Class Notes
When grading your work, the what criteria does the IELTS examiner take into account?
•Task response - did you answer the question?
•Cohesion and coherence - have you used clear paragraphs, a logical structure and an effective range of linking devices?
•Grammar and accuracy - have you used a range of structures and tenses appropriately and accurately?
•Lexical resources - range of appropriate vocabulary, accurate use of collocation, avoiding repetition, appropriate register.
What problems do Italian candidates have with the IELTS writing paper?
Over translation
Timing
Not answering the question
Time Management
You have 40 minutes to write 250 words. How much time should you spend:
• Planning? 5 - 10
• Writing? 20 - 25
• Editing and Checking? 5 -10
DON’T TRY TO WRITE TWO COPIES!
What are the 10 areas to look out for when editing (i.e. mistakes that come from translating from Italian)?
1.collocation e.g. have a nightmare
2.false friends e.g. "tremendous"
3.word order - especially adjective + noun e.g. an intimidating air
4.make sure you have used precise verbs rather than generic verbs + nouns e.g. to panic not taken by the panic.
5.verb structure (n.b. reflexive verbs) e.g to search for something, to ask someone for something, to find yourself somewhere
6.articles and possessive pronouns e.g. my bag
7.noun forms especially countable and uncounatble e.g. barbed wire
8.genitive forms e.g. concentration camp
9.vocabulary choice - are your words too formal or academic? Have you used phrasal verbs? E.g. "take out" not extract, "clothes" not garment, "get off" not descend.
10.expressions and fixed phrases e,g, taken by surprise, little by little, to wake with a start.
Task Response
Sample Question:
A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material possessions. Old-fashioned values, such as honour, kindness and trust, no longer seem important.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How many parts are there to the question?
Material possessions – can you think of examples? Luxury apartment, mansions, sports cars, yachts, designer clothes
Old fashioned values – can you think of a synonym? Traditional values
Honour, kindness, trust – can you change these to adjectives? Honourable, kind, trustworthy
Writing Assessment
Assessment Question
According to Barack Obama, income inequality is the "defining challenge of our times", while Pope Francis states that "inequality is the roots of social ills".
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Homewwork
Revise for your Progress Test
The Progress Test will include questions on:
- · Suffixes e.g. ion nouns
- · Finance and economics vocabulary
- · Alternatives to ‘if’
- · Phrasal verbs – especially structure and word order
- · Negotiation language
- · General Grammar – tenses, verb structure
- · General Vocabulary – Gap fill testing lexical precision and collocation
- · Reading Skills – Discourse management – adding missing phrases, Comprehension – True & False
- · Listening Skills – Ordering Statements, listening for opinion
