common errors on the ielts

8/12/2019 Common Errors on the IELTS

1/35

Common Errorson the IELTSthat prevent you fromgetting higher band scores


2/35

Common MisconceptionsIELTS is easier than TOEFLIm in level 4 (or lower) and I need a 7 onthe IELTS.IELTS is accepted at every university in theUSMy writing teacher taught usCalling it I-LETS


3/35

General ErrorsNot reading instructionsNot practicing with official answer sheetsFreaking out!


4/35

ListeningWhat is the #1 mistake on the Listeningsection of the IELTS Exam?

SPELLING


5/35

SPELLING QUIZgovernmentenvironment

theirdifferentbelievepercentagesocietyuntildefinitelywhichnowadays


6/35

Commonly misspelled wordsAccording to the C ambridge corpus:

governmentenvironmenttheirdifferentbelievepercentagesociety

untildefinitelywhichnowadays


7/35

Other Commonly MisspelledWords

Months of the yearEspecially: February, September, OctoberNovember, April


8/35

Other Listening ErrorsWriting too many words

Writing the first word you hear-sometimes the speaker corrects-with multiple choice, you will hear

all the choicesListening back, not forward


9/35

Other Listening ErrorsNot studying the questionsChoosing an answer because the wordsare the sameNot using the 30 seconds at the end tocheck grammar, plurals etc.Leaving blanks


10/35

A few tipsPay attention if:

they are spelling something. It is often ananswer.they repeat something. It is often theanswer.

Use shorthand to write your answers whileyoure listening. Write the whole word onthe answer sheet.


11/35

Common Errors in ReadingNot leaving enough time to complete theanswer sheet.Reading the whole article first.Spending too much time on one question.Not reading the instructions.

- yes / no / not given is not the same astrue / false / not given-writing too many words


12/35

Reading Errors continued Trying to figure out every word in thereading and wasting time.Choosing an answer because it has thesame word in the article.Not reading titles.Not knowing the question types.Not checking grammar in answers (usuallyplurals).


13/35

Some tips for readingIf you cant figure out a sentence:

-Find the subject(s) and verb(s).-Ignore adjectives.-Ignore most adverbs.-Dont ignore frequency words (usually,

sometimes, always).

-Dont ignore negatives or negative-likewords (almost, nearly, seldom, rarely,hardly ever, neither, nothing)


14/35

Some tips for ReadingMost (but not all) answers come in order.Learn the types of questions and how tofind the answers quickly.Read the questions first and underline theword(s) that answer this question: Whatam I looking for? Then look just for that.


15/35

Try This TipFinding the heading for a paragraph.1. First read the _______________.2. Then read the first paragraph.3. Reread a ll the choices in the question.4. Choose the best one.5. If you cant decide, choose more than one.

6. Now read the sec ond paragraph.7. Do steps 3, 4, and 5.

Do this for all paragraphs. Lets try it.


16/35

Read the headingsHEADINGS:

i. Population figures for Chinaii. Assessing Chinas farmlandiii. Global population and the future


17/35

Now read o n e paragraphThe population of the world is forecast toreach 7.5 billion by 2020, and growing

prosperity, especially in China, is fueling arising appetite for meat and cereals. Yet it is

becoming harder to find new farmland, water

is increasingly scarce, and crop yield isslowing. Already, 167 million children arestarving. Are hungry times ahead?


18/35

Common Errors in BOTH Writing Tasks

Not writing enough wordsOveruse and misuse oftransitions.Not using cohesive devices.Not answering the question orquest ions .


19/35

Common Errors in BOTH Writing Tasks

Not using complex structures.Making errors with complexstruc tures.Reusing the same words overand over.

Thinking longer is better.


20/35

Find the error1. Kids need direction in life, they cant

make decisions without education.

2. Although women dont generally enjoysports, but many watch the World Cup.

3. I strongly agree that the governmentshould have safety laws. Because theysave lives.


21/35

Find the error, continued4. Despite they are young, they should be

allowed to make their own mistakes.

5. There is a lot of devastation in thePhilippines. Many people have no foodor shelter. Moreover, the US is trying to help.

6. The graph shows the rate of men smokersbetween 1960 and 2000. The rate of mensmokers went up until 1995. Then, the rate ofmen smokers dropped.


22/35

#1 Mistake Task 1 WritingWhat is the #1 mistake on

Task 1 Writing?Answer: not writing anoverall trend.


23/35

Other Task 1 ErrorsNot spending time studying the graphic.Not understanding the graphic.Not having language to describe data.Describing the graph not the data.No analysis or summary (mec hanical

reporting)No relationship between 2 data sets


24/35

The diagrams below show UK students' responses to the question of towhat extent would they describe themselves as financially organised.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the mainfeatures, and make comparisons where relevant.Source: http://www.unite-group.co.uk/binaries/MungoBlobs-13 50377092294.p df

Veryorganised %

All students 21

Age up to 22 years 18

Age 23-25 years 26

Age over 26 years 35


25/35

Common Errors on Task 2Writing

Not using paragraphs.Not expressing your opinion clearly.Not exploring both views if required.Giving examples that dont reallyadd anything. In m y c o un t ry, I ha da frie n d w h o g o t hu rt b e c a u se h ew a sn t w e a rin g a h a rd h a t .


26/35

Tips for Good Writing Take time to read your writing at the end.Know how long 150 / 250 words is on thepage.Study the graphic / questions.Organize your writing before you start.Be aware of time.


27/35

Tip for #1 Error


28/35

#1 Mistake on SpeakingWhat is the #1 mistake on the Speakingsection?Answer: Not talking for 2 minutes in part 2The Long Turn


29/35

Common Errors with SpeakingNot asking for clarification.Not using the minute to think of words,ideas.Not referring to your notes.


30/35

Common Errors with SpeakingHesitating and pausing.Silence.Wrong tense (especially simple for past).Simple struc ture only.


31/35

Some tips for SpeakingBreathe!Have emergency language


32/35

Tips for SpeakingBe ready with an answer to this question:Do you work or study?Practice talking to yourself. On the street.In the shower.


33/35

Try This ActivityPartner A: Describe a time you workedreally hard for something and reachedyour goal. Talk for two minutes.

Partner B: Describe a time you workedreally hard for something and you d id n o t reach your goal.


34/35

Resourcesielts-exam.nethttp:/ /www.victoria.ac.nz/ lals/ resources/academicwordlist/http://www.academivocabularyexercises.com A c tio n Pla n fo r th e IELTS (Cambridge)Ne w Insig h ts in to IELTS (Cambridge)
http://www.academivocabularyexercises.com/http://www.academivocabularyexercises.com/http://www.academivocabularyexercises.com/http://www.academivocabularyexercises.com/


35/35

Are you ready toUNLOCKTHE WORLD?

common errors on the ielts

Documents