READING

How many IELTS reading question

types have we learnt?
40 Questions
What are they?

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

OVE
RVIE
Gap-fill T/F/NG Y/N/NG
Multiple
Choice W
Matching
Questions

Completion Matching
headings
Short Answer Qs
 Select questions wisely to tackle!

Types of
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
questions

03 GOLDEN Names
RULES
Cues
Numbers

Terms
Order
LISTENING
 How many IELTS Listening
question types have we learnt?
What are they?

Form completion

Gap-fill Note completion

Labelling a diagram

Multiple choice

Labelling a map
SPEAKING
 Improve your fluency with grammatically correct
sentences first. Go slow first , and then go faster later.

Pay attentions to ending sounds.

KEY
TAKEWAYS
Have a clear voice (Do you speak too fast?)

Each answer should be about 3-5 sentences long.

 Why/
What?
Why not?

Who? 4 Strategies How

often?

Where? 5W 1H
How do
you feel?
When?
 Strategy 1: Concession
(making a main point and then giving a counter argument to it)

Structure: Main point + concession

Concession Language:
● However, I’m quite aware that …
● Nevertheless, I must admit that …
● However, it is worth remembering that …
 Strategy 2: Avoidance
(not directly answering the question)

Structure: avoiding phrase + answer to the question

Avoiding phrase:
●Oh, I like them both, so it’s hard to choose only one.
●Well, to be honest, I don’t really have …
●Actually, I’m not really sure about that.
●Oh, I’ve never thought about that.
 Strategy 3: Divide your response into
2 or 3 parts

Structure: Starting off + point 1 + point 2 + point 3.

Starting-off phrase: Ok, then, actually, alright, well, you know;

Point 2: Point 3
Point 1: ■On top of that, I can ■Finally, I would say
■The first thing I’d to also add that … that …
mention is … ■Another interesting ■And, I shouldn’t forget
■I’d like to begin by point is that … to mention that …
saying that … ■Not only that, but … is ■I guess I could also
also exceedingly …. say that …
 Strategy 4: Depends

Structure: Depends + Situation 1 + Situation 2

Depends: Well, it really depends, I guess.

Situation 1:
■Usually, I….
■If I …, I ….
Situation 2:
■But/ However, if I …., I …
Topics that we have learnt!

1. Leisure activities 2. Food

Topics that we have learnt!
3. Sports & Exercise 4. Media
Useful structures for speaking

Express why we do something

I like to chat with my friends online for fun.

I love going to the movies to relax.

Useful structures for speaking
Express your feelings about something
I find it/them + adj.

Express your preferences

I prefer A to B.

I like A more than B.

I don’t like B as much as A.

 Useful structures for speaking

Express how often you do something

All the time/

Hardly ever/ Rarely Sometimes Quite a lot Always

Never Not very much/ Often A lot

Not very often
Useful structures for speaking
Compare A & B

A is/ isn’t as good as B

A can’t hold a candle to B

A isn’t a patch on B

A is more exciting than B

A is healthier than B
Pay attention to the tense in the Qs
WRITING
 Task 1
1. Processes 1. Maps
 Task 2

Developing a
paragraph with
PEEL structure.
 HEDGING
(SOFT VOICE)
 Comparative +
Modal verbs Quantifiers Adjectives Verbs Adverbs
other ways

Can Many More Possible Tend to Possibly

May Some Less likely Appear to Seemingly

Might Several More/less likely Seem to Frequently

Have the
Could Most Usually
opportunity to

The Have more

May be able to Often
majority of chances to
LINKING WORDS
 Linking words

Ending sentences
Sequencers Explanations Examples
Giving results Giving opinions

Firstly To be more For example As a Clearly

specific consequence
Secondly For instance It is clear that
In more detail As a result
Thirdly To demonstrate It seems that
In other Therefore
Finally words It is obvious that

Meanwhile
WORD CHOICE
 Don’t
❏ Don’t, can’t, won’t,
they’ve
❏ So on, so forth, etc., …
❏ You
❏ Always, every, all, any,
never, absolutely
Do
➔ Do not, cannot, will not,
they have
➔ A and B/ A, B and C.
➔ They, people, students/
customers/ parents…
➔ Hedging
 Examples Synonyms
Exercising is very good beneficial, advantageous
a great deal of,
Nowadays, people consume a lot of
a huge/great/significant
fast food
amount of
Being able to speak a foreign language
significantly, considerably
benefits our career a lot/ very much.
Travelling can allow people to get
gain, obtain
meaningful experience.
Watching violent movies frequently can
negative, detrimental
have bad effects on children.
There are several good methods to
feasible, effective
solve traffic jams
Studying abroad gives students
Provide sb with sth/ provide
chances to communicate with native
st for sb, offer
speakers
 Examples Synonyms
A big number of students choose to
huge/ significant/ great
learn IELTS

Many people do not have the habit of

items, products
reusing old things.

Many people think that technology will

believe, (would) argue
replace teachers in the future.
Parents should focus on childhood concentrate on, pay
education. attention to
The government should control the
limit, restrict
number of private vehicles on the road.
The Internet can influence the way we
affect, impact
think and act.
Students can learn a foreign language
acquire, obtain
when they study abroad.
 #1. Synonyms

#2. Change word forms

(n 🡪🡪 v), (adj 🡪🡪 n), …

#3. Active 🡪🡪 Passive

Paraphrasing
#4. Dummy subjects
IELTS WRITING TASK 2

#5. Chang sentence order

#6. Relationship between clauses

#7. Combine different methods

Topic 1: In many countries today, most people live in large apartment blocks.
Does this kind of accommodation have more advantages or disadvantages?

There are many people who choose to live in large apartment

Introduction blocks. While there are several drawbacks of this trend, its
benefits are still more significant.

Body 1 Point 1: People may have a smaller living space.

(Disadvantages) Point 2: People have to worry more about fire issues.

Point 1: An apartment tends to be cheaper than a house.

Body 2
Point 2: People are more likely to have a better view if they live
(Advantages)
in an apartment

In conclusion, living in an apartment may have several

drawbacks. However, it provides more benefits related to the
Conclusion lower cost to own an apartment and a broader view when living
in one. (People should take both sides into consideration so that
they can choose the most suitable type of accommodation.)
Topic: : In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a
year between finishing high school and starting university studies.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
In various nations, high school leavers are motivated to take a
gap year before enrolling in college. While taking a year break
Introduction
from studies to travel the world before college has certain
benefits, the drawbacks should also be considered.

Point 1: It can improve young people’s personal development.

Body 1
Point 2: A gap year can allow many young people to make better
(Advantages)
decisions on what subject they should study at university.

Point 1: Students can have difficulties in readapting to life in

Body 2
education.
(Disadvantages)
Point 2: A gap year can delay students’ future career by a year.

In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous

because it allows people to grow as a person and to choose
Conclusion suitable majors at university. However, they should also be
aware that it can lead to disillusionment with education and delay
the start of their careers in the future.
Paragraph Structure A (NO OPINION) Structure B (+ OPINION)

1- Paraphrase the topic 1- Paraphrase the topic

2- Thesis statement: 2- State the benefits are more significant
Introduction
While … brings certain benefits, the While … has certain drawbacks, its
drawbacks should also be considered. benefits are still more significant.

2 Advantages (7 sentences) Weaker - Disadvantages (5-6 sentences)

• On the one hand, the idea of … is • On the one hand, the idea of … is
Body 1 favorable to some extent. disadvantageous to some extent.
• One benefit of this is that …. • Firstly, ….
• Another positive aspect is that …. • Another negative aspect is that ….

2 Disadvantages (7 sentences) Stronger - Advantages (7-8 sentences)

• On the other hand, there are two • On the other hand, the advantages are
Body 2 drawbacks to consider. more obvious and convincing.
• Firstly, …. • One benefit of … is that …
• Another negative aspect is that … • Another positive aspect is that …

Summarize what you have discussed

Summarize what you have discussed
In conclusion, … can be advantageous
In conclusion, … may have several
Conclusion because it can +V (/ because of + N).
drawbacks. However, it provides more
However, people should also be aware
benefits related to + N
that it can lead to + N (/ it may + V).
 Useful vocabulary

Advantages Disadvantages
ADJECTIVES
● advantageous ● disadvantageous
“the idea of … is + adj + to some ● favorable ● unfavorable
extent.” ● beneficial ● detrimental

Advantages Disadvantages

NOUNS ● positive aspects ● negative aspects

● benefits ● drawbacks
 QUESTION
More and more students are choosing to study at
colleges and universities in a foreign country. Do the
benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
 STEP 01: Analyse the question

Question: More and more students are choosing to

study at colleges and universities in a foreign country.
Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the
drawbacks?

1. Topic 2. Micro topic 3. Question Type

 STEP 02: Brainstorm ideas
Question: More and more students are choosing to study at
colleges and universities in a foreign country.
Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
Benefits of studying abroad:

•Many students travel abroad to study at a prestigious university.

•The best universities employ lecturers who are experts in their fields.
•Qualifications gained abroad can open doors to better job
opportunities.
•Living in a foreign country can broaden students' horizons.
•Overseas students are exposed to different cultures and customs.
•They can immerse themselves in a language.

Drawbacks of studying abroad:

•Living away from home can be challenging.

•Students have problems with paperwork such as visa applications.
•The language barrier can cause difficulties.
•Students have to find accommodation and pay bills.
•Many students feel homesick and miss their families.
•Some students experience culture shock.
 STEP 03: Select ideas
Question: More and more students are choosing to study at
colleges and universities in a foreign country.
Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
 STEP 04: Develop selected ideas
Question: More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in a foreign
country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

Drawback 1 Drawback 2

P It can be challenging for students to live Students may be faced with language
far away from home. barriers.
oint

E They have to live independently without Some students may not be able to speak
support from their families. or write clearly in a foreign language.
xplain
A number of Asian students who study in
English-speaking countries may not have a
strong command of English.
Students have to find accommodation,
E do housework, and pay bills by
🡪 Therefore, they tend to encounter
xample themselves.
difficulties when communicating with local
students or completing their assignments
at university.

L Students can feel stressed and

-
homesick.
ink
 STEP 04: Develop selected ideas
Question: More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in a foreign
country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

Benefit 1 Benefit 2

P Students can receive a better education.

Studying abroad can broaden students’
horizons.
oint
✔ Foreign universities may be more
In the new country, they will have to live
prestigious than universities in the
and work with other students of various
E student’s own country.
nationalities.
✔ Foreign universities often employ
xplain 🡪 They are exposed to different cultures,
lecturers who are expert in their
customs, and points of view.
fields.
Harvard University in America is A Vietnamese student after a period of
well-known for their undergraduate studying overseas in are more likely to
E programs for Law and plenty of students have a better understanding of the food
around the world attempt to pursue their culture in Thailand, Japan, India and
xample
education at this university instead of Australia without having to travel to each of
institutions in their nation. these countries.
Students can expand their knowledge at Overseas students have a higher chance
L its best and gain qualifications that open to learn more about the world compared to
ink the door to better job opportunities. their peers in their home country.
 STEP 05: Write an essay
Question: More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities
in a foreign country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

There has been an increase in the number of students

travelling abroad to purse their higher education. While this
Introduction
trend has several drawbacks, its benefits are more
significant.

✔ It can be challenging to live far away from home.

Body 1
✔ Students may be faced with language barriers.
✔ Students can receive a better education.
Body 2
✔ Studying abroad can broaden students’ horizons.
In conclusion, studying overseas may have several
disadvantages. However, it provides more advantages
Conclusion related to better educational opportunities and more
chances to explore more about different people and cultures
around the world.
 STEP 06:
Checking & Editing
THANK YOU