New IELTS Computer Based Test

I’ve recently been asked a number of questions about the IELTS Computer Based Test, first introduced in 2019.  

As this is a recent development in the test format, I’ve noticed a common theme in misconceptions related to the content, format, difficulty and advantages of this test.

Which is best – IELTS on a computer or IELTS on paper ?

While the differences between the IELTS computer-based test and the traditional paper test are the methods in which it is delivered, it is quite possible that the different tests are suitable for different types of candidates.

This post is going to show you aspects of how the Computer Based Writing Section might be better for particular kinds of students.

By looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the computer-based test, you can make an educated decision on which is best for you.

IELTS Computer-Based Test: Writing

It is quicker and more convenient to use keyboard than write by hand.

This is one of the most obvious benefits of the computer-based test.

Very few of us write anything daily by hand, and many may struggle to write quickly and clearly with a pen and paper.

While legibility is never assessed in IELTS, a main concern for most students is timing, and an extra couple of minutes spare, saved by using a keyboard, can make a huge difference.

This means

• More time can be spent brainstorming and planning.
• More time can be spent checking for spelling and grammar errors.
• If you are a fast-typer, you will gain time using a keyboard.

Writing can be edited easily. 

This is the greatest attraction of the computer-based test. 

Even professional writers do not write in a Linear way.  With a computer, the candidate can make alterations, quickly and easily and structure changes to their writing.

It allows you to write like the professionals do, deleting and adding words or sentences, until you are satisfied with the results.

This process mimics how we might write an essay at university, bit by bit.

It has the advantage over the paper-based module where we probably know what we need to say to finish the sentence, but may end up crossing out words or sentences we didn’t need.

For this reason, above all others, I feel that the computer-based test is better for 99% of students and the way to go.

However, the other big plus is that ……..

Work can be reviewed effectively. 

The same as it is faster to type on a computer, it is easier to review and revise what you have written.

As the text you have written is on one screen, and in a uniform font of one size, this makes reviewing your ideas faster and finding errors that examiners MARK DOWN easier. 

Compare this to handwriting spread over one or two pages.

On paper, it’s much easier to allow punctuation and costly subject/verb agreement errors to go unnoticed and the repetition of ideas or words is more likely to.

One more plus. It isn’t necessary to count your words as you write.

The computer-based test has an automatic word count. Therefore, no time is wasted counting or monitoring the number of words in each task.

Of course, it is still important to write essays that are extended and having the word count as you write makes a big difference!

However, there are still some noticeable drawbacks to be considered.

What is your typing speed?

If you are unable to touch type this isn’t for you.

Nowadays, we assume that the majority of people can type because that’s the medium the majority of us are used to in our daily lives, whether it’s a using mobile device, an i-pad or laptop.

However, if your keyboard skills are slow, or inaccurate, then the paper-based test is the preferred choice.

The IELTS computer-based exam has no spell checker. 

Of course, you’re not able to use dictionary in the paper-based test so it might not seem an obvious problem that you don’t have a spell checker in the computer test.

But unless, you’re an experienced typist, it’s almost guaranteed that when you’re typing quickly, your writing will be much more inaccurate, even if you feel that you’re a good speller.

This requires careful proofreading near the end of the test because spelling can affect the language Accuracy Band Criteria. 

A good way to test your spelling while typing is to write an essay with your spell check off.

If, when you switch the spell check on – numerous words are underlined, then you need to practise this skill much more and the paper based test is the preferable choice.

Punctuation and formatting issues.

In the past, when students have used my IELTS Correction service, I witnessed many unusual typing errors in the work submitted electronically.

Pic

Even in the public descriptors, it is clear how punctuation that is faulty and affects the message is penalised

 The three most common mistakes I have seen in the past are:

– Leaving a space after a comma , or full stop . 

– Additional, Having a capital letter after a transition signal.

as well as forgetting to capitalise nouns that require it

as in

 

---

 

---

General Considerations  Between the IELTS Computer-Based Test and the Paper Test

1. the IELTS computer-based test might be more expensive in your area, for example. in London, it’s around £30 more expensive to sit the computer-based.
2. the IELTS computer-based test might not yet be available in your region
3. the IELTS computer-based test is more frequently held in some test-centres than the paper test (useful if you have a visa deadline or are applying for PLAB)
4. the results of the IELTS computer-based test appear much more quickly (3 – 5 days as opposed to 13 days for the paper-based exam). 
   

   ---

So, there we go!

An honest comparison of the IELTS Computer and paper Based test for Writing.

Which is right for you? Computer or Paper?

IELTS Task 2 Topics. 

As a teacher, I understand why students focus on questions like ‘What are the most common IELTS Writing part 2 topics?’

They are likely to be under pressure and are worried they will be unfamiliar with the test topic and therefore not have any relevant ideas.

As always, the kind of vocabulary you learn can help you in not only the Writing Task 2, but also in the Listening, Reading and Speaking Test.

A strategy to vocabulary is to both study selectively and also study widely.

Let’s focus of Selective Study.

Are the Writing Task 2 topics repeated?

There are a large amount of topics that can feature in Writing Task 2. I’ve seen over a 100 topics suggested on some websites.

However I have looked at sample tests, examined the most popular themes in commonly used classroom textbooks and have also spoken to other IELTS teachers and we agree;

Prominent core topics are generally repeated in a cycle.

IELTS Essay Topics

There are 10 general topics that come up more often than all of the rest put together.

They cover:

• Health
• Environment
• Education
• Technology
• Globalisation
• Development
• Transportation
• Criminal Justice
• Youth Crime
• Government Spending

(source sample texts/published textbooks between 2015 -17)

IELTS Study selectively

What you need to do…

1. Develop your vocabulary, especially in the key IELTS topics such as work, education, social trends, mass media, travel and tourism, and the environment.

IELTS Study widely

The second part is study widely.

Once we understand the topics that generally appear in IELTS it’s good practice to read around these topics.

What you need to do…

1. Develop your vocabulary. The best practice exercise for vocabulary to of all is to simply read.
2. When you get used to reading articles from newspapers and magazines, you will have fewer problems with long articles in the test itself.

Practice reading quickly for understanding, then look for specific facts and figures of interest.

Make notes as you go of new words and phrases.

You will pick them quickly as you reading improves.

As a starting point, I’ve compiled for this post a list of 11 useful reading resources and websites which may help you practice your reading skills at home.

They cover a very wide range of topics, but are selective, so are very useful for the IELTS Test.

 

• learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/business-magazine: Free texts and exercises with a focus on business and work

• bbc.co.uk/news/world: Good for academic English and also good to keep up with current world issues

• Newscientist.com: Excellent site about technology, health, science and the environment

• The economist.com: Covers world politics, economics, science and technology, offering 3 articles a week for free if you sign up

• Nationalgeographic.com: Covers environmental issues, culture, nature and animals. Very illustrative with a lot of amazing pictures.

• Socialnewsdaily.com: Features many short, easy to understand, contemporary articles drawn from the world of social media

• The-scientist.com:A site with features about science, health, ecology, biology and innovation

• History-news-network.org:An American site focusing on history, both US and worldwide, with lots of current affairs articles too

• BBC.co.uk: Current news, views and much more from the UK’s most famous media institution. All topics included – also a good site to practice listening

• Inspirational-short-stories.com/funny-short-stories: Sometimes it`s good idea to expand your vocabulary by reading short stories – here are some funny ones, and there are plenty more on the website

• Theconversation.com/uk: Academic opinion and viewpoints, written by verified academics in an accessible style

I hope these websites help you improve your reading skills for the IELTS, but let me know if you have any resources to add to this list!

Of course, remember reading what you enjoy in English is a valuable skill too.

You can use tips and information on this website to help make it easier to obtain a higher score, but remember you still need to work at learning the language to be successful.

Please share to someone you know and in the meantime take a look at my Facebook Page and Website for IELTS answers and you can also join my Facebook Group here too.

Good Luck

 

Jonathan

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education

 

Understanding Map Questions in IELTS Task 1

Map questions have always been popular in IELTS, so I thought it would be a good idea to look at this IELTS Task 1 question.

You can find the original map and a suggested answer in Cambridge Practice Test for IELTS 1

There are 2 types of map in IELTS:

1. A map that shows a comparison and
2. A map that shows development of an area.

In this post, I am going to look at the second one, a development of an area and then consider a comparison.

What information do IELTS development maps show?

Development maps often show a number of changes over a number of dates.

Often there is just one image and you will need to read and understand the key to be able to describe the developments.

In this example, there is a key to show types of changes.

You can see that in this example there are road and rail changes.

There is also a key to indicate the time periods.

Notice that there are four time periods in this example.

Periods are different to dates, which are finished.

Periods indicate that there were developments, for example, between 1883 and 1922.

By studying the periods, we can understand the development of areas and then report these logically.

Chorleywood is a village near London whose population has increased steadily since the middle of the nineteenth century.

The map below shows the development of the village.

Write a report for a university teacher describing the development of the village.

You should write at least 150 words

Cambridge Practice Test for IELTS  1 (1995)

How to best answer the question.

This map looks complicated.

In my opinion, the best way to attempt this question is to start with

a simple introduction,

follow this up with an overview so the reader can understand the major point

and then talk about the changes over time.

I think it would be logical to divide the dates into two paragraphs. 

To help you consider how to describe the map, answer these questions:

1. How could you paraphrase “the map shows the development of the village”?
2. How many periods of development are shown, and which period saw the most change and development?
3. Is there a relationship between transport and the growth of the village?
4. How could you group the information in order to write two ‘specific details’ paragraphs?

Band 9 Example essay

Here is my full answer (band 9): 

The map shows how a village called Chorleywood developed and expanded between 1868 and 1994.

There are four periods of development shown on the map and it is obvious that the village has grown as the transport infrastructure has improved. Each of the populated areas is either near to the main roads, the development of the railway or the motorway.

From 1868 to 1883, Chorleywood covered a small area next to one of the main roads. Chorleywood Park and Golf Course is now located next to this original village area. The village grew along the main road to the south between 1883 and 1922, and in 1909 a railway line was built crossing this area from west to east. Chorleywood station is in this part of the village.

The expansion of Chorleywood continued to the east and west alongside the railway line until 1970. At that time, a motorway was built to the east of the village, and from 1970 to 1994, further development of the village took place around motorway intersections and the underpass of the railway.

Remember that Band 9 essays are written by trained material writers and language specialists.

These examples are generally an unrealistic expectation for most students.

The key is to notice the main features and include them AND the overview in your writing to have a chance of a Band 6.

Answering a real IELTS Map question – Comparisons and Developments

Here’s another map to work with but this time it refers to changes that are planned or predicted.

Notice there are two time periods, 2004 and 2024.

The main focus is comparing the changes that, in this case, will happen.

While it is important to pay attention to your grammar choices, you still need to focus on comparing the changes to meet the task requirements.

The original question materials can be found in Official IELTS Practice Materials 2

The diagrams below show the site of a school in 2004 and the plan for changes to the school site in 2024.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons were relevant.

It’s a good idea to follow the same process with any map or plan.

When you are thinking about describing the map, try using these questions to generate ideas and language:

1. How could you paraphrase “the diagrams below show the site of a school”?
2. How many changes are shown, and what are the most significant changes to the map?
3. Is there a relationship between changes in development and the growth of the school site?
4. How could you group the information in order to write two ‘specific details’ paragraphs?

If you want more tips on answering this question, follow this post. 

IELTS Writing about Maps for Task 1

For information on the language for comparing and contrasting, follow this post.

Language to describe changes in IELTS maps.

How I studied and wrote my IELTS response for this task

I wrote my response to this task by doing the following. 

I studied the two maps and the question.

I noted any dates and then noted that I would need to use the past simple for the 2004 map, and then noted I could use a number of future tenses for the planned school in 2024.

I also noted any important numbers such as 600 students and the predicted number of 1000 in 2024.

I also made a mental note that using passive sentence constructions are probably the most appropriate for this task, as the agent (the builder, the planner etc) is not important.

I then carefully looked at the map in the past (remember we don’t know, and are not interested in how the map looks in the present) and made a mental checklist, like this:

A road, a car park and the main entrance in the east

Two school buildings in the centre named 1 and 2

A path running from the main entrance to the playing/sports field

Significant wooded areas to the south and the west of the school

Doing this made it easier to note the changes that are planned or predicted.

I first of all noted the aspects that remained the same, such as the road, the car park and the main entrance in the east.

I could then go on to talk about the changes that will happen. 

I was able to mention that the sports field will become smaller, and that an additional school building will be built. 

I was able to see that the existing school buildings are now connected by a corridor or a passageway, and this has resulted in the path that connected the main entrance and the sports field being changed.

It has been shortened so that it connects the school building 3 with school building 1 and 2. 

This is probably better for students in the winter or in the rain but I decided not to include this detail in my writing. 

After that I was able to say that the sports field has been made smaller and its location has moved and I was able to say why.

This is to accommodate school building 3, and to accommodate a new car park called carpark 2.

I was careful to mention all the changes and I considered that it is important to say that part of the wooded area has been removed to allow for these changes.

I did not spend too much time on the introduction but paraphrased as much as I could.

More important was that I wrote a strong overview – namely that additions to the school will result in reductions.

Of course, once I finished my writing I counted the words and spent about 5 minutes proofreading my writing for errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar before I was satisfied. 🙂 

Band 9 example essay – school development plan

Don’t forget that this essay was written by a trained language specialist so just note that it mentions all the features and includes a clear overview.

The two maps show the layout changes of a school over a 20-year time period to accommodate an increase in student numbers.

In order to do this, it is clear that there will be both additional buildings and parking spaces while there will be a reduction in outdoor sports facilities and green or wooded areas.

In 2004, access to the school was by road in the south-east. The original layout consisted of a single car park located near the main entrance to the school and two school buildings separated by a path. The path connected the car parking area with the sports field while the remaining area was made up of wooded and green areas.

In is anticipated that by 2024 the sports field will have moved south to accommodate the construction of an additional school building and reorganisation of the general school layout.  Buildings 1 and 2 will be connected by a corridor and the original path no longer leads from the main entrance to the sports field but is shortened to connect building 3 with the main school A new road will be built behind building 2 connecting the main entrance to a new car park. This construction means that the wooded area and sports field in the north will be reduced.

You can use tips and information on this website to help make it easier to obtain a higher score.

Remember you still need to work at learning the language to be successful.

Leave a comment for a reply!

Good Luck

Jonathan

 

Writing Task 1 Quickly

Timing and Word Count

You should spend 20 minutes doing IELTS Writing Task 1.

You must write 150 words or more.

You need to describe a graph, chart, table, diagram, layout or map.

The good news is that you can quickly learn how to write a Task 1 essay.

I’ll make sure you know exactly what to do in the exam.

We’ll work on these areas:

• How to structure a good Task 1

then

• How to decide what information to include in your

consider

• The words, phrases and grammatical structures for describing graphs, charts, tables, diagrams.

By using the right techniques, you can write the kind of essay that examiners like.

Structure

My IELTS Writing Task 1 essays I recommend following a “general to specific” structure.

• The introduction is the most general part of the essay; it simply tells the reader what the graph is about.

 

• Then I write a paragraph about the main points or a general trend. This is the overview.

 

• Finally, I write 2 paragraphs describing specific facts or figures.

 

• I don’t write a conclusion because I have already summarised the information in the overview.

 

Look at the graph below.

First, make sure you understand it.

Then look for a general trend.

Finally, select specific points on the graph to describe in detail.

This lesson and approach was used in my classes recently.

You can use tips and information on this website to help make it easier to obtain a higher score.

Remember you still need to work at learning the language to be successful.

Please share to someone you know and in the meantime take a look at my Facebook Page andWebsite for IELTS answers and you can also join my Facebook Group here too.

Good Luck

Jonathan

Not just paraphrasing, but paraphrasing well is essential for a high score in IELTS.

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In this post, I’d like to provide tips on how to maximise your score.

I will tell you what you should try to do and shouldn’t do, and explain the mistakes that many IELTS student make which lowers their score.

I’m going to show you how learning to paraphrase in writing can be applied to the other IELTS Skills tests too.

I’ve confirmed with examiners and other IELTS teachers that students who can paraphrase well in writing often do very well in Reading, Listening and Speaking too.

This post will show you tips on:

• Using synonyms
• Changing word forms
• Changing sentence structure
• Understand why the band scores matter
• Show what you shouldn’t do
• Show you how to avoid mistakes
• Demonstrate how you can apply these skills to the other parts of the IELTS Test.

1) Using synonyms

In IELTS, one of the most effective ways to paraphrase is to use a selection of synonyms.

Simply put, by using an alternative word or number of words with a similar meaning demonstrates to the examiner the range of vocabulary needed to get Band Score 6 and above.

Here is my basic example of how you might paraphrase by using synonyms:

The reasons for increasing levels of pollution in cities are the increasing number

of people, the growth in industry and greater number of cars.

Here I have attempted to the rewrite so I keep the original meaning:

The causes for higher levels of pollution in urban areas are the rising population

of cities, the expansion of industry, as well as the growth in car ownership.

To show you a further example, here is an extract from a student’s notebook that illustrates how she’s recording the vocabulary and noting the synonyms.

By following this habit, with practice she can apply this knowledge in the IELTS test and improve her score.

Examples of Synonyms

• reasons/ causes
• increasing/ higher
• cities/ urban areas
• increasing number of people/ rising population of
• the growth of/ the expansion of
• and/ as well as
• greater number of cars/ growth in car ownership

2) Changing word forms

A second effective way to paraphrase is to change the form of the words used.

This basically means that you use the same words given in the IELTS questions for example, but you alter the form of the word.

Here is my genuine example of how you might paraphrase by changing the word forms:

Many people in developed countries are unhealthy because they neglect to eat well and exercise.

Here I have attempted to rewrite the sentence so I keep the original meaning:

Many people in developed countries have poor health because they are neglecting to eat well and fail to exercise.

You can see these are the words I’ve changed.

• poor health/unhealthy
• neglect/neglecting
• exercise/exercising

and also the words I’ve added.

• fail to
  

Many people in developed countries have poor health because they are neglecting to eat well and failing to exercise.

or

Many people in developed countries have poor health because they are neglecting to eat well and are not exercising.

or even

Many people in developed countries have poor health because they are neglecting to eat well and are not exercising enough.

This again demonstrates to the examiner that you have a good knowledge of vocabulary.

BUT most importantly, it also shows the examiner you can apply different word forms well in different situations.

Only 6.5 candidates or higher can do this!

3) Changing  the sentence structure

A third way is to change the structure of the sentence by changing the order of the words.

Carbon emissions in some countries are reducing because more renewable energy is being produced.

By reversing the two clauses in this sentence and changing the conjunction, we can rewrite it with a similar meaning.

More renewable energy is being produced, therefore, in some countries carbon emissions are reducing.

Next Steps

Taking IELTS paraphrasing to a higher level.

You can improve your writing further by applying the synonyms and word form changes to the original text to produce an example such as this.

The increasing production of renewable energy accounts for the reduction of carbon emissions in some countries.

The Importance of paraphrasing and band scores

As you will see good vocabulary improves your band score consistently.

Here I have paraphrased for you what this means

It is evident form the official band scores that effective paraphrasing will improve your band score in terms of vocabulary (lexical resource) but the effects of good paraphrasing will naturally affect the other three criteria too. So, Win Win!

What you shouldn’t do in IELTS

To score well in IELTS there is a balance that students need to understand but don’t.

This balance is: Effective paraphrasing means not to over paraphrase!

Why? Well, there are two reasons for this.

Firstly, if you over paraphrase

• the language is likely to sound unnatural.

and secondly

• you are likely to make more mistakes in your writing.

Just look at how mistakes can affect your scores!

As you can see having a wide range of vocabulary does not guarantee a high band score if there are numerous errors.

What you can do to avoid mistakes

What’s the most common question that students ask about IELTS?

One that appears again and again is

“Is there one thing I can do to improve my IELTS score?”

There is no simple answer, but one thing any IELTS student can do is practice paraphrasing.

You can start simply by rephrasing statements, questions or ideas, and saying them in a different way.

As I have shown you, it’s a really useful skill for a high band score in writing but you can use it in ALL parts of the test too, and of course, in speaking it will stop you repeating things and stop you sounding boring in real life.

The more you do this, the more native like you will sound!  I’ve included a link to this TED video because I think the idea of native sounding speaking is fascinating and there are also some great tips here.

How paraphrasing applies to other parts of the IELTS Test

Let’s look at how we can use paraphrasing in each part of the test.

IELTS listening test – Paraphrasing

In my classes I always encourage students to use the preparation time to read the questions before they listen to each section. This should apply on the IELTS test day too.

It’s also a good idea to use this time to circle or underline what you believe are the key words.

While you are doing this, you can try to think of synonyms or other ways of saying the same information to predict the answers.

For example, the test might have a question like:

“Which motel matches each description?”

Where you are given a number of options in a box and have to match them to descriptions:

A. The Grosvenor   B. Sandy Beach

1. Is set in a coastal area
2. Only opened recently
3. Has an indoor swimming pool

Now, when you listen, you won’t hear , “The Grosvenor is set in a coastal area”.

Instead, the recording might say something like, “The Grosvernor is located/situated in beautiful countryside on the coast.”

The speakers will have paraphrased ‘set’ and used the synonym ‘located’ and instead of saying ‘a coastal area’, they’ve used ‘countryside + on the coast’.

If you’ve done the paraphrasing before you even hear the recording, it will be much easier to hear it and catch the correct answer.

IELTS reading test – Paraphrasing

I encourage students to use a similar technique to help locate answers in the reading passages.

For example, you might have a question like this:

“What did researchers identify as the most productive time of the day?”

Here, I would select the key words and then think of synonyms, or even antonyms.

So:

• researchers – scientists
• identify – find
• productive – efficient

and the text may have information that looks like this:

“Scientists have found that for many people the hour before lunch is when the majority of workers are most efficient.“

So, you can now see how high-level paraphrasing helps in the IELTS reading test too.

IELTS writing test – Paraphrasing

For both tasks 1 and 2, it’s vital that you summarise the question in your own words  – that you paraphrase it!

Don’t copy whole phrases from the question itself, as this may be discounted from your word count, and you will lose marks.

Have a look at part of a typical task 1 question:

“The pie charts below show the average household expenditure in Singapore and Hong Kong in 2018.”

To paraphrase this you could start your essay like this:

The pie charts illustrate how much typical families in two major Asian cities spent in 2018.

As you can see, we’ve changed:

• show – illustrate
• average – typical
• expenditure – how much… spent
• household – families
• Singapore/ Hong Kong – Major Asian cities

Remember not to over paraphrase and remember, sometimes you just can’t paraphrase- there’s no other way of saying pie chart, or dates like 2018, so just keep these the same.

IELTS speaking test – Paraphrasing

Finally, the most overlooked aspect of paraphrasing is often in Speaking.

In speaking, part of the test criteria is that you are able to paraphrase the question in your answer.

So if you are asked:

“What do you like doing in your free time?”

Try not to answer by simply saying, “I really like dancing and doing sports”, but try to add to the question:

“I’m into dancing and doing sports, and when I have any spare time, usually at the weekend, I love going walking in the countryside. In fact I’m walking tomorrow.”

So there you go!

I hope you found these practical tips useful.

Finally, you can  go over to my Facebook page and join other students who are working towards the test.

or Join my IELTS WRITING TASK 1 group here, for free practice.

Best Regards

Jonathan

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education

 

IELTS Writing and Vocabulary – Numbers and Statistics 

It is important that you can use and describe numbers, percentages, or fractions correctly to gain marks in IELTS Task 1.

You should remember you need only describe the significant features.

I often see common mistakes such as using numbers incorrectly and also describing minor details which lowers your IELTS Band Score.

So I have made this article for you and given some examples to show different ways of using numbers

Top Tips for numbers.

I recommend that you note in your vocabulary journal the most common ways of using numbers in English.

I also suggest when you look at an IELTS Task 1, you use this article to help you apply different structures to describe the pictorial information presented in TASK 1.

Here is a basic table to help you understand the following article.

Year       2000                  2010

Cost      £4000                £6000

 

WENT UP / WENT DOWN

You can use the following phrases to describe different units

The price of something went up by £2000, from £4000 to £6000. (numbers)

The price of something went up by half, from £4000 to £6000. (fractions)

The price of something went up 50%, from £4000 to £6000. (percentages)

DOUBLE / TREBLE

Further phrases you can use to show increase are ‘double’, ‘treble’ but note how the phrases are used, that they are verbs and that they don’t show a decline.

The price of something doubled, from £4000 to £8000.

The price of something trebled, from £4000 to £12000.

The number of unemployed people trebled between 1996 and 2006.

FOLD / TIMES

The price of something went up twofold.

The price of something went up threefold

The price of something went up fourfold.

Here the twofold phrase is an adjective + noun (twofold + Increase)

There was a twofold increase in the number of unemployed people between 1996 and 2006.

And here the twofold phrase is a verb + adverb (increased + twofold)

The number of unemployed people increased twofold between 1996 and 2006.

If you have read my other articles then you will notice the examples below are good example of paraphrasing

There was a twofold increase in the number of unemployed people between 1996 and 2006.

The number of unemployed people increased twofold between 1996 and 2006.

Comparing Two figures in an Image 

You can use these phrases to compare 2 , 3 or 4 times as much.

Notice how they are interchangeable.

TWICE AS +AS /  TWICE AS  + COMPARED TO

 

 

There were twice as many unemployed people in 1996 as in 2006.

Twice as many people were employed in 1996 compared to 2006

Twice as many people were unemployed in 1996 compared to 2006.

There were twice as many unemployed in 1996 as in 2006.

THREE TIMES AS, AS / COMPARED TO

Here are a few more examples for you to study

1992               1994              1996              1998

1500               3000              9000              36000

The figure doubled between 1992 and 1994

The figure trebled between 1994 and 1996.

The figure quadrupled from 1996 to 1998.

There was a twofold increase between 1992 and 1994.

More Examples:

The number went up sixfold between 1992 and 1996.

The number in 1996 was six times more than the 1992 figure.

The figure in 1998 was four times the 1996 figure.

Here are some examples of how you can use fractions in IELTS Writing Task 1.

I recommend that if you are using fractions then you should focus on the most significant features only.

I often see students who waste time on writing about minor details using fractions and be penalised in the IELTS exam.

Here is the table we will use

1982              1984                   1986            1988

1000              800                      400              100

And here are some examples using the table.

You should note the singular and plural forms of fractions

Between 1982 and 1984, the figure fell by one-fifth.

Between 1984 and 1986, the figure went down by a half.

The figure in 1988 was one-tenth of the 1982 total.

Pay attention to whether the fraction is Singular or Plural.

Singular                                             Plural

A half                                                  two halves

One-third                                           two-thirds

A quarter                                           two quarters

One-fifth                                            two-fifths

One-sixth                                           two-sixths

Adjectives that modify numbers

If you want to show the examiner your writing ability and increase your vocabulary Band score you can use adjectives to modify numbers and

It will increase your band score for vocabulary marking:

Adjective:   Hefty/staggering/massive

Use: use for large numbers

Example: a hefty 90 per cent of …  a massive 85 per cent increase ….

Adjective:     Modest

Use: use for percentages

Example: a modest 20 per cent  of …between 15 and 40%

Adjective: Mere/tiny

Use: use for small numbers

Example:  a mere 10 per cent of …a tiny 10 per cent of …

Adjective: Overwhelming + majority

Use: use with the word majority

Example: an overwhelming majority of …

Adjective: Small/ tiny    + minority

Use:   use with the word minority

a small minority of

In Conclusion

It is important that you can use and describe numbers, percentages, or fractions correctly to gain marks in IELTS Task 1.

Remember you need only describe the significant features and don’t explain the reasons why.

Describing minor details is a waste of your time and lowers the score.

I hope you found both this article and the links useful.

You can find more IELTS information on my Facebook page or this website.

I also run IELTS Challenges.

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Best

Jonathan

IELTS-Jonathan

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