IELTS 7

Keys
Time
Module Listening Reading Total time 30 min 60 min Writing 60 min 3 parts, finish every part in 15 mins Reading 5 mins, choosing 10 mins Part 2- first in 25-30 mins Thinking 5 mins, writing 15 mins Writing introduction and conclusion first(5-10 mins) Body graphs 10 mins Part 1 second>> 15 mins Check 15 mins strategies

Reading
A paragraphs first sentence is usually the main topic sentence, and it gives you a summary of the content of the paragraph. These are typically nouns, verbs, numbers, or phrases in the question that will probably be duplicated in the passage. Once you have identified those key word(s) or idea, skim the passage quickly to find where those key word(s) or idea appears. The correct answer choice will be nearby Sometimes a choice will repeat word for word a portion of the passage near the answer. However, beware of such duplication it may be a trap! More than likely, the correct choice will paraphrase or summarize the related portion of the passage, rather than being exactly the same wording

Choosing a right answer

best looking answer, which is often wrong. You only eliminate choices from guessing if you are willing to bet on it. Always pick the first answer choice among those remaining. When you have two answer choices that are direct opposites, one of them is usually the correct answer. When asked for a conclusion that may be drawn, look for critical 'hedge' phrases, such as likely, may, can, will often, sometimes, etc, often, almost, mostly, usually, generally, rarely, sometimes. This can be a huge help. While you listen, you are free to make notes.

Writing
Report
Never forget:
15 mins writing, 5 mins checking. 150-200 word. Writing clear and neat. remember I am writing a report for someone doesn't see the chart compare the data not just descript them group the information, similar the trends Must have a Introduction: Say what you're going to Say b Body graph: Say it c Conclusion: Say what you Said no new ideas in the conclusion, it should simply restate what you already talked about. don't use "in conclusion", " to sum up", it should look like conclusion without saying that.

Numbers
a fifth a quarter a tenth a third just over sixty per cent just over thirty per cent one in five one in four one in ten one in three seventy five per cent ten per cent three out of four three quarters twenty five per cent twenty per cent two out of three two thirds 200,000 - two hundred thousand (When the number is large dont add s)

Countable and uncountable

a large amount a little a lot of a small amount a small number few fewer fewer and fewer less less and less many more most much no none of several the majority of

Sentences formation
the table shows the changes in the number of...over the period from...to... The table below shows the changes in the number of blacks as a per cent of the total population in ten major cities between 1960 and 1970. the graph provides some interesting data regarding... Comparing and contrasting short term workers with their long term colleagues provides some interesting data regarding risk of cancer and mesothelioma. the pie graph depicts (that).... this is which describes the trend of... as is shown/demonstrated/exhibited in the diagram/graph/chart/table... as can be seen from the diagram,great changes have taken place in... from the table/chart/diagram/figure,we can see clearly that...or it is clear/apparent from the chart that... this table shows the changing proportion of a & b from...to... Figure 3 shows the changing proportion of individuals holding vocational level qualifications for skilled trade occupations over the period of 2001 to 2013. as can be seen from the graph, the two curves show the fluctuation of... over the period from...to...the...remained level. from then on/from this time onwards... the number of...remained steady/stable from (month/year) to (month/year). the number sharply went up to... the percentage of...stayed the same between...and... the figures peaked at...in(month/year) the percentage remained steady at... that percentage remained steady until increases began in the 1960s. the percentage of...is sightly larger/smaller than that of... there is not a great deal of difference between...and... the graphs show a threefold increase in the number of... ...decreased year by year while...increased steadily. the situation reached a peak(a high point at) of[%]. the figures/situation bottomed out in... The job situation bottomed out in early 1990, and then began a steady climb that lasted for almost a decade. the figures reached the bottom/a low point/hit a trough. a is ...times as much/many as b. a increased by... a increased to... high/low/great/small/ percentage. there is an upward trend in the number of... As circumstances require, there is an upward trend in the number of employees who take part in various forms of education and training. a considerable increase/decrease occurred from...to... from...to...the rate of decrease slow down. from this year onthere was a gradual decline reduction in the...,reaching a figure of... be similar to... be the same as... there are a lot similarities/differences between...and...

a has something in common with b the difference between a and b lies in... ..(year)witnessed/saw a sharp rise in... The table/chart diagram/graph shows (that) According to the table/chart diagram/graph As (is) shown in the table/chart diagram/graph As can be seen from the table/chart/diagram/graph/figures, figures/statistics shows (that)... It can be seen from the figures/statistics We can see from the figures/statistics It is clear from the figures/statistics It is apparent from the figures/statistics table/chart/diagram/graph figures (that) ... table/chart/diagram/graph shows/describes/illustrates how

World average food consumption per person has risen by almost a fifth, from 2 360 kcal per person per day in the mid-1960s to 2 800 kcal per person per day today. Over the period to 1997-99, average daily per capita food consumption in developing countries rose from 2 050 kcal to 2 680 kcal (see Annex Table A3). The proportion of the world's population living in countries with low average food energy intakes has declined dramatically. In the mid-1960s, no less than 57 percent were living in countries with average intakes below 2 200 kcal per day. India and China both came into this category. By 1997-99, although world population had almost doubled to nearly six billion, this proportion had fallen to just 10 percent. Even the absolute numbers - which decline more slowly because of population growth - fell by over two-thirds, from 1 890 million to 570 million. At the other extreme, the share of the world's population living in countries with average food energy intakes above 2 700 kcal per person per day has more than doubled, from 30 percent to 61 percent. Rapid gains in some of the largest developing countries, including China, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria, account for much of this progress. India, however, has yet to move into this category. data chart task1 8 introduction 1-2 data

Data description
increase / raise / rise / go up ... decrease / grow down / drop / fall ... fluctuate / rebound / undulate / wave ... remain stable / stabilize / level off ... Beginning

table; chart; diagram; graph; column chart; pie graph show; describe; illustrate; can be seen from; clear; apparent; reveal; represent figure; statistic; number; percentage; proportion Data have 10%; at 10%; over 10% peaked; reached a peak / high point /bottomed out/reached the bottom recover increase; jump; rise/rose; climbdecrease; fall/fell; drop; decline; reduce fluctuate remained steady/stable; stay the same; little/hardly any /no change sudden/suddenly rapid/rapidly dramatic/dramatically significant/significantly sharp/sharply steep/steeply steady/steadily gradual/gradually slow/slowly slight/slightly stable/stably from XXX to XXX; between XXX and XXX; for XXX to XXX almost adv. nearly adv. approximately adv. about adv. just over over adv. exactly adv. precisely adv. 20 per cent 20% one in three 1/3 one out of every four 1/4 Others significant changes noticeable trend during the same period grow/grew distribute unequally

pronounced average no doubt corresponding adj. represent vt. overall except in the case of adv. ... in terms of / in respect of / regarding ... in contrast in conclusion adv. in comparison inversely adv. in general range from excessive adj. lower v. elapse vi. category n. government policy market forces measure forecast Synonyms: describe reveal rise fall peak lowest point remains fast slowly preceded followed among compare similarly contrast in addition otherwise

simultaneously it is clear that..... as much as considerable less common

Essay
General suggestions
no personal experience write straight Dont overuse connecting words (like However, Furthermore, Moreover, etc) examiners are watching for you to do that. check

Structures
Introduction paragraph A background sentence giving some background information on the essay topic. A more detailed sentence linking the background sentence to the thesis. A thesis that presents your point of view on your given topic. An outline sentence declaring the 2 points you are going to use to support your thesis. Clear state both side, paraphrase the subject. Redefine the subject. reveal the hidden argument no opinion is given

Supporting paragraph 1 how the reason has led to this situation, each paragraph => one reason A topic sentence illustrating the first point you will be presenting to support your thesis (this point taken from your outline sentence). A sentence showing a real-life example of this topic in action. A discussion sentence that shows how your example links or proves your topic sentence. A conclusion sentence that links this entire paragraph back to your thesis.

Supporting paragraph 2 A topic sentence illustrating the second point you will be presenting to support your thesis (this point taken from your outline sentence). A sentence showing a real-life example of this topic in action. A discussion sentence that shows how your example links or proves your topic sentence. A conclusion sentence that links this entire paragraph back to your thesis.

Conclusion paragraph A summary sentence that briefly states the 2 points you discussed in your supporting paragraphs. A restatement of your thesis using different words.

A prediction or recommendation based on the topic you have been given. short is ok, but must conclude all the idea.

Grammar
The
We use the with countries or places where the name refers to a group of islands or states: the United States, the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, the UK with superlatives: the best, the longest, the highest with cardinal numbers: the first, the second, the third when there is only one in the world: the environment, the internet, the sun to refer to the only one in this particular area: the government, the police, the river in the phrase: the same as We dont use the with a single country or place: America, England, China to talk about something in general. We use the plural if we are talking about something in general; we use the to identify one specific example. Compare: People with reading difficulties often have problems with numbers. The number eight is considered lucky in some countries.

Singular or plural?
We use a plural noun with: plural verbs: are, were, have, do, play, etc.: There are a lot of books on the table. numbers greater than one: 30 cars, 100 students many: It is annoying that so many buses drive past because they are full. the number of: The number of buses on our roads has increased each year. Note that we use a plural noun but a singular verb after the number of. We use a singular noun with: singular verbs: is, was, has, does, plays, etc.: There is only one bedroom in the flat. a/an or one: a car, one student Note that some nouns can look plural but are singular (news, mathematics) and some nouns have a different form in the plural (children, men, women, people). Which nouns dont have a plural form? the singular form: food, information, money a little / amount of / much / some: How much money do you have? The amount of traffic on the roads is increasing each year. a singular verb: There was already a little furniture in the flat. If a noun is uncountable, you cannot use: a plural form: advices, furnitures, garbages, informations, knowledges

 a/an: an advice, a garbage, a knowledge a few / many / number of: a few shopping, many traffic, the number of knowledge a number: three travels, four furniture a plural verb: There were a little furniture in the flat. If you want to add a number to an uncountable noun, you can use a piece of / some / a few pieces of: a piece of advice, three pieces of furniture, a few pieces of garbage

Vocabulary
Prepositions
In At from between during before after by until since [month / year / morning, afternoon etc] [9 oclock, 10.30 am etc] a point in time]..to [another point] [a point in time]..and [another point] [a period of time] [a point in time or a period of time] [a point in time or a period of time] [a point of time arrived at] [a point of time reached] [from a point in the past until now]

Variations
some idiomatic expressions for general ideas a fair amount of a good deal by and large as a rule nine times out of ten more often than not theres a fair amount of unemployment Young people tend to watch TV a good deal By and large, people in my country enjoy watching cricket As a rule, men tend to do less housework than women Nine times out of ten Id read a book before .... More often than not I ask my wife before....

Language bias
Avoid This lawyers and their wives a secretary and her boss the male nurse Arab man denies assault charge Use This Instead lawyers and their spouses a secretary and boss, a secretary and his or her boss the nurse Man denies assault charge

the articulate black student Marie Curie was a great woman scientist Christian name anchorman bellman, bellboy businessman chairman cleaning lady, girl, maid clergyman clergymen congressman fireman forefather girl/gal Friday housewife insurance man layman mailman, postman policeman salesman, saleswoman, saleslady, salesgirl spokesman stewardess, steward Mr. Johnson, the black representative, met with the President today to discuss civil-rights legislation.

the articulate student Marie Curie was a great scientist (unless the intent is to compare her only with other women in the sciences) given name, personal name, first name anchor bellhop businessperson, executive, manager, business owner, retailer, etc. chair, chairperson housecleaner, housekeeper, cleaning person, office cleaner member of the clergy, rabbi, priest, etc. the clergy representative, member of Congress, legislator firefighter ancestor assistant homemaker insurance agent layperson, nonspecialist, nonprofessional mail or letter carrier police officer or law enforcement officer salesperson, sales representative, sales associate, clerk spokesperson, representative flight attendant Mr. Johnson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, met with the President today to discuss civil-rights legislation.

Sentences
There are those who say that life is like a book, with chapters for each event in your life and a limited number of pages on which you can spend your time. It is often said that history is written by the winners Many commentators are of the view that the world financial crisis will have a significant impact not only on the way banks, corporates and service providers operate in the future but also on where geographically they will prioritise their businesses. A common opinion is that a girl who is drunk has herself to blame if she gets into trouble.

A popular belief is that It is often said that One argument put forward is that It can be argued that It is generally accepted that My personal view is that It seems to me that I tend to believe that I am of the opinion that I would argue that In my experience Naturally, Evidently, Generally speaking, On the whole, ......tends..... Typically, By and large ......tends..... ..may/might/could..... Often/frequently/sometimes/usually What this means is In other words, That is to say To be more precise For example, For instance, A good illustration of this is If we take an example Evidence for this is provided by We can see this when One reason for this is The immediate cause of this One of the causes of this is This has resulted in As a result, This has led to On balance, This is a complex issue with no clear answers If we look at both sides of the argument

Transition words
Addition also, again, as well as, besides, coupled, with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly Consequence accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, so,then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore, Generalizing, as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually Exemplifying chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely, particularly, including, specifically, such as Illustration, for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration, illustrated with, as an example, in this case Emphasis above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly, Similarity, comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with Exception aside from, barring, besides, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save Restatement in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it differently Contrast and Comparison contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise, on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast Sequence at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind, Summarizing after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally Diversion by the way, incidentally Direction here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above, to the left, to the right, in the distance

Checking list
What to check for
to make a checklist of your own personal mistakes and check for those mistakes. Grammar Penalized more heavily for systematic errors: these are errors that you make consistently. Verb tenses: make sure they are consistent and in task 1 that your tenses match the time frame in the graph Articles: this is something for everyone to check for. Articles are the most common words in English and often go wrong. To get band 7 or over most of your sentences need to be correct: this means your articles need to be correct. Subject-verb agreement: this means he does not he do. Even to quite a high level this is a relatively common mistake. The problem being that it is also a basic mistake that examiners will penalise more heavily Parts of speech: this is another relatively low level mistake that is also quite common particularly with Asian language speakers. Check that you use nouns, verbs and adjectives when you need. This is particularly an issue in task 1 when using trend language (a sharp rise, but to rise sharply). Range of sentence structures: this one may surprise you, but it is important if you want band 6 or above to vary your sentence structures. It is not enough always to use simple but correct language.

Vocabulary Repetition: under exam conditions looking for repetition is perhaps the area where a candidate can most improve their writing. It is relatively easy for a candidate to see that they have repeated words and to correct this mistake. Repetition (2): check that you have not repeated whole phrases and sentences from the question Spelling: check that you get at least the basic words right

Coherence

Again, this is another area that sometimes does not get checked. You do need to think about this as it accounts for a large part of your mark. Topic sentences: each paragraph starts with a topic sentence that clearly relates to the question Paragraph development: each paragraph is developed with explanations and examples of the topic sentence. In task 1 this includes having enough detailed information and facts. Connecting words:make sure that the connecting words you use are accurate. A frequent mistake is to overuse connecting words.

Answering the question Introduction: check that your introduction addresses all parts of the question Conclusion: check that your conclusion gives an answer to the question

What not to do

Summary

Whatever you do, dont count the words. That is a complete waste of exam time. If you are worried, count how many words you write in one line and then count how many lines your writing is. (Words like a and an still count as words). IELTS is an exam that takes place in 60 minutes, you do not have time to draft and redraft you need skills that are specific to an exam situation.

Make a checklist of your personal mistakes: you need a teacher/expert user for this Practise how and when you are going to edit your writing: try different ideas, see what works best Have an exam strategy for timing: the reason candidates dont check is they run out of time.

Sample questions
topics Telecommuting refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting? (IELTS to Success) Advances in science and technology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (Focus on IELTS) As most foreign aid often benefits the donor more than the receiver, developing countries should refuse to repay their debts. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Reading and Writing module) Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on what they do. To what extent do you agree or disagree?(Cambridge IELTS 4) Do young people today make good use of their leisure time? Or do they spend too much time watching television and playing video games, instead of taking part in more productive activities? Discuss. (Focus on IELTS) Education is the single most important factor in the development of a developing country. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Passport to IELTS) Every country needs to remember its past. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (IELTS Practice tests with answers) Everyone should stay in school until the age of 18. To what extent do you agree or disagree? sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download Fatherhood ought to be emphasized as much as motherhood. The idea that women are solely responsible for deciding whether or not to have babies leads on to the idea that they are also responsible for bringing the children up. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 2) date

Improvement in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations. However, the government of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 3) In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more money than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this happens in some societies and do you consider it is good or bad? (China writing) In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more money than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this happens in some societies and do you consider it is good or bad? sample essay with exercises and download In many countries schools have severe problems with student behavior. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest? (Cambridge IELTS 4) In many countries there is a shortage of housing due to a growing population. Some people argue that new towns should be built in the countryside, others argue for the regeneration of cities. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the building new towns in the countryside? In many countries tourism is a major part of the economy, but it also causes environmental damage and ruins the places it exploits. It is argued that tourists should pay an additional tax to compensate for this damage. Do you agree? In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people regard this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important for learning and taking responsibilities. Discuss. (Cambridge IELTS 3) In the future, we will have more and more leisure time as machines replace many of the tasks we do at home and work. Discuss the benefits this will bring and also the problem it will cause. (Academic writing practice) In the modern world car ownership is regarded as a right. However, some argue that governments should try to reduce the number of cars on the road by improving public transport, as the growing number of cars on the road causes traffic congestion and pollution. Discuss It is commonly thought that it is healthy for adults to maintain an outside interest in order to relax or stay fit. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of 3 of the following sports and pastimes: It is said that travel broadens the mind. What can we learn by travelling to other countries? Should we first explore our own countries? Discuss. Many old buildings are protected by law because they are part of nations history. However, some people think old buildings should be knocked down to make way for new ones because people need houses and offices. How important is it to maintain old buildings? Should history stand in the way of progress? Many universities charge higher fees for foreign students. Why do they do this? Do you believe that it is fair? Modern lifestyles mean that many parents have little time for their children. Many children do not get as much attention from their parents as children did in

the past. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) See my sample essay for useful vocabulary. More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies in specialist areas like engineering, computing and medicine. Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of such people, rich countries are stealing from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement of workers around the world. Give your opinion. (Academic writing practice) Most countries spend a large amount of money in weapons to defend themselves though they are not at war. They should spend money to help the citizens in poor and disadvantaged countries. Discuss. (China writing) News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported? Discuss. (Cambridge IELTS 1) Newspapers and books are outdated. Why do some people believe this? What is your opinion? (sample essay with exercises and download) One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of refugees. The developed nations in the world should tackle this problem by taking in more refugees. To what extent do you agree with this opinion? sample essay with advice to download People are now living longer than ever before and many old people are unable to look after themselves. Some people believe that it is the responsibility of families to look after the elderly, while others say governments should provide retirement homes for them where they can be looked after properly. Discuss. Popular events like the football World Cup and other international sporting occasions are essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotion in a safe way. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 3) Should museums and art galleries be free of charge for the general public, or should a charge, even a voluntary charge, be levied for admittance? Discuss this issue, and give your opinion. (see my sample essay) Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such things as food and education? Or is it the responsibilities of the governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves? (Cambridge IELTS 1) Some employers reward members of staff for their exceptional contribution to the company by giving them extra money. This practice can act as an incentive for some but may also have a negative impact on others. To what extent is this style of management effective? Are there better ways of encouraging employees to work hard?(IELTS Practice Plus) Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed person a mobile phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They believe this is the best way of using public money to reduce the problem of unemployment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Focus on IELTS) Some people argue that universities should provide students with more practical

training for their future career. Should university education be more vocational or academic. Discuss Some people believe in the traditional idea that the womans place is in the home, while others say that idea is outdated and that women should play an increasingly important role in the workplace of the future. What is your opinion? Some people believe that the media, such as the press, TV and Internet should be more strictly controlled. Others feel that controls should be loosened to give people freer access to information.To what extent do you agree or disagree? Some people prefer to live in a house, while others think that there are more advantages living in an apartment. sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together. To what extent do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to communicate with one another? Some people say the government should not put money in the arts, such as music, opera and paintings, but instead should spend money on construction of public facilities. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) Space exploration requires vast sums of money. Is the amount of money spent on space research justifiable? Could the money be better spent? (see my sample essay) Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropped from the school curriculum for subjects such as Information Technology. Many people children suffer as a result of these changes. To what extent would you support or reject the idea of moving these subjects from school curriculum? (IELTS Practice tests with answers) sample essay with vocabulary exercise and download Technology can bring many benefits, but it can also cause social and environmental problems. In relation to new technology, the primary duty of governments should be to focus on potential problems, rather than benefits. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Model tests for the IELTS) Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected the cultural development of your society? (see my sample essay) The best way to solve the worlds environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease the violent crimes in society. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) The idea of having a single career is becoming an old fashioned one. The new fashion will be to have several careers or ways of earning money and further education will be something that continues throughout life. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 1) The increasing role of English in the world today means that the learning of other languages is being neglected. This will have serious results for the continued use of these languages, and of their cultures. To what extent do you agree or

disagree? (Essay Writing) The position of women in society has changed markedly in the last twenty years. Many of the problems young people now experience, such as juvenile delinquency, arise from the fact that many married women now work and not at home to care for their children. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 2) The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. (see my sample essay with commentary) The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it is important that products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from constantly buying more up to date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree with this statement? (Model tests for the IELTS) There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays? Discuss. (Cambridge IELTS 1) Unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing developed nations today. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of reducing the working week to thirty five hours? sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download We live today in an electronic information age. It is easier to be connected by technology yet many people seem no closer to feeling happy in their lives. In what extent do you agree or disagree. (IELTS on Track) When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 3) Young drivers are careless and overconfident, and too many are killed in accidents. To eliminate this problem, we could teach children the skills of safe driving while they are at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (IELTS Practice tests with answers) Young people are said to have lost many of the traditional values of the older generation. This does not matter, because the old values have no relevance in the modern world. We need to develop a whole new set of values. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing)

Speaking
Confidential Not to be distributed.

Minutes Presentation Topics:

1. Favorite personality 2. Favorite game 3. Ideal life 4. City 5. Country 6. Tv play 7. Movie 8. Child 9. Your mother 10. Your father 11. Favorite uncle 12. Favorite aunt 13. Best moment in life 14. Biggest achievement 15. Unforgettable incident 16. Leader 17.Advantages and disadvantages of shopping 18. Book 19. Novel 20. Wife 21. Husband 22. Your dream life 23. Passion in life 24. Best teacher 25. Best traveling experience

Part 2 Topic Card

1. Describe a museum 1) How often do you visit the museum? 2) Which type of museum is popular in your country? 3) Why do you want to visit the museum? Follow-up: What do you think of the importance of museums in history? How do you think of the heritage of a country? Compare the museums nowadays and in the past 2. Describe your favorite photograph

1) Where was the photo taken? 2) Who took the photo? 3) What can be seen from the photo? 4) Explain why it is the favorite photograph for you. Follow-up: How to take good photo? When do people use camera? How can the new technology put cinemas skill advanced? 3. The important historic place 1) What is the place? 2) Where is it located? 3) Why do you think it is important? Follow-up: What do you think of the historic place in the future? Will the government increase or decrease the safety guard? What are the changes to the local people and economy? What is the impact on the historic place by tourists 4. Describe a party 1) What is the party? 2) Why was the party held? 3) Who attended the party? 4) What did you do for that party? Follow-up: Whats the difference between serious party and friendly party? Why are some people late for parties intentionally? Why do some people like party while others hate it? What would you do if the guests feel bored? Will there be more and more people to attend parties? 5. Describe a subject taught in your school? 1) Who teaches it? 2) How is it taught? 3) What do you learn from the class? Follow-up: Is there any difference between the traditional and modern educational systems? What are the pros and cons of the current educational system in your country? Do you think it is necessary to give comment or criticism to teachers? 6. What is the important invention before the age of computer? 1) What is the invention? 2) Why do you think it is very important? 3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of the invention? Follow-up:

What is the significant impact of modern inventions on life? Which skills do you want to study in the future? Do you think its necessary to develop modern invention in the countryside? 7. Describe a foreign country you have never been to 1) Where is the country? 2) When will you go there? 3) Why would you like to go there? Follow-up: Say something about the tourism development in China, facility, services and the effect on environment. What is the importance of travel and tourism industry? What do you think the function of tourist guides? 8. Describe your favourite movie 1) Whats the name of the film? 2) Whats the theme of the film? 3) Why do you like it? Follow-up: Describe a type pf movie you like. Whats the difference between Chinese and American movies? What do you think of the violent films (Hollywood films)? Why movies need computer techniques? Any example of movie using computer techniques Which parts of cinema are the most important and how to improve it? 9. Describe a newspaper or magazine 1)Whats your habit for reading? 2) What are the benefits of reading? 3) What's the main difference between newspaper and magazine? Follow-up: What do you think the important qualities for a news reporter? Whats the function of a report to the society? What kinds of books/newspapers/magazines do Chinese adolescents read? With the popularity of Internet, do you think newspapers and magazines will disappear? 10. Describe a childrens game (sports not suggested) 1) How is it played? 2) What can you learn from the game? 3) What impact does it bring on your growth? Follow-up: What do you think of the benefits of childrens games? Nowadays children have less and less time for game, what do you think about it? What do you think the difference between games nowadays and in the past? Whats the negative aspect of games?

11. Describe a happy event in your life? 1) When did it happen? 2) Where did it happen? 3) What was it? Follow-up: Tell me how you organize your study time? What do you think is important in achieving happiness? How do Chinese celebrate some happy events? What do the camera and video play in celebrating? 12. Describe a thing which is important to you 1) Who gave it to you? 2) What is the thing? 3) What does the thing mean to you? Follow-up: What are the changes of city between now and past? Does money represent happiness and why? How do you regard as the things people want to earn? 13. Describe one of your neighbours 1)When did you become neighbours? 2) Do you often meet? 3) State whether your neighbour is a good one Follow-up: What is the difference between neighbours and friends? Why do people like to watch TV serials in their houses? How do you think of the relationship in the city? How to improve the neighbourhood? 14. Describe one of the shopping centers you often go to 1) Where is the shopping center? 2) How often do you go to the center? 3) Why do you often go to it and its characteristics? Follow-up: Will smaller shops survive in the current business system? What are the characteristics of shopping malls and smaller shops and their difference? What is the trend of future shopping centers? Talk about Internet shopping 15. Describe your favourite animal 1) What kind of animal is it? 2) Describe it briefly 3) Why do you like the animal? Follow-up:

What do you need to do to take care of it? Whats the future trend of the animal? How do you think of the poaching of some precious animals such as pandas 16. Describe a historical place 1) What is the place? 2) Where is it located? 3) What is the historical meaning of the place? Follow-up: What do you think of the future trend of historic places? Will government strengthen its protection toward historic places? What are the changes brought about by the historic place in local economy, people, etc? What is the effect of tourists on the place? 17. Advertisement 1) What are the forms of advertisement? 2) What are the functions of advertisement? 3) What is the effect of advertisement to people? Follow-up: Do you feel bored and disgusted about advertisement? What do you think are the criteria of assessing a good piece of advertisement? What will happen if unauthoritative advertisements prevail in the market? 18. Describe an important letter 1) When did you receive the letter? 2) From whom did you receive the letter? 3) Explain the reasons why it is important Follow-up: What is the significance of handwriting? Does your country have handwriting lesson now? Compare the handwriting now and past With the popularity of computers and Internet, will people lose their ability to write letters? 19. Describe the best present you have received 1) Who sent it to you? 2) When did you receive it? 3) Detailed information about the present Follow-up: Do you think that present giving will play an important role in Chinese daily life? Why? Do you think that the brand name is very important for sales? In terms of the media, which do you think will play a main role in present giving, television, newspaper or Internet? 20. Describe your holidays

1) Where do you go for the holidays and how long do them last? 2) Who do you go with? 3) Talk about any interesting things happening during your holidays Follow-up: What do the Chinese people mostly do in their leisure time? What's the difference between holidays today and 5 years ago and the reasons for the change? Do you think people will spend more time on leisure or working in the future?

ARTICLES
Happiness is like a pebble dropped into a pool to set in motion an ever-widening circle of ripples. As Stevenson has said, being happy is a duty. There is no exact definition of the word happiness. Happy people are happy for all sorts of reasons. The key is not wealth or physical well-being, since we find beggars, invalids and so-called failures, who are extremely happy. Being happy is a sort of unexpected dividend. But staying happy is an accomplishment, a triumph of soul and character. It is not selfish to strive for it. It is, indeed, a duty to ourselves and others. Being unhappy is like an infectious disease. It causes people to shrink away from the sufferer. He soon finds himself alone, miserable and embittered. There is, however, a cure so simple as to seem, at first glance, ridiculous; if you dont feel happy, pretend to be! It works. Before long you will find that instead of repelling people, you attract them. You discover how deeply rewarding it is to be the center of wider and wider circles of good will. Then the make-believe becomes a reality. You possess the secret of peace of mind, and can forget yourself in being of service to others. Being happy, once it is realized as a duty and established as a habit, opens doors into unimaginable gardens thronged with grateful friends.

The love of beauty is an essential part of all healthy human nature. It is a moral quality. The absence of it is not an assured ground of condemnation, but the presence of it is an invariable sign of goodness of heart. In proportion to the degree in which it is felt will probably be the degree in which nobleness and beauty of character will be attained. Natural beauty is an all-pervading presence. The universe is its temple. It unfolds into the numberless flowers of spring. It waves in the branches of trees and the green blades of grass. It haunts the depths of the earth and the sea. It gleams from the hues of the shell and the precious stone. And not only these minute objects but the oceans, the mountains, the clouds, the stars, the rising and the setting sun---all overflow with beauty. This beauty is so precious, and so congenial to our tenderest and noblest feelings, that it is painful to think of the multitude of people living in the midst of it and yet remaining almost blind to it. All persons should seek to become acquainted with the beauty in nature. There is not a worm we tread upon, nor a leaf that dances merrily as it falls before the autumn winds, but calls for our study and admiration. The power to appreciate beauty not merely increases our sources of happiness---it enlarges our moral nature, too. Beauty calms our restlessness and dispels our cares. Go into the fields or the woods; spend a summer day by the sea or the mountains, and all your little perplexities and anxieties will vanish. Listen to sweet music, and your foolish fears and petty jealousies will pass away. The beauty of the world helps us to seek and find the beauty of goodness.

Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that man is here for the sake of other men above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellowmen, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received. My peace of mind is often troubled by the depressing sense that I have borrowed too heavily from the work of other men. I do not believe we can have any freedom at all in the philosophical sense, for we act not only under external compulsion but also by inner necessity. Schopenhauers saying A man can surely do what he wills to do, but he cannot determine what he willsimpressed itself upon me in youth and has always consoled me when I have witnessed or suffered lifes hardships. This conviction is a perpetual breeder of tolerance, for it does not allow us to take ourselves or others too seriously; it makes rather for a sense of humor. To ponder interminably over the reason for ones own existence or the meaning of life in general seems to me, from an objective point of view, to be sheer folly. And yet everyone holds certain ideals by which he guides his aspiration and his judgment. The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth. To make a goal of comfort or happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.

A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men. A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age. Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, Love me, love my dog." But there is more wisdom in this:" Love me, love my book." The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them. A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man's life is, for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters. Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time have been to sift out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive e but what is really good. Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see the as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe. The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which on still listens.