IELTS
WRITING AND SPEAKING
SKILLS
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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
01
INTRODUCTION AND IELTS PRODUCTIVE SKILLS
02
THE IELTS PREPARATION PROCESS
03
UNDERSTANDING IELTS MARKING CRITERIA
04
IELTS VOCABULARY
05
OVERVIEW OF IELTS SPEAKING TASKS
06
SPEAKING TASK 1
07
SPEAKING TASK 2
08
SPEAKING TASK 3
09
COMMON AREAS OF DIFFICULTY IN SPEAKING
10
ALL ABOUT WRITING TASK : ESSAY
11
BRAINSTORMING AND OUTLINING: THE BASIS FOR YOUR ESSAY
12
MAIN IDEAS AND DETAILS: WHAT EXAMINERS WANT TO SEE
13
WRITING AN AMAZING INTRODUCTION
14
HOW TO WRITE A CONCLUSION WITH IMPACT
15
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ESSAY PROMPTS
16
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT WRITING
17
THE ROLE OF GRAMMAR IN WRITING AND SPEAKING
18
GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES
19
PARALLELISM IN WRITING
20
COMMON GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN STUDENT WRITING
Introduction: Speaking and Writing as Productive Skills
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
“Abraham Lincoln”
Be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods.
“ How can you take the tips and advice from this book and put it
into action in your life and your IELTS exam preparation? I wish you
the best of luck and now it’s time to get started! “
The IELTS Preparation Process
TIME TO PREPARE
APPROACH
After you have established a baseline for your abilities, you can
then start doing exam preparation and grammar on a regular
basis.
This includes doing regular exam practice with your speaking and
writing skills.
STRATEGY
READING STRATEGY
LISTENING STRATEGY
WRITING TRATEGY
SPEAKING STRATEGY
ENGLISH LEVEL
GRAMMAR
GRAMMAR POINTS FOR STUDY
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
I recommend listening to my podcast for lots of free advice:
Activate Your IELTS:
Be Determined
AUTHENTIC TEXTS
Definition: Authentic Texts
Real life English examples: Articles, newspapers, books, podcasts,
commercials, movies, TV series, etc.
Do something that your future self will thank you for.
Sean Patrick Flanery
Understanding IELTS Marking
Criteria

IELTS SPEAKING MARKING CRITERIA
FLUENCY AND COHERENCE

LEXICAL RESOURCE
GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY

EXAMPLES
PRONUNCIATION
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
To save myself I must face myself, which may be
the hardest of all things to face.
Craig D. Lounsbrough
IELTS WRITING MARKING CRITERIA
TASK ACHIEVEMENT
COHESION AND COHERENCE

LEXICAL RESOURCE
GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY
IELTS Vocabulary
Vocabulary related to typical topics on the IELTS
exam.
Topics like: Education, Health, Technology,
Globalization, Travel, Work/Studies,
Transportation, Media
All students should keep a vocabulary notebook simply as a
place to collect that key information but also as a tool
to use when you prepare your IELTS writing and speaking tasks.
VOCABULARY NOTEBOOK
Let’s look at an example. This example was made together with a
student in my live online IELTS writing and speaking class. The
student and I first went over vocabulary related to health and diet
and then she chose a new word that she wanted to record in her
notebook.
Word: Alleviate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To relieve pain
Example: Some painkillers alleviate pain very well
Related expressions: take the edge off
Synonyms: relieve, relax, release, decrease, ease
Overview of IELTS Speaking
Tasks
IELTS SPEAKING TASKS
SPEAKING TASK 1
SPEAKING TASK 2
The topics of this are usually topics related to your own personal
experience and are something that you can spend more time
explaining. They could range from questions like describing an
important possession that you have to talk about your favorite
mode of transportation.
“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
-Leo Buscaglia
SPEAKING TASK 3
Speaking Task 1
BRAINSTORMING
Where are you from?
What do you do for work or studies?
How long have you been studying English?
Do you think keeping healthy is important?
Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
What types of technology do you use on a daily basis?
Tell me about your family
What do you like to do with your friends in your free time?
Tell me about the last book that you read.
What is the transportation system like in your city?
EXTENDING YOUR RESPONSES
Examiner:
Candidate:
Yes it is
Examiner:
Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
Candidate:
Yes it is, I am lucky to have a walking trail directly outside my
house. It circles a small golf course and is 3 miles long. I like to go
walking on it two or three times a week and the rest of the time I
go swimming in my building or go to the gym. People in Miami
love to keep fit, so it is part of the lifestyle here.
HOW DO YOU DO THIS?
QUESTION
Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
SHORT ANSWER
Yes, it is.
DETAILS
Walking path, 3 miles, golf course, 2-3 times per week, swimming
pool, gym
IELTS VOCABULARY
Keep fit, go swimming, go to the gym, ease stress, have more
energy, fluctuations in mood and energy
KEY VOCABULARY
Examiner:
Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
Candidate:
Yes it is, I am lucky to have a walking trail directly outside my
house. It circles a small golf course and is 3 miles long. I like to go
walking on it two or three times a week as it helps me to ease
stress and relax. I notice I have more energy when I walk often.
and the rest of the time I go swimming in my building or go to the
gym. It’s important for me to keep fit because it helps me avoid
fluctuations in mood and energy. People in Miami love to keep fit,
so it is part of the lifestyle here.
IDIOMS
CORRECT USAGE OF IDIOMS
Definition: Idiom
A set phrase or fixed expression which has a
different or second meaning than the words in the
phrase. Example: it’s raining cats and dogs.
If you use this in a simple tense it will immediately signal that you
are not using the idiom correctly and are therefore not a proficient
user of English.
EXAMPLES OF KEY IDIOMS
Push someone’s button:
Frustrate or annoy someone
Run like a well-oiled machine:
Work together efficiently (a team or company)
Light years ahead:
Very advanced, usually technologically
Pull the plug:
Stop doing something, usually in an immediate and sudden
fashion
It’s not rocket science:
It’s not difficult, it’s something very easy to do
Click with somebody or something:
Connect with a person, notice that you get on well with someone,
or understand something very well to a very high degree
Run out of steam:
Lose your energy for a project, or a project might dwindle or falter
due to not having enough people invested in it
IDIOMS SPEAKING PRACTICE
What technological devices do you use on a regular basis?
SPEAKING TASK 1 PRACTICE
What ways do you try to stay healthy?
Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
What do you think is most important, eating healthily or doing
exercise?
Have you ever had any unhealthy habits?
Do you think about your health now more than when you were
young?
Do you usually make a new health resolution for the New Year? If
so, what is it?
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. - Benjamin
Franklin”
Speaking Task 2
IELTS SPEAKING TASK 2 EXAMPLE PROMPT
Describe a possession you couldn’t live without. You should say:
What the object is
Where you got the object What you use it for Why it is meaningful
to you
If you want to do this well on this task, you need to be adept at
brainstorming and organizing your ideas quickly.
Once you have done this you can quickly brainstorm your ideas in
the form of keywords or notes. Make sure not to write your ideas
out fully.
Task 2 Prompt: Describe an object you couldn’t live without
What the object is: a necklace gold, rose-colored, delicate,
grandmother, never wear it not high-end, family heirloom
Where you got the object: grandmother after she passed away,
keepsake, remembrance A treasure
What you use it for: decoration don’t wear, jewelry box, afraid to
lose, precious
Why it is meaningful to you: favorite grandparent, very close,
spend quality time, only thing I have, valuable
HIGH LEVEL VOCABULARY
Task 2 Prompt: Describe an object you couldn’t live without
What the object is: a necklace gold, rose-colored, delicate,
grandmother, never wear it not high-end, family heirloom
Where you got the object: grandmother after she passed away,
keepsake, remembrance A treasure
What you use it for: decoration don’t wear, jewelry box, afraid to
lose, precious
Why it is meaningful to you: favorite grandparent, very close,
spend quality time, only thing I have, valuable
I’d like to talk about one particular object that is important to me
and that is a necklace. This isn’t just any necklace, it’s one that I
received from my grandmother. Actually, it was given to me after
she died. It is gold and rose-colored and extremely delicate. It’s
not something high- end but I consider it to be a family heirloom, it
isn’t something that I ever wear.
I use this more as a keepsake. I got it after she died and it’s the
only thing I have of her. It’s actually a bit of a treasure for me and I
take good care of it. This isn’t something that I use for more than
decoration. I keep it in my jewelry box as I’m afraid to lose it. It’s
very precious, both in meaning and design.
This necklace is meaningful for me because my grandmother was
very important to me. She was my favorite grandparent and we
were very close. We spent a lot of quality time together and it’s
very valuable to be because it’s the only thing that I have of hers.
“Look around you ... There! Yes, there!! There’s what
you need to succeed.” -Nick Thaddeus
DELIVERY
SPEAKING TASK 2 PRACTICE
Describe a possession you couldn’t live
without. You should say:
What the object is
Where you got the object
What you use it for
Why it is meaningful to you
Speaking Task 3
IELTS SPEAKING TASK 3: The Environment
1. Do you believe that climate change is something we need to
worry about?
2. Do you think that children get enough education about the
environment?
3. What more could governments do to promote education about
environmental protection?
4. Do you think that large companies have a responsibility to
regulate their own carbon footprint?
5. What do you think the world will be like in 20 years?
Remember, the best way to prepare for these questions is to
practice developing your response, adding key vocabulary as
well as adding details and examples.
1. Do you believe that climate change is something we need to
worry about?
 Your opinion:
 Details:
 Examples:
 IELTS Vocabulary:
2. Do you think that children get enough education about the
environment?
 Your opinion:
 Details:
 Examples:
 IELTS Vocabulary:
3. What more could governments do to promote education about
environmental protection?
 Your opinion:
 Details:
 Examples:
 IELTS Vocabulary:
4. Do you think that large companies have a responsibility to
regulate their own carbon footprint?
 Your opinion:
 Details:
 Examples:
 IELTS Vocabulary
5. What do you think the world will be like in 20 years?
 Your opinion:
 Details:
 Examples:
 IELTS Vocabulary
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
Critical thinking skills are higher-order thinking skills which allow
you to discuss current affairs and complex topics easily and
naturally. You need to be able to state your opinion and support it
with clear points, details, and examples.
1. Do you believe that climate change is something we need to
worry about?
 Your opinion: Yes
 Details: Water pollution, deforestation, temps
 Examples: Whale with plastic in belly, Amazon,
Miami/hurricanes
 IELTS Vocabulary: loss of habitat, ozone layer depletion, ecofriendly, species, rainforest, regulate, preserve
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
1. Do you believe that climate change is something we need to
worry about?
Yes. I do believe that climate change is something we need to
worry about. There are a few things in particular that I am worried
about including water pollution, deforestation, and rising
temperatures around the world. There is so much plastic in our
oceans now that many species are suffering a loss of habit. There
are many instances of whales being found with tons of plastic in
their bellies also, which shows how much we are polluting our
oceans.
Deforestation is a major problem as well. This will lead to land
degradation as well as loss of rare species that are potential
sources of medicinal cures. Everyone knows the Amazon is a
prime example of this.
Finally, the rising temps around the world are concerning and
seem to be leading to unpredictable and disastrous weather. I live
in Miami and we now have more frequent and more intense
hurricanes.
ANALYSIS
SPEAKING TASK 3 PRACTICE
1. Do you believe that climate change is something we need to
worry about?
2. Do you think that children get enough education about the
environment?
3. What more could governments do to promote education about
environmental protection?
4. Do you think that large companies have a responsibility to
regulate their own carbon footprint?
5. What do you think the world will be like in 20 years?
In this chapter we reviewed:
Common Areas of Difficulty in Speaking
“ Don’t let mental blocks control you. Set yourself free. Confront
your fear and turn the mental blocks into building blocks. - Dr.
Roopleen”
FLUENCY
ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE FLUENCY
SPEAKING GAMES
PODCAST EPISODE
PRACTICE PROMPTS
“Learning another language is like becoming another person. Haruki Murakami “
RECORDING YOURSELF
PRONUNCIATION
In fact, we kind of bite our lower lip as we say and we tend to use
a stronger aspiration or breathe so that it vibrates more when we
say it.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PRONUNCIATION
MINIMAL PAIRS
/b/ /v/
Bale Vale
Berry Very
Bow Vow
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
TONGUE TWISTERS
Sally sells seashells by the seashore
Billy and Vinny got in their VW and vroomed all over town, buying
vile bugs to bother their brother with. Above all, they had to
improve their very bad basketball skills by viewing videos before
bed.
READING ALOUD
SINGING SONGS
Overview of IELTS Writing Task 2: The Academic Essay
PARAGRAPHS
This is a mistake that will result in a disorganized and ineffective
essay which is not likely to get the band score that you are hoping
for.
Brainstorming and Outlining
Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when
you do it, it is not all mixed up.
-A.A. Milne
Writing Task 2 Example Prompt Humans have had a negative
impact on the environment. Do you agree or disagree?
Support your response with details and examples
BRAINSTORM OUTLINE EXTENSION ACTIVITY
OUTLINING
THE WRITING PROCESS STEP 2
ESSAY OUTLINE
Introduction
Hook statement:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Background Information statement;
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thesis statement:
Body
Main Point A. ----------------------------------------------------------------Supporting Detail.---------------------------------------------------Supporting Detail.---------------------------------------------------Example.---------------------------------------------------------------Main Point B.-----------------------------------------------------------------Supporting Detail.--------------------------------------------------Supporting Detail.--------------------------------------------------Example.--------------------------------------------------------------Conclusion:
Final Thought
Main Ideas and Details
MAIN IDEAS
TOPIC SENTENCE
TOPIC SENTENCE EXAMPLES
To begin with, human actions have had an extremely negative
impact on our oceans. Not only do people make frequent and
catastrophic mistakes like oil spills but they also throw trash in the
ocean which pollutes it at a highly accelerated rate.
To begin with, human actions have had an extremely negative
impact on our oceans making frequent and catastrophic mistakes
like oil spills and throwing trash in the ocean.
DETAILS
To begin with, human actions have had an extremely negative
impact on our oceans. Not only do people make frequent and
catastrophic mistakes like oil spills but they also throw trash in the
ocean which pollutes it at a highly accelerated rate. Oil spills
release fossil fuels into our water and threaten the marine
environment by acidifying the waters which can make it toxic for
the animals that live there. Trash in the ocean often accumulates
because it doesn’t biodegrade. Single-use plastic is a disastrous
example of typical trash in the ocean. Not only will it never break
down, but marine life gets caught or tangled up in it, causing
unnecessary suffering and death. One particular example of this is
trash island, which is an island of accumulated trash, the size of
France, in the middle of the ocean. It’s evident and urgent that
humans recognize their impact on our oceans.
(Topic Sentence) To begin with, human actions have had an
extremely negative impact on our oceans. Not only do people
make frequent and catastrophic mistakes like oil spills but they
also throw trash in the ocean which pollutes it at a highly
accelerated rate.
(Supporting Detail 1) Oil spills release fossil fuels into our water and
threaten the marine environment by acidifying the waters which
can make it toxic for the animals that live there. Trash in the ocean
often accumulates because it doesn’t biodegrade.
(Supporting Detail 2) Single-use plastic is a disastrous example of
typical trash in the ocean. Not only will it never break down, but
marine life gets caught or tangled up in it, causing unnecessary
suffering and death.
(Example) One particular example of this is trash island, which is
an island of accumulated trash, the size of
France, in the middle of the ocean.
(Concluding Sentence) It’s evident and urgent that humans
recognize their impact on our oceans.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
To begin with, human actions have had an extremely negative
impact on our oceans. Not only do people make frequent and
catastrophic mistakes like oil spills but they also throw trash in the
ocean which pollutes it at a highly accelerated rate.
To begin with, human actions have had an extremely negative
impact on our oceans making frequent and catastrophic mistakes
like oil spills and throwing trash in the ocean.
DETAILS
To begin with, human actions have had an extremely negative
impact on our oceans. Not only do people make frequent and
catastrophic mistakes like oil spills but they also throw trash in the
ocean which pollutes it at a highly accelerated rate. Oil spills
release fossil fuels into our water and threaten the marine
environment by acidifying the waters which can make it toxic for
the animals that live there. Trash in the ocean often accumulates
because it doesn’t biodegrade. Single-use plastic is a disastrous
example of typical trash in the ocean. Not only will it
never break down, but marine life gets caught or tangled up in it,
causing unnecessary suffering and death. One particular example
of this is trash island, which is an island of accumulated trash, the
size of France, in the middle of the ocean. It’s evident and urgent
that humans recognize their impact on our oceans.
(Topic Sentence) To begin with, human actions have had an
extremely negative impact on our oceans. Not only do people
make frequent and catastrophic mistakes like oil spills but they
also throw trash in the ocean which pollutes it at a highly
accelerated rate.
(Supporting Detail 1) Oil spills release fossil fuels into our water and
threaten the marine environment by acidifying the waters which
can make it toxic for the animals that live there. Trash in the ocean
often accumulates because it doesn’t biodegrade.
(Supporting Detail 2) Single-use plastic is a disastrous example of
typical trash in the ocean. Not only will it never break down, but
marine life gets caught or tangled up in it, causing unnecessary
suffering and death.
(Example) One particular example of this is trash island, which is
an island of accumulated trash, the size of France, in the middle of
the ocean.
(Concluding Sentence) It’s evident and urgent that humans
recognize their impact on our oceans.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
MAIN IDEA & DETAIL PRACTICE
Choose one of the brainstorm main ideas from this chapter and
write a practice main idea paragraph. Include a topic sentence,
supporting details, an example, and a concluding sentence.
Writing and Amazing
Introduction
THESIS STATEMENT
EXAMPLE
THESIS:
HOOKS
A QUESTION
A FACT
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
OTHER
HOOK:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A SHORT HISTORY
HOOK:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
COMPLETED INTRODUCTION
A SHORT HISTORY
HOOK:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
THESIS:
COMPLETED INTRODUCTION
Did you know that American companies use enough paper to
circle the Earth 3 times? It was initially invented as a tool for
communication,
but
has
contributed
to
deforestation.
The
companies that process this paper release toxic fumes and
emissions into our environment. I agree that humans have gravely
impacted our planet for several hundreds of years, and this essay
will demonstrate how people have polluted both our air and our
oceans over time.
INTRODUCTION PRACTICE
Humans have had a negative impact on the environment.
Do you agree or disagree? Support your response with details and
Examples
How to Write a Conclusion with Impact
RESTATEMENT OF THESIS
SUMMARIZE MAIN POINTS
FINAL THOUGHT
CALL TO ACTION
We could dramatically improve the climate if everyone
took a minute to calculate their own carbon footprint and
make changes according ling
COMPLETED CONCLUSION
THESIS:
FINAL THOUGHT:
COMPLETED CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION PRACTICE
Humans have had a negative impact on the environment.
Do you agree or disagree? Support your response with details and
Examples
ESSAY 1 PRACTICE
Write a complete essay for the prompt below.
Humans have had a negative impact on the environment.
Do you agree or disagree? Support your response with details and
examples
Different Types of Essay Prompts
Introduction
Main point 1
Main point 2
Main point 3 (optional)
Conclusion
SAMPLE PROMPT
Many people claim that people who control the media, also
control the way news is covered. This affects how information is
given and what attitudes and opinions are expressed. Support
your ideas with details and examples.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Introduction
Advantages
Disadvantages
Personal Opinion (optional)
Conclusion
SAMPLE PROMPT
Many people believe they would like to be famous, without
considering the consequences. What do you think would be the
advantages and disadvantages of being a celebrity? Support
your ideas with details and examples. Support your ideas with
details and examples.
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
Introduction
Problem
Solution
Second Solution (optional)
Conclusion
SAMPLE PROMPT
Currently the topic of, “fake news,” is controversial. What do you
think has contributed to the problem of fake news, and what do
you think the solution would be?
Support your ideas with details and examples.
TWO PART QUESTION
Introduction
Question 1
Question 2
Additional details (optional)
Conclusion
SAMPLE PROMPT
Advertising often affects our decision to buy a product.
Do you think that we buy too many things that we don’t need?
Does advertising have a negative or positive effect on our lives?
Support your ideas with details and examples.
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; Show me the glint of light on
broken glass. -Anton Chekhov “
A NOTE ABOUT ESSAY STRUCTURE
ESSAY 2 PRACTICE
Choose one of the essay prompts from this chapter and write a
practice essay. (Advantage/Disadvantage, Problem/Solution,
Two- Part Discussion)
A Few Important Notes About
Writing
I
CAPITALIZATION
THE RULES
The First Word of a Sentence
Titles
Names and Proper Nouns
Time Periods and Events
Geographical Regions
Nationalities and Languages
Religions
Months, Days of the Week, Holidays
We Don’t Capitalize
CAPITALIZATION PRACTICE
Prompt:
Do you think people spend too much money on technology, why
or why not?
COMMAS
The Rules
Dependent and Independent Clauses
Two Independent Clauses
Relative Clauses
Quotations
Series or Lists
Cities, States, Countries
Dates, Titles, Number
COMMA PRACTICE
Prompt:
Do you think that modern lifestyles are healthy? Why or why not?
WORD FORMATION
MEANING
PARTS OF SPEECH
VERBS
Nouns
Adjectives
Adverbs
CHARTING WORD FORMATION
WORD FORMATION PRACTICE
Prompt:
In light of recent research on climate change, how do you think
transportation infrastructures will change in the next ten years?
The Role of Grammar in Writing and Speaking
O
The greater part of the world’s troubles are due
to questions of grammar.”
- Michel de Montaigne