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Gold Coast IELTS Podcast

Gold Coast IELTS Podcast

Quality IELTS exam podcasts

Welcome to the Gold Coast IELTS podcast. This podcast is specifically for my students living on the Gold Coast and anywhere else in the world. This is where you can find the best IELTS writing preparation tips on the web. If you have any questions, please drop me a line. Expect one or two new podcasts every week. Enjoy! Also, please visit the website at: www.goldcoastielts.com I have podcasts, a blog, and all the Cambridge IELTS exams with all listening MP3s (Cambridge IELTS Academic 5-14).

34 - 32. IELTS Task 2 : "Using adverbs in task 2"
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  • 34 - 32. IELTS Task 2 : "Using adverbs in task 2"

    www.goldcoastielts.com

    www.g.page/gcielts

    Welcome to Gold Coast IELTS in Southport and online! 

    OK guys so adverbs are those words that (often but not always) end in –ly. They give us extra information about verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. Adverbs are the word that tell us how (manner), where (place), when (time), how often (frequency), or how much (intensity) something happens or is done. An adverb can be a single word ("sometimes") or a phrase ("from time to time").

    So how do we use adverbs? Well, they can tell us about

    1. Manner – are often formed by adding –ly to the adejctive form:

    careful – carefully happy – happily

    These adverbs usually come after the verb (and object if there is one).

    I plan my tripsverycarefully. (not I plan very carefully my trips)

    2. Place – usually come after the verb:

    It was the first time I had beenthere.

    Try to stay near the old part of the city.

    3. Time – such as today, tomorrow, now, since 1996, or for three minutes can go at the beginning or end of a clause:

    I had a very memorable trip last year. (or Last year I had a very memorable trip)

    4. Frequency – usually come before the verb but after be or an auxiliary verb:

    I often travel for my job.

    I have always enjoyed my visits there.

    He’s never late.

    5. intensity – affect the strength of adjectives or adverbs

    PIC

    The adverbs at the stronger end of the scale (absolutely, completely, totally) can only be used with some adjectives. These tend to be ‘extreme’ adjectives that suggest a limit in their meaning (e.g. terrifying, excellent, exhausted). Other ‘non-extreme’ adjectives (e.g. frightened, good, tired) never collocate with these stronger adverbs. Compare:

    There are some absolutely stunning examples of Indian silk embroidery. (not fairly stunning)

    The people are very friendly. (not absolutely friendly)

    Let’s take a look at this sort of grammar in an IELTS task 2 style essay.

    Do you best to choose the correct option before you listen to the podcast.

    Environmentalists and conservationists tell us that there are ways that each of us can help to (1) very reduce / greatly reduce our impact on the planet. We can (2) work hard / hardly work to conserve energy and we can invest in equipment to help us create our own power. People (3) say often / often say that they want to save the planet, but the only way to do this is to (4) take immediately action / take action immediately.

    It is (5) really important / important really for individuals to (6) responsibly act / act responsibly and try to reduce their contribution to greenhouse gases. There are several ways we can do this. For example there are mini wind turbines that you (7) can install easily / easily can install on your roof as well as very efficient solar panels that (8) work good / work well all year round to provide electricity.

    But if all this is too expensive, there are other ways to conserve energy that actually save you money. In cooler weather, simply keep the heat (9) inside safely / safely inside by closing doors after you so that the warmth doesn’t escape. It is (10) absolutely essential / very essential that we all take this seriously and do our best to lead a more sustainable life.

    Answers: 1. greatly reduce 2. work hard 3. often say 4. take action immediately 5. really important 6. act responsibly 7. can install easily 8. work well 9. safely inside 10. absolutely essential

    So that’s it for the Gold Coast IELTS blog for today guys. 

    Fri, 26 Jun 2020 - 06min
  • 33 - 31. IELTS Task 1 : "Talking about the future with future perfect continuous tense"

    www.goldcoastielts.com

    www.g.page/gcielts

    Today let’s take a look at the future perfect continuous tense and how it can be effectively used in the IELTS exam to explain what will be happening at a particular point in time in the future.

    Firstly, how do we make the future perfect continuous tense? Basically, it is made in the following way:

    will + (not) have + been + verb-ing

    So how do we use the future perfect continuous tense? Basically it is used to show how long an activity or situation has been in progress before a specified time in the future. We usually mention the length of time. For example:

    By the end of the month, I’ll have been studying at this school for four years.


    Now let’s check out how the future perfect continuous tense can be used in a real IELTS style task 1 writing task. Check out the bar chart, then try and complete the sentences using the future continuous tense.


    1. Twelve students ---- on Saturday afternoon.

    2. The students ---- books on Saturday.

    3. The largest group of students ---- this Saturday afternoon.

    4. A similar number of students ---- and ---- this weekend.

    5. A very small number of students ---- this weekend.

    6. Approximately 15 students ---- this weekend.


    Answers: 1. will be watching TV 2. won’t (will not) be reading 3. will be playing computer games 4. will be doing sport; studying 5. will be resting 6. will be seeing friends.


    OK guys, so any time you get a chart that depicts something HAPPENING in the future, you can use the future perfect continuous tense to describe it. It’s definitely a great way to show off your knowledge of future time, and it you use it in the appropriate situation, you can get a high mark for your grammar criteria.

    #ielts #goldcoastielts #southportielts #ieltsgoogleclclassroom #ieltscoaching #ieltswriting #ieltsspeaking

    Sun, 21 Jun 2020 - 03min
  • 32 - 30. IELTS Task 1 and 2 : "Future predictions with 'will' and 'going to'

    www.goldcoastielts.com

    www.g.page/gcielts

    There is no doubt that in IELTS we need to be able to describe what has happened and what is happening, but we also need to be able to make predictions for the future, and we can use ‘will’, ‘going to’, and a combination of other words to do this.

    1. ‘will’ can be used to

    - make predictions that are based on our opinions of our past experience:

    I think it’llbe extremely hot there.

    - talk about future events or facts that are not personal:

    The best player on the tourwillget a special trophy.

    2. ‘going to’ can be used to

    - talk about events in the future we have already thought about and intend to do:

    We’regoing tohire a mini bus.

    - make predictions when there is present evidence:

    Well, we’re certainlygoing tohave a varied trip. (I am judging this from what I already know about the plans)

    3. ‘will’ and ‘going to‘ can follow words like think, doubt, expect, believe, probably, certainly, definitely, and be sure to to show that it is an opinion about the future.

    I think it’sgoing to bea great trip.

    It’llprobably rain every day.


    So when do we use ‘Going to’ and when do we use ‘will’?

    We’regoing tohave a very varied trip! (prediction based on what I know about the weather)

    I’m sure we’llenjoy it. (prediction based on my guess)

    Now let’s see how these new ideas can be put to use in an IELTS task 2. Read the question, and then think where each phrase can be put.


    "Thanks to modern technology, there have been enormous changes in the workplace over the past 100 years.

    What are the most significant changes that have occurred and what changes do you foresee in the next 100 years?"


    are going to feel       are going to happen      are likely to lead to

    are likely to occur    are predicted to work    is likely to become

    will be                      will continue  will develop

    will find  will have    will result

    ... So, now let us consider the changes that (1) ---- in the next 100 years. Unfortunately, I believe that not all changes (2) ---- for the better. For example, in the future more and more people (3) ---- work from home and so they (4) ---- more isolated from their colleagues. On the other hand, they (5) ---- (certainly) greater freedom to choose their working hours.

    A further possible change is that handwriting (6) ---- obsolete. We are already so used to using a keyboard that today’s children are losing the ability to spell without the aid of a word processor.

    Without a doubt, even greater changes (7) ---- in technology used in the workplace. Computers (8) ---- (undoubtedly) to grow even more powerful and this (9) ---- (probably) in an even faster pace of life than we have now. Let us hope that our employers (10) ---- a way to reduce the stress on workers this fast pace can bring.

    I also think these improvements in technology (11) ---- even more globalisation than now and companies (12) ---- very strong international links.

    Predictions can be used in all IELTS writing tasks, especially task 2 and academic task 1.

    Mon, 15 Jun 2020 - 04min
  • 31 - 29. IELTS Task 1 : "Past simple, past perfect, and past perfect continuous in IELTS task 1"

    www.goldcoastielts.com

    www.g.page/gcielts

    The past simple, past perfect, and past perfect continuous tenses are great to use in IELTS. We can use them to compare actions that happened in the past and show the examiner how deep our knowledge of time is.

    Firstly let’s look at the past perfect simple. This tense is made with had + past participle.It is used in the following ways.

    1. When we are talking about the past and want to mention something that happened earlier. Notice that the adverb (already) goes between had and the past participle.

    Mozart’s father was a composer and his grandfatherhad also beena musician.

    2. We can use words likewhen, as soon as, by the time, after to show the order of events.

    When Mozart was born, five of his siblingshad already died.

    3. To talk about an indefinite time before a particular time, use words like always, sometimes, never, before, by + fixed time.

    His family were richer than theyhad ever been before.

    Next,the past perfect continuous is made with had been + -ing. It is used in the following ways.

    1. To focus on how long an activity continued or to focus on the activity itself.

    Times were hard and the familyhad been strugglingfor some time. (to show how long)

    Mozart’s sister was extremely gifted at the keyboard and shehad been makingexcellent progress.


    Note that we cannot use the past perfect continuous to say how many times something happened.

    GOOD – I knew the way as I had visited her several times before.

    NOT GOOD – I knew the way as I had been visiting her several times.

    Let’s look at how all of this will work in an IELTS task 1. Look at the chart below, then try and decide which verb will be used – the past simple, or the past perfect simple.

    The chart shows the percentage of people aged 65 and over in the United States between 1900 and 2000. In the year 1900 jus over 4% of the population (1) was / had been aged over 65. However, by 1960 this figure (2) doubled / had doubled.

    The number of people aged between 75 and 84 (3) remained / had remained fairly steady between 1900 and 1930, making up only 1-1.3% of the population. The figure (4) began / had begun to rise more significantly in 1940 and by 1970 it (5) tripled / had tripled to reach 3% of the population.

    Although there (6) was / had been no change in the number of people aged 65-74 between 1960 and 1970, the number of people aged 75 and over (7) increased / had increased during this time. By the year 2000, 12.4% of the US population (8) reached / had reached the age of 65 or more, although this was slightly lower than in 1990 when it (9) peaked / had peaked at 12.6%.

    The chart shows that today people in the United States can expect to live longer than in 1900. By the year 2000 more then 12% of the population (10) managed / had managed to live to the age of 65 and over compared to only 4.1% in 1900.

    That’s it for today’s podcast. Try your best to use these past time tenses correctly when you are describing IELTS task 1 charts.

    #goldcoastielts #southportielts #ieltscoaching #ieltsgoogleclassroom #ieltswriting #pastperfectielts #simplepastielts #pastperfectcontinuousielts

    Wed, 10 Jun 2020 - 06min
  • 30 - 28. IELTS Task 1 : "Using the present tenses in the IELTS exam"

    www.goldcoastielts.com

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    Present tenses are used a lot in the IELTS exam, especially in the task 1 task. The two kinds of present tense verb in English are present simple and present continuous, and both of them have different functions (ways and times to be used). Lets look at each one separately, and then see how they can be used in the IELTS exam.

    The present simple tense is made with the bare infinitive verb, and has a number of functions.

    1. Regular habits or repeated actions

    I get up really early and practice yoga for an hour each day.

    I use the internet just about everyday.

    2. Permanent situations

    My parents own a restaurant.

    3. Facts or generally accepted truths

    Students don’t generally have much money.

    4.To give instructions or directions

    To start the program, first click on the icon on the desktop.

    The present continuous is made with a ‘be’ verb + the –ing form of the verb. It also has a number of functions.

    1. To talk about present situations

    My cousin is living in Thailand at the moment.

    2.To talk about actions that are happening at the moment of speaking

    I’m waiting for my friends.

    3. To talk about trends or changing situations

    The price of petrol is rising dramatically.

    4. To show things happen more often than expected, or to show envy or to criticise

    My mum’s always saying I don’t help around the house enough! (complaint)

    He’s always visiting exciting places.(envy)

    Now lets see how we can use these two present tenses in an IELTS writing task 1 task. Two options will be written for each option. Before you listen, read slowly and try to choose the correct answer.

    We (1) use / are using energy for three main things: electricity production, heating and transport. For the first two, we (2) have / are havingoptions such as solar and wind power, or natural gas. But oil is still the world’s number one source of energy, and for transport at least, there is currently no alternative. In China, domestic energy production (3) goes up / is going up year by year and demand in similar regions (4) catches up / is catching up fast. We (5) know / are knowing how to use energy more efficiently now than in the past but the worldwide rise in demand (6) causes / is causing concern among experts. Some experts (7) think / are thinking that oil supplies will start to fall within the next twenty years. Most experts (8) agree / are agreeing that we need to find a new source of energy.

    So guys as you can see using both forms of the present tense correctly and in the right position is a great way to write an accurate task 1 in IELTS.

    #goldcoastielts #southportielts #ieltscoaching #ieltsgoogleclassroom

    Sun, 07 Jun 2020 - 04min
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