#1: Topic: A Course You Like To Study
“Describe a course you would like to study (or, do)”
You should say:
- What course it is (or, would be) - Where you would do it
- What you would learn in that course
- And explain why you would like to do this course.
Band 9.0 Sample:
Well, speaking of the course I’d like to do, I would say that it’s an English course. Today, English is considered to be the most important language in the world. That’s why it became one of the compulsory subjects and we now have to study English from elementary onwards.
I’d like to get admitted to the Foreign Trade University which offers a professional course in Business English. They have a good reputation for teaching this course effectively to a high standard. As I have other classes in the morning, I would like to enroll in the afternoon course.
Also, the course fee is both cheap and convenient for me to pay using my bank account.
There are so many reasons why I’d like to enroll in an English course. First of all, English is an international language, hence, having a knowledge of English can help people around the world to communicate better. Second, it also gives us countless opportunities to become more acquainted with other cultures. We depend on English to keep up to date with the latest news from all over the world, since almost all the books and magazines are written in this language.
Finally, learning English can really help us in our careers and enhance our CVs, as these days, many firms need good office employees to conduct international business.
USEFUL VOCABULARY :
1) compulsory: [adjective] that must be done because of a rule or law.
Example: In some countries, it is compulsory to attend school until the age of 16.
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 28 2) onwards: [adverb] continuing from a particular time.
Example: I will be in my office from 8:00 am onwards, until I leave at 6:00 in the evening.
3) reputation: [noun] the opinion that people have about someone/something is like, based on what has happened in the past.
Example: The restaurant enjoys an international reputation for the best Thai cuisine.
4) countless: [adjective] very many; too many to be counted or mentioned.
Example: The teacher has warned him countless times to pay attention in class.
5) acquainted: [adjective] familiar with something having seen, heard or read it.
Example: The students are already acquainted with the history of our country, having studied it at elementary level.
6) keep up to date with: [expression] be informed about the latest information.
Example: I watch the news on TV every day, in order to keep up to date with the political situation.
7) CVs: [noun] short descriptions of your education and qualifications, which you give to an employer when you go for an interview.
Example: Students should make sure that they write good CVs, to help them when they apply for a job.
8) firm: [noun] company.
Example: She works for a firm of lawyers in Paris.
9) conduct: [verb] organize or do a particular activity.
Example: The school has decided to conduct all its classes in English.
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 29
#2: Topic: Exciting Sport
“Describe an exciting sport you know”
You should say:
- What sport it is
- How you know about it - How difficult you think it is
- And explain why you think it is exciting
Band 9.0 Sample:
Of all the different types of sports, I am interested in figure skating the most.
I first learned about figure skating when I watched an Olympic competition in 2012. I found this sport very interesting. I don’t think that figure skating is a sport for everybody since it requires great balancing skills. In addition, the person has to be very flexible and courageous when doing this sport.
Coming from a tropical country, I don’t get to experience ice and snow, thus, figure skating was new to me. Watching the athlete’s elegant performance on ice amazed me. I couldn’t imagine how people could do such things since just walking with ice skates is so difficult. These athletes danced on ice without even tripping. They must have spent a great deal of time practicing and preparing for their performances. Also, I found it very beautiful, as their costumes were so elegant. I even enjoyed the background music they used during the performances. In comparison to other sports, figure skating is an amazing feast for both the eyes and the ears.
USEFUL VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS:
to be interested in – to like or to enjoy. “She is interested in figure skating and he is interested in soccer.”
I found this sport to be very interesting – I thought this sport was very interesting. “He found the work to be too easy for him.”
It requires – something that needs to be done. In this sentence it means that figure skating can only be done by people who have good balance, and not everyone does.
It’s something necessary to have to do well at figure skating. “This job requires you to work 60 hours per week.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 30 Flexible – in this context it means that the person can do many things with his/her body, like putting your foot above your head while you are skating. “Yoga teachers are very flexible and can get themselves into all kinds of crazy positions.”
Courageous – brave. In this case you have to be brave to be a figure skater because itcan be dangerous. “The mountaineers are courageous for climbing so high.”
Elegant performance – describing the performance as elegant means that you thought it was very beautiful or gorgeous; it was pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner. “The dancers gave an elegant performance this evening.”
Amazed me – surprised or shocked me. In this case it was incredible to see the skaters do such things. “It amazed me that he received a 9 on his first IELTS exam.”
To trip – to fall down while you are walking or running or doing something else like dancing or skating. “She tripped and hit her head on the table. Ouch!”
A feast for the eyes and ears – something pleasant to watch and listen to. “The Taylor Swift concert was a feast for the eyes and ears. It was incredible to watch the show and I love her music.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 31
#3: Topic: Things You Want To Buy In The Future
“Describe something you really want to buy (in the future)”
You should say:
- What it is
- When you would like to (= want to / hope to) buy it - How long you have wanted to buy this
- Explain why you would like to buy this
Band 9.0 Sample Answer
We all have a never-ending wish list of things that we want to buy, so do I. One item that has been on my wish list for a long time is a one-bedroom apartment of my own.
I hope to cross this item off my list by the time I turn 30. I know it sounds impossible but it’d be cool if I could do it. And the most important thing is that I have a longterm goal to pursue. Since I am an independent person, I have always wanted to move out of my parents’ house. As soon as I graduated college, I wanted to buy a small apartment. where you would like to buy it *: I’m currently looking for a condo a little further away from the city centre. Despite the fact that it will take longer for me to travel to work, the price will be more reasonable and I will be able to afford it. and
Having a flat of my own means a lot to me for several reasons. Firstly, I can decorate the house according to my own tastes and personality. Secondly, I can do whatever I want without interfering in my parents’ lives. I can invite my friends over for the weekend and I can throw a party anytime I want. Most importantly, I want to show my parents that I am a grown-up woman and that I can take good care of myself.
USEFUL VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
never-ending – used to describe something that seems to never end or have an ending. “She had a never-ending list of complaints about her last company.”
to cross an item off your list – to mark it as finished or completed. When you have a list of things you want to do, and then you do one, you cross it off your list so that you know it has been finished and you don’t have to think about it anymore. “Today she was able to cross five things off of her very long to-do list.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 32 it would be cool if… – another way to say… it would be nice if or it would be great if – you are talking about a hypothetical situation. “It would be cool if you could come visit me while I am in Japan.”
to purse a goal – to go after something that you want to accomplish or achieve. “She spent the last five years pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor.”
an independent person – someone who likes to do things on their own. “Her brother is a very independent person; he moved out of the house when he was only 20 and spent the next five years traveling around the world by himself.”
to move out of – to leave the place where you are living now. “He will be moving out of his apartment at the end of the month.”
condo – short for condominium, a form of housing where a person owns the unit and then can either live in it or rent it out to others. It is different than an apartment, which is usually owned by a person or company that owns all the apartments in a building. “The price for condos these days has really gone up.”
despite the fact that – even though. “Despite the fact that he has already graduated from college, he still has no idea what he wants to do with his life.”
to be more reasonable – related to price, it means that you will have an easier time affording it or paying for it with the money you have. If a price is unreasonable, it means that it is too expensive for you and you won’t buy it at that price. “The housing prices are becoming more reasonable these days than they were 3 years ago.”
means a lot to me – to talk about something being meaningful or important to you. “It means a lot to me that you came to dinner with me on my birthday.”
to decorate – to put up decorations such as paintings, curtains, wall-hangings, art and other things in a home or apartment or office. “People decorate their spaces with things they like.”
according to – in agreement or accord with – in this case, she will decorate her apartment based on her own tastes (what she likes) and her personality (with stuff that represents her). “He will do his job according to his manager’s instructions.”
to interfere with – to get in the way of, to be in the middle of something or others. “He doesn’t like it when his father interferes with his work by telling him what to do.”
to throw a party – to give or host a party, to be the person who invites others to the party and provides drinks and food. “She is throwing a big party for her 50th birthday this Saturday.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 33 a grown-up woman – a mature or adult woman, not a kid. Used to express that you can be responsible and take care of yourself. “She wanted to prove that she was a grown-up woman by purchasing a new condo all by herself.
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 34
#4: Topic: A Place Full Of Colo
“Describe a place you went to that was full of colour.”
You should say:
- What place it was - Why you went there - What you did there
- And explain why you think it was full of colour
Describe a garden or park you visited and liked.
You should say:
- Where it was - What it looked like
- What you did (or, were doing) there [or, what people were doing there - And explain why you liked it.
BAND 9.0 SAMPLE ANSWER:
I would like to share with you my impressions of a garden that I visited last summer, which was full of colour and interest: Claude Monet‟s house and garden in Giverny, France.
As a big fan of Monet‟s paintings, especially the famous „Water Lilies‟, I had always dreamed of seeing he scene in real life. So, when some friends suggested a visit last year, I jumped at the chance. After a journey of about an hour by train from our hotel, we arrived at Giverny. The garden was exactly as he had painted it – it was a riot of colour, from the peaceful white of the water lilies to the striking reds and oranges which filled some of the flowerbeds. The two parts of the garden complemented each other perfectly. We first admired the array of bright flowers and fruit trees in the Clos Normand, but my favourite part was the water garden, and we enjoyed a leisurely stroll, taking in all the colours, perfumes and bird songs. Monet avidly collected prints of Japanese gardens, and these inspired the Japanese bridges covered with wisterias, the water lilies in the pond, and the bamboo and weeping willows which he planted.
For me, it was like a wonderland of colours and a dream come true after so many years.
USEFUL VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS:
impression: feeling or feelings (in the plural) about the garden (impressions) “His impression of the meeting was that it didn‟t go very well.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 35 fan: although the word is often used in the context of football nowadays, here it means a person who admires [ Monet‟s paintings]. “She is a huge fan of Maroon 5.”
jumped at the chance: I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to visit the garden. “He jumped at the chance to go to Las Vegas with his boss.”
a riot of colour: a collection of many different colours. “Sandra‟s rose garden is a riot of colour.”
striking: very attractive and unusual. “The woman he was with was wearing a striking outfit last night.”
flowerbeds: a piece of a garden or park in which flowers are grown. “He loves digging in his flowerbeds.”
complemented each other: each part of the garden added something different to the other part, so that the garden as a whole became more attractive. “The wine and the fish complemented each other to form a perfect meal.”
the array of bright flowers: the large and impressive collection of flowers. “The array of bright flowers in her garden surprised everybody. They didn‟t realize she had planted so many varieties.”
a leisurely stroll: a slow, relaxing walk. “We went for a leisurely stroll along the beach this morning.”
taking in all the colours: our eyes noticed all the colours and features of the garden. “We were taking in all the colours of his garden, when all of a sudden we heard a large crash outside the garden gate. Two cars had just bumped into each other.”
avidly: Monet collected prints of Japanese gardens enthusiastically. “He studied English avidly, from morning until late in the evening.”
prints: copies of original drawings or paintings. “The artist offered her prints for $100 each.”
wisterias: white or purple flowers which cover walls, bridges or trees. “The wisterias in the garden were in full bloom.”
pond: a small area of still water, usually in a garden. “There are many beautiful fish in the pond.”
bamboo: tall tropical plants which have hollow „stems‟ [the long, thin part of the plant] used for building or furniture. “Pandas love to eat bamboo.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 36 weeping willows: trees which grow near water and have „branches‟ which hang downwards.
“There are two weeping willows on the property, but we should cut one down.”
wonderland: an imaginary place in children‟s stories. “The amusement park was a wonderland for both children and adults.
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 37
#5: Topic: Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved
Describe an ambition that you have not yet achieved.
You should say:
- What your ambition is
- When you first had this ambition (or, how long you have had this ambition) - How you plan to achieve it
(possibly) what you have done towards achieving this ambition - And explain why you have not achieved it yet
Band 9.0 Sample Answer:
One of my ambitions that I have not yet achieved is to be able to communicate in Japanese.
I just thought about this idea a year ago because I realized that nowadays, knowing more foreign languages is an advantage not only in our daily lives but also in work environments.
In order to achieve this, I registered for a Japanese class for beginners, twice a week. I also downloaded an application on my iPhone which helps people study foreign languages named Duolingo, so that I can study on my own at home. For the first two months, I did not skip any classes, and spent at least 30 minutes every night studying Japanese on Duolingo at home.
Unfortunately, I could not keep up with the schedule for long since I was working full time, not to mention that I had many other social activities that distracted me from studying. There were days when I was so busy that I had to work overtime to finish my job. As a result, I wasn’t able to go to class and I definitely didn’t have any time to study at home. Moreover, my friends complained that I had been ignoring them, so I needed to arrange time to hang out with them. Just like that, I gradually lost my ambition to study Japanese and until now, I can only remember one alphabet table, even though Japanese uses three types of alphabets.
USEFUL VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS:
ambition – a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. “Her ambition to become CEO of the company amazes her boyfriend.”
not yet achieved – to not yet reach a goal or to succeed in doing something that you really want to do. “He has not yet achieved his goal of getting an 8 on the IELTS writing exam.”
IELTS Fighter – The Leading IELTS Training Center in VN Page 38 to realize that – to become aware of something, to know or come to understand something for the first time. “His mom didn’t realize that she wouldn’t be able to visit him while he was studying in Germany.”
to be an advantage – something that offers you a better opportunity at something is an advantage or benefit to you. “As an employee, it is an advantage to be fluent in English these days.”
to register for – to sign up for something like a class or workshop; to put your name on the list and pay your money. “He has only five days left to register for the conference.”
to skip classes – to miss a class or not go to a class for some reason. “His teacher said that if he skipped any more classes, he wouldn’t receive any credit for the course.”
to keep up with – to be able to perform at a certain level or to be able to continue to do something as planned. “She had a difficult time keeping up with all of the homework that her English professor gave her.”
not to mention that – used to add additional information when you are explaining why something did or didn’t happen, used to introduce an additional fact or point that reinforces the point being made. “She can’t go to the meeting on Friday because she is ill, not to mention that she has already put in twice as much time as everybody else has this week.”
distracted me from – used to talk about when you go off task or stop working on something because your attention goes elsewhere. “Her funny jokes distracted me from getting my homework done.”
they complained – to complain means to tell someone that you don’t like something for some reason. His friends didn’t like that he wasn’t spending time with them, so they complained to him. “His wife complained that he was working too many hours.”
to ignore someone – you ignore someone when you don’t respond to their phone calls, messages, emails, etc., you don’t pay attention to them. “He thought I was ignoring him because I didn’t answer his text, but I was just in a meeting and couldn’t text him back.”
to arrange – to organize or to schedule something. “She needed to arrange a time to meet with the accountant.”
to hang out with – to spend time with someone. “They liked to hang out with their friends on weekends.
#6: Topic: A Child Made You Laugh