21 Keys for General IELTS Success Winn Trivette II, MA Published by Winn Trivette II, MA, 2018 While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein 21 KEYS FOR GENERAL IELTS SUCCESS First edition July 13, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Winn Trivette II, MA ISBN: 978-1386611028 Written by Winn Trivette II, MA Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Dedication 21 Keys for General IELTS Success Preface Introduction Chapter 1: The Starting Point Chapter 2: Listening Chapter 3: Reading Chapter 4: Writing Chapter 5: Speaking Chapter 6: Grammar Chapter 7: Vocabulary Chapter 8: Supplemental Skills Extra Resources File 7-Day Online IELTS Score Booster Thank you! Also By Winn Trivette II, MA to Mom, Melissa, Heather, Alex, and Noel with all my love Note: IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia This product is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia All other trademarks on this website are the property of their respective owners Preface You’re already on the road to IELTS excellence! 21 Keys for General IELTS Success is your resource to tip the scales in your favor! Consider this book a primer for serious exam candidates who accept the challenge to boost their English and IELTS skills in a very short time period It is a call to action for those of you who are struggling to prepare for the big exam day in order maximize your exam score to achieve your career dreams Study 21 Keys for General IELTS Success and defeat the exam for a high optimal score Plus, don’t forget to download even more tips and other resources in the Extra Resources File at end of this book You get a big list of my own hand-selected resources to boost your IELTS and English skills! These are resources I use in my own classes! Now, I’ve got two surprise gifts for you on the next page! Good luck on the IELTS! Professor Winn Trivette II https://www.englishlanguagetestprep.com SURPRISE GIFTS FOR YOU! First, as a special thanks for purchasing the text, take 30% off my personal eBooks to help you improve your English grammar and vocabulary Visit my online store and use Promotion Code 30Doff Second, sign up for my 7-Day IELTS email course to extend both your English and test skills Build your skills one lesson at a time Thank you! About the Author Professor Winn is an experienced English professor for more than a decade He is CELTA certified to teach English He has helped students just like you achieve high score on the TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEIC scores Prepare with Professor Winn for General IELTS success in personal 1-to-1 classes - reserve your course today Introduction So, you are ready to test your English by taking the General IELTS Exam Do you feel nervous or anxious because you need a top score? Relax! You now have 21 Keys for General IELTS Success full of tips, advice, and secrets that I use with my own students when preparing them for the exam Be sure to check out the links in each section to extend your learning For over a decade, I have helped both students and professionals to prepare for IELTS success I give you my best advice within these pages Take advantage! Start today to ensure your success on the exam without the fear, frustration, and loneliness that often accompany studying for English proficiency exams You may want to leave the big books by the major publishing houses behind You have 21 Keys for General IELTS Success instead to prepare for IELTS excellence on exam day You will find the 21 keys for General IELTS excellence divided into the major exam areas Chapter 1: The Starting Point Chapter 2: Listening Chapter 3: Reading Chapter 4: Writing Chapter 5: Speaking Chapter 6: Grammar For the IELTS Speaking Criteria, there are four broad language use categories: Fluency and Coherence – Does your speech flow? Do you express complete thoughts? Pronunciation – Do you use rhythm and intonation properly? Does an accent affect the understanding of your words? Lexical Resource – Do you use a rich vocabulary? Do you use idioms, collocations, and phrasal verbs? (read Supplemental Skills below) Grammatical Range and Accuracy – Do you use good grammar? (see Supplemental Skills below) Keep each of these elements in mind during your preparation and during the exam Key #15: Boost your fluency IELTS examiners grade the speed of your speech - this does not mean the faster the better, but rather encouraging students to focus on speaking at a steady to fast speed with little hesitation and few pauses The length of answer is also marked in this category - reminding students that this is their chance to show their ability in speaking Simply answering the questions in one or two words is not enough You need to extend your answers to the speaking questions without prompting from the exam proctor Finally, answer the questions from the IELTS examiner with confidence, your best voice without a heavy accent, and solid vocabulary and grammar power Key #16: Improve your Pronunciation Pronunciation is one of the greatest challenges for students of English Do you speak English with a heavy accent? The most important thing to remember – be understandable to the IELTS examiner You not have to invest in accent reduction training However, you probably already have a good idea where you struggle with English pronunciation Regarding pronunciation, the IELTS Criteria for Band Score includes: shows some effective use of features but this is not sustained can generally be understood throughout, though mispronunciation of individual words or sounds reduces clarity at times easy to understand throughout; L1 accent has minimal effect on intelligibility Work with a native speaker to boost your intonation, word stress, and sentence stress Intonation is the flow of the language There are two types: rising and falling Every word has stress depending on the number of syllables Read more about word stress As you know, English is a timed-stress language – some types of words are stressed more than others These so-called content words get the emphasis in a sentence For example: The big red hen is walking across the road from the barn The above bolded words are content words If you only hear these words, then you would know what the sentence is about The non-stressed words in a sentence are called function words They only play a supporting role in a sentence This is the juncture when working with a native English instructor comes into play Mimic the speech patterns of the native speaker as close as possible to maximize your score Use the tips in this section to better prepare you for excellence on the Speaking Section See the video “50 Words You’re Pronouncing Wrongly.” See the video “Stress and Rhythm.” Chapter 6: Grammar While not explicitly tested, of course, you cannot avoid grammar on an exam testing your English level By this stage of your English career, your grammar skills should be solid However, certain issues still plague even the best students The following three tips address some of the most egregious errors students of English can make Brush up on your grammar during your exam preparation, but not let it dominate your study You can best practice your grammar working with a native English instructor in the Writing and Speaking Sections of the exam Consider studying with my resource to boost your English grammar power: 27 Keys to Better English Grammar Key #17: Avoid Grammar Goofs A handy infographic compiles 15 grammar errors that even native speakers commit Some of these mistakes come from a weak vocabulary (see more about Vocabulary in the next chapter) Be aware of simple errors that could shave off some points your final score! Check out the infographic, 15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly Chapter 7: Vocabulary Building vocabulary is the best move you can make to prepare for the General IELTs test Just as your peers, colleagues, and clients judge your intelligence by the words you use, so will the IELTS examiner your English competency Start immediately enhancing your word power even if you believe you have a strong lexicon IELTS examiners will mark you up or down depending on how you adhered to the Writing and Speaking Criteria which specifically mention the use of collocations and idioms, respectively: uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation Unfortunately, vocabulary is not a priority in too many English classes and thus IELTS candidates often lack a robust lexicon Stop! Boosting your vocabulary will boost your final band score Strong word power facilitates reading faster and active listening Use the following tips to help you boost your vocabulary for exam success [Extend your IELTS preparation – enroll in my free 7-Day IELTS email eCourse!] Key #18: Start now with thematic lists You probably have limited time to prepare for the IELTS exam Most students begin their preparation late How can you boost your vocabulary in such a short space of time? One way is study of terms associated with a theme These so-called thematic lists – about 10 words – allow you to quickly absorb new terms because they are all related to the same subject For example, if the topic is Nature, you might learn: abundant, barren, celestial, disposable, evergreen, etc Research indicates that students easily learn new vocabulary using these thematic lists A second, but slower method is to read widely Note any unfamiliar words in a vocabulary notebook, and later go back and look up the definitions of each word in a dictionary Reading widely will also help prepare you for the IELTS Reading Section, but inefficient for vocabulary study given your pinch of time Watch this video to learn how to study vocabulary Check out my eBook – 303 Vocabulary Words You Need –- to help you build your vocabulary with thematic lists for success on the IELTS You get 30 chapters of 10 words each including the part of speech of the term and an example sentence You also have quizzes to test your knowledge Also consider my e-text, Top 153 Business English Collocations, Idioms, and Phrasal Verbs Collocations for the Writing Section and idioms for the Speaking Section should be part of your natural English vocabulary as well Above all, start now studying your vocabulary to build up your word power in time for an optimal score on the exam Chapter 8: Supplemental Skills Supplemental skills are the hidden abilities you need to achieve success on the exam The three skills below – note taking, paraphrasing, and outlining – help you perform smaller tasks in different sections of the exam in order to get the correct answer As stated above, your IELTS preparation is one-half English and one-half test skills Practice these three skills as natural parts of the bigger test tasks so when exam day arrives you are prepared to perform them with ease Key #19 Note Taking Note taking is an essential skill you will use during the Speaking and Listening Sections the most In the Speaking Section, at the “Long Turn” (Part 2) you need to prepare a 12-minute response to the topic you selected In the Listening Section, you need to be able to process information from the audio and note your answers in the test booklet In a way in the Writing Section, you will need to jot down ideas to respond to Tasks and questions Thus, you need at least a basic understanding of how to take notes Those of you still at university will have an advantage over others One of the best methods of note taking is the Cornell Method You should practice the Cornell Method while listening to TED Talks to help develop or extend your note taking skills for the exam Find out more about the Cornell Method in this video Use these TED Talks to practice note taking Key #20: Paraphrasing Paraphrasing – taking the words of others and restating them into your own – assists your efforts in the Speaking and Writing Sections Take the prompts given on the exam – whether questions for oral or written responses – and use your own words to answer them Do not copy the same text from the exam or you will lose points For example: General Task 1: You are studying a short course in another country Your accommodation was arranged by the course provider There is a major problem with the accommodation In your letter, you would not want to write “major problem with the accommodation.” Instead, you could write: “My room at the Chatworth Dorm is wholly inadequate because I not have my own private bathroom.” As you can see, you did not repeat the text in the writing prompt, but instead you defined the problem with the accommodation using your own words When you work with a native English instructor to polish your writing for the exam, he or she can help you learn the finer points of paraphrasing Above all, remember not to copy verbatim (word for word) whole chunks of the prompt on the exam or you will not get any points Key #21: Outlining Are you an organized person? Can you present ideas in a systematic manner in your own language? If not, outlining is a skill you need to help you excel on the IELTS Outlining also has the added benefit of saving you time – your worst enemy on the exam! Recall I suggest taking minutes to outline before writing your essay The classic way of outlining is to start with a main idea and break it down into small bites For example, let’s return to our Writing Task example Richer nations should take care of the health care and environmental problems facing poor nations Discuss the main arguments for this statement and give your own opinion You need to outline your main arguments by answering the essay Start broad and then narrow your focus You decided that, yes, rich nations should pay up You will follow the classic paragraph IELTS essay structure Recall, you will not write in complete sentences, but enough text to guide you while writing your response Always argue the easier position; the essay is only a writing sample, not a term paper for school! So, your main argument would be (thesis statement): Rich nations must pay – health, enviro problems Now you need two supporting statements for your thesis with sub-arguments with reasons and (examples): P1 – climate change Fossil fuels (coal factories), multinationals (cutting down forests) P2 – unfair trade Exchange ag products for manufactured goods, high tariffs on imports That’s it! Now you have your roadmap to follow for the next 20 minutes Just fill out the outline with solid sentences using good grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation Remember to begin each sentence of your paragraphs with the topic sentence which sums up the main idea When you practice for the exam, make sure you write out the outline before you start writing On exam day, you will be prepared to outline and then to write Read more about outlining from Harvard University Now you can use these three supplemental skills to increase your final band score Follow each suggestion during your IELTS preparation and you will achieve General IELTS excellence Extra Resources File Your Extra Resources File is a value-added component just for students who buy my 15 Habits textbook For most chapters, you can explore relevant links to enhance your study because I want you to maximize your score on the IELTS exam! You get links to resources that I’ve only shared in my own courses I’d be interested to know if the textbook and resources made a difference in your score Send me a quick note to: professorwinn@englishlanguagetestprep.com I value your feedback! 7-Day Online IELTS Score Booster Get ready to power up your IELTS skills! Enroll in the 7-Day Online IELTS Score Booster Maximize your IELTS score in the shortest time possible You and I will schedule class days Each class is hours in length Thus, you will receive 14 hours of instruction Get the strong English skills and test techniques to maximize your IELTS score Learn how to manage your time – a big obstacle for many test candidates Know the types of IELTS questions per section and be prepared to answer them! Practice the “hidden skills” you need to succeed on the exam Get the secrets to defeat the “integrated skills” challenge on the test Master the necessary vocabulary to impress exam graders Get expert writing advice to increase your fluency for a higher exam score Enroll now in Days to Boost Your IELTS Score Thank you! Congratulations! You are now better prepared to grab an optimal score on the General IELTS exam Maximize your time between now and exam day to implement your study plan – and stick to it! Discipline, investment in resources, help from a native English speaker, and determination will help you overcome any objectives to well on the exam Thanks for trusting 21 Keys for General IELTS Success to prepare for the big exam day Get more personal instruction [Extend your IELTS preparation – enroll in my free 7-Day IELTS email eCourse!] Good luck on the IELTS! Professor Winn professorwinn@englishlanguagetestprep.com Also by Winn Trivette II, MA Disruption: Lifelong Learning in the Knowledge Economy Professor Winn’s 15 Habits of Highly Successful TOEFL iBT® Candidates 21 Top Business English Grammar Lessons Habits of Business English Success 155 Best Business English Vocabulary Terms Top 153 Business English Collocations, Idioms, and Phrasal Verbs 17 Keys to Better English Writing 303 Vocabulary Words You Need Top 75 Misused English Word Pairs 21 Keys for General IELTS Success How to Use Translation to Grow Your Business 27 Keys to Better English Grammar Professor Winn’s 15 Habits of Highly Successful TOEIC® Candidates 15 Habits of Highly Successful IELTS™ Candidates 23 Keys for Academic IELTS™ Success Watch for more at Winn Trivette II, MA’s site .. .21 Keys for General IELTS Success Winn Trivette II, MA Published by Winn Trivette II, MA, 2018 While every precaution has been taken in... responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein 21 KEYS FOR GENERAL IELTS SUCCESS First edition July 13, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Winn Trivette. .. Copyright © 2018 Winn Trivette II, MA ISBN: 978-1386611028 Written by Winn Trivette II, MA Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Dedication 21 Keys for General IELTS Success Preface Introduction