Hi guys,

A lot of students seem confused about how many paragraphs you can have in your IELTS writing task 2 essay.

How many paragraphs can you have?

• A) three paragraphs
• B) four paragraphs
• C) five paragraphs
• D) six paragraphs

Answers

The answers for this lesson are now available. Click here: Paragraph Answers

 

IELTS Speaking

Sometimes the IELTS speaking examiner will stop you in the middle of your answer. This is very common in part 1 and can sometimes happen in part 3.

Share your thoughts about this:

1. Why do you think the examiner interrupts your answer?
2. Do you think it affects your score?

Answers

The answers are available now. Click here: Answers: Learn why the examiner stops your answer

In writing task 2, it is essential that you understand the instructions given to you. It will affect your score for Task Response, which is 25% of your marks.

Are the following instructions different?

1. Do you agree or disagree?
2. Do you agree?
3. To what extent do you agree?
4. What is your opinion?

Are they the same or are they different?

Answers

Post your answers below and I’ll post my answer tomorrow.

 

Below you can see the options available for changing phrasal verbs into formal verbs:

1. The business was set up / established / founded in the 1980’s.
2. People often prefer to hang out/ socialise with other people who share similar perspectives on life.
3. Students must hand in / submit their applications before March 15th.
4. Putting off / To delay / To Postpone visiting the doctor can result in symptoms becoming worse.
5. Fires need to be put out / extinguished immediately before they spread.

Comments:

The phrasal verb “set up” is fine to use in IELTS writing task 2 and speaking.

“hang out” is a phrasal verb that can be used for IELTS speaking but not IELTS writing. The verb “meet” is not the same.

The verb “hand in” can be used for both speaking and writing. The verb “join in ” is not a paraphrase because it means “to participate”.

The verbs for question 4 can all be used in both writing and speaking.

Both verbs for question 5 cab be used in writing and speaking. The verb “quench” is mainly used for quenching thirst by having a drink and is not a suitable paraphrase. Also the verb “stop” means to prevent which is not a paraphrase for put out. Also the verb “terminate” is not suitable.

As you know, many phrasal verbs are not suitable for IELTS writing task 2.

Phrasal Verb Paraphrasing

Below you will find some sentences which contain phrasal verbs. You need to replace replace the phrasal verbs with proper verbs suitable for a formal essay. In some cases, more that one verb is possible as a paraphrase.

1. The business was set up in the 1980’s.
2. People often prefer to hang out with other people who share similar perspectives on life.
3. Students must hand in their applications before March 15th.
4. Putting off visiting the doctor can result in symptoms becoming worse.
5. Fires need to be put out immediately before they spread.

Answers

Click here: Answers to this lesson

 

See the answers below for the listening exercise about Bitcoin. If you didn’t complete the lesson, please check here: Bitcoin listening before checking the answers and transcript below.

Transcript

Bitcoin is an experimental, decentralized digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer technology to operate with no central authority: managing transactions and issuing money are carried out collectively by the network.

Bitcoin is one of the first successful implementations of a distributed crypto-currency, described in part in 1998 by Wei Dai on the cypherpunks mailing list. It is built upon the notion that money is any object, or any sort of record, accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. Bitcoin is designed around the idea of using cryptography to control the creation and transfer of money, rather than relying on central authorities.

There are many advantages to bitcoins, for example they are sent easily through the Internet, without needing to trust any third party and also transactions are fast. However, unfortunately, transactions are also irreversible.

Information from wiki.

Answers

1. instant
2. central authority
3. record
4. fast
5. irreversible

More Listening Lessons for IELTS

You can find all my listening exercises and tips on this page: IELTS Listening

 

This page contains answers, as well as the passage and questions to exercise 2 reading practice for TFNG.

Passage: Impact of Hunting

Humans have long hunted wild game from forests, but over the past 50 years commercialisation of killing has triggered a rapid increase in wildlife depletion. Hunting and poaching cause damage to the rain forest ecosystem by removing species key to the system’s functioning. The loss of a certain single species can mean extinction for many others. Hunting of seed dispersers and pollinators can influence the structure of a forest.

This passage is from rainforests.mongabay.com. You can view the full article on this page: Impact of hunting & poaching

Questions for TFNG practice.

Are the sentences below True, False or Not Given according to the information in the passage above.

1. Commercialised hunting is mainly focused in forests.
2. The falling numbers in wildlife have been brought about by the commercialisation of hunting.
3. Hunting negatively impacts the world’s ecosystem.
4. One species in decline can adversely affect other species.
5. The structure of forests can be altered by the hunting of seeds.

Answers

1. Not Given
   1. The passage does not mention where commercialised hunting is focused. We don’t know if it is only in forests or if it is also in other places.
2. True
   1. ” commercialisation of killing has triggered a rapid increase in wildlife depletion.”
3. False
   1. “Hunting negatively impacts the forest’s ecosystem.”
   2. The passage shows that it is not the world’s ecosystem which is affected, it is the forest’s ecosystem that is affected.
   3. This means the answer is FALSE – the statement in the question is wrong.
4. True
   1. “The loss of a certain single species can mean extinction for many others. “
5. False
   1. “Hunting of seed dispersers and pollinators can influence the structure of a forest.”
   2. Only high level students will get this one right. So, don’t worry it you got it wrong.
   3. The passage does not talk about the hunting of seeds. The passage talks about the hunting of seed dispersers and pollinators. Let me explain those words:
      1. Examples of “seed dispersers” = elephants. They eat vegetation which contains seeds. They move through the forest and the seeds come out in their faeces (poo). This means they disperse the seeds through the forests by eating them and pooing them. Birds are also well known seed dispersers.
      2. Examples of pollinators = bees, butterflies etc.
   4. The passage shows that it is not “the hunting of seeds” that is the problem. The passage shows that is it the hunting of “seed dispersers and pollinators” that causes the problem.
   5. This means that the question statement is incorrect. So, the answer is FALSE

Comments

1. As I said, if you got question 5 wrong, don’t worry about it. Only people aiming for band 8 or 9 should get this right.
2. Don’t forget that the answer FALSE has two meanings: 1) the passage shows opposite information 2) the passage shows the statement is wrong. Remember those two meanings and you will be fine.

 

I hope you found the lesson useful 🙂

All the best

Liz

It is common to be asked to write an IELTS apology letter for General Training writing task 1. You might be given a formal or informal apology letter. You must use the correct style and tone to get a high band score. Always decide what type of letter you must write before you start planning. Students taking the academic test, do not write letters for task 1 writing.

Below you will find:

• an informal apology letter: question and model answer
• a formal apology letter: question and model answer
• link to essential tips for IELTS letter writing

Note the difference in tone, content and also language between formal and informal apology letters.

IELTS Informal Apology Letter

This letter was in the IELTS test, October 2017.

Write a letter to a friend. You have borrowed something from your friend and it got damaged.

1. Apologize for damaging the product
2. Explain what happened
3. Say how are you going to fix the issue

IELTS Model Answer Apology Letter – Informal

Dear Emily,

Sorry it’s taken me so long to write to you but at last I put pen to paper to explain why I haven’t returned that DIY book I borrowed from you.

To be honest, I’ve been feeling so guilty that I delayed writing to you. I have to own up that I damaged the book accidentally. I’m so very sorry. I know how important that book is to you as it was passed down from your late father.

What happened is that I had been reading up on the chapter about DIY plumbing when I knocked over my cup of coffee which splashed all over the book. Most of the stain is on the pages that were open at the time.

I’ve sent the book away to be repaired. I didn’t realise that was even possible until I researched it. Anyway, it should be as good as new when I get it back next week and then I’ll send it on to you.

Again, I’m so sorry for the delay in telling you. I hope you can forgive me.

Best wishes

Sarah

(184 words)

IELTS Formal Apology Letter

Write a letter to your boss apologising for the recent meeting you missed at work.

1. Apologise for missing the meeting.
2. Explain what happened.
3. Say what you will do to compensate.

Model Answer for an IELTS Formal Apology Letter

Dear Mr Drummond,

I am writing to apologise for the meeting I missed on October 20th about development plans for the company.

I am sincerely sorry for not being able to attend this meeting. I am aware of the importance of the meeting but, unfortunately, my absence was unavoidable.

The reason for not attending this meeting was that I had a car accident on the way to work that day. Although the accident was not serious, I was taken to hospital for a check up and not allowed to leave until I had been given the all clear from a doctor.

I understand how crucial this meeting was and, therefore, I have asked one of my colleagues, Sandra Brown, to review the meeting with me after work today. We will go over all development plans and also people’s roles and responsibilities. By the end of today, I will be up to speed with all plans.

I hope you will forgive my absence and be assured of my commitment to this company and its future.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Brollend

(178 words)

Note: Although I have put the word count at the bottom of each letter, this is just for your convenience. It is not something you should do in your test. Most writing task 1 letters should be between 170 and 190 words on average.

Useful Link

You can find essential tips for IELTS letters on this page: IELTS GT Letter Writing Tips

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