Ege Academy Blog

IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING

In this part you have two writing tasks and 60 minutes.

TASK 1: you should spend 20 minutes. ( at least 150 words )

TASK 2: you should spend 40 minutes. ( at least 250 words )

TASK 1

In this task you look at a diagram, a table, or short piece of text and present the information given in your own words.

Your paper will be evaluated by checking your skill to

- organise, present and compare data.

- describe the stages of a process.

- describe an object or an event.

- explain how something works.

Your ability to

• answer the question without straying from the topic
• write in a way which allows your reader to follow your ideas
• use English grammar correctly
• use appropriate language in terms of style and content

will also be evaluated.

TASK 2

In the second task you present an argument or discuss a problem.

Criteria

• your ability to present the solution to a problem.
• your ability to justify an opinion
• your ability compare and contrast evidence and opinions.
• your evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence, or an argument

ACADEMIC READING MODULE

• There are 3 reading passages you must read. Passages contain nearly 1500-2500 words.
• There are between 38 and 42 questions.

• You have 60 minutes to complete the reading part.

WHAT DO WE READ? ( Types of material )

You will face various articles from magazines, newspapers, journals and textbooks.

TYPES OF QUESTIONS

• multple choice
• short answer question
• sentence completion
• choosing from a bank of headings
• identification of writer’s views or attitudes ( Yes / No / Not given )
• classification
• matching lists
• matching phrases

IELTS exam consists 4 different parts.

Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking are the four parts of the test.

LISTENING PART ( 4 different sections. 30 min. )

• In this part you must listen to 4 different sections and answer the questions as you listen
• The tape will be played once only.
• This part consists of between 38 and 42 questions. It takes about 30 minutes.
• You will be given time to read the questions during the test and time to write them on to the answer sheet at the end of the test.

FIRST TWO SECTIONS OF THE LISTENING PART are based on SOCIAL SITUATIONS

• Converstaion between two people
• Monologue

THE SECOND TWO SECTIONS are based on EDUCATIONAL or TRAINING context

• Conversation with up to 4 speakers.
• Lecture or talk of general academic interest.

WHAT ARE THE QUESTION TYPES?

You will be asked;

• multiple choice questions
• short answer questions
• sentence completion ( summary, notes, table completion, flow chart )
• labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
• matching questions.

GET OFF something

Check these sentences

• As my motorbike has got a flat tyre, it is better for me to get off and walk.
• Don’t forget you’re going to get off the train when you arrive the fifth station.
• While I was sitting at a cafe, a black car stopped and three people got off it.

MEANING: leave a vehicle ( araçtan inmek )

OPPOSITE ( X )

get off something X get on something

MODAL VERBS; CAN / BE ABLE TO EXERCISES

Fill in the blanks with can, can’t, could, couldn’t or was / wasn’t able to

1. Kemal ________________ afford this watch. It’s too expensive.

2. She _______________ swim. She learnt how to swim when she was 7.

3. Sinan _____________ find the password after three attempts.

4. I ______________ open the door since my hands were full.

5. Leyla is a practical girl. She _____________ do every housework very quickly.

6. When I was a child, I _______________ skateboard.

7. As soon as I saw the boy in front of my car, I _______________ step the brake.

8. Because it was foggy, Tim _____________ see clearly.

9. Larry Bird ____________ score 30 points in the last match.

10. In the last Olympic games in Beijing Usain Bolt _____________ run 100 meters in 9.69 seconds and he broke the world record.

KEY: 1. can’t  2. can  3. was able to  4. couldn’t / wasn’t able to  5. can  6. could  7. was able to  8. couldn’t / wasn’t able to 9. was able to 10. was able to

MODAL VERBS showing ABILITY

CAN = BE ABLE TO

We use ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ to express present ability.

Check these sentences.

I can drive a car. = I’m able to drive a car.

She can cook Turkish dishes very well. = She’s able to cook Turkish dishes very well.

Nilay can repair a bike. = Nilay is able to repair a bike.

Although my grandfather is old, he can climb a mountain.

She can’t swim fast. = She isn’t able to swim fast.

Sedat and Murat can’t speak French. = They aren’t able to speak French.

( ? )

Can you ride a camel? = Are you able to ride a camel?

Can she use a typewriter? = Is she able to use a typewriter?

Can Will and Jack translate this article? = Are Will and Jack able to translate this article?

can and be able to have the same meaning. They both express present ABILITY.

We often use ‘be able to’ in written English.

PAST ABILITY

Past form of can is COULD.

Check these sentences.

When Dora was a child, he could climb the trees easily.

My grandfather could speak seven languages.

I couldn’t swim when I was 12.

ATTENTION!!!!!

****could and was/were able to don’t have the same meaning.****

• ‘could’ shows a general ability in the past. ( I could swim when I was a child )

• BUT

• was / were able to shows an ability in one single event in the past.

Although Alex didn’t play well in the last match, he was able to score two great goals. ( This is an ability in a single event. )

There was a fire at Hilton Hotel yesterday. Fortunately, the firefighters came on time and they were able to put out the fire.

I always beat Murat in tennis. However in the last game he was able to beat me.

was / were able to = managed to

As soon as she understood what the problem was, she managed to repair it.

Fenerbahçe managed to beat Chelsea in Istanbul last year. (ability in single event)

couldn’t = wasn’t / weren’t able to

**There is no difference in meaning with the negative forms.

WORD FORMATION (KELIME TÜRETME)

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words.

create     creation     creative     creatively

a. She is  fashion designer and it means that she is __________

b. They haven’t exhibited the summer ____________ yet.

c. As an advertising manager his job is to __________ new ways of advertising.

d. Have you seen the last advert of Nike? The artist worked ________.

KEY: a. creative  b. creation  c. to create  d. creatively