IELTS 4.0 – 5.

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LISTENING & WRITING
Session 12 – Module 3: The world around us

I – LISTENING
SUMMARY COMPLETION task tests your ability to understand a written summary of a recording and
locate specific information in that recording.

 Arrange the steps below into 3 stages for doing the summary completion listening task
A. Predict the answers E. Look out for key words or paraphrasing of key words
B. Read the instructions F. Check: spelling, format, word form, word type, compliance
C. Read the summary G. Underline key words in the summary
D. Write the answers on the test paper H. Think of possible paraphrasing of key words
I. Think about the type of information needed

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 PRACTICE

 Match the words in the box with their corresponding meanings

research (v.) cope with (v.) great (adj.) desire (n.) devote (n.)

manage (v.) technique (n.) reach (v.) feature (n.) get in the way (v.)

Word Meaning
……………………………………………………………………..…… large in amount or size

……………………………………………………………………..…… give time and effort to do something

……………………………………………………………………..…… = study

……………………………………………………………………..…… typical quality of something

……………………………………………………………………..…… a way of doing something that needs skill

……………………………………………………………………..…… a strong feeling that you want something

……………………………………………………………………..…… = deal with

……………………………………………………………………..…… to make something difficult to happen

……………………………………………………………………..…… to get to a level or a stage

……………………………………………………………………..…… to succeed to deal with something

 Listen and complete the summary below. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each
answer

1. ………………………………………………………………………….…...

2. ………………………………………………………………………….…...

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8. ………………………………………………………………………….…...

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II – WRITING
II.1 – Vocabulary: Language of comparison consists of comparative and superlative forms of
adjectives and adverbs.

 Give the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives and adverbs
Adjective/ Adverb Comparative form Superlative form
small
great
large
high
low
expensive
few
many*, much*

II.2 – Subject of comparison and comparative adjective agreement

Identifying the subject of comparison and its agreed comparative adjective(s) while describing bar
charts is an important task. This helps the points of comparison you spot be expressed correctly.

 Can you identify the subjects of comparison and their corresponding comparative adjective
for each of the bar charts below?

Source: The Complete Guide to IELTS, p.195

Subjects of comparison Adjective

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 B

Source: IELTS Express Intermediate, p.23

Subjects of comparison Adjective

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Source: The Complete Guide to IELTS, p.198

Subjects of comparison Adjective

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 II.3 – Comparison sentence structures
USING COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES

1a A + be + higher/greater/larger/lower/smaller + than B.
N in A + be + higher/greater/larger/lower/smaller + than in B.
The number/quantity/amount/percentage of A + be + higher/greater/larger/lower/smaller + than that of B.

 Write some sentences to describe the bar charts using the comparative structures in 1a
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1b A + be + as high/great/large/low/small + as B.
N in A + be + as high/great/large/low/small + as in B.
The number/quantity/amount/percentage of A + be + as high/great/large/low/small + as that of B.

 Write some sentences to describe the bar charts using the comparative structures in 1b
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USING “MORE” AND “LESS”

The two comparative adjectives “more” and “less” are used before nouns only.

2a
There + be + more/less/fewer A than B.
More/Less/Fewer A + V + than B.
S + V + more/less/fewer A + than B.

 Write some sentences to describe the bar charts using the comparative structures in 2a
A ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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2b
There + be + more/less/fewer N + in A than in B.
More/Less/Fewer N + V + in A than in B.
S + V + more/less/fewer N in A + than in B.

 Write some sentences to describe the bar charts using the comparative structures in 2b
A ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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USING “MANY” AND “MUCH”

These two adjectives are used in equal comparison structures only.

3a
There + be + as many/much A as B.
As many/much A + V + as B.
S + V + as many/much A + as B.

 Write some sentences to describe the bar charts using the comparative structures in 3a
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3b
There + be + as many/much N + in A as in B.
As many/much N + V + in A as in B.
S + V + as many/much N in A + as in B.

 Write some sentences to describe the bar charts using the comparative structures in 3b
A ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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II.4 – Adding adverbs of degree
The box below contains some adverbs of degree used to describe magnitude of difference. Where do
these stand in the sentence structures in boxes 1, 2 and 3?

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mildly (in)significantly slightly much far a little

twice three times four times

 Write some sentences to describe the bar chart below, remember to use some adverbs of
degree in the box above

Source: The Complete Guide to IELTS, p.198

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II.5 – Practice
 Writing exercise 1 – Write some sentences to describe the bar chart below
1

Source: The Complete Guide to IELTS, p.199

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 Writing exercise 2 – Write some sentences to describe the bar chart below
2

Source: The Complete Guide to IELTS, p.198

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