
    • advertising methods
    • children and advertising
    • media and technology
    • news & reporting
  • Other Common Essay Topics
    • Space Exploration
    • Water and Oceans
    • Change or Moving vs Stability and Constancy
  • Reading
    • paper books vs ebooks
    • children and reading
    • books in education
    • libraries
    • reading and leisure
  • Technology
    • controlling the internet
    • socialising online
    • children and technology (safety)
    • the change in society
    • letter vs email
    • storing data
    • safety of personal information
    • hacking
  • Transport
    • development of infrastructure
    • comparing forms of transport
    • problems with modern forms of transport
    • environmental issues
  • Travel
    • culture and travel
    • understanding people and travel
    • living in a global world
  • Society
    • overpopulation
    • poverty
    • homeless people
    • crime on the streets
    • modern life styles
    • budget spending
    • public services
  • Sport
    • professionals vs amateurs
    • salary
    • equipment
    • sport and learning
    • sport as a school subject
    •  men vs women in sport
    • types of sport
  • Work
    • shift work
    • women in work
    • types of jobs (blue collar / white collar)
    • children and exploitation
    • part time work
    • work and technology
    • employment
    • salary
    • equality

IELTS Writing Task 2

ALL FREE MODEL ESSAYS AND TIPS FOR WRITING TASK 2: IELTS Writing Task 2

100 IELTS Essay Questions

Get over 100 IELTS essay questions for free. The essay questions are organised into topics and also into different types of essays: 100 IELTS essay questions

IELTS Vocabulary

Develop your vocabulary for some of the above topics: IELTS vocabulary page.

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