I’ve posted the answers about misunderstanding or misreading the IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card back on the original page. Click here to see the answers and explanation: Misunderstanding the Cue Card
Misunderstanding the IELTS Speaking Cue Card
What happens if you misunderstand or misread your IELTS cue card in Speaking Part 2? Does it mean you will get a lower score? How do the band scores relate to this?
Examples of Misunderstood IELTS Speaking Cue Cards
Below are some cue card topics and examples of how it is possible to misread or misunderstood them:
- A piece of equipment you use at home
- You talk about a tennis racket or football.
- A time someone helped you
- You talk about a time when you helped your friend.
- A foreign food you would like to eat
- You talk about a foreign food you don’t like.
- An achievement you celebrated
- You talk about your mother’s 60th birthday party.
- Something you borrowed
- You talk about an item you gave to a friend.
- An interesting old person
- You talk about someone who is 40 years old.
- A type of weather you like
- You talk about the sports you enjoy playing when it’s hot.
- A film you like
- You talk about a sport you enjoy.
All the examples above are from IELTS candidates who went slightly off topic and either didn’t read the cue card properly or misunderstood the topic.
The Impact of Misreading the IELTS Cue Card
Question to you: Which of the examples given above for the IELTS cue cards in speaking part 2 might be a problem or are they all ok?
Click below to reveal the answer:
ANSWEROK. Get ready to read and become more informed. There is no quick answer, only detailed explanations.
As you can see from the examples listed above on this page, all of them go off topic slightly. The reason being that someone in the test was so nervous that they misunderstood or didn’t read the cue card properly. It happens a lot in the speaking test.
There is NO marking criterion called Task Achievement in IELTS Speaking. Task Achievement or Task Response is part of the Writing Test marking, not part of the Speaking test marking. In Speaking, you are marked on:
- Fluency
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Pronunciation
Only your spoken English matters.
So, with the examples listed above, all examples from 1 to 7 are fine. The candidate has understood the main topic and stayed on the main topic. But they have missed specific details. In example 1, the topic is equipment and the specific detail is equipment in the home. In this case, the candidate didn’t read the card properly and only talked about equipment, missing any mention of “home”. This is not a problem. You won’t lose marks because of this. The examiner might draw your attention to this or might not. In number 5, the candidate has misunderstood the word “borrow” and talked about “lend”. This is very small vocabulary error and won’t have a big impact on your score for vocabulary. Even number 6 is fine. Some people think that being 40 years old is old, while others think that only 70 years and above is old. We all have different understandings of age and it’s ok.
However, the problem is number 8. In this situation the candidate hasn’t misread the cue card and hasn’t misunderstood it either. A film is 100% different to a sport. Even people with only simple English know the difference between a film and a sport. This candidate has actually changed the topic completely. This could be a serious problem. If the examiner thinks you have changed the topic because you prefer a different one that you prepared at home or one you have memorised, you might have your entire talk discounted. It won’t result in minus points because there are no minus points, but your talk might be seen as invalid and not counted towards your marks. You can’t change the topic and you can’t memorise answers.
Basically, if you misread the cue card, don’t worry about it. Keep talking. No matter the mistake, your talk will count towards your marks. Each word and sentence you say in the test will count towards your marks. But never try to completely change the topic on the cue card.
I hope this gives you more insight into how your talk in IELTS Speaking part 2 is marked.
All the best
Liz
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IELTS Essay Questions for 2022
Below is a list of predicted IELTS Writing Task 2 essay topics for this year, 2022. As usual, these topics are based on common topics, current world issues and trending topics. Both GT and Academic candidates should prepare from the list below.
On this page, you will find:
- List of types of essay questions
- Essay Topics for 2022
- Useful Links for lessons & tips
IELTS Essay Types in 2022
There are five types of essay questions in IELTS Writing Task 2. You will not know which type of essay you will be given. So, you must prepare for all types. When you read the 2022 Essay Topics list below, be ready for that topic to be phrased in different ways for different essay types. Be prepared to be flexible!!
- Opinion Essay – agree/disagree/ partial agreement
- Discussion Essay – discuss both sides
- Advantage / Disadvantage – includes outweigh essay
- Cause / Problem / Solution Essays
- Direct Question Essays – Positive . Negative Development / one question / two question / three question essays
Click here to learn how to spot which type of essay you have: IELTS Essay Types
IELTS Essay Topics for 2022
I’ve organised the predicted IELTS essay questions below and highlighted the topics I feel are more likely to appear. All topics in IELTS essays are current world issues and known society concerns. Our world today is mainly focused on health, work, technology, internet and other aspects of life.
Art
- is art important
- what can children learn from art, drama etc
- is literature important to teach in schools
- should the government fund artists
- what people gain from live events
- should art be censored
- does art transcend the language barrier
Books & Reading
- e-books – pros and cons
- are libraries a thing of the past
- children reading story books in their free time
- adults reading children’s stories
Business & Money
- family run businesses – pros and cons
- should we save or spend
- should companies be responsible for their employees’ health
- why some people do not save
- should money management be taught in schools
- is dress code or uniforms important in a company
- why do some people get into debt
- spending money on unnecessary items / luxury goods
- supporting small local businesses
- buying local or foreign products
- relocating companies to the countryside away from city centers – pros and cons
- factors in business success
- is the layout of an office important
Character & People
- is leadership innate
- factors behind success
- are people more impatient than before
- are older people as respected as they should be
- people who follow fashion trends
- keeping up with the Joneses
- individuality or conformity in schools
- why do some people struggle with change
- are people less respectful of the elderly nowadays
- are people becoming less formal
Crime & Punishment
- fixed punishment for a crime or should circumstances play a role in deciding punishment
- prisons – pros and cons
- stopping ex-convicts from re-offending
- how to reduce crime in society
- do some films encourage criminal behaviour
- should teenage offenders get the same punishment as adult offenders
- why people watch crime shows on TV
- online crimes
- is safety a personal or government responsibility
Culture
- are museums and art galleries important
- can children gain from visiting museums and galleries
- should the government support artists
- should schools prioritise science over the Arts
- importance of traditional clothes and music
- how tourism is changing local cultures
- how can the government / schools preserve traditional culture
- globalisation – will cultures be lost
- how has the internet affect culture around the world
- are public celebrations important for culture
- people spending a lot of money on weddings and celebrations
- do foreign films change local culture
Education
- discipline in schools
- pros and cons of learning online
- is science and technology important to teach
- are university degrees more important than experience
- how can people learn soft skills, such as communication, personal skills etc
- homework for children – an aid to learning or too much pressure
- who influences children most – teachers or parents
- teaching good values – teachers or parents
- are children from poor backgrounds disadvantaged in education
- is history important to learn
- studying abroad
- children of different abilities should be taught separately
- home schooling pros and cons
- education in cities compared to rural areas
- how to make learning interesting for children
- all education should be free
Environment, Nature & Wildlife
- protecting trees/ endangered species – causes / problems / solutions
- how to educate people about environmental problems
- noise pollution / air pollution / water pollution – causes / solutions
- how to tackle littering
- importance of tackling climate change – causes, problems, solutions
- importance of spending time in nature
- are wild animals important
- testing consumer products on animals
- children having pets
- who should protect the environment: individuals or governments
Family
- what is the generation gap and how can it be tackled
- can children benefit from a close relationship with their grandparents
- should women with children go to work
- are family roles changing within the family
- who should support elderly family members: family or government
- is it important for family members to spend time together
- why do some couples choose not to have children
- parents should give children the freedom to make their own mistakes
Food
- is our food culture changing
- is it important to keep traditional meals
- why do people eat junk food if it is unhealthy
- should families eat together
- is animal welfare important to know about when buying meat in supermarkets
- what information would stop you buying a certain product
- what is a balanced diet
- why are some people vegetarian
Health
- should all health care be free – pros and cons
- is public health a personal responsibility or the responsibility of the government
- sugar as a cause of health problems
- problems with junk food
- importance of mental health
- tackling obesity in society / in children
- health problems connected to using screens
- how to encourage children to do more exercise
- why people take up meditation, yoga or taichi
- walking, cycling to work pros and cons
- funding prevention or treatments
Language & Communication
- are text messages / emails / video calls a good form of communication
- pros and cons of one global language
- how has the internet changed the way we communicate and socialise
- should children learn a foreign language at an early age
- is handwriting a thing of the past
- will snail mail one day disappear
- difficulties learning a foreign language
Leisure
- are holidays important
- why is leisure time important
- are hobbies important
- spending time in nature
- children spending time playing together
- do people value leisure time more nowadays
- why do people watch so much TV in their free time
- Is watching TV a good leisure activity
- what leisure activities are best for children
- should children do homework or have fun in their leisure time
Media & The Internet
- social media and our image of beauty
- shopping online pros and cons
- how the internet has changed the way we work
- importance of accuracy in historical films
- does the internet make people feel more connected
- online streaming for films – pros and cons
- problems sharing personal information online
- reality TV stars
- what makes a film successful – stars, special effects or story
- meeting new people online
- how advertising influences people – billboards, internet pop ups, brand placement in films, social media
- celebrities as role models for children
- are newspapers a thing of the past now that news can be found online
- unreliable news or information online
Technology
- technology makes people lazy
- pros and cons of smart phones
- technology in the work place results in job losses
- technology and solving pollution / environmental problems
- technology, science and health
- government spending on space exploration or health care social services
- how has technology changed our lives / the way we work
- how has technology helped mankind
Transport
- pros and cons of a traffic free zone in city centers
- way to reduce pollution from cars
- should driving tests be obligatory every 5 years
- how to reduce traffic congestion in city centers
- pros and cons of plane travel
- how to ensure road safety
- should we all use electric cars
- people over 80 should not be allowed to drive
Tourism
- experiencing foreign countries on TV rather than travelling there
- conforming to the culture of the country you are visiting
- pros and cons of tourism on the domestic economy
- adventure holidays
- tourism and environmental factors (including wildlife)
- pros and cons of taking holidays on your own country
- tourism and its impact on the country
Sport
- what children learn from team sports and individual sports
- should sports teach competition or cooperation
- should schools increase physical education lessons
- benefits of exercise, walking, cycling
- should sports stars be paid so much
- companies sponsor sports events and teams for advertising – pros and cons
- sports professionals earning high salaries compared to doctors or nurses
- why people do adventure sports
- importance of international sports competitions
World Issues & Social Issues
- how can homelessness be tackled
- should world issues be solved nationally or internationally
- closing the gap between rich and poor countries
- rich countries should support poor countries at any cost
- overpopulation – problems / solutions
- people are living longer – pros and cons
- should charities help people locally or nationally
- are charities important
- more people are raising money for charities – why, is this a good thing
- living in the countryside or city – pros and cons
- food wastage / increase in world food demand
- (affordable) housing shortage – solutions
- migration of workers from rural to urban areas
- taking care of the elderly – family or government responsibility
- lack of good education in under-developed countries
Work
- pros and cons of working from home
- work-life balance
- pros and cons of being self-employed / working for a company
- bosses contacting people on their days off
- importance of holidays from work
- both parents working – how it impacts children
- is team working skills
- job satisfaction or salary
- working online pros and cons
- work-life balance
- pros and cons of technology / machines at work
- Was this list useful to you?
- Did you get one of these topics in your test?
USEFUL IELTS WRITING TASK 2 LINKS:
Click below to access some useful lessons and tips for your IELTS essay
List of keywords for essay writing
Happy 2022!!
Hi guys,
Many countries around the world are seeing in the New Year tonight. I want to wish you all a very Prosperous New Year. I hope that you reach your goals and find much love this coming year.
It’s been a tough few years. For some of you, it may have also been a painful few years. But each year brings new hope. Each tiny step you take from today onward will help shape your future. Take those steps with enthusiasm, joy and determination to never to give up!
My love to you all. Stay safe this year!!
Liz xx
Answer to Dictation Listen & Write Exercise
Below you will find the full transcript and audio recording for the dictation lesson about “Disaster Management”.
If you haven’t completed this lesson yet, please do so before looking at the answers below. Click here: Listen & Write Lesson
Audio Recording
.
Transcript
Strengthening community capacity to prevent and cope with the impact of disasters is a valuable way to save lives and better protect livelihoods as well as prevent such shocks from crippling development within the poorest countries. Early warning and early action are more cost effective than traditional disaster responses and save more lives per pound spent. In other words, public money has four times as much humanitarian impact if spending on preparation and risk reduction rather than on relief items.
Review
It is important that you check what type of errors you are making having completed this lesson.
- Punctuation – did you overuse commas or did you miss them out? Did you notice when sentences ended and a new one began?
- Spelling – did you spell all words correctly?
- Grammar – below are three common grammar mistakes:
- articles (a/the = , the impact, the poorest countries
- plural nouns (livelihoods,
- verb agreement (is /are save/ saves)
If you need help with grammar, consider getting my Grammar E-book. Click below:
Listen & Write: Dealing with Natural Disasters
This lesson is about listening to an audio recording, taking notes and then reproducing the full written text. This is not an IELTS test practice. It is just a practice exercise to develop sharper listening skills and check your accuracy of written English. Many people preparing for IELTS say they don’t know if their grammar is accurate or not. This is one way to check. When someone speaks aloud what they want you to write down, it is called Dictation. This is a dictation practice.
In this lesson, you will check your ability to:
- listen for keywords such as nouns
- make notes at the same time as listening
- recreate what you hear in writing – produce a written script of what you hear
- check your grammar
- check your spelling
- check your basic punctuation
How to use this lesson:
- get a pen and paper
- listen and make notes at the same time
- write down all the nouns you hear. Nouns are always the most important words to write down when you want to reproduce what you hear on paper.
- the aim is not to pause the audio, but to keep it running while you make notes. Of course, the first time, you will only get about 15% of the words. But you can listen again to collect more nouns.
- when you write down the nouns, don’t worry about spelling the full word. You can edit all this later after you have finished listening three times.
- make sure you keep the order of nouns correct so that you can create the sentences afterwards. You will use those nouns to recreate the full script.
- Your aim is not to write all the words while listening. It is to write only key nouns and keywords so you can then recreate the script. This is the same as you do in a university lecture.
- listening again and add more nouns to your list
- Listen a third time and even a fourth if necessary. You can also write down other useful words as well.
- using the nouns you have written down, try to write the whole script on your paper. Don’t listen at this point. Just look at the nouns on your paper and recreate the passage. You will need to add verbs, adjectives, adverbs, articles (a/the) and any other words to make your writing grammatically accurate.
- review what you have written and put in full stops, commas and capital letters.
- when you think your writing is accurate, listen one more time to see what words you have missed.
- after those steps, when you are sure your writing is an accurate reproduction, check the answer.
- Check which words you are making mistakes with – are they plurals, articles, verb agreement – which aspects of grammar do you make the most mistakes with
- check your spelling and punctuation
This is NOT an IELTS test. It is an opportunity to develop note taking skills at a high level and check the accuracy of your written language.
Listen and Write: The Best Way to Deal with Natural Disasters
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Natural Disaster = tsunami, typhoon, earthquake etc
ANSWER
The answers are available by clicking below:
CLICK HERE: ANSWERS TO THIS LESSON
i hope you found this useful.
All the best,
Liz
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How to write an IELTS Essay
Learn how to write a high band score IELTS essay step by step. You will find 15 key steps for a high score IELTS essay. These steps are for both GT and Academic Writing Task 2. After the steps listed below, you will find useful links that will help you learn more and develop the right skills necessary to be successful in IELTS.
Step by Step: How to tackle your IELTS essay
None of these steps below can be missed if you are aiming for a good score in your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay. Be strategic and focused in how you approach your IELTS essay. Failure to tackle the points below will result in a lower score. They are particularly important for candidates aiming for band 7 and above. For those candidates, you must fulfill the requirements of the higher band scores by following and mastering the steps below.
Step 1: Make sure you identify the type of essay you have been given. This essay is what I call a “Direct Questions” essay. There are two specific questions that you must answer. The first question is about cause. You must state the cause of this trend. The second question requires you to evaluate. This means you must present your opinion as to whether you think this is a good thing or a bad thing. Click here to learn about the Types of IELTS Essays.
Step 2: Before you plan your essay, think about the structure. You have two questions and they are of equal weight. This means you will have two body paragraphs. Both body paragraphs will have equal length. Click here to learn about how many paragraphs in your essay.
Step 3: Identify the issues in the essay question. The essay question above is very simple. It is about computer games. However, some IELTS essay questions are more complex so you must take time to identify the issue or issues.
Step 4: Brainstorm main ideas. When you brainstorm main ideas. it does not mean you will use all your ideas in your essay. First, brainstorm ideas and after that select the best ideas. To prepare ideas, see this list of common essay topics.
Step 5: Develop supporting points. This is the step that most people miss. Most people plan their main ideas and then start writing. Your main ideas are certainly important, but the supporting points are equally as important. And this is the area where most people easily go off topic. So, using your planning time to prepare your supporting points. Don’t start writing until you are clear about the whole content of your body paragraphs.
Step 6: Think about linking for body paragraphs and supporting points. Linking is another area that is often forgotten during the test. Linking and paragraphing is crucial. They are also both very very easy for you to score high points in. So, never overlook these two points. Plan your paragraphs and make sure you are using a good range of appropriate linking words. Here is a list of keywords.
Step 7: Don’t waste time on your introduction. It is a functional paragraph which usually contains just two sentences. The bulk of the marks are in the body paragraphs.
Step 8: Read the essay question again before you start each body paragraph. This will help you make sure you are using the right language to present your ideas. People think having good ideas is enough. It is NOT enough. You must think about how you will present them. So, read the essay question again and get your bearings.
Step 9: Use a range of grammar features. This is not just about tense. There are a whole range of features that you can use to show your grammatical prowess.
-
- noun phrases
- gerund noun phrases
- noun clauses
- language of probability
- relative clauses
- conditional statements
- Referencing
- quantifiers and intensifiers
- comparatives & superlatives
- passive voice
To learn more about grammar in Writing Task 2 and to avoid errors, consider my Grammar E-book whcih will help you boost your grammar score and improve your English. Click here to see a Preview of my Grammar E-book. My Grammar E-book is available in my online store: Liz’s Online Store
Step 10: Avoid errors in grammar: articles, pronouns, uncountable nouns, word order, tenses, complex sentences. The more errors you have, the lower your score. Knowing the strength of your grammar will help you avoid errors. Aim for accuracy – do not aim to impress.
Step 11: Vocabulary only counts for 25% of your marks. Too many candidates focus too heavily on this area. Use vocabulary appropriate for the topic. Don’t over use idiomatic language. Idioms are mostly informal, not formal, so go with phrasal verbs instead which are also idiomatic. Don’t use less common vocabulary if you might use it incorrectly. Errors will lower your score. Aim for accuracy. Spelling counts. There are some useful vocabulary lists on this page: IELTS Vocabulary.
Step 12: Paraphrasing is a language skill that you need to demonstrate. This doesn’t mean changing all words all the time. It means being selective about which words you change and which words you will leave and repeat. It is fine to repeat some words. Over paraphrasing is one reason why many people get a low score in vocabulary.
Step 13: Don’t aim for a long essay or a short essay. If it is too short, it means you haven’t developed your main ideas enough. If it is too long, it gives you room for more errors which will lower your score. Aim for between 270-290 words on the whole. Click here for a video lesson about essay length.
Step 14: Edit your essay. Leave 2 mins to edit your essay. Pay attention to not repeating linking words, checking spelling and spotting vocabulary errors. You might have other areas specific to your language skills that you want to check. Know your weaknesses.
Step 15: Look at the clock. Timing is everything. You must be very strict with timing so that you have enough time to finish your essay. You can start with task 2 if you want, but if you do, make sure you leave 20 mins for task 1. Use no less than 5 mins preparing your essay. Use no less than 2 mins to check your essay at the end. This leaves around 33 mins for you to write your whole essay. Practise this at home under exam conditions until you are able to do this.
Step 16: If you find my free lessons are not enough for you or if you want more in-depth training for essay writing, please get my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons which are available in my online store. Click here: Liz’s Online Store
Other Useful Links
- IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Scores Explained
- IELTS Essay Questions for home practice
- When to give your opinion in an IELTS essay
Hope you find this page useful. From Liz 🙂
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IELTS Essays: Five Types of IELTS Essays
There are 5 types of IELTS essays which can appear in IELTS writing task 2. These types of essays are for both GT and Academic writing task 2. Below you will find sample essay questions for each type of essay and links to model answers. Please note that IELTS teachers sometimes divide essays into different categories based on how they teach.
1) IELTS Opinion Essay
This type of essay is where you are presented with someone else’s opinion and you are asked if you agree or disagree with it. The opinion is often flawed or extreme in its views. Some teachers call this the Argumentative Essay. The instructions can be written in a number of ways. Below are a few examples:
- To what extent do you agree?
- Do you agree?
- Do you agree or disagree?
- What is your opinion?
No matter how the instructions are written, you can take any position you want: agree, disagree or partial agreement (balanced view). Below is an example essay question:
Opinion Essay Question: Some people think that only electric cars should be allowed on the road by 2040. Do you agree?
2) IELTS Discussion Essay
This type of essay presents you with a statement and you must present the two sides. This might be two sides of the same issue:
Some people think there should be free health care for all people, but others disagree. Discuss both sides.
Or it might be two separate issues which you need to discuss:
Some people think that urban spaces should be used for parks rather than for housing. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
3) IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essays
There are two types of questions in this category.
i) Advantage and Disadvantage Essay
This is similar to a discussion essay where you are given a statement must present the positive and negative side of the issue:
Some people think it is good for students to take a gap year before going to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so?
ii) Outweigh Essay
This is by far the most difficult of the two essay types in this category. It requires you to present an opinion and explain your opinion.
Some people think the world will eventually have only one language. Do you think the advantages of having one global language outweigh the disadvantages?
4) IELTS Solution Essays
There are a number of types of possible questions in this category:
i) Solution Only
Some children have serious weight problems. What are the possible solutions?
ii) Cause Solution
Children in rural areas are being left behind in their academic development. Why is this is the case? What solutions can you suggest?
iii) Problem Solution
More and more people are moving to cities to look for work. What problems does this cause? What are the possible solutions?
5) Direct Questions Essays
Some teachers call these the Two Question Essay. However, these types of essay questions might contain one, two or three questions for you to answer. Below are some examples.
Pollution around the world is becoming a serious problem. Do you think this is a problem that should be solved internationally or on a local level?
In the question above, you are asked one specific question. Your whole essay must tackle this question only.
More and more people are choosing to work from home. Is this a positive or negative development?
This essay question has just one issue and one question. You must explain what type of development you think working from home is.
Some people spend a lot of money on weddings. Why do they do this? Do you think it is good to spend a lot of money on weddings?
Above, you will see you have been presented with two questions to answer: reasons and opinion (evaluating if it is good or not.)
News editors decide what to print in newspapers and what to broadcast on TV. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more news was reported?
As you can see there are three questions to answer in this essay question. It is not common to get three questions. If you get three, just tackle them one at a time in a logical order.
Practice Essay Questions for IELTS
You can find over 100 essay questions to practice on this page: 100 IELTS Essay Questions. The questions are divided first into topics and then into essay types. This way you can get lots of practice before your actual test day.
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