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How To Succeed In Your IELTS Speaking And Writing Exam
4 years agoHow to succeed in IELTS writing and speaking: some techniques, tips and tricks which few other teachers will ever give you.
1. NEVER use these words and phrases: however, for example, in conclusion, in order to, anyway, because of, in my opinion, more or less, of course, generally. (Instead, consult your list of linkers and choose two good synonyms for each of those expressions - two words/expressions from each group which, unlike "however" and "in my opinion", etc, the examiner has NOT heard and read with nauseating frequency, over 100 times already today; burn YOUR chosen linkers into your memory).
2. Burn into your memory the structural framework of the standard THIRD CONDITIONAL. If you want to use a 1st or 2nd conditional in the exam, then, fine, do so - it couldn't possibly hurt, and you might pick up some marks for saying/writing those sentences correctly. But the 3rd conditional is guaranteed to impress; moreover, it makes no difference at all whether the topic of tourism or family or careers or environmental problems or absolutely any other topic whatsoever pops up on exam day: it makes no difference at all. As long as you have the 3rd conditional structure emblazoned into your mind, then within the first 30 seconds of the writing and speaking exam, proactively seek out an excuse to write/say a sentence using that structure. And the examiner WILL reward you: count on that fact.
3. As with point 2, above, complex passive structures are worth memorizing, as are common, everyday "inversions after negative or limiting adverbials". But don't overdo this, and don't overload your memory capacity: one third conditional + one complex passive + one inversion will be ample to guarantee your success.
4. Dependent prepositions: memorize your "favourite five" most common, most everyday dependent prepositions, and deploy them, within the first 30 or 45 seconds, as soon as you can in the writing and speaking tests.
5. Phrasal verbs: as with point 4 above, choose your "favourite five" most common, most everyday, most "easy to use regardless of the topic of conversation" phrasal verbs, deploy them as early as possible in the exam, watch the examiner's face exude a look that clearly says: "Wow! This candidate is my hero! He/she is the breath of fresh air I've been waiting for all day long!"
6. Homophones and homonyms/polysemes (and, of course, homographs) can also be useful in a similar way - but, as noted above, DON'T overdo it; don't overload your memory capacity; keep your writing and speech natural-sounding.
7. This is the TOP PRIORITY, really, on an equal par with point 1, above: choose your favourite "top ten" commonly mis-pronounced everyday words, commit that list to memory, and walk confidently into the speaking exam ready to dazzle the poor beleaguered examiner, who -you KNOW- has had to suffer all day long hearing those words said awfully and erroneously.
8. Matching and mirroring are excellently effective psychological techniques for fomenting rapport with your examiner in the speaking test, IF you have the time, patience and interest to learn how to do this correctly. Just hit me up and I'll explain how, when and why you can benefit, also, from this advantage.
