8th Edition, 2022

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet

 Contents
th
Introduction to the 8 Edition _________________________3
Key Facts about IELTS_______________________________ 4
IELTS Four Skills____________________________________5
Sixteen Fatal mistakes IELTS Candidates make___________6

Section ONE: Listening

1-1 Listening types of questions_________________________7
1-2 Part 1 in the listening test___________________________8
1-3 Part 2 in the listening test__________________________10
1-4 How to crack Part 3_______________________________11
1-5 How to crack Part 4_______________________________14
1-6 Twenty Practical Considerations ____________________16
1-7 Ten terrible mistakes to avoid_______________________17
1-8 Listening Answer Sheet____________________________18
1-9 Improve listening in general ________________________19

Section TWO: Reading

2-1 General Training reading vs. Academic______________20
2-2 Fourteen tips and techniques_______________________20
2-3 How to answer each type of the questions_____________21
2-4 Tips to remember in reading_______________________28
2-5 Ten actual steps to do a reading test_________________29
2-6 Reading Answer Sheet____________________________30

Section THREE: Writing

3-1 Eleven general tips for writing_______________________31
3-2 Twenty reasons why people are stuck in 6.5____________32
3-3 General Training Task 1 Writing a Letter_____________33
3-3-1 Fourteen mistakes in letters________________36
3-3-2 Structure of a good letter___________________37
3-4 Academic Task 1 Writing a Report___________________39
3-4-1 Structure of a good report__________________40
3-4-2 Thirteen mistakes in reports________________42
3-4-3 Academic task 1 words and phrases__________43
3-5 Writing Task 2 Essay Types_________________________47
3-5-1 Summary of the Types of Essay _____________54
3-5-2 Twelve mistakes in essays___________________58

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 1

 3-5-3 Five practical tips towards 8.0_______________59
3-5-4 Structure of a good essay___________________60
3-5-5 How to avoid personal language_____________62
3-6 Writing Assessment Criteria_________________________63

Section FOUR: Speaking

4-1 Key facts about speaking___________________________64
4-2 Speaking Test Parts_______________________________65
4-3 Twenty general tips to do better_____________________66
4-4 Part 2 the Cue Card_______________________________67
4-5 Part 3 Ten Expansion Techniques____________________68
4-6 Four speaking test problems________________________69
4-7 Topic Examples for each part________________________70
4-8 Three super tips to perfect your pronunciation_________74
4-9 Speaking Assessment Criteria_______________________75

Appendices:
Appendix 1: A list of 50 common synonyms_______________76
Appendix 2: How to paraphrase effectively_______________79
Appendix 3: Grammar: Types of Sentences_______________81
Appendix 4: Grammar: Verb Tenses_____________________88
Appendix 5: Cohesive Devices___________________________98
Appendix 6: Phrasal Verbs_____________________________100
Appendix 7: Thirty commonly-used Idioms_______________102
Appendix 8: Gap Fillers in Speaking_____________________104
Appendix 9: Punctuation and Capitalization______________108

Bibliography (References)____________________________________111
About the Author _____________________________________ Back Cover

Click the link below to join our group on Facebook!

(IELTS 4 Arabs)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ielts4arabs/

For course details, hit me up on WhatsApp via this link:

https://wa.link/5ttxre

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 2

 Introduction to the 8th Edition (Oct. 2022)

First of all, I would like to thank you for your interest on getting this booklet.
Before studying the topics presented in it, you may need to have a look at the
following guidelines: -

- This booklet is designed for candidates who want to get a panoramic, accurate
overall view on IELTS preparation.

- You can study this booklet on your own (self-study program) or in a classroom
with a teacher. In the soft version, you will need to click on some links to watch
the lesson on my YouTube channel.

- This booklet is dealing with the four skills covered in the IELTS test: Listening,
Reading, Writing & Speaking respectively and according to my IELTS
preparation course action plan.

- It is advisable to study this booklet along with “The Official Cambridge Guide
to IELTS” for more training on the listening and reading sub-skills and strategies
in the units and doing practice tests from the latter.

- This booklet is the 8th edition which was published in October, 2022. Therefore,
updates and appendices will be added eventually and appear in the upcoming
editions.

For your comments and suggestions on it, please feel free to write to me on my
email address: elsaidrashad11@gmail.com OR via WhatsApp: +966556973282.
Besides, you can visit my website: www.mrhappyenglish.com for more English
and IELTS materials or scan this QR code to join or visit my group on
Facebook.

Author
Elsaid Rashad – IELTS Trainer
October 2022
DELTA, University of Cambridge, UK
MA TESOL, University of Sunderland, UK
Cambridge Assessment Specialist and Teacher Trainer

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 3

 Key Facts about IELTS

Key Facts about IELTS

- IELTS = International English Language Testing System
- Band Score range: 0 – 9 (No Failing Grade)
- Test Format: Paper-based or Computerized
- Number of Sections: 4
- Length: About 2 hours 40 minutes + 15 min for Speaking

What is in the EXAM?

Paper Content Time
1. Listening 40 questions 30 minutes + 10 min. to transfer
2. Reading 40 questions 60 minutes - no time to transfer
3. Writing 2 tasks 60 minutes
4. Speaking 3 parts 11-14 minutes

The IELTS Four Papers

- In IELTS, there are FOUR papers: Listening, Reading, Writing and
Speaking.
- There are TWO different IELTS Modules: Academic and General
Training. The Listening and Speaking tests are the same in both modules,
but the Reading and Writing tests are different.
IELTS Academic Module IELTS General Training Module
…can be used for: - …is commonly used for: -
- undergraduate OR - vocational training programmes
- postgraduate study OR
- OR for professional reasons. - for immigration reasons.

IELTS vs. TOEFL (The two English language proficiency tests)

- In the TOEFL speaking test you will speak to a computer.
- For TOEFL writing test you will type everything on a keyboard.
- The TOEFL listening test is 60 minutes long. Only standard American English used.
- The TOEFL test is all in an academic context.
- The TOFEL test is multiple-choice only. It takes about 4 hours to complete.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 4

IELTS Four Skills
Key Facts about the IELTS Listening Paper
- Listening is the first section in the IELTS exam.
- The listening test is the same in both General Training and Academic.
- Timing: 30 minutes + 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
- The listening paper has 4 parts, with 10 questions in each part; 40 items in total.
- Parts 1 and 3 are conversations between two or more people. While parts 2 and 4 are
monologues; only person is giving a talk or a lecture.
- You will hear the recording once only.
- Marking: whole or half band, e.g., 5.5 or 6.0.
- There are 6 types of questions in this section.

Key Facts about the IELTS Reading Paper

- There are two types of the Reading paper; Academic and General Training.
- There are three sections/ passages in each paper. Section/ passage 1 is the easiest.
- Section/ passage 1 is about everyday topics, while section/ passage 2 is about work topics.
- Section/ passage 3 is the most challenging among all. Give it more time than 1 and 2.
- Time: 60 minutes; to answer the questions and transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
- Number of questions in the Reading paper: 40 questions.
- Length of words in the three sections: 2,500 words.
- Score band: from 1 – 9. It can be half or whole band.
- There are 11 types of questions in the Reading paper.

IELTS General Training Writing Paper IELTS Academic Writing Paper

There are also TWO writing tasks.
There are TWO writing tasks, as follows: In Task 1: A Report
In Task 1: A Letter - Describe some visual infographics in your
- Respond to a situation by writing a letter. own words.
- Write at least 150 words. - Write at least 150 words.
- Timing: only 20 minutes - Timing: only 20 minutes

In Task 2: An Essay In Task 2: An Essay

- You will be given one of five different - It is the same as in General Training.
types of essays to write about. (With some minor differences in difficulty
and topics)
- Write at least 250 words. - Write at least 250 words.
- Timing: 40 minutes - Timing: 40 minutes

Key Facts about the IELTS Speaking Test

- Speaking is the fourth section in the IELTS exam. The speaking test is recorded.
- The speaking test is the same in both General Training and Academic.
- Timing: 11 - 14 minutes. Part 1 {4-5 min}. Part 2 {3-4 min}. Part 3 {4-5 min}.
It is a face-to-face interview between the candidate and the examiner.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 5

16 FATAL MISTAKES THAT IELTS CANDIDATES MAKE:

Whether you had the IELTS test before and got a bad score or you tend to study IELTS in
the coming days, you need to read these mistakes carefully in order to be able to avoid them
while studying.

1- Doing self-study and getting a bad score, then doing that again and again.
2- Taking a course with someone who is not specialized in English and even not qualified
to teach English.
3- Booking a test without even knowing the format of the test or the techniques.
4- Downloading a large number of gigabytes of IELTS materials and confusing themselves.
5- Doing listening tests directly without being trained on the listening sub-skills.
6- Doing reading tests directly without being trained on the reading sub-skills and
strategies.
7- Answering listening and reading tests on a PDF instead of printing the test question paper.
8- Not transferring the answers to the answer sheet after doing listening and reading tests.
9- Not making listening and reading their daily habits. Do not just listen for the test.
10- Not doing the writing tasks in the writing answer sheet.
11- Wasting time memorizing words without even being able to use them in meaningful
sentences.
12- Not finding a good IELTS tutor to assess their writing and figuring out their weakness
points.
13- Not following a certain type of structure for writing task 1 and 2.
14- Not paying attention to accuracy while practicing speaking for IELTS; accuracy in
vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
15- Not having enough knowledge on some topics in IELTS writing and speaking.
Language will not be enough.
16- Using literal meaning translation from their Arabic mother tongue to express
themselves in English.

Why Study IELTS with us?!

Watch this short video.
https://youtu.be/M4t84efv1Vk

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 6

Section 1 - Listening

Key Facts about the IELTS Listening Paper

- Listening is the first section in the IELTS exam.
- The listening test is the same in both General Training and Academic.
- Timing: 30 minutes + 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
- The listening paper has 4 parts, with 10 questions in each.
- There are forty questions in total.
- Parts 1 and 3 are dialogues between two or more people.
- Parts 2 and 4 are monologues; only one person speaking.
- You will hear the recording ONCE only, but ANSWERS COME IN ORDER.
- Marking: whole or half band, e.g., 7.5 or 8.0.

* What are the listening types of questions?

There are 9 types of questions out of these task types:-
- Completion: [Table – Notes – Summary – Flow-chart, etc.]
- Multiple Choice: [1 option out of 3 or 2 out of 5 or 3 out of 7]
- Matching: [Information, Headings, Features, Sentence Endings]
- Labeling: [Diagram – Map/ Plan]
- Classification: [Categories]
- Short-Answer Questions (SAQ).

Get ready to listen by understanding the context.

The Context:
Who are the speakers?
What are they talking about? Why? And so on.

Time to read the questions:

Before you do each section, you will be given 30-45 seconds to look at the questions
assigned.

And what should I do?

- Skim the questions accurately.
- Underline key words.
- Guess what type of words you need.
- Predict what you might hear.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 7

Then while listening:
IELTS listening requires a multi-skill technique; you will need to listen, read and
take notes.
- Take notes (you will hear synonyms).
- Cross out incorrect options (after you make sure they are distractors).
- Identify the speakers (male/ female/ younger/ older).
- Focus on the decision they reach (advantages and disadvantages of the
suggestion).
- Listen till the end; don’t rush yourself.
- Don’t panic if you hear difficult terms; they will be explained to you.
Appendix 1: Synonyms

Section 1:
Use the Correct Spelling:
Listen carefully for the name of a person or a place. Often, the names will be
spelt out for you. You need to recognize the letters of English Alphabet well.
If you make a spelling mistake in the IELTS listening paper, your
answer will be marked wrong.

Use Small or Capital Letters?

In IELTS listening and reading, you can write all your answers either in
CAPITAL LETTERS or in lower case. I don't recommend for Arabs writing in
all CAPITAL LETTERS as it takes longer time and we're not used to writing
letters in UPPERCASE.
However, in English grammar, you must pay attention to capitalize letters when
it is appropriate. Review my booklet for capitalization on page (65).

Writing Numbers:
You will hear numbers in different ways, like: prices [$12.99], times [3.00 PM],
dates [July 13th] and so on. They can be small [the number 4], big [40] or large
numbers [39.000]. Also, you may hear a combination of numbers and letters,
like: [LHP 372].
You should be trained on how to understand and write them as you listen.

Appendix 9: Capitalization Rules

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 8

Word-limit:
The number of words required:
IELTS Listening: 'No more than .... words'
You will often see instructions like this in the listening test:
1.Write one word only for each answer.
2.Write one word and / or a number for each answer.
3.Write no more than two words and / or a number for each answer.
4. Write no more than three words for each answer.

1) The first instruction is easy: make sure you only write one word. If you write
two words (e.g., "a pen") your answer will be wrong.
2) The second instruction means that your answer can be any of the following:
one word, one number, a word, and a number (e.g., 12th September).
3) The third instruction means that your answer can be any of the following: one
word, one number, a word and number, two words, two words and a number
(e.g., 15 Bank Road). If you see this instruction, it is likely that one of the
answers in that section will require two words or two words and a number.
4) The fourth instruction means that your answer can be any of the following:
one word, two words, or three words. If you see this instruction, it is likely that
one of the answers in that section will require three words.

Note:
- Hyphenated words (e.g., hard-working) are counted as one word.
- “Two hundred and fifty-five” is a number, not 4 separate words.

Example:
NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER
You are required to write:
- one word [books]
- one word and a number [one hundred and fifty books]
- a number [one hundred and fifty]

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 9

Section 2:
Labeling a Map:
To identify an area on a map, you need to familiarize yourself with both the list
of options [A-G] and the features on the map [1-5] before you start. Moreover,
you need to understand where you are, where you want to go, and the landmarks
on your way along with the directions using adverbs and prepositions of place.

Landmark
Location Adverbs & Prepositions Destination
Directions

Understanding a process/ Completing a Diagram:

You need to understand mechanical parts, like:

a pipe a wheel a pump (handle)

a spring (coil) a filter (grille) a tank (storage)

Also, here are some verbs which can be used to describe a process.
Spin turn pop hold
Wind generate wrap pull
Push explode rotate hit
Drag activate force press

Understanding the prepositions and adverbs which are used to explain

movements will also help:

Prepositions (no object after) Adverbs (there is an object)

upside down inside
upwards through
downwards along
diagonally beneath
around

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 10

Section 3:
The Language Function:
You need to identify the functions of the conversation in sections 1 and 3.
Examples of function:

Suggesting Confirming
Agreeing Moving to a new topic
Rejecting an idea Checking information
Correcting Showing anger
This will help you select the right answer.

Understanding Attitudes and Opinions:

Identifying the speakers’ opinions can help you answer the questions as well. But
you need to recognize the response, as follows:
a) strong agreement
b) neither complete agreement nor complete disagreement
c) complete disagreement
The speakers will eventually try to reach a conclusion by making suggestions or
trying to persuade each other.

How to Crack Listening Section 3!

Listen to the audio and answer questions 21 – 30.
Listening Section 3 This is the part where you listen to an audio conversation of up to
three or four people. This is perhaps the most challenging section for many candidates.

Why is this section difficult?!

Some reasons are as follows:
- You are very likely to get confused with the voices of the speakers.
- It is an academic discussion. It could either be two students talking with a professor or
a student presenting their resource to their colleagues.
- Some of the vocabulary in this section will be a bit more difficult than sections 1 and 2.
- This section requires speed reading for the questions before you start listening.

Here are some golden tips:

- Use the half a minute at the end of section two to read the questions of section 3 to
familiarize yourself with them.
- Listen to the context introduction and example audio properly to be able to recognize
different voices well [male – female – older – younger].

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 11

 - Underline key words in the questions, but be careful these key words may be
paraphrased.
- You have to be quick enough to move your eyes over all the questions/ features as well
as the options.
- Do remember that information in the audio always flows in the same order as the
order of the questions.

Types of questions:
The following types of questions are popular in section 3
1. Multiple-choice Questions [MCQ]
2. Flow-chart or Diagram
3. Matching Headings

Now, let us have a look at each type.

1) Multiple-choice Questions
Here are a few reasons why MCQs are tricky:
- There is so much information. You might not have time to read all the questions and
choices before the recording starts.
Golden Tip: Read questions only before listening. Read the choices while listening.

- It is easy to get lost as you listen to the recording.

Golden Tip: You need to focus on the key words to keep your place in the recording and be
able to pick up the right choice.
- All answer options will probably be given in the recording, but only one will be correct.
Golden Tip: Avoid distractors; the incorrect options. Highlight similar options.
- The speaker may say something and then contradicts it in the next sentence.
Golden Tip: Listen till the end. You should be familiar with the language functions. You can
use ticks and crosses for right and wrong options.
Your answer should be a letter not a word – be careful when you transfer your answers.

2) Diagram
It is common to get diagrams in IELTS listening section 2 or 3.
Here are tips on how to answer labeling a diagram correctly:
- Have a look at the title of the diagram to help you predict the topic.
- Familiarize yourself with the diagram and its parts by having a look at its features
before you start listening.
- Look at the list of options given to choose from. [Some of them may be excluded.]
- Check how many numbers or words you will need to use.
- Check the location of each number. Do not lose tracking.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 12

Remember that:
- Answers come in order.
- Some answers may be paraphrased as you have options to choose from.

3) Matching in IELTS listening

Matching headings involves matching a list of questions to another list of options.
Here are tips to deal with that type of question:
- Audio information for the questions is always in order. [Be careful: Answers may come
quickly; you may get two answers in a very short time. Answers may also come slowly;
there may be a gap between answers. Don’t panic!]
- Underline key words in the options. [Careful: They may be paraphrased, so you need to
understand paraphrasing well.]
- Keep your eyes and ears open. Your eyes on the options so that you can choose the
right one(s) and your ears with the audio but be aware of the transition points.
- Look for answers only. Do not try to understand everything in the conversation.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 13

Section 4:
Following a Lecture or a Talk:
In this section, you need to understand how ideas are connected. Here are some
examples of the information you may hear.
1) The methods used in a particular study
2) The effects of an action [impact]
3) The reason why something happened
4) The conclusion that can be drawn from research [deduce]
5) The findings of an experiment [results]

Signposting Words:
In academic subjects, speakers often use signposting words to move from one
topic to another, or to help connect the ideas in three different ways:
a) to start off a topic [begin]
b) to change to a new topic [move]
c) to finish off a topic [end]

How to Crack Listening Section 4!

Listen to the audio and answer questions from 31 – 40.
Listening Section 4 is considered, by many candidates, to be the most challenging
section of the listening test.

But Why?!
It could be because:
- It is a talk or a lecture by one person.
- The speaker usually talks quite quickly, and a wide range of vocabulary is used.
- It is an academic talk, so it will be divided into paragraphs. [You need to identify the
main ideas and know how they are connected.]
- Unlike other sections, there will be no break in the middle of it.

Types of questions:
The following types of questions are popular in section 4
1. Completion: - Table – Notes – Summary
2. Short Answer Questions [SAQ]
3. Multiple-choice Questions [MCQ]

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 14

So what you should do is:
- Use the time given in section 3 to read some questions in section 4.
- Highlight key words in the questions; by circling and underlining them. [Careful these
words may be paraphrased.]
- Keep tracking. Focus on signposting words, which will be used to move from one point
to another.
- Predict the type of information you need to listen for. [Check what you have written
fits in the space grammatically] as a noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
- Have your eye on two questions at the same time.
- The speaker will normally stress the answer word.
- For key words, pick out the more general word, not the more specific.
- If you do not know the meaning of an answer word, guess its spelling and write it.

Some more general tips:

- Do not try to understand everything. [Focus on listening for answers only.]
- Make notes as you listen. [Do not worry about misspellings; you can correct them
while transferring to the answer sheet.]
- Do not panic when you hear technical words. They will explain them for you.
- Stick to the number of words required. [ONE WORD ONLY]
- Pay attention to paraphrasing (highlight a word before and after the gap).
- Some words will never be paraphrased like East and West.

Do you know that you can get a band 7 in listening even if you get 4 out of 10 in section 4?
Yes, if you score 10 out of 10 in section 1, and 8 out of 8 in sections 3 and 4, you still can get a band 7 in listening.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 15

2o Practical Considerations while doing a Listening Test!

These tips were taken from a practical test that had been done by Mr Happy with some
trainees during the IELTS preparation course. Hope they are beneficial for all of you.

1. Write numbers in digits not in letters (to avoid misspelling).

2. Write the answers as you hear them exactly; do not paraphrase them.
3. Use the time given after each section to read questions of the next section.
4. Do not capitalize words when they should not be capitalized.
5. Make sure that the answer word fits grammatically, and the sentence makes sense.
6. Transfer your answers to the answer sheet and check the answer key carefully.
7. Listen to the recording again but after you finish the test.
8. Read the recording script if you need some clarifications.
9. Train your ears by listening a lot to acquire correct pronunciation.
10. Pay attention to the spelling of words and grammatical features.
11. Write the letters not the words in the matching and choice questions.
12. Either American spelling or British spelling of words will be acceptable.
13. Careful! Sometimes they will not give you some time to read some questions.
14. In MCQ, only read the questions before listening. Read the options while listening.
15. They may paraphrase the answers if there are options to choose from.
16. Underline and circle key words in the questions. They may be paraphrased.
17. Predict the type of word and the grammatical features needed for the spaces.
18. Have your eyes on two questions at the same time to keep tracking.
19. You may need to guess any missing answer before you move to the next section.
20. Try to guess the spelling for words that you hear for the first time. You may guess right.

Golden Tips:
1. The more listening tests you do, the better you are, the higher band score you get.
2. Revise the three pdf files we did during the course in the listening section.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 16

10 Terrible Mistakes to Avoid in the IELTS Listening Exam:

1. Not using a pencil.

2. Not using the listening answer sheet during training.
3. Not writing the answers in their right boxes.
4. Not using the time given to read ahead.
5. Not taking notes to avoid distractors.
6. Incorrect spelling/ grammar mistakes.
7. Reading the options in the MCQ; read them while listening.
8. Losing concentration and tracking.
9. Leaving an answer blank.
10. Transferring the answers in the answer sheet during listening sections.

Click on the link below to download all Cambridge Official Answer Sheets:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CffmZpoSWkZPMBtsfcduTHXAPYPqnuqj

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 17

When doing a listening test, you’d better allocate yourself
10 minutes to transfer your answers to this answer sheet.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 18

Do you need to improve your English Listening in general?!
Here are some suggested sources to improve your English listening in general to be
able to score high in IELTS. Listen daily; make it a habit for you. Listen every day,
everywhere. Listen passively without even focusing on much detail.

Practice every day!

1. “Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab” is an amazing website. Practise listening.

Do the “Basic Listening Quizzes” Section.
https://www.esl-lab.com/

2. A lot of listening tests on YouTube. Practice listening to some of them.

NB: Don’t rely much on them as they are not authentic.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsMMTtH9uR-p-BEfERqmVdg/playlists

3. Learn American English with VOA (Voice of America).

Learning English.
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/

4. BBC Learning English (British Broadcast Channel).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

5. IELTS Practice Exams from Barron’s. They are much easier than Cambridge
tests. If you think your level is low, start with them.
Barron’s IELTS Listening Test 1 with Answers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj4ZQRD0ghk

Golden Tip: Listen and notice the pronunciation and repeat what you hear yourself.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 19

Section 2 - Reading

Key Facts about IELTS Reading Paper:

- There are two types of the Reading paper; Academic and General Training.
- There are three sections in GT paper. Each section has two passages.
- There is a question on each passage.
- Section 1 is about everyday topics, while section 2 is about work topics.
- Section 3 is general reading from a newspaper, magazine, or a novel.
- Academic paper has three passages. Each passage has three questions.
- Time: 60 minutes; to answer the questions and transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
- Number of questions in the Reading paper: 40 questions.
- Length of words in the three sections: 2,500 words.
- Band score: from 1 – 9. It can be half or whole band (e.g., 7 or 7.5).
- There are almost 11 types of questions in the Reading paper.

Please, pay attention to the following fourteen tips and techniques:

1- Use the features of the reading passage to understand the context more clearly.
2- Time is very limited and challenging. Time management is a must in the Reading test.
Note: [General Training: 15-15-30], [Academic: 17-20-23].
3- Skimming or speed reading is important to find the main points before
answering the questions by underlining content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives and
adverbs). Train yourself to skim read a paragraph in 30 seconds.
4- Scanning is reading for specific details; searching for a particular type of
information; (name, date, number, results, description,…).
[Which one comes first? It depends on the situation. They are interchangeable.]
5- Use only words from the passage to answer the questions; do not paraphrase.
6- Make sure you copy the spelling correctly to the answer sheet. Spelling does matter.
7- Focus on paraphrasing. This will help you understand the Reading passage.
8- Respect the word limits. If you’re asked to choose ONE WORD ONLY, do not write more.
Note: A hyphenated word (e.g., long-term) count as one word.
9- Distinguish main ideas of the passage from supporting ideas.
10- Identify types of information, like: a number, a date, a reason, a finding, a
result, etc. They will help you get answers more quickly.
11- Pay attention to the cohesive devices classifications: add, contrast, result, etc.
12- Read international newspapers and magazines; {The Times, The Guardian, The
New Yorker, and the Washington Post for reports on academic studies.
[Make reading your daily habit.]
13- Identify the writer’s tone or attitude, whether positive or negative in
argumentative texts. That will help you in the MCQ.
14- Identify grammatical features in a passage; types of words (nouns, verbs, etc.)
[That will help you guess answers that you need to look for.]

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 20

 How to answer different types of questions?!
1- Matching Headings with Subheadings
2- Matching Headings with paragraphs Answers are not sequential.
3- Matching types of information They DO NOT come in order.
4- Matching Features with Statements
5- Flow-chart/ diagram completion
6- Summary Completion
7- Multiple-choice Questions
8- MCQ Writer’s Tone/ Attitude
9- Short Answer Questions
10- True/ False/ Not Given or Yes/ No/ Not Given Read the passage first, not the questions.

1) Match headings with subheadings.

Pay attention to the features of the reading passage, like:
heading subheading paragraph
illustration/ figure caption footnote
They will help you understand the passage in the academic module.
Underline key words in the subheadings. That will help you match correctly.

2) Matching headings with paragraphs.

The headings summerise the main ideas of the paragraphs or sections.
A best way to do this task is to:
1. Read the headings and underline key words in each one.
2. Skim read the first paragraph. Then go back to the headings to select the one, and so on.
NB: - Match the paragraphs to the headings (not the headings to the paragraphs) as the
number of paragraphs is fewer than the number of headings.
- Some headings will be excluded.

Read this for more details on this type of question.

A few things to know about Matching Headings to Paragraphs:

1. 1- The task is to match between 5 and 7 headings to paragraphs in the text.

2. 2- If it is used for a reading passage, it will usually be the first set of questions.
3. 3- There are always more headings than paragraphs.
4. 4- You may need to read the whole text or only a part of it.
5. 5- Matching headings with paragraphs tests your ability to understand
general information.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 21

Some Pitfalls (Common Problems):

- Just because a paragraph contains the key word(s) of a heading, it does not mean that is
the correct heading! You still need to read carefully around the key words in the paragraph and
see if it does indeed have the same main idea as the heading. If you are still unsure, just write a
note to the side and come back to it later after you’re sure about the other headings.

- Keep track of your notes and answers. Students sometimes carelessly write down the wrong
Roman numeral on the answer sheet! Familiarize yourself with the roman numeral system (at
least just up to 15, which is XV).

- Do not accidentally use the same heading twice. Again, keep clear notes of what answers
you are using for which paragraph.

- Keep track of your time. You should allow 20 minutes *maximum per reading passage (as
there are 3 of them to do within 60 min.) If you find that you are spending too much time here,
move on to the other questions! Maybe after answering those, you will have a better
understanding of the passage and you will be able to go back and finish the heading questions.

Top 8 Tips for Matching Headings!

1. Do these questions first.

Always do exercises with headings first, as the headings summarize the text. They help you
scan the answers to the other questions.

2. Try looking at the shortest paragraph(s) first.

By this way you can skim through it quicker, choose the heading and then you will have fewer
headings to choose from for the longer paragraphs.

3. Read through the list of headings.

Become familiar with them and underline key words that either identify the main idea or target
words that you will be scanning for in the passage.

4. If there are two or three headings that are similar:

First, match any headings that are obvious, and you are sure about. For other kind of
similar headings, write them (2 – 3 headings) beside the paragraph and try to figure out the
difference between them. What are the keywords? How does this change the meaning? Which
one matches the paragraph best? If you still cannot pick one, move on and come back to it later.

5. Look for similar words/ synonyms

As with most types of IELTS reading question, you should be able to find words in the
paragraph that are similar to words in the heading. Be aware of synonyms. Many students look
for words that match exactly with words in the text and ignore synonyms. For example, a

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 22

keyword in the heading might be ‘hard working’, however the word you’re looking for could be
many different synonyms of ‘hard-working’ like ‘diligent’, ‘assiduous’, ‘studious’ or
‘industrious’.

6. Move on if you are spending too much time and come back later
‘Paragraph headings’ questions often take a long time. Do not allow yourself to use more than
20 minutes for each reading passage. If you have not finished after 20 minutes, move on to the
next passage and come back later if you still have time left.

7. Read the instructions. Check if you can use a heading more than once.

8. Look always for the most general heading. This may be the first paragraph or
the conclusion.

Technique 1: Analyze the grammar and vocabulary in the headings.

• Distinguish between the two types of words used: information specific to the paragraph and
organizing words.

• Organizing words like plural countable words are common, e.g., causes, reasons, advantages,
drawbacks, difficulties, responses, problems, effects, solutions, factors, dangers, examples, etc.
Learn to recognize how these are expressed in a text. Be aware of similar words.

Note that the specific information about the paragraph is added on to these organizing words:
[causes] of poverty in urban areas, [different levels] of urban poverty. Note how the phrases in
italics narrow the meaning of the organizing words in brackets.

Use this division of information to help you skim/scan paragraphs. Look for paragraphs that
describe effect, levels, problems, etc. Then see if they contain the specific information in the rest
of the heading.

• Plural organizing words indicate the paragraph has more than one idea or a list of
ideas probably with an introduction.

• A paragraph can be organized around uncountable words: damage, etc. It can be organized
around countable singular nouns where the paragraph is describing one item: a comparison,
impact, development, etc.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 23

Technique 2: Search for connections between headings

• Headings are usually connected with each other.

• Check for a heading that looks specific: it could be a detail in a paragraph and therefore a
distracter for a general heading. If yon removed this detail from the paragraph, would it
remain intact?
• A heading that looks specific could be a heading for paragraph describing just one detail.
• Check for headings that relate to each other: cause/effect– problem/solution.
• Check for headings with adjectives, which qualify nouns. Make sure the heading covers all
aspects of the paragraph. Do not forget about the adjective or other qualifying phrases.
• Headings can have two pieces of information where one is referring to the previous
paragraph.

Advanced techniques

• Read the headings and skim a paragraph quickly. Decide quickly.

• Expand the heading into a sentence. This might make the meaning clearer.
• When you find the general theme or focus of the paragraph, stop skimming and
match quickly.
• Once you have matched the headings, read them in order and see if the sequence makes
sense
• When you check, avoid looking at the detail, as it can make you change your mind.
• Predict a possible sequence of headings before you look at the text.
• If a paragraph is difficult, use the various skimming techniques focusing on
text development. Always look for change of direction in a text.
• Skim each paragraph in turn and then decide very quickly what it is about. Make your own
heading in a couple of words. Then look at the list of headings and match.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 24

3) Matching types of information
You need to be familiar with the types of information that you may encounter in the test.
Most of them are like:
- findings (results) - a method (by + verb-ing)
- a reaction (as a result) - habitat (live)
- difference (while) - how something happens (process)
- a cause (thanks to) - time (take 35 days)
- a number (15) - a date (April 7)
- a measurement (2.5 mm) - a conclusion (deduct)

Try to underline types of information in the statements and circle the key words in the
paragraphs to be able to match them correctly.

4) Matching Features to Statements

This kind of task contains theories and comments about different people, places, years, and
things. For example:
Cities
A New York
B London
C Sydney
Then you will be given some statements and you will be required to match them to the
features A, B or C. To answer this type of question, you need to do these steps:
1- Scan the passage for each feature. Circle them!
2- Read the statements and underline key words.
3- Highlight the information around each feature.
4- Go over each feature; one by one. Refer to the statements.
)Start with the most frequently mentioned features(

5) Summary/ flow-chart/ diagram Completion

Use the strategies of skim and scan reading that we mentioned earlier. Then remember these
three tips:
1- Write the exact number of words required.
Example: TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER. This means the answer may be:
* one word
* two words
* one word + a number
* two words + a number
* a number
2- Do not paraphrase your answers. Write words exactly as they are in the passage.
3- Copy the spelling correctly. Make your handwriting clear and readable.
N.B.: Answers will not be in the same order in the passage.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 25

6) Summary completion
There are two types of summary completion tasks: one with a box of possible answers and
one without a box, where you need to choose word/s from the passage to complete the
summary. The first one is much easier of course.
A waste verb
B rich adjective/ noun
C aggressively adverb
D area noun

To answer this type of questions, you need to be familiar with the grammatical features.
Well, I mean ‘types of words’ or what they call ‘parts of speech’ (nouns, pronouns, verbs,
adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections, etc.).

7) Multiple-choice questions
You must be familiar with using skimming or speed reading.
To skim a passage means you read it quickly (circle content words, like nouns and verbs to
find the main points). It is not reading for details.

There are two types of MCQ:

- Choose 1 answer out of 4 options.
- Choose 2 answers out of 5 options.
The main aims for this type of questions is to:
- select a suitable title for the passage.
- identify the writer’s tone/ attitude/ opinion.
- read the passage (or part of passage) in detail

8) MCQ Writers Tone/ Attitude

You may encounter this type of question in the argumentative texts; which contain different
views and opinions. To determine the tone and attitude of the writer, you need to be able to
differentiate between positive and negative adjectives, as follows:
Positive Adjectives Negative Adjectives
diverse unspoilt disastrous biased
accomplished productive vulnerable confusing
realistic sophisticated irrelevant harsh
efficient thorough catastrophic monotonous
influential prominent distorted dated
N.B: Those adjectives are kind of academic higher-level vocabulary.
Yes/ No/ Not Given questions ask you to identify the views or claims of the writer. While
True/ False/ Not Given questions are based on factual information in the reading passage.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 26

9) Short answer questions
To answer this type of question, you need to scan the passage for specific pieces of
information. Also, you need to circle and underline two key words in the questions. That
can be in three steps:
- Skim the passage in 3 minutes to get the main ideas.
- Read the questions and mark the key words.
- Scan the passage for specific details.

10) True/ False/ Not Given. = (Yes/ No/ Not Given)

In this type of question, you need to look at a list of sentences and decide whether they are:
True: found and agrees
False: found but does not agree
Not Given: No information found in the passage [It is a real problem.]
GT: Read the passage first, and then read the statements one by one.
AC: Answer the other two questions on the section first, then this one at the end.

Notes on this type:

1. Answers are sequential; they come in order in the passage, except the ‘Not Given’ ones.
2. Don’t write “Yes” instead of “True” or “No” instead of “False” unless the question is
Yes/ No/ Not Given. They are almost the same.
3. Unlike other types of questions, read the passage first, then the questions.
4. Do not assume answers based on your personal knowledge or experience.
5. Base your answers on the text only. Do not make assumptions.
6. Do not take so long looking for the answer to one question. If it is not there, it may be
“Not Given”.
7. There will be at least one of all three answers. You should have at least one Yes, one No,
and one Not Given.

Golden Tips:
1. The more reading tests you do, the better you are, the higher band score you get.
2. Revise the three pdf files we did during the course in the reading section.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 27

Remember these Tips on Reading:

- Do not panic if the passage is unfamiliar.

- Read the instructions carefully. They might ask you to choose TWO answers and you
choose only one. That will be wrong.

- Don’t try to understand the whole passage. It’s not for translation. Just try to get the
answers for the questions as fast as you can.

- Practise doing the reading section at home, but under the real test conditions. Set a time for
yourself. Make notes of your weaknesses. Use the reading answer sheet.

- Transfer your answers to the answer sheet immediately after each passage/ section. Do not
delay it till you finish the whole test.

- Put yourself in so called English surrounding.

- Perfect practice makes perfect! Practise doing as many tests as you can, and I can tell you,
you will be great.

Watch this video about reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FH2SBfxNjI&t=1s

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 28

10 Actual Steps to do an IELTS Reading Passage and Achieve a Higher Score!
Step 1:
Read the instructions carefully. Stick to the number of questions required.

Step 2:
Read the title of the passage and understand it well. It may give you a useful hint.

Step 3:
Have a look at the question type(s) on the passage. Pay attention to “No more than …
words”.

Step 4:
Skim read the introduction of the passage and decide what the main topic is. For other
paragraphs, the main idea is often stated in the first sentence of each one.

Step 5:
Read the questions; underline and circle key words. All answers must be words that are in
the passage. They mostly come in order.

Step 6: Scan the passage for details and specific information to answer the questions.

Step 7:
Divide each paragraph into separate sentences. Draw a slash (/) after each complete
thought. Pay attention to synonyms; almost all questions are paraphrased.

Step 8:
Answer questions one by one. If you do not know the answer for a question, mark it and
move directly to the next one. Come back to it in a while.

Step 9: Do not read word by word; read phrases and chunks. Pay attention to negatives and
qualifying words like most, some, every day, etc.

Step 10:
Make notes while reading; exclude wrong options. Be quick, but accurate. You may need to
go back to the beginning of the passage when you start a new set of questions (AC only).

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 29

When doing a reading test, transfer your answers after each
section/ passage as no 10 minutes will be given.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 30

Section 3 - Writing
IELTS Academic Writing Paper:
IELTS General Training Writing Paper:
There are also TWO writing tasks.
There are TWO writing tasks, as follows:
In Task 1: A Report
In Task 1: A Letter
- Describe some visual information in your
- Respond to a situation by writing a letter.
own words.
- Write at least 150 words – up to 190.
- Write at least 150 words – up to 190.
- Timing: only 20 minutes
- Timing: only 20 minutes
In Task 2: An Essay
In Task 2: An Essay
- You will be given one of five different
- It is the same as in General Training.
types of essays to write about. (You can
(With some minor differences in difficulty and
write up to 290 words.)
topics) You can write up to 290 words.
- Write at least 250 words – up to 290.
- Write at least 250 words.
- Timing: 40 minutes
- Timing: 40 minutes

Eleven General Tips and Advice for IELTS Writing:

1- You should read the rubric and understand the task very well.
2- You need to plan and organise your ideas. [2 minutes for each task]
3- Do not take so long in writing the essay’s introduction and conclusion.
4- Link ideas together clearly. [Use cohesive devices when appropriate.]
5- Make your writing legible and understandable.
6- Lexical Resources: - Avoid repeating words.
- Do not copy words from the question.
7- Use the correct style; make sure the language you use is almost FORMAL.
8- Follow the right structure for letters, reports, and essays.
9- Use grammatical structures accurately and in a wide range.
10- Check and correct your writings before time is up. [2 minutes for each task]
Pay attention to common mistakes in:
- Grammar - Spelling - Punctuation - Style
11- Four assessment criteria: (Page ??)
- Task Achievement/ Response - Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource (vocab) - Grammatical Range /Accuracy

N.B.: It is not how much you write, it is how you write and the way you write.
Remember in Writing “Quality is over Quantity”.

Appendix 5: Cohesive Devices

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 31

20 Reasons why Most People get 6.5 in Writing!
Reason 1
Not Understanding the task well. Tip: Take a minute to do so.
Reason 2
Not planning before starting to write. Tip: Plan your ideas in two minutes.
Reason 3
Handwriting is not readable. Tip: Improve it.
Reason 4
Writing does not make sense. Tip: Avoid literal meanings.
Reason 5
Ideas are not connected. Tip: Use cohesive devices.
Reason 6
Repeating words over and over. Tip: Enrich your vocabulary.
Reason 7
Copying words from the task question. Tip: Paraphrase!
Reason 8
Confusing the style of writing. Tip: Apply the correct style.
Reason 9
Overusing personal language. Tip: Use other formal expressions.
Reason 10
Applying a different structure for the essay. Tip: Apply the correct structure.
Reason 11
Making simple grammar mistakes. Tip: Study grammar.
Reason 12
Not using punctuation marks properly. Tip: Learn how to use them.
Reason 13
Making a lot of spelling mistakes. Tip: Review basic vocabulary.
Reason 14
Not covering the points required in the task. Tip: Read the rubric carefully.
Reason 15
Writing less than 150/ 250 words. Tip: Train yourself on writing up till 190/ 290.
Reason 16
Not writing complex sentence structures. Tip: Study how to make complex sentences.
Reason 17
Going off the topic. Providing irrelevant ideas. Tip: Stay on topic.
Reason 18
Not using topic related vocabulary. Tip: Study topic-related vocab. Be ready!
Reason 19
Not having enough knowledge on the topic. Tip: Read written samples.
Reason 20
Not checking and reviewing after writing. Tip: Proofread your writing after you finish.

Important Tip: The most important thing is to find a professional IELTS tutor to assess your writing and give
you feedback on your weaknesses so that you can avoid them or turn them into strength points.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 32

 General Training- Task 1 Writing A Letter
GT Task 1 Do’s and Don’ts:
Do’s:
1- Plan your letter in 2 minutes.
2- Read the instructions well.
3- Decide whether it is formal or informal.
4- Support each bullet point with relevant details.
5- Separate your letter into paragraphs.
6- Paraphrase the question.
7- End the letter on the left.
8- Use clear, legible handwriting.
9- Use the correct tense(s).
10- Check your letter for grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes.
11- Understand the scoring criteria.

Don’ts:
1- Do not write the address or date.
2- Do not use abbreviations like ‘cuz’ or ‘u’.
3- Do not use chat acronyms like ‘OMG’ or ‘CU’.
4- Do not use contractions (I’m, We’re) in FORMAL letters.
5- Do not sign your name. Write it.

There are THREE styles of letters: Formal, Semi-formal and Informal.

Formal Semi-formal Informal
Characteristics To someone you have not To someone you may or To someone you know well
met, whose name you do may not have met, whose (a family member/ a friend),
not know. last name you know & use. whose first name you know
and use.
Greeting Dear Sir/ Madam, Dear Mr Smith, Dear Mike,
Dear Sir, Dear Ms Stone, Dear Anna,

Ending Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely, Warm wishes,

(Your Full Name) (Your Full Name is (Your First Name only)
preferable)
Purposes Applying for a job Complaining to landlord Inviting a friend
Requesting information Explaining to a neighbor Asking for advice
Complaining about a service Asking prof for permission Thanking/ Apologizing

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 33

Here’s the FORMAL letter structure:

Greeting: Dear Sir/ Madam,

Opening Statements: I am writing with reference to…./ I am writing with regard to + noun

Paragraph A: Bullet point 1 and supporting details Topic

paragraphs
3 separate
The Body

Sentence
Paragraph B: Bullet point 2 and supporting details +
Supporting
Paragraph C: Bullet point 3 and supporting details Statements

Closing Statements: I look forward to hearing from you. / I await your prompt service.

Ending: Yours faithfully,

(Your Full Name)

N.B.: The semi-formal letter style is almost the same, except for the greeting and the
ending. You know the name of the person, but it is within a professional or official context.
The greeting should be: Dear Mr(s) (Family name),
The ending should be: Yours sincerely, (Your name, full name is preferable)

Example:

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 34

Below is the structure of the INFORMAL letter:

Greeting: Dear (First name only of friend),

Opening Statements: Hey, how are the kids? I’m writing to tell/ invite/ advise you...

Paragraph A: Bullet point 1 and supporting details Topic

paragraphs
3 separate
The Body

Sentence
Paragraph B: Bullet point 2 and supporting details +
Supporting
Paragraph C: Bullet point 3 and supporting details Statements

Closing Statements: Write to me soon./ Can’t wait for your reply. /Say ‘hi’ to your family.

Ending: Warm wishes,

(Your First name ONLY)

Example:

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 35

General Training- Writing Task 1: A Letter
14 Mistakes that may make you get a very low score.

1. Not understanding the task very well.

2- Not planning or organizing ideas before writing. (Take 2 minutes at least.)
3- Not applying the right structure and style for the letter; (formal vs. informal).
4- Not writing a proper opening statement that reflects the question statement precisely.
5- Not covering the three bullet points given in the task. (Each one should be in a separate
paragraph.)
6- Not writing a clear topic sentence in each paragraph.
7- Not supporting these topic sentences with relevant ideas that reinforce your writing.
8- Not writing a closing statement or a signature when ending the letter.
9- Repeating words and ideas over and over and copying words from the question.
10- Not using a wide range and complexity of sentence structures (especially in FORMAL
letters).
11- Making simple grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes.
12- Not writing clearly. Your handwriting must be legible.
13- Not checking and correcting your letter after you finish writing.
14- Not finding an expert to mark and assess your writing and give you feedback.

Click on the link below to watch the video about Task 1 GT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdaRDeAXHHU&t=3s

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 36

 A Suggested Layout/ Letter

Write the Greeting here.

Write the Opening Statement here.

Remember! It reflects the question statement. So, make sure you:

- Use the same tense.
- Provide the same information; no more no less.

Leave an empty line here.

Read the instructions of the task carefully and cover the 1st bullet point here.

Make sure you:

- Sate the topic sentence (main idea) clearly.

- Provide statements that support your main idea and make it valid.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 37

Cover the 2nd bullet point here.

Make sure you:

- Sate the topic sentence (main idea) clearly.

- Provide statements that support your main idea and make it valid.

Leave an empty line here.

Cover the 3rd bullet point here.

Make sure you:

- Sate the topic sentence (main idea) clearly.

- Provide statements that support your main idea and make it valid.

Leave an empty line here.

Write a suitable Closing Statement here.

Write the ending here,

Then you name

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 38

 Academic Writing Task 1 - A Report
How to write a good Report!

You will be asked to convert graphic visual representations of information into

words and sentences and write a report of 150 words.
(Note: You can write a bit more up to 190).
- You only have 20 minutes to complete this task.

- Examples of information graphic are as follows:

1) diagram 2) line graph 3) table

4) map 5) bar chart 6) pie chart
N.B.: You must train yourself to write on all those kinds of task1 infographics.

Here are some Tips and Techniques for IELTS Academic Task 1:
Dos:
1- Keep your report simple.
2- Use different vocabulary.
3- Use good sentence structure.
4- Give factual things only.
5- Include major details only.
6- Provide correct information.
7- Describe numerals accurately.
8- Use passive formulas. {It is + p.p + that + sub. + will + inf. + complement.}
{Sub. + (be) + p.p + to + inf. + complement.}

Don’ts:
1- Do not use personal pronouns like I, me, we...
2- Do not tell your opinion.
3- Do not reach any conclusions.
4- Do not make any analysis.
5- Do not make any predictions.
6- Do not write a conclusion paragraph.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 39

A Suggested Structure and Layout for a Report

The Introduction
Write just one or two sentences. Paraphrase the question statement; provide no more
or less information than given. Use the correct tense.
For Example:
- The line graph shows the increase in traffic in England from 1960 to 2010.
- The two pie charts demonstrate how to make recycled paper from old newspapers.

The Overview (A Summary)

The overview is the most important paragraph in academic writing task 1.
[Highlight 3 or 4 Key Features in the Infographic given]
[Collect the most important points and put them together in the overview statement.]
- Provide no data here.
Start this paragraph with the word “Overall,”. Its length: should be 2 or 3 sentences.

Turn the page in the Writing Answer Booklet

Body Paragraph A
The Report Body can be one paragraph or you can split it

Write about:
- Peaks; high points.
into two paragraphs depending on the situation.

- Troughs; low points.

- Plateau; points when the figures remain steady (show little or no change).
- Periods when the figures fluctuate; (show a lot of change).
NB: Get information out of: [axes – columns – rows – headings, and so on.]

Body Paragraph B
You can write on:
- Trends in (general).
- Anomalies or exceptions in (details).
Also you may need to:
- Compare; show the similarities.
- Contrast; show the differences.

Note: You do not have to include all of these in the

body paragraphs. It depends on the topic.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 40

Two examples of a report

NB: Print it in colors.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do not write an overview in the map task. Write an introduction and 3 paragraphs about
the three diagrams (1950, 1980, and 2010).

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 41

Academic- Writing Task 1: A Report
13 Mistakes that may destroy your writing band.

1- Not writing a precise introduction that reflects the question statement.

2- Not writing a good overview that highlights the key features of the infographic.
3- Providing data in the overview.
4- Not including the most important points in the two body paragraphs, (with data of
course).
5- Including minor details of the info-graphic.
6- Using verb contractions of not as in: (didn't) or personal pronouns like (I and We).
7- Not paraphrasing the question statement or the data provided or providing wrong
synonyms.
8- Not being intelligible or understood by the reader.
9- Not responding accurately to the task.
10- Repeating information and words while writing the report.
11- Not writing in paragraphs.
12- Not using the correct tense or simply making simple tense mistakes.
(Use past tenses if the infographic has years in the past, Use future tenses if it has years in
the future, and use present simple if it has no dates.)
13- Writing a conclusion; (as task 1 has no conclusion paragraph. It is not an essay).

Click on the link below to watch the video about Task 1 Academic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8K5x9m9ZKM&t=3s

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 42

IELTS Writing - Academic Task 1 -
VOCABULARY:
The following words and phrases will help you describe the infographics:

a rise
an increase
a surge
a growth
a peak
a fluctuation
Nouns a variation
a period of stability
a plateau
a fall
a decrease
a decline
a dip

to rise
to increase
to surge
to grow
to peak
to skyrocket
to fluctuate
Verbs
to vary
to fall
to decrease
to decline
to dip
to dive
to plunge

to show an upward trend

to show a downward trend
Phrases to hit the highest point
to hit the lowest point
to reach a peak
to show some fluctuation

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 43

 to fluctuate wildly
to remain stable
to remain static
to remain unchanged
to stay constant
to reach a plateau
to level off
to flatten out
the highest
the lowest
the second highest
the third highest
compared to
compared with
relative to

sharply
suddenly
rapidly
dramatically
significantly
Adverbs steadily
considerably
markedly
slightly
gradually
wildly

sharp
sudden
rapid
dramatic
steep
Adjectives significant
steady
considerable
marked
slight
gentle

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 44

SAMPLE SENTENCES
• There was a substantial increase in the value of stocks on March 15th.

• House prices rose dramatically in July.

• The number of tourists visiting New York fell sharply in October.

• The percentage of students walking to school continued to rise gradually over the ten-year period
from 2000-2010.

• There was a sharp increase in employee turnover after the strike.

• Interest in environmental issues has risen steadily over the last 10 years.

MORE USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES

1. Percent % the word percent comes after a number.
Examples:
More than 25% of the students are from Brazil.
More than 25 percent of the students come from Brazil.

2. Percentage - The word percentage comes after words like the, a, this, and that. Often, it is preceded
by an adjective.
Examples:
A small percentage of residents have lived in the building for more than 20 years.
The percentage of students who live on campus has fallen sharply since the fire.

3. For numbers up to ten, write the numbers in words. For numbers over 10, you can write the numbers
in numbers.
Examples:
Five percent of the employees were late this month.
More than 50 percent of the students handed in their assignments late after the long weekend.

4. If the sentence starts with a number, always write it in words.

Examples: Wrong: 25 students were from China.
Right: Twenty-five students were from China.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 45

GRAMMAR
Take note of the following prepositions which you will need to describe dates, numbers and comparisons:

Dates
In December,
In 2005,
From 2001-2010,
By 1998,
Between 1965-1969

Numbers
Increase of 25%
Decreased by 10%
Fell from 200 in July to 150 in August

Comparison
Compared to
Compared with
Relative to

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 46

 Writing Task 2: Essay Types and Structures
Knowing and understanding the type of essay in writing task 2 is what makes
the difference and helps you get the score you wish.
All task 2 essays should follow this basic structure:

Introduction
Write them on the first page.
Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2
Write them on the second page.
Conclusion

You can write three body paragraphs depending on the ideas you have. The
sentences you write in each paragraph will depend on what type of essay you
get.
There are mainly five types of essays in the IELTS test. They are as follows:

1) Opinion Essay (Agree or Disagree)

2) Discussion Essay (Two views + your opinion)
3) Advantages & Disadvantages Essay
4) Problem(s) / (Cause(s)) and Solution(s)
5) Direct-Question(s) Essay

Notes:
Following the correct structure of the essay will help you write a clear, coherent
answer and hopefully boost your IELTS band score. However, you need to
consider other aspects of assessment, like: Vocabulary and Grammar Range
and Accuracy. Coherence and Cohesion also do matter.
Check the Writing Assessment Criteria

Before you write…

Brainstorm your ideas - Decide on your opinion - Organize paragraphs - Write some topic -
related vocabulary - Use variety of sentence structures - Decide on the linking words.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 47

1. Opinion Essay [One-sided Approach]
Typical Question Words for this type
- What is your opinion? - What do you think?
- To what extent do you agree or disagree? - Why do you think…...?

Example Question
Some people believe that unpaid community
Model Essay
service should be a compulsory part of high Volunteering should be made part of secondary
school programmes. school curriculum. In my opinion, I agree with this
suggestion completely because of the benefits it
brings to pupils as voluntary work can help students
develop soft skills and extracurricular activities are
To what extent do you agree or disagree? valued by universities and employers.

Firstly, education should not be limited to strictly

academic pursuits and those in education should also
Structure develop life skills, such as teamwork, empathy and
self-discipline, and one of the best ways to hone these
Introduction (44 words) aptitudes is through community service. Serving those
Sentence 1- [Background Statement] less fortunate than ourselves teaches us many
Paraphrase the essay Question. lessons including how to work with people from other
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement (Your Opinion) backgrounds and the value of hard work. For example,
I personally volunteered to spend 6 weeks in Africa
(In my opinion, I agree that/ disagree with…) teaching disadvantaged children and this led to a
[Sentence 3]- The Outline Sentence (because much higher work ethic when I returned to my studies.
Mention Two/ Three Reasons).
Secondly, many colleges and companies are also
Body Paragraph 1 (93 words) increasingly looking for this type of experience. Most
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence: 1st Reason school leavers have the same grades and charitable
Sentences 2 & 3- Explain the 1st reason. works can help set you apart from the herd. For
instance, Cambridge and Oxford receive thousands of
Sentence 4- Give a life-like Example. applications from straight-A students every year and
can only accept a small percentage of applicants.
Body Paragraph 2 (78 words) What you have done outside the classroom is often
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence: 2nd Reason the thing that differentiates you from everyone else
and gets you that coveted spot.
Sentence 2- Explain the 2nd reason.
Sentence 3- Give a vivid Example.
Sentence 4- Further explanation To conclude, teenagers should be made to partake in
unpaid work as part of their schooling since it will help
them learn things they would not ordinarily learn from
Conclusion (46 words) their teachers and it will also boost their chances of
Sentence 1- Restate your opinion & getting into third level education and jobs.
Sentence 2- Summarize the Two/ Three
261 words
Reasons.

NB: 1. Write Body Paragraph 3 if you decided to include 3 reasons.

2. [Balanced Approach – NOT RECOMMENDED TO USE] when you have a
particular opinion to express, i.e. You are For (this opinion) & Against (it) at the same time.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 48

2- Discussion Essay [One-sided Opinion]
Typical Question Words for this type
- Discuss both sides (these views) and give your opinion.

Example Question Model Essay

Some people think that computers should be Although it is thought that the ever-increasing use
of technology in the classroom is a positive
used more and more in education. Others,
development, other people disagree and say that it
however, argue that it is leading to negative will lead to adverse ramifications. In my opinion, I
consequences. believe that using technology more in the learning
and teaching process is beneficial for both
Discuss both sides and give your opinion. students and teachers.

On the one hand, it is clear for some people that

Structure technology, particularly he Internet, has provided
students with access to more information than
Introduction (52 words) ever before. It is, therefore, agreed that technology
Sentence 1- Background Statement: State the is a very worthwhile tool for education. Moreover,
two sides (in one sentence) learners have the ability to research and learn
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement (Your Opinion) about any subject at the touch of a button.
[Agree only with one side of the argument.] Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can
simply type in any keyword and gain access to in-
depth knowledge quickly and easily.
Body Paragraph 1 (79 words)
Sentence 1& 2- State the 1st viewpoint and On the other hand, many disagree and feel that
agree with it. technology deprives people of real human
Sentence 3- Discuss it (Why they think so?) interaction. Human interaction teaches people
Sentence 4- Example to support this 1st view valuable skills such as discourse, debate and
empathy. Consequently, people who overuse
technology in learning or in life become isolated
from the entire world. For instance, when my
Body Paragraph 2 (65 words)
family gathers on weekends, most of them stay
Sentence 1- State the 2nd viewpoint. apart and do not interact with other family
Sentence 2- Discuss it. (Why they think so?) members.
Sentence 3- Support their opinion.
Sentence 4- Further support (or Example)
In conclusion, using technology allows students to
tap into limitless sources of information, yet some
Conclusion (55 words) still feel that people should not allow it to curb
Sentence 1 & 2- Summarize the two views face to face interaction. As long as it is planned
& re-state your opinion. carefully to keep in mind the importance of using
[No need to mention reasons again.] technology in education, I think the educational
outcome will be better.

251 words

NB: [Balanced View Essay – NOT RECOMMENDED TO USE] Write Body Paragraph 3
if you don’t agree with either side 100%. You are going actually to give your own opinion.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 49

3- Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Typical Question Words for this type
Type A- What are the advantages and disadvantages? → [No opinion is required.]

Example Question Model Essay

Some people think that it is beneficial for Although paid work is thought by some to be a
children to do paid work, while others think useful experience for children, other people
that it can be harmful for children. consider that it can be detrimental. Children can
learn about earning money and gain independence
from doing paid work but there are also
drawbacks to be considered.
What are the advantages and disadvantages
of children doing paid work?
One benefit of children doing paid work is that
they understand the value of money. This also
teaches them not to waste money as they realize
Structure the work needed to earn it. Second, having a paid
job is advantageous because children take their
Introduction (45 words) first steps in learning how to manage and save
Sentence 1- Background Statement: money. Many older children, for instance, have a
(Paraphrase the Question.) part time job in order to save up for something
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement: State two of they would otherwise be unable to afford. Third,
the advantages shortly and just working teaches children responsibility and
refer to the disadvantages. independence. These skills help children to
develop into self-supporting adults ready to enter
society and the work force.
Body Paragraph 1 (102 words)
Sentences 1& 2- State the 1st advantage and
On the other hand, one disadvantage when
support it.
children have a job is that it potentially exposes
Sentences 3 & 4- State the 2nd advantage and them to exploitation through slave labor. For
give an example. example, in some developing countries children
Sentences 5 & 6- State the 3rd advantage and are made to work full time but due to their age are
mention a positive result. not protected by law. As a result, they are paid
negligible wages for work that can be tough,
manual work. Another possible drawback is that
Body Paragraph 2 (111 words) the time children spend working prevents them
Sentences 1, 2 & 3- State the 1st from focusing on their schoolwork. Having a good
disadvantage, give an example, education is the key to a successful future so
being employed as a child can result in a poor
and mention a negative result.
academic performance which can be harmful in
Sentences 4 & 5- State the 2nd disadvantage
the long run.
and mention a negative result.

To sum up, while children can benefit from some

Conclusion (11 words) work experience, it can also lead to exploitation or
Sentence 1- Summarize the advantages and lower grades at school.
disadvantages.
279 words

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 50

Follow 3- Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
Type B- Do (you think) the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? → [You must state
your opinion in this type.]

Same Example Question Model Essay

Some people think that it is beneficial for Although paid work is thought by some to be a
children to do paid work, while others think good experience for children, other people think it
that it can be harmful for children. can be detrimental. In my opinion, I think that paid
work can bring about more problems for children
compared to any advantages it might bring.
Do (you think) the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages?
Admittedly, there are some basic benefits of
children working for money. Firstly, children can
develop an understanding of the value of money.
This teaches them that money does not grow on
Structure trees and helps them appreciate the hard work
needed to earn it. Secondly, they take the first
Introduction (43 words) steps in learning how to manage money. Many
Sentence 1- Background Statement: older children, for instance, have a part time job to
(Paraphrase the Question.) save for something they would otherwise be
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement: Give a clear unable to afford. Understanding money
answer to the question.. management, furthermore, is useful when, as
adults, they will need to balance their finances.

Body Paragraph 1 (94 words)

Nevertheless, despite the advantages above, I
Sentence 1- State the Topic Sentence.
believe children could face serious drawbacks
Sentences 2 & 3- State the 1st advantage and from paid work. One potentially dangerous
mention a positive result. problem is that it exposes them to exploitation,
Sentences 4, 5 & 6- State the 2nd advantage, through slave labor. In some countries that do not
give an example and enforce children employment laws, they may end
mention a positive result. up working under extreme conditions or even in
life threatening situations for negligible wages.
Starting life in this way makes it almost
Body Paragraph 2 (111 words) impossible for them to escape poverty as an adult.
Sentence 1- State the Topic Sentence. Another obvious issue is that working may affect a
Sentences 2, 3 & 4- State the 1st child’s ability to focus on their schoolwork. This is
a concern as only with a strong academic
disadvantage, explain it, and
performance can a child hope to advance as an
mention a negative result. adult.
Sentences 5 & 6- State the 2nd disadvantage
and mention a negative result.
In conclusion, being exploited or struggling with
academic grades far outweighs any of the minor
Conclusion (11 words) benefits that could result from children being
Sentence 1- Re-state your opinion shortly. involved in work experience.

273 words

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 51

4- Problem (or Cause) Solution Essay
Typical Question Words for this type
- …problems and solutions - Type B …causes and solutions
- Type A: What are the problems/issues to this and how can it be solved?

Example Question Model Essay

Students are becoming more and more Learners are becoming ever more dependent on
reliant on computers. technology such as the Internet and mobile
devices. As a result, the face-to-face interaction
will be decreased, and plagiarism might take place
What are some of the problems associated but this can be tackled by encouraging the
with reliance on computers, and what are learners to work in different patterns of interaction
some of the possible solutions? and by using anti-plagiarism software by schools
and universities.

Structure Two principal problems with over-reliance on

technology, such as tablets and computers, are
Introduction (54 words) the lack of human interaction and plagiarism.
Sentence 1- [The Background Statement] Many students often use search engines to
Paraphrase the Question. answer a question and simply copy the text from a
Sentence 2- [The Outline Sentence] website, rather than thinking about the question or
State the problems and solutions interact with each other to solve a problem. This
shortly. practice is not only prohibited in schools and
universities but also stunts a student’s intellectual
development. It can, therefore, lead to being
penalized or deprived of marks by the school.
Body Paragraph 1 (84 words)
Sentence 1- State two problems (or causes)
Sentence 2 & 3- Explain them. One effective solution to help students interact
Sentence 4- Provide a negative result. with each other is to provide them with tasks that
Sentence 5- Explanation or an Example require involving them in face-to-face activities. As
for the plagiarism issue, it can be solved by asking
students to email their answers to teachers and
teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect
Body Paragraph 2 (97 words) copying. Consequently, students would be made
Sentence 1- Provide solution to 1st problem. aware of this practice and this would inspire them
Sentence 2- Provide solution to 2nd problem. to answer questions using their own words, rather
Sentence 3- Provide a positive result. than someone else’s. Indeed, many universities
Sentence 4- Explanation or an Example already use this kind software to scan course
work for plagiarism and it could be extended to
include all homework.
Conclusion (36 words)
Sentence 1or 1 & 2- Summarize the In summary, the decrease of students’ face-to-
problems/ causes and solutions. face interaction and plagiarism as a result of their
reliance on computers can mainly be solved by
involving students in pair and group activities and
by using plagiarism detection software.

271 words

Scenario: Put the problems in one body paragraph and the solutions in one body paragraph.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 52

5- Direct Question(s) Essay
There is NO Typical Question Words for this type
-There will normally be a statement and they will then
ask you to answer one, two or three separate questions.
Example: - Is this a positive or negative development?

Example Question: Model Essay

As most people spend a major part of their As the majority of adults spend most of their time
adult life at work, job satisfaction is an at work, being content with your career is a
important element of individual wellbeing. crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. I
will first discuss which elements lead to job
-What factors contribute to job satisfaction? satisfaction and will then address the question of
how likely it is that everyone can be happy with
-How realistic is the expectation of job
their job.
satisfaction for all workers?

The two most important things that lead to

someone being satisfied at work are being
Structure treated with respect by managers and being
compensated fairly. If those more senior than
you respect you as a person and the job you are
Introduction (50 words)
doing then you feel like you are valued. A fair
Sentence 1- Paraphrase the Question
salary and benefits are important considerations
[Background Statement] because if you feel you are being underpaid you
Sentence 2- The Outline Sentence will either resent your bosses or look for another
(Mention the question(s) given.) job. These two factors came top of a recent job
satisfaction survey conducted by monster.com
that found that 72% of people were pleased with
Body Paragraph 1 (80 words) their current role if their superiors regularly told
Sentence 1- Answer the 1st question. them they were appreciated.
Sentence 2- Explain why/ why not.
Sentence 3- Further explanation With regards to the question of happiness for all
Sentence 4- Give a life-like Example. workers, it is thought that this is and always will
be highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail
to reach their goals and end up working in a
Body Paragraph 2 (80 words) post they don’t really care about in return for a
Sentence 1- Answer the 2nd question. salary. This money is just enough to pay their
Sentence 2- Explain why/ why not. living expenses which often mean they are
Sentence 3- Further explanation trapped in a cycle of disenchantment. For
example, The Times recently reported that 89% of
Sentence 4- Give a vivid Example.
office workers would leave their jobs if they did
not need the money.

Conclusion (50 words)

Sentence 1- An Extended Summary of the In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or
questions you answered. profession is an important part of one’s well-
(Sentence 2- Your viewpoint (if you wish…)) being and respect from one’s colleagues and fair
pay can improve your level of happiness;
however, job satisfaction of all workers is an
unrealistic prospect.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 53

Summary of the Five Types of Essays

Opinion Essay Discussion Essay Advantages & Disadvantages Problem or Cause Solution Direct question(s)
- What is your opinion? - Discuss both points of - Type A: What are the - What are the causes of… You will be asked one,
Question Words

- What do you think? view and give your advantages and disadvantages? - What are the problems two or three questions.
- Do you agree or opinion. which can result because of…
disagree? - Discuss both sides and - Type B: Do (you think) the - How can it be solved? -Is this a positive or
- Do you agree with this? give your own opinion. advantages outweigh the - What can be done to negative development?
- To what extent do you disadvantages? (i.e., give your minimize the bad effects?
agree or disagree? own opinion)
Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction
- Background statement - Background statement - Background statement - Background statement - Background statement
- Your opinion (State the two views.) - Type A: State two (Paraphrase the question.) (Paraphrase the
- Outline 2 or 3 reasons. - Your opinion advantages shortly and just - State the problem(s) and statement.)
Paragraph 1 Paragraph 1 refer to the disadvantages. solution(s). - Outline sentence
- 1st reason - 1st viewpoint - Type B: Give a clear answer. Paragraph 1 (Mention the questions
- Explain it. - Agree with it. Paragraph 1 - State the two problem(s)/ given.)
- Example - Discuss it. (Reasons) - State the 1st advantage and cause(s). Paragraph 1
Structure and Layout

Paragraph 2 - Example support it. - Explain them. - Answer the 1st

- 2nd reason Paragraph 2 - 2nd advantage & example - Provide a negative result. question.
- Explain it. - 2nd viewpoint - 3rd advantage & positive - Example or Explanation - Explain why/ why not
- Example - Discuss it. (Reasons) result Paragraph 2 - Further explanation
- Further Explanation - Support their opinion. Paragraph 2 - Provide a solution to the 1st - Example
Conclusion - Example - State the 1st disadvantage and problem. Paragraph 2
- Restate your opinion Conclusion give an example. - Provide a solution to the 2nd - Answer the 2nd
- Summarize the two or - Summarize the 2 views. - State the 2nd disadvantage and problem. question.
three reasons. - Re-state your opinion.. provide a negative result. - Provide a positive result. - Explain why/ why not
Conclusion - Example or Explanation - Example
- Summarize the advantages Conclusion Conclusion
and disadvantages. - Summarize the cause(s)/ - Summary of the
- Re-state your opinion problem(s) and solution(s). questions you
(outweigh) answered.
- Your opinion

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 54

 - In my opinion, I agree - Although it is thought - Although …. is thought by - ……. such as …… - I will first discuss
with …… because/ that …, other people some to be a useful experience As a result, ……… and …. …… and will then
because of ……. and disagree and say that it …., other people consider that but this can be tackled by address the question of
……. will lead to adverse it can be detrimental. …… and by ……. …….
ramifications. In my …… and …. but there are also
- Firstly, ……. opinion, I believe that …. drawbacks to be considered. - Two principal problems - …………………...
For example, …. with …, such as …., are …. ……………………. .
- On the one hand, it is - One benefit of …….. . and …. .
- Secondly, ……. clear for some people Second, …………. . ……, rather than ……
For instance, …. that ……. …….., for instance, ………. . …. not only …. but also …. - With regards to the
Phrase and Sentence Frames

It is, therefore, agree that Third, ……….. ……., therefore, ……. question of ……., it is
- To conclude, ………. …… Moreover, …… thought that ……
since …… and …. …. is a prime example, - On the other hand, one - One effective solution …… - For example, ….
…. disadvantage when …… is that is …….
…... As for the ……. issue, …….
This structure is for the - On the other hand, For example, ….. Consequently, ………. - In conclusion, ..…..
One-sided Approach. many disagree and feel As a result, ……. Indeed, ………. …; however, …….
that ….. . Consequently, Another possible drawback is
……. For example, …… that ……. . - In summary, ………. as a
……. can result in ………. result of ……. can mainly be
- In conclusion, ……., tackled by …….
yet some still feel that - To sum up, while ……. can
…. As long as it is benefit from ……., it can also
This structure is for the
planned carefully to keep lead to ………. .
Problem Solution.
in mind ……, I think ….
will be better.
This structure is for
This structure is for the Type A. See Type B.
One-sided Opinion.

Golden Tip: Adhere to these structures to ensure achieving the Task Response marks and the best organization for your task through coherent ideas.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 55

5 Example Types of Essay:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 56

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Golden Tips:
1. Train yourself to do all these types of essays.
2. Find a professional to assess your writing and give you beneficial feedback so that you
can be improved. If you’re in the course with us, you can send us your tasks for evaluation.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 57

12 Common Essay Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid them.

1. Misunderstanding the topic of the essay and all its parts which need to be
covered.
[Make sure you stay on topic and cover all the parts of the topic given.]
2. Not planning well before starting to write the essay.
[Take three minutes to plan and organize your ideas.]
3. Not applying the right structure for the given type of essay.
[Your essay should have a logical and clear structure.]
4. Not writing in separate paragraphs; introduction, paragraph 1, paragraph 2, and
a conclusion.
[Make your topic sentence clear in the beginning of each paragraph and always
support your ideas.]
5. Using personal pronouns like I, me, my, etc.
[Use impersonal language, e.g. It is valuable for us to…]
6. Using informal vocabulary and doing overgeneralization.
[You can use passive voice to sound more formal (, but do not overdo that), Be
concise; do not use words like “everyone, all, always, etc.”]
7. Copying the question words or simply repeating vocabulary and ideas over and
over.
[Use paraphrasing and vary your vocabulary and ideas as well.]
8. Using simple conjunctions like and, but, so, etc.
[Use formal connectors and linking words instead like In addition, Nonetheless,
consequently, etc.]
9. Using verb contractions, slang, and abbreviations.
[Write “They do not” instead of “They don’t”. Also avoid colloquial language
and slang while writing formally.]
10. Using two sentences when one would do.
[Write compound and complex sentences but keep sentences simple and direct.]
* Avoid writing a one-sentence paragraph.
11. Not writing a strong conclusion.
[Your conclusion should sum up the important points established in your essay.]
12. Not checking and correcting your essay after you finish writing.
[Assign two minutes to proofread your answer.]

Appendix 2: Paraphrasing

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 58

5 Best Practical Tips towards a Band 8.0 in Essay Writing- with Examples!

Tip 1:
Organize your essays in paragraphs to make it easier for the reader to follow up with a
logical sequence of the ideas.
Illustration:
[Introduction – Two body Paragraphs – Conclusion]
Write a Topic Sentence + Supporting Statements with examples, reasons, etc.

Tip 2:
Use Cohesive Devices and Discourse Linkers to make the text more coherent and legible.
Example Sentence:
Schools should provide students with internship opportunity so that they can have
experience before they face work life.

Tip 3:
Write in a Formal Academic Language. These grammatical structures sound more formal
in a text than any others: passives, conditionals, and comparatives and superlatives.
Example Sentence:
- Student’s needs should be considered before developing a school project.
- If more children go to vocational schools, it will be a positive option.
- Generally speaking, vocational schools are less popular in my country.

Tip 4:
Include Modals. Use a variety of modals to give suggestions, express opinions, and make
predictions and so on.
Example Sentence:
- Teachers should guide students in their choice of profession.
- Students who receive training will be able to cope up with work market.

Tip 5:
Use some Less Frequent Vocabulary and Words that are Related to the Topic given to you.
Illustration:
Click on this link:
Topic-Related Vocabulary:
https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-topic-related-vocabulary.html

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 59

 A Suggested Layout/ Essay

Write the Introduction of the essay. Remember:

- Do not take so long in it.
- Write the number of sentences required for each type of essay (as explained in the
booklet).
- Do not copy words from the question statement.
- Be accurate and specific.
- Do not mix the types of essays.

Skip a line here.

Write Paragraph 1 here.

Remember:
- Use the phrase frames.
- Apply the correct structure of the essay.
- The example should be real and life-like.
- Be very wary of your mistakes, (e.g.: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and
capitalization, etc.)
- No verb contractions.
- Use formal conjunctions.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 60

Write Paragraph 2 here.

Remember: (as mentioned earlier)

- Use the phrase frames.
- Apply the correct structure of the essay.
- The example should be real and life-like.
- Be very wary of your mistakes, (e.g.: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and
capitalization, etc.)
- No verb contractions.
- Use formal conjunctions.

Skip a line here.

Write a conclusion here.

Remember:
- Do not take so long.
- Provide a summary in one or two sentences.
- Apply the structure of each type of essay.
- Do not confuse the reader.
- Avoid personal language.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 61

How to avoid Personal Language in Academic writing and Essays!

Ways of Giving your Opinion in IELTS Writing:

In Informal Writing (Task 1 informal letters ONLY), you can use these phrases:
- Personally, I think...
- I believe (that)...
- As far as I'm concerned,
- I'm convinced that...
- I'm sure/ certain that...
- In my opinion,
- In my view,
- In my mind,
- I guess/ imagine/ feel...
- Perhaps...

However, you would better NOT OVERUSE the first person singular or plural pronouns "I"
or "We" in writing Task 1; the academic report or the essay; Task 2.

Instead you can use these constructions to sound more formal:

- It would seem that...
- It would appear that...
- It could be argued that...
- It is often agreed that...
- It is mostly disagreed that...
- This suggests that...
- This proves that...
- This supports the idea that...
- This refutes the idea that...
- It is reasonable to...
- It is essential for people to...
- It is valuable to...
- It can be seen that...
- It is widely accepted that...
- It is doubtful that...
- It could be concluded that...

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 62

 Writing Assessment Criteria with Tips
Read them carefully.

Criterion 1: Task Achievement / Criterion 2: Coherence/ Cohesion

Response
- Your writing should make sense.
- Plan for 2 minutes for each task. (Make your writing easy to understand.)
- Apply the correct style/ format. - Organize your ideas.
- Cover the bullet points. - Provide relevant vivid examples.
- Write 150 words in T1 – up to 190. - Give reasons.
- Allocate 20 minutes for task 1. - Connect your ideas well.
- Write 250 words in T2 – up to 290. (Use cohesive devices properly.)
- Allocate 40 minutes for task 2. - Write in paragraphs.
- Use the official writing answer - Write comparatively short sentences.
sheet. - Indentation (leave a two-word space)/
- Assign 3 minutes for each task to Skip a line between paragraphs.
check and correct. - Pay attention to alignment.
- Make your handwriting legible.

Criterion 3: Lexical Resource Criterion 4: Grammar Range/

(Vocabulary) Accuracy

- Paraphrase the question. - Use correct tenses.

- Avoid repetition. - Use a variety of sentence structures.
- Do not copy words from the - Use capitalization correctly.
question. - Use punctuation marks properly.
- Avoid misspelling. - Use correct prepositions.
- Include higher-level vocabulary. - Use some phrasal verbs.
- Use topic-related vocabulary. - Avoid grammatical mistakes.
- Use the correct form of the word. - Use passive formulas.
- Pay attention to confusing words.
Course Task:
Review the assignments feedback for
the grammar course videos that were
in the pre-course plan.

Appendix 3: Types of Sentences

Appendix 4: Verb Tenses

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 63

Section 4 - Speaking

Key Facts about the IELTS Speaking Test:

- Speaking is the fourth section in the IELTS exam. The speaking test is recorded.
- The speaking test is the same in both General Training and Academic.
- Timing: 14 minutes. Part 1 {4-5 min}, part 2 {3-4 min}, and part 3 {4-5 min}.
It is a face-to-face/online interview between the candidate and the examiner.

There are three parts to the test:

Part Zero: It has four questions before the test starts. (It is not assessed.)
Part 1: Introduction and interview. Time: 4-5 minutes long.
Part 2: Long Turn. The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk
about a particular topic. Time: 3-4 minutes, including the preparation time.
Part 3: Discussion. You and the examiner discuss issues related to the topic in part
2 in a more general way.

Marking/ Grading:
There are four assessment criteria on which the examiner assesses your
speaking performance through the test:
Fluency and Coherence. (flow) (logical order)
Lexical Resource. (vocabulary) (meaning)
Grammatical Range/Accuracy (sentence- structure)
Pronunciation (correct and to be understood) (accents are OK)

1) Fluency and Coherence 2) Lexical Resource

25 % 25 %

3) Grammatical Range/Accuracy 4) Pronunciation

25 %
25 %

See the Speaking Assessment Criteria.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 64

 IELTS Speaking – Part 0
There are almost four questions in this part:
Q1: Good afternoon, my name’s Elsaid Rashad. Could you tell me your
full name, please?
Q2: What can I call you?
Q3: Where are you from? OR Could you tell me where you come from?
(N. B. Do not ask the examiner any questions)
Q4: Could I see your identification, please?
OR Excuse me, could you show me your identification?

IELTS Speaking – Part 1 An Interview

There are three main topics in this part:
- Work/Study (Do you work or do you study?) First day at work
- Home Where? Rooms People Area
- Hometown born? Childhood? Weather? Transportation?

There are also more than 20 different topics:

family – friends – hobbies – weather – happiness – sport – food – clothes
– school – flowers – shopping – computers – going out – newspapers –
childhood – holidays – dictionaries – transport…

IELTS Speaking – Part 2 A Talk

The examiner will give you a Cue Card about:
[someone – something – place – time]
- You are given one minute to prepare and take notes.
- Then you are given two minutes to talk. You need to cover the topic by
covering the four bullet points.
For example:
“Describe a holiday you recently had.”
Where? When? Who? Why?

IELTS Speaking – Part 3 A Discussion

The examiner will ask you 5 to 6 questions on the cue card topic
You should give lots of details and examples. Use the expansion techniques.
NB: This part is the most challenging in the speaking test.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 65

20 General Tips to do well in Speaking:

1- Speak in a formal way, but naturally.

2- Smile and keep a good eye-contact with the examiner.
3- Listen carefully to the questions and be accurate.
4- Give full answers; not just words, show off your level.
5- Be polite and cultured when you ask for clarification.
6- Sit straight and maintain a good posture; be confident.
7- Use descriptive words and higher-level, advanced vocabulary.
8- Keep a steady pace; don’t speak too fast or too slowly.
9- Explain any foreign or unfamiliar words (cities, meals, and so on).
10- Stay on topic; do not go off it. Provide relevant examples.
11- Use the best English that you know even if you don’t know the answer.
12- Don’t memorize answers; read a lot… be familiar with the topics.
13- Be accurate using vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
14- Paraphrase the questions asked by the examiner.
15- Use linking words effectively; I mean the conjunctions.
16- Use gap fillers if necessary; don’t stay silent. Think while talking.
17- Correct yourself when you make a mistake.
18- Use some idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs.
19- Speak more than the examiner.
20- Extend your answers using expansions techniques (Part 3).

Here’s an example for part I:

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 66

In part 2 “Cue Card” / How to Plan

The best way to plan your answer is to

organize it clock-wisely as shown:

Remember: -
- You will be given only one minute to plan.
- Then two minutes to talk.
- You must cover the 4 questions.
- Don’t stop talking until you’re told so.

* You may use these sentences to begin your talk:

You requested me to describe (a TIME when I helped someone).

To that aim, I’ve chosen to talk about (my e-pal, Mike).

5 phrases that are useful to help you keep talking:

1. As I said earlier…
2. At the beginning I mentioned … To refer to something.

3. One thing I forgot to mention is …

4. I’d just like to add something about… To add extra details.
5. Now, what else can I say?

Note: If you run out of ideas after one minute, give yourself a fresh start by
looking at your notes which should be organized clock wisely. But do not read!
Use the phrases above or refer back to an earlier point that you mentioned.

The examiner will end the talk with a closed-ended question. So, answer it in
brief.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 67

In part 3 Discussion/ Expansion Techniques
10 Tricks to expand your answers:
1. Stating or explaining your opinions [e.g., computers]
2. Giving relevant examples [e.g., travelling abroad]

3. Explaining another side of the issue [e.g., advertisements]

4. Suggesting a solution to the problem/ Giving advice [e.g., traffic jam]

5. Saying what would happen if… [e.g., fire fighters]

6. Explaining how something happens [e.g., recycling]
7. Explaining why something happens, giving reasons [e.g., migration]
8. Showing frequency; how often you do something [e.g., sports]

9. Making past comparisons [e.g., telecommunications]

10. Giving predictions about the future [e.g., houses and buildings]

Course Tip:
1- Understand the question well.
Example: 2- Answer it without paraphrasing at first.
3- Paraphrase your answer and keep talking.
4- Use one or more of the expansion techniques.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 68

Dealing with problems
4 Problems you might encounter in the speaking test
and what you should do to go around them:

Problem 1: You haven’t heard the question properly.

Solution: Ask for clarification politely.
Example Questions: “Excuse me, could you please repeat that?”
“I’m sorry, could you repeat the question?”

Problem 2: You didn’t understand the question. (The examiner’s accent)

Solution: Ask a question to check.
Example Questions: “I’m not really sure what you mean.”

Problem 3: You aren’t sure how to answer.

Solution: show off your language. Use some gap fillers.
Example Questions: “That’s a really surprising question. I’ve never really
thought about that before. But if I had to answer it, I’d say……”

Problem 4: You have made a mistake.

Solution: Correct yourself.
Example Questions: “Sorry, I meant to say…”

Watch this video about speaking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDC18W29MzM

Click on the link below to watch a speaking mock test to one of my candidates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3kq4VGm_q8&t=71s

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 69

29 Topics for IELTS Speaking Part I

- School days
- Buildings
- Home town/ City/ Village
- Films/ Movies
- Work or Study
- Sport/ Swimming
- Shopping
- your Life
- Television
- Your Country
- Food
- Writing
- Music/ Concerts
- Special Days
- Rivers/ Mountains
- Hobbies/ Interests
- Maps
- Animals
- Family
- Friends
- Free Time
- Holidays/ Vacations
- Transport
- Health & Fitness
- Reading
- Languages
- Computers
- Weather
- Gifts/ Flowers

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 70

23 Topics for IELTS Speaking Part II
About [Someone – Something – Place – Time]

- Describe an interesting story that you heard or read about

- Describe an exciting place that you have visited
- Describe a special event that takes place in your country
- Describe a popular teacher that you know
- Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to
- Describe a television programme that you watch
- Describe a time when you helped someone
- Describe a shopping center/ mall that you visited
- Describe the type of clothes you prefer to wear
- Describe something you own which is very important
- Describe an unforgettable conversation that you had
- Describe an occasion when someone visited you home.
- Describe a website you often browse
- Describe the best gift you have received
- Describe a newspaper or a magazine
- Describe a day when you thought the weather was perfect
- Describe a historical place
- Describe an accident you saw
- Describe an important letter that you received
- Describe a course that you wish to study
- Describe a journey you went on
- Describe one of your childhood memories
- Describe what you did last weekend

Course Tip:
- Select some of these topics to talk
about for 2 minutes.
- Record yourself and listen back to it.
- Find a tutor to assess your speaking.
- Do this for two or three weeks.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 71

24 Topics for IELTS Speaking Part III

- Reading newspapers
- The future of newspapers
- Places that tourists visit
- Being a tourist
- Celebrations for families and friends
- National celebrations
- Education in school
- Education after school
- Food and society
- Restaurants
- The role of advertising on television
- The effect of films on society
- Helping neighbours
- Jobs that involves helping people
- Attitudes towards helping other people
- Different types of shop
- Customer service in shops
- Shopping and society
- Fast food
- Food problems
- Attitudes to retirement
- After retirement
- Skills and abilities
- Salaries for skilled people

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 72

3 Super Tips to Perfect your Pronunciation in IELTS Speaking!

Tip 1: Individual Sounds

There are 44 sounds in English, and they are divided into two main categories:
Consonant Sounds and Vowel Sounds. Learn how to pronounce them correctly.
Watch these videos on how to pronounce the most important consonant sounds correctly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZyezvxw8o8&list=PL9utEsiCgXpEkfOy7n_vm70bZGJC0fRcy
For the vowel sounds, watch this video on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhXoZQoq1Lk&t=110s

Drill: Practice saying these sounds:

Tip 2: Stress and Intonation

Stress is an emphasis that may be given to certain syllables in a word (Word Stress), or to
certain words in a phrase or sentence (Sentence Stress). Stressed syllables or words are
louder, longer and higher than other syllables or words. In Spoken Language, grammatical
or functional words (conjunctions, prepositions, pronouns, articles) usually do not receive
any stress; they are reduced forms. On the other hand, lexical or content words (nouns,
verbs, adjectives, adverbs) are stressed or must have at least one stressed syllable.

Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice in speaking. It is also known as pitch, tone and
music. Intonation helps you convey the meaning, emotion and expressions. It also helps you
sound like a native speaker. Study the intonation rising and falling patterns.

There is something called Prominence. It is used when the speaker wishes to stress a word
to convey a certain meaning.
Exercise: -
Practice saying the following sentences in 6 different intonations.
I didn’t say he stole my money.
1 2 3 4 5 6
- Notice the meaning changes when you stress each word at a time.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 73

Tip 3: Connected Speech Features
In natural English, words are not pronounced one by one. Usually, the end of one word
attaches to the beginning of the next word. You should learn how to run words together.
Here are four of the connected speech features:
1. Catenation/ Liaison (Linking sounds) (Consonant + Vowel)
The C+V case happens when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts
with a vowel sound, including semivowels (w, y, r).
Spelling Pronunciation
- My name is Ann. /my nay mi zan/
- American accent /amer k naksent/
- 909 5068 /nai nou nain fai vo sick sate/

2. Elision (Loss of sounds) (Consonant + Consonant)

The C+C case happens when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts
with a consonant sound as well. We don’t pronounce the first consonant.
Spelling Pronunciation
- I just didn’t get the chance. /I juss didn ge(t) the chance/
- I’ve been late twice. /aiv bin lei(t) twice/
- old boy, last Friday, next month, tell him /olboy/ lasfriday/ neksmonth/ teelim/

3. Intrusion (Addition of sounds) (Vowel + Vowel)

The V+V case happens when a word ending in a vowel sound is followed by one beginning
with a vowel sound as well. They are connected with a glide between the two vowels.
Spelling Pronunciation
- Go away. /go(w)away/
- Do it. /do(w)it/
- Stick it. /stik(y)t/
- I also need the other one. /ai(y)also need the(y)other one/

4. Assimilation
It happens when a sound changes because of a neighboring sound.
There are 2 popular cases, as follows:
/S/or /T/ + Y sound = /sh/ or /ch/
Spelling Pronunciation
- What’s your name? /whacher name? /
- Can’t you do it? /canchoo do it?/

/Z/or /D/ + Y sound = /j/ or /dj/

Spelling Pronunciation
- Who’s your hero? /ho(w)jer hero?/
- Would you help me? /wudjo hel(p) mi?/
Watch a video on that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6p8RGmiZS4&t=16s
Important Tip: Listen to BBC or VOA daily and imitate the pronunciation on your own. Copy the rhythm of native
speakers. Record yourself. You will feel the improvement. Don’t just listen passively!

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet

74
 Speaking Assessment Criteria with Tips
Read them carefully.

Criterion 1: Fluency/ Coherence Criterion 2: Lexical Resource

- Understand the question(s). - Use wide range of vocabulary.

- Think before you talk. - Use higher-level vocabulary.
- Use the phrases in part 2. - Do not repeat words over and over.
- Use Expansion Techniques in part 3. - Do not copy words of the questions.
- Deal with problems properly. - Use some idiomatic expressions.
- Organize and link your ideas. - Use correct forms of words.
- Use simple conjunctions. - Do not say any Arabic words,
- Do not stay silent. / - Use gap fillers. (otherwise you will need to explain
- Get ready for the next question. what they mean.)
- Be specific. / Response precisely.
- Avoid talking politics and religion.

Criterion 3: Grammar Range/ Criterion 4: Pronunciation

Accuracy
- Individual sounds (vowels/
- Use verb tenses correctly. consonants)
- Use correct prepositions. - Stress the important words.
- Use a variety of sentence-structures. - Use rising and falling intonation
- Use phrasal verbs and collocations. patterns.
- Correct your mistakes whenever you - Use chunking (Word connections &
make any. pauses)
- Be accurate. - Get rid of your accent. (/r/,/l/,/-ing/)
(Avoid mispronunciation in
Tip: Revise the grammar videos in the /th /, /gj/ and /p/)
pre-course plan. - Use body language/ face gestures.
- Listen a lot and imitate.

Appendix 6: Phrasal Verbs

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 75

Appendices
Appendix 1 - A List of 50 Common Synonyms

Synonyms are of great help to get a good IELTS score. Here is a list of some common words
which can help a great deal to understand listening and reading better. You can use them
in writing and speaking as well. This also helps to improve your English vocabulary in
general.

English Synonyms for IELTS

1. amazing incredible, fantastic, fabulous, astonishing, extraordinary

2. awful terrible, abominable, dreadful

3. bad evil, spoiled, imperfect, infamous, dismal

4. beautiful gorgeous, ravishing, dazzling, exquisite, stunning

5. begin initiate, commence, inaugurate

6. big huge, enormous, gigantic, humongous, substantial, mammoth

7. break rupture, fracture, shatter

8. calm serene, peace, tranquil

9. come approach, arrive

10. cool chilly, frosty, icy

11. cut chop, slash, slit

12. dangerous hazardous, risky, precarious

13. decide determine, settle

14. definite certain, positive, obvious

15. delicious savory, tidbit, delectable

16. describe portray, characterize

17. destroy demolish, slay, ruin, raze

18. difference disagreement, inequity, dissimilarity

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 76

19. dull boring, uninteresting, monotonous, humdrum, dreary

20. end terminate, conclude, cessation

21. explain elaborate, interpret

22. fall drop, descend, topple

23. famous well-known, renowned, eminent, illustrious

24. fast quick, rapid, hasty, snappy

25. fat stout, corpulent, chubby, bulky

26. funny amusing, humorous, droll

27. get acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gather

28. good excellent, fine, wonderful, superior, gracious, superb, splendid,

genuine, sterling, top-notch,
29. great worthy, distinguished, grand, considerable, mighty

30. happy pleased, delighted, elated, joyful, ecstatic, jubilant, jaunty

31. hate despise, loathe, abhor, abominate

32. have possess, own, acquire,

33. help aid, assist, support, encourage, relieve

34. hide conceal, cover, mask, veil

35. idea thought, concept, notion

36. important necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, famous,

notable
37. interesting fascinating, engaging, spirited, intriguing, gripping, enthralling,
captivating
38. little tiny, diminutive, exiguous, dinky, cramped

39. look gaze, glance, peek, glimpse, stare, leer

40. love like, admire, fancy, care for, adore

41. make create, originate, invent, construct, manufacture, produce, compose

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 77

 42. move plod, creep, crawl, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, lumber, meander

43. neat orderly, tidy, trim, natty, smart, elegant

44. new unique, modern, current, recent

45. old feeble, ancient, aged, veteran, mature, primitive, stale

46. place draw, map, diagram, procedure, method, blueprint

47. show display, exhibit, indicate, reveal, demonstrate

48. tell disclose, reveal, expose, narrate, inform, divulge

49. use employ, utilize, exhaust, spend

50. wrong incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

Often you do not hear/ read the exact words given in the questions. Instead, you hear/ read
a synonym, a similar word, or an opposite. For example, if the question contains the word
“difficult”, you might hear/ read “too hard” or “not easy”.

N.B.:
Paraphrasing is Key to IELTS. It’s not a must; paraphrase as best as you can.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 78

Appendix 2 - How to paraphrase effectively in IELTS test!
What is Paraphrasing?
Simply paraphrasing is expressing the same meaning of the text but by using different
words. In other words, Paraphrasing is changing a statement or passage into different
sentence or passage but keeping the same meaning as original one.

Why is it important to paraphrase?

You need to develop this vital skill to maximize your score in IELTS test. It is most important
for writing and speaking, but will also help you in reading and listening tests as the
questions restructured for the task are rephrased from the information given in the
recording or the passage.

How to paraphrase effectively?

There are FIVE ways you should try to practice to be able to paraphrase effectively:
1- Using Synonyms
2- Using Antonyms
3- Changing the Word Form
4- Changing the Word Order
5- Changing the Sentence Structure

1. Using Synonyms

Original Sentence How often do you eat out?

Paraphrased Sentence We don’t dine in a restaurant often.
Notice how the phrasal verb “eat out” was changed into “dine in a restaurant”.

2. Using Antonyms

Original Sentence Do you think that people eat healthier food nowadays?
Paraphrased Sentence No, I believe that people eat junk food than they did in the past.
Notice how “healthier food” is replaced by an opposite “junk food”.

3. Changing the Word Form

Original Sentence You have been working as a volunteer teacher.

Paraphrased Sentence I have been doing voluntary work as a teacher.
Notice that “working as a volunteer” (verb + noun) has been changed into “voluntary
work” (adjective + noun).

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 79

4. Changing the Word Order

Original Sentence Many people do not exercise as they do not have enough free time.
Paraphrased Many people do not have enough free time, so they do not
Sentence exercise.
Notice that there is a change in the order of words using so instead of as.
Don’t change the word order without thinking about how this affects the grammar of the
sentence. By changing the word order you may have to add a word, subtract a word, or
change the form of the word.

5. Changing the Sentence Structure

- Passive Voice: (modal verbs here)

Original Sentence Governments should give much care to places of attraction.
Paraphrased Sentence Places of attractions should be given much care…

- Clauses: (adjectival clause here)

Original Sentence What’s your favourite TV program?
Paraphrased Sentence The TV program which I like is The Man.

Important Note:
You do not have to paraphrase every word, i.e. not all words need to be changed. So, you
need to decide which words to paraphrase and which words to keep the same. Otherwise,
you may make mistakes or change the meaning and go off topic. That will unfortunately
lower your score.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 80

Appendix 3 - Grammar for IELTS [Types of Sentences]

This paper about sentence structure will focus on the four types of sentences which are:
1) Simple
2) Compound
3) Complex
4) Compound-Complex

You must know how to correctly use these sentence types for IELTS as the examiner will be
looking for them when they grade you for your 'grammatical range' in both writing and
speaking.

1) Simple Sentences
A Simple Sentence consists of one independent clause that has a subject and a verb.
It can have a complement as well.
i.e. [An Independent Clause is also known as (Main Clause) which can stand by itself as a
Simple Sentence. It makes sense by itself.]

Examples:
- Mr Happy waited for the train. The train was late. Formula = SV
- He and his wife took the bus. Formula = SSV
- They arrived and had breakfast at school early. Formula = SVV
- He and his wife took the bus and sat in the front. Formula = SSVV
Note: The subject and the verb are underlined in the above sentences.

Now, let’s analyze the components of Simple Sentences.

Try your best to avoid Subject-Verb Agreement errors.

1-1 The Subject

The Subject of a sentence can be a noun or a pronoun.
1-1-1 Noun Types

Proper vs. Common Abstract vs. Concrete

a person Nouns in general Have no physical People or things
a place a girl existence. that exist physically
a thing cities e.g. love, time, e.g. moon, apple,
an idea animals fear, courage, etc. dog, etc.
animals
Countable vs. Uncountable Compound vs. Collective
Have singular Cannot be counted. Two or more words A set of group
and plural forms. e.g., wood, oil, e.g., rainfall, bedroom, e.g., team,
a car – cars water, air, etc. army father-in-law, etc.
a desk – desks flock+noun, etc.
an idea animals

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 81

1-1-2 Pronoun Types
Subject Object Possessive Possessive Reflexive
Pronouns Pronouns Adjectives Pronouns Pronouns
st
1 Person I me my mine myself
nd
2 Person you you your yours yourself
rd
3 Person he him his his himself
(male)
3rd Person she her her hers herself
(female)
3rd Person it it its (not used) itself
st
1 Person we us our ours ourselves
(Plural)
2nd Person you you your yours yourself
(Sing./Plural) yourselves

1-2 The Verb

There are three main types of verbs in sentences.

Auxiliary Verbs Modal Verbs Main Verbs

can – could
shall – should
will – would Regular Irregular
Be Do Have
may – might They end with They are
Verb Verb Verb
must – had to an –ed in the learnt as they
(am, (do, (have,
ought to simple past are.
is, does, has,
+ and past Examples:
are, did) had)
bare infinitive participle, cut-cut-cut
was,
(without to) as in: speak-spoke-
were,
being, start - started spoken
been)

1-3 The Complement

A Complement is a word or a group of words that completes the meaning of a sentence.
There are four kinds of complements in sentences.
Direct Objects (D.O) Ex.: Ted hit Sam.
Indirect Objects (I.O) Ex.: Ted gave Sam a flower.
Object Complements (O.C) Ex.: I painted my house white.
Subject Complements (S.C) Ex.: Joe is a lover of coffee.

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 82

2) Compound Sentences
A Compound Sentence consists of 2 or 3 independent clauses joined by a semicolon (;)
or a comma (,) + a coordinating conjunction. [The Conjunctions are as follows: for,
and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Except for very short sentences, these conjunctions are always
preceded by a comma.]
(Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the conjunctions spells FANBOYS. Obviously the
most common are 'and', 'but', 'or' and 'so'.)

Examples:
- Everyone was busy, so I went to the movie alone. (Comma + Conjunction)
- Jack rode his bike, but Matt walked. (Comma + Conjunction)
- Computers are used widely in most countries now, and they are a sign of progress, so must
ensure everyone has access to them. (2 Commas + 2 Conjunctions)
- The sky is clear; the stars are twinkling. (Semicolon)
- I have three children; my brother has two. (Semicolon)
(Note: You can have a compound sentence structure without a coordinating
conjunction, and this is when you join two clauses with a semicolon. It is used when two
ideas are related.)

3) Complex Sentences
A Complex Sentence consists of one independent clause and one dependent clause.
i.e. [A Dependent Clause is also known as (Subordinate Clause). It does not express
a complete thought so it is not a sentence and can’t stand alone.]

There are 3 types of dependent clauses: (Adverbial - Adjectival -Nominal).

Dependent Clauses may work like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns in complex sentences.
3-1: Adverbial Clauses
It describes a verb and answers one of these questions:
Where? Why? How? When? To what degree?
An adverbial clause begins with a subordinating conjunction.
Common subordinating conjunctions:
After in order (that) unless
Although insofar as until
As in that when
as far as lest whenever
as soon as no matter how where
as if now that wherever
as though once whether
Because provided (that) while
Before since why

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even if so that
even though supposing (that)
How than
if that
as much as though
in case (that) till
Examples:
- I will not forgive you until you tell me the truth.
- The poor woman had no money because she had lost her job.
- He answered the question as if he knew the subject quite well.
- She is much younger than her sister (is).
- After he graduated in 2005, the entire family celebrated.
(Remember to put a comma between the two clauses if you start with a conjunction.)

3-2: Adjectival Clauses

It describes a noun and answers one of these questions:
Which one? What kind?
An adjectival clause begins with a relative pronoun.
Common relative pronouns:
which who that whom when where whose
Examples:
- Jack read the book that I gave him.
- Spring is the season when everything blooms.
- The house where I was born has been turned into apartments. (Defining)
- Mountain Etna, which is located in Italy, was once an active volcano. (Non-Defining)
(The adjectival clause in the last example is not needed, so we added commas.)

3-3: Nominal Clauses

It describes a person, place, thing, or idea.
A nominal clause may function in a sentence as any of the following:
Subject object complement
Nominal clauses may begin with interrogatives (but they are not questions):
who whom what which whoever whomever whatever
when where how why
Examples:
- No one would tell me who came to Tom’s party.
- Why you did that is a mystery to me.
- You should give what I suggested a try.
- The question is whether he can do the job.

This type of sentence structure is important for IELTS because to get awarded a band
7.0 or higher for your 'grammatical range and accuracy', you need to demonstrate that
you are able to use them.
The more varied and accurate complex sentences you use, the higher band score you
get.

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4) Compound-Complex Sentences
A Compound-Complex Sentence is a sentence that has TWO or more independent
clauses and at least ONE dependent clause, one of which is joined with a
coordinating conjunction and one with a subordinating conjunction.

Examples:
- The package arrived in the afternoon, but the hotel courier left before I could check
the contents.
- We decided to go to the movies, but our friend, who doesn’t like scary movies, didn’t
want to go.
- I got 4.5 in IELTS because I didn’t practise enough, and I have to sit for the test again
before I finish high school.

Important Note:

Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one another in number (singular or plural).
Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular; if a subject is plural, its
verb must also be plural.

Examples:
- The dog chases the cat.
- The dogs chase the cat.
- Every man and woman in the company participates in the course.
- Mona is one of those people who like to read comic books.

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 Sentence Structure Quiz
Now have a practice in the quiz. Identify what type of sentence each is.

1. I was late for work.

A. Simple

B. Compound

C. Complex

D. Compound-complex

2. He failed the test because he did not study hard enough.

A. Simple

B. Compound

C. Complex

D. Compound-Complex

3. Even though pollution is widespread, people are doing little to prevent it.
A. Simple

B. Compound

C. Complex

D. Compound-Complex

4. Animals should not be killed for their fur, but this is still occurring, so action must be taken.
A. Simple

B. Compound

C. Complex

D. Compound-Complex

5. I came to study in the UK because I wanted to improve my English, so I talk to as many

English people as possible.
A. Simple

B. Compound

C. Complex

D. Compound-Complex

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 There are four kinds of Sentences to express different purposes, as follow:

Declarative Interrogative Imperative Exclamatory

1 2 3 4

1) A Declarative Sentence
- makes a statement
- it ends in a full stop (.)
Example:-
My car is white.
I like English.

2) An Interrogative Sentence
- asks a question
- it ends with a question mark (?)
Example:-
Is your car black?
Do you like gym?

3) An Imperative Sentence
- gives a command or makes a request
- it ends with a full stop (.) or an exclamation mark (!)
Example:-
Shut the door.
Put the dishes away!

4) An Exclamatory Sentence
- expresses a strong feeling or a surprise
- it ends with an exclamation mark (!)
Example:-
How nice you are!
This is great!

Quiz
Complete each sentence with the correct punctuation mark. Then label what kind
of sentence each is.
1. I am eager to see my family for Ramadan__ …………………………..
2. What day of the week is your favourite__ …………………………..
3. You need to do your homework right after dinner__ …………………………..
4. Please take out the trash when you get home from school__ ………………………..
5. My favourite team won the game__ …………………………..
6. What did you want to eat for lunch__ …………………………..

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Appendix 4 – Grammar for IELTS [Verb Tenses]

Good Grammar is essential for taking the IELTS exam. Grammar is not tested directly
in the IELTS exam; it is tested in a way or another in the writing and speaking sections.
It is true: Proper English grammar is very important for getting a high IELTS score! Most
candidates make mistakes in Verb Tenses in writing and speaking which eventually lessen
their scores.

However, Grammar helps you make progress in all the four skills: reading, writing,
listening and speaking. You will be able to feel your progress in speaking and writing
mainly, because this is where you will actively use grammar structures to express your
ideas. On the other hand, knowing grammar will also help you understand language, both in
reading and in listening, because you will become more familiar with grammar structures
and will understand what others want to say right away.

In this paper, I will present 12 Tenses in a Comparative Way focusing on Practical Uses
and Common Mistakes. Transformational grammar and Conversational techniques are
also involved for a better understanding. The tenses will be as follows:

1) Present Simple Tense vs. Present Progressive Tense

2) Past Simple Tense vs. Past Continuous Tense

3) Past Simple Tense vs. Past Perfect Tense

4) Present Simple Tense vs. Future Simple Tense

5) Present Perfect Simple Tense vs. Past Perfect Simple Tense

6) Future Continuous Tense vs. Future Perfect Tense

7) Future Perfect Tense vs. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

8) Present Perfect Continuous Tense vs. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

N.B.: If you would like to test your verb tenses before you study, answer the questions on
page 92 first.

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 1 2
1) Present Simple Tense vs. Present Progressive Tense
Present Simple Tense Present Progressive Tense
- Infinitive form e.g. (read) Verb to be in the present form +
(I, We, They, You, or a plural noun) Present Participle (verb-ing)
or I - am
Form

- Infinitive + s e.g. (reads) He, She, It, Tom - is + verb-ing

(He, She, It, or a singular noun) We, They, You, Tom and Helen - are
1- Scientific Facts 1- Actions Happening at the Moment
Ex.: Water boils at 100 º C. Ex.: It’s raining.
2- Daily Routine or Repeated Habits 2- Unfinished Actions Now
Ex.: I visit my uncle every month. Ex.: I am talking on the phone.
3- Things that DO NOT Change 3- Temporal Situations
(Stative Verbs: possession, mental, Ex.: I’m living in Istanbul now.
feelings). 4- Definite Future Plan (near future)
Ex.: I believe that you are innocent. Ex.: I am meeting my Boss tomorrow.
4- Fixed Time in the Future 5- Trends
Ex.: The plane arrives at 10:15 pm. Ex.: More and more people are taking
5- for Permanent Actions the IELTS test these days.
Ex.: I live in Riyadh. 6- With Time Words like:
(now – right away - at the moment –
Usage

6- With Adverbs of Frequency

(every - always – often – usually – nowadays – Look! – Listen! – Smell!)
sometimes – seldom – rarely – never) Ex.: Listen! She is singing nicely.
- Plural Subject + do not/ don’t + - I + am not + verb-ing + complement.
infinitive verb + complement. Ex.: I am not watching TV now.
(I, We, They, You, or a plural noun)
Ex.: We do not often eat fish. - Singular noun/ pronoun + is not/ isn’t
+ verb-ing + complement.
Negation (-)

- Singular Subject + does not/ doesn’t + Ex.: She is not studying English Today.
infinitive verb + complement.
(He, She, It, or a singular noun/ pronoun) - Plural noun/ pronoun + are not/ aren’t
Ex.: She does not like school. + verb-ing + complement.
Ex.: They aren’t doing their homework.
- Do + plural noun/ pronoun + infinitive - Am + I + verb-ing + complement?
verb + complement? Ex.: Am I eating too much?
Ex.: Do they live in Paris? (Why am I eating too much?)
-Yes, they do./ -No, they don’t.
Interrogation (?)

(Why do they live in Paris?) - Is + he, she, it, or a singular subject +

verb-ing + complement?
- Does + singular noun/ pronoun + Ex.: Is he working now?
infinitive verb + complement?
Ex.: Does he smoke? - Are + we, they, you, or a plural
-Yes, he does./ -No, he doesn’t. subject + verb-ing + complement?
Ex.: Are you kidding me?

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 3 4
2) Past Simple Tense vs. Past Continuous Tense
Past Simple Tense Past Continuous Tense
- Regular verb-ed e.g. (visited) Verb to be in the past form + Present
or Participle (verb-ing)
- Irregular verb 2 conjugation
Form

e.g. (run - ran) [Review them.] I - He, She, It, Tom - was + verb-ing
(with all pronouns and nouns) We, They, You, Tom and Helen - were
1- A Completed Action in the Past 1- Arrangements in the Past
Ex.: He went to the cinema yesterday. Ex.: I was having a party at that time.
2- A Habit in the Past 2- Parallel Actions in the Past
Ex.: I always did my homework on time Ex.: My brothers were watching TV
when I was a student. while I was studying.
3- A Series of Actions in a Story 3- Interrupted Actions in the Past
Ex.: He sat down and ordered a coffee. Ex.: When the doorbell rang, I was
4- Unreal/ Imaginary writing sleeping.
Ex.: If I won the lottery, I would buy a 4- Emphasis of Length of Actions
new house. Ex.: I was working in the office all day.
5- Fixed Period with Time Expressions 5- With Time Words like:
Ex.: I visited China in 2008. (at that time – While/As – from...to.../ all
6- with Past Time Words day yesterday – all night)
(yesterday – last week/ month/ year – ago
Usage

Ex.: My son was coughing all night.

– just now – in 1984 [past date])

- Subject + did not/ didn’t + infinitive - I and Singular nouns/ pronouns + was
verb + complement. not/ wasn’t + verb-ing + complement.
Ex.: He was not calling his friend.
Negation (-)

Ex.: They didn’t go to school today.

Ex.: He did not ask for help. - Plural nouns/ pronouns + were not/
Ex.: I didn’t buy a new car. weren’t + verb-ing + complement.
Ex.: They weren’t cooking at home.

- Was + I, he, she, it, or a singular

- Did + Subject + infinitive verb + subject + verb-ing + complement?
complement? Ex.: Was she cleaning the house all day
Interrogation (?)

Ex.: Did she tell the truth? yesterday? -Yes, she was.
-Yes, she did./ -No, she didn’t. (Who was cleaning the house?)

Ex.: (When did they begin the meeting?) - Were + we, they, you, or a plural
They began at 10:00 AM. subject + verb-ing + complement?
Ex.: Were you eating when I called?
-No, we weren’t.

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3) Past Simple Tense vs. Past Perfect simple Tense
Past Simple Tense )‫(مكرر‬ Past Perfect Simple Tense
- Regular verb+ed e.g. (visited) Verb to have in the past form + Past
or (happened second) Participle
- Irregular verb 2 conjugation (happened first)
Form

e.g. (run - ran) [Review them.] All nouns and pronouns - had + P.P
(with all pronouns and nouns) e.g. (had spoken, had stayed)
1- A Completed Action in the Past 1- An Action happened before Another
Ex.: He went to the cinema yesterday. Past Action
2- A Habit in the Past Ex.: When we arrived, the bus had left.
Ex.: I always did my homework on time 2- Wishes in the Past
when I was a student. Ex.: We wish we hadn’t eaten so much.
3- A Series of Actions in a Story 3- Unreal things in the Past
Ex.: He sat down and ordered a coffee. Ex.: If he had studied hard, he would
4- Unreal/ Imaginary writing have passed the test.
Ex.: If I won the lottery, I would buy a 4- In Reported Speech after verbs like:
new house. (said – told – asked – ordered)
5- Fixed Period with Time Expressions Ex.: She said she had killed him.
Ex.: I visited China in 2008. 5- After (past perfect), (past simple).
6- with Past Time Words Ex.: After I had eaten, I washed the
(yesterday – last week/ month/ year – ago dishes.
– just now – in 1984 [past date])
Usage

Compare with: Before

Ex.: Before I woke up, I had seen a
dream.

- Subject + did not/ didn’t + infinitive - Subject+ had not/ hadn’t + P.P +
verb + complement. complement.
Negation (-)

Ex.: They hadn’t seen him before his

Ex.: They didn’t go to school today. arrival.
Ex.: He did not ask for help. Ex.: He had not seen me when we were
Ex.: I didn’t buy a new car. at the hospital.

- Did + Subject + infinitive verb + - Had + subject + P.P + complement?

Interrogation (?)

complement? Ex.: Had you tried Sushi?

Ex.: Did she tell the truth? -Yes, I had./ -No, I hadn’t.
-Yes, she did./ -No, she didn’t.
Ex.: (Where had you tried Sushi?)
Ex.: When did they begin the meeting? I had tried it when I was in Japan.
They began at 10:00 AM.

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4) Present Simple Tense vs. Future Simple Tense
Present Simple Tense )‫(مكرر‬ Future Simple Tense
- Infinitive form e.g. (read) - will + infinitive e.g. (will finish)
(I, We, They, You, or a plural noun) - (be in present) + going to + infinitive
or e.g. (is going to buy)
Form

- Infinitive + s e.g. (reads) - Present Simple and Present Continuous

(He, She, It, or a singular noun) also can be used to express the future.
1- Scientific Facts 1- Future Facts
Ex.: Water boils at 100 º C. Ex.: Mr happy will be 35 next year.
2- Daily Routine or Repeated Habits 2- Future Plans
Ex.: I visit my uncle every month. Ex.: I will visit the Egyptian Museum
3- Things that DO NOT Change next week.
(Stative Verbs: possession, mental, 3- Quick Decisions
feelings). Ex.: I’ll answer the phone.
Ex.: I believe that you are innocent. 4- Threats and Promises
4- Fixed Time in the Future Ex.: I’ll tell them if you do so again.
Ex.: The plane arrives at 10:15 pm. 5- Offers and Requests
5- for Permanent Actions Ex.: I will carry the bag for you.
Ex.: I live in Riyadh. 6- Future Prediction with evidence
Usage

6- With Adverbs of Frequency Ex.: It is going to rain.

(every - always – often – usually – 7- Intentions and Long plans
sometimes – seldom – rarely – never) Ex.: I’m going to buy a new car.
- Plural Subject + do not/ don’t +
infinitive verb + complement. - Subject + will not/ won’t + infinitive +
(I, We, They, You, or a plural noun) complement.
Ex.: We do not often eat fish. Ex.: We will not forget you.
Negation (-)

- Singular Subject + does not/ doesn’t + - Subject + am/is/are not going to +

infinitive verb + complement. infinitive + complement.
(He, She, It, or a singular noun/ pronoun) Ex.: She isn’t going to sell her jewellery.
Ex.: She does not like school.
- Do + plural noun/ pronoun + infinitive - Will + subject + infinitive +
verb + complement? complement?
Ex.: Do they live in Paris? Ex.: Will they give us the money back?
Yes, they do./ No, they don’t. -Yes, they will. -No, they won’t.
Interrogation (?)

(Why do they live in Paris?)

- Am/Is/Are + subject + going to +
- Does + singular noun/ pronoun + infinitive + complement?
infinitive verb + complement? Ex.: Is he going to stay there for long?
Ex.: Does he smoke? -Yes, he is./ -No, he isn’t.
-Yes, he does./ -No, he doesn’t. Ex.: (How long is he going to stay
there?)

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5) Present Perfect Simple Tense vs. Past Perfect Simple Tense
Present Perfect simple Tense Past Perfect Simple Tense )‫(مكرر‬
Verb to have in the present form + Past Verb to have in the past form + Past
Participle Participle
Form

He, She, It, Tom - has + P.P All nouns and pronouns - had + P.P
We, They, You, Tom and Helen - have e.g. (had spoken, had stayed)
1- Life Experience 1- An Action happened before Another
Ex.: I have been to China before. Past Action
2- Present Result Ex.: When we arrived, the bus had left.
Ex.: He has lost his keys recently. He 2- Wishes in the Past
can’t enter his house now. Ex.: We wish we hadn’t eaten so much.
3- News/ Recent Events 3- Unreal things in the Past
Ex.: The president has given a speech. Ex.: If he had studied hard, he would
4- Unfinished Action with Time Words have passed the test.
Ex.: I haven’t seen him today/ this week. 4- In Reported Speech after verbs like:
5- Answering How Long questions (said – told – asked – ordered)
Ex.: I have lived in Riyadh for 3 years. Ex.: She said she had killed him.
Ex.: I have lived in Riyadh since 2015. 5- After (past perfect), (past simple).
6- Unspecified Time in the Past Ex.: After I had eaten, I washed the
Ex.: I have visited Makkah once. dishes.
Usage

Compare to Past simple: Compare with: Before

Ex.: I visited Makkah last year. Ex.: Before I woke up, I had seen a
dream.
- Singular Subject + has not/ hasn’t +
P.P + complement. - Subject+ had not/ hadn’t + P.P +
Ex.: He hasn’t arrived yet. complement.
Negation (-)

Ex.: They hadn’t seen him before his

- Plural Subject + have not/ haven’t + arrival.
P.P + complement. Ex.: He had not seen me when we were
Ex.: They have not visited Paris before. at the hospital.

- Has + singular noun/ pronoun + P.P +

complement? - Had + subject + P.P + complement?
Ex.: Has she prepared the food? Ex.: Had you tried Sushi?
-Yes, she has./ -No, she hasn’t. -Yes, I had./ -No, I hadn’t.
Interrogation (?)

- Have + plural noun/ pronoun + P.P + Ex.: (Where had you tried Sushi?)
complement? I had tried it when I was in Japan.
Ex.: Have they ever been to China?
Yes, they have./ No, they have never
been there.
(How long have they stayed in China?)

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6) Future Continuous Tense vs. Future Perfect Tense
Future Continuous Tense Future Perfect Tense
will be + verb-ing (Present Participle) will have + P.P (Past Participle)
e.g. (will be sleeping) e.g. (will have arrived)
Form

Abbreviation (’ll be+v-ing) Abbreviation (’ll have+p.p)

1- Overlapping Action in the future 1- Action which will have Finished

Ex.: I will be waiting when you arrive. before a Specific Time in the Future
2- An action in Progress at a time in Ex.: By 10 o’clock tonight, I will have
the future finished my assignment.
Ex.: I will be meeting him tomorrow at 5. 2- Action which will have Finished
Ex.: They will be having a party this before Another Action in the Future
Sunday. Ex.: When you get this message, I will
3- Parallel Actions have left the house.
Ex.: My brother will be eating while I 3- Action began before and will
will be sleeping. Continue until Another Action in the
[No interruption] Future
4- To ask question Politely about the Ex.: By 2020, he will have worked in
future Dubai for 3 years.
Usage

Ex.: Will you be leaving London

tonight?

- Subject + will not/ won’t + be + verb- - Subject + will not/ won’t + have + P.P
ing + complement. + complement.
Negation (-)

Ex.: She will not be leaving home today. Ex.: We will not have forgotten what
Ex.: They won’t be working this Friday. happened.

- Will + subject + be + verb-ing + - Will + subject + have + P.P +

complement? complement?
Interrogation (?)

Ex.: Will you have completed the task

Ex.: Will you be studying tonight? by 8 pm?
Yes, I will./ No, I won’t. -Yes, I will./ -No, I won’t.

(When will you be studying?) Ex.: (When will he have completed the
task?)

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7) Future Perfect Tense vs. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Future Perfect Tense )‫(مُكرر‬ Future Perfect Continuous Tense
will have + P.P (Past Participle) will have + been + Verb-ing
e.g. (will have arrived) e.g. (will have been studying)
Form

Abbreviation (’ll have+p.p) Abbreviation (’ll have+been+verb-ing)

1- Action which will have Finished 1- How Long to a Point in the Future
before a Specific Time in the Future Ex.: In April, I will have been teaching
Ex.: By 10 o’clock tonight, I will have for 14 years.
finished my assignment.
2- Action which will have Finished 2- Action Finished before a Point in
before Another Action in the Future the Future.
Ex.: When you get this message, I will Ex.: When I see you, I’ll have been
have left the house. studying. So I’ll be tired.
3- Action began before and will
Continue until Another Action in the
Future
Usage

Ex.: By 2020, he will have worked in

Dubai for 3 years.

- Subject + will not/ won’t + have + P.P - Subject + will not/ won’t + have +
+ complement. been + verb-ing + complement.

Ex.: We will not have forgotten what Ex.: They will not have been waiting by
Negation (-)

happened. the time you finish work.

- Will + subject + have + P.P + - Will + subject + have been + verb-ing

complement? + complement?
Ex.: Will you have completed the task Ex.: Will she have been cooking by 5
by 8 pm? pm?
-Yes, I will./ -No, I won’t. -Yes, she will./ -No, she won’t.
Interrogation (?)

Ex.: (When will he have completed the Ex.: (Why will she have been cooking
task?) by 5 pm?)

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8) Present Perfect Continuous Tense vs. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
have/ has + been + verb-ing had + been + verb-ing
e.g. (have/ has been staying) e.g. (had been walking)
Form

Abbreviation (’ve/ ’s + been + verb-ing) Abbreviation (’d + been + verb-ing)

1- Explain a Present Result (Finished) 1- How Long to a Point in the Past

Ex.: I’ve been working (that’s why I’m Ex.: She had been working at that
tired). company for a year when she met James.
2- Temporary Situations (Unfinished)
Ex.: I’ve been going to the gym recently. 2- Result at a time in the Past
3- How Long (with since and for) Ex.: The pavement was wet. It had been
Ex.: She’s been living in London for 5 raining.
Usage

years.
- She’s been living in London since 2013.

- Subject + have/ has not/ haven’t/ - Subject + had not/ hadn’t + been +
hasn’t + been + verb-ing + complement. verb-ing + complement.

Ex.: He has not been living in Rome for Ex.: They hadn’t been selling their
Negation (-)

2 years. house when I wanted to buy one.

Ex.: They haven’t been living in Rome
for 2 years.

- Have/ Has + subject + been + verb-ing - Had + subject + been + verb-ing +

+ complement? complement?
Ex.: Have you been studying IELTS Ex.: Had they been sleeping when the
recently? earthquake took place?
-Yes, I have./ -No, I haven’t. -Yes, they had./ -No, they hadn’t.
Interrogation (?)

Ex.: (When have you been studying Ex.: (How long had they been
IELTS?) sleeping?)

Course Task:
1- Summarize the forms of the 12 tenses in a table.
2- Write 2 meaningful sentences on each tense. Send me your assignment.

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Quiz:
3- Test your Verb Tenses! [20 min]
Find the mistakes in the following sentences and correct them.

1. He don’t often tell the truth. 1____________

2. The bar chart show the monthly temperature. 2____________
3. I came from Egypt. 3____________
4. Are you play tennis every day? 4____________
5. They making a noise now. 5____________
6. I win three prizes last year. 6____________
7. We doesn’t see him yesterday. 7____________
8. She cooking all day yesterday. 8____________
9. If you studied hard, you would have succeeded. 9____________
10. He told us that he passes the test. 10____________
11. I wish I saw him yesterday. 11____________
12. They will told us about the course. 12____________
13. Will you helping me with my homework? 13____________
14. He going to give us a lecture on verb tenses tomorrow. 14____________
15. He have gone to Paris recently. 15____________
16. Have you never been to London? 16____________
17. I haven’t done the assignment already. 17____________
18. Will they be worked at the office this Sunday? 18____________
19. By 2023, my son will finish his primary school. 19____________
20. They will not have ate the cake in two hours. 20____________

Answer First!!!!!

Answer Key: Answer Key:

1. 11.
2. 12.
3. 13.
4. 14.
5. 15.
6. 16.
7. 17.
8. 18.
9. 19.
10. 20.

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Appendix 5 - Cohesive Devices in Speaking and Writing

Cohesive Devices
Using conjunctions in IELTS Writing or Speaking is essential to get a higher score. The
linking words below will help you do well in the criterion of Coherence and Cohesion.
Study them well and try to give sentence examples on each type.

1) addition 2) contrast 3) reasons and causes

4) results and sequences 5) purposes 6) expressing opinions
7) giving examples 8) listing and order 9) conclusions

1) Conjunctions of Addition.
In addition/ Furthermore/ Moreover, _____sub + verb_________.
Besides/ In addition to _______noun/ verb-ing__________.
___sub____ not only ________ but also __________.
Both ____sub___ and ___sub____ are _________.

2) Conjunctions of Contrast.
Although/ Though/ Even though, _____sub + verb_________.
___sub + verb_____. However, Nevertheless, Whilst _____sub + verb_______.
Despite/ In spite of ______noun/ verb-ing_______, _____sub + verb _______.
On the other hand, ______sub + verb________________.

3) Conjunctions of Reasons and Causes.

___sub + verb_________because/ since/ as ________sub + verb________.
___sub + verb______because of/ due to/ owing to ______noun/ verb-ing_____.

4) Conjunctions of Results and Consequences.

___sub + verb_________therefore/ consequently/________sub + verb________.
___sub + verb_________, that is the reason why ________sub + verb________.
Hence/ Thus, As a result ______sub + verb______________.

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5) Conjunctions of purposes.
___sub + verb_______ to/ in order to/ so as to + infinitive verb ________.
___sub + verb_______ so that/ in order that + ____sub + can/could + inf. ______.

6) Linking words of expressing Opinions.

In my opinion/ In my view, _______sub + verb_____________.
I think/ I believe/ I imagine ______sub + verb_____________.

7) Linking words of giving Examples.

____sub + verb ____, for example/ for instance/ such as _____sub + verb_____.
To illustrate/ In other words/ One clear example is _____sub + verb_________.

8) Words of Listing and Order.

Firstly, _________sub + verb__________.
Secondly, _________sub + verb__________.
Thirdly/ Fourthly, _________sub + verb__________.
Lastly/ Last but not least, _________sub + verb__________.
Finally, _________sub + verb__________.

9) Linking words of Conclusions.

To conclude/ To sum up/ In conclusion, _____sub + verb ______.

NB. Understanding Linking Words can also help you answer discursive passages in the
Reading section as the texts gradually become longer and more difficult in the Reading
paper. Those Reading passages contain a lot of Cohesive Devices to help explain how the
ideas are connected.

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Appendix 6 - Phrasal Verbs in IELTS Speaking and Writing.
What is a Phrasal Verb?
Phrasal verbs are verbs plus a preposition or an adverb (or followed by two). When these
two words are put together, they have a different meaning to what each word means on
their own. They will help you understand listening and reading texts as well.

Should I use Phrasal Verbs in IELTS Speaking?

The speaking test is a chance for you to show off your fluency in English and it is expected
that you will use phrasal verbs where appropriate. So, the answer is obviously yes.

What about using Phrasal Verbs in Academic Writing?

Well, in some cases- yes; in other cases-no. As a general rule you can use phrasal verbs in
IELTS Writing exam, but the key is making sure that you choose those that are the most
suitable for your context.

Common Phrasal Verbs

Here are four categories:
1. Separable Phrasal Verbs
2. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)
3. Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)
4. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

1- Separable Phrasal Verbs

(The object may come after the following phrasal verbs or it may separate the two parts.)

Verb Meaning Example

bring up raise children
do over repeat a job
fill out complete a form
find out discover
give back return an object
hand in submit something
hold up delay
leave out omit
make up invent a story
pick out choose
put off postpone
put on wear
take off remove clothing

* Verbs can be conjugated according to the tense.

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2- Inseparable Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)
(The lexical part of the verb, the part of the phrasal verb that carries the "verb-meaning",
cannot be separated from the prepositions - or other parts - that accompany it.)

Verb Meaning Example

call on visit
get over recover from sickness
go over review
go through use up; consume
look after take care of
run across find by chance
run into meet
take after resemble

3- Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (Transitive)

(With the following phrasal verbs, you will find three parts.)

Verb Meaning Example

get along with have a good relationship with
get rid of eliminate
look in on visit (somebody)
look up to respect
make sure of verify
run out of exhaust supply
talk back to answer impolitely
think back on recall (memories)

4- Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

(The following phrasal verbs are not followed by an object.)

Verb Meaning Example

break down stop functioning
go/ come back return to a place
come over visit
drop by visit (without appointment)
eat out dine in a restaurant
grow up get older
show up arrive
wake up arise from sleep

Task: Write example sentences using the above phrasal verbs.

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101
Appendix 7 - Thirty Most Commonly-used Idioms in English

You can use some idioms naturally in IELTS speaking at the right time and in the right
context to achieve a higher score in the criterion of lexical resource (vocabulary). Here is a
list of the most common formal idiomatic expressions in English.
NB: Do not overuse them.

Practice using each one in a sentence so that you can be able to use in a real test.

Idiom 1 “like two peas in a pod”

Definition very similar, especially, in appearance
Idiom 2 “well bred”
Definition having or showing good breeding or manners
Idiom 3 “get out of a jam”
Definition to get somebody out of a trouble
Idiom 4 “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”
Definition you help me and I’ll help you
Idiom 5 “a drop in the ocean”
Definition a very small part of something much bigger
Idiom 6 “actions speak louder than words”
Definition what we do matters more than what we say
Idiom 7 “it’s a small world”
Definition meeting someone you wouldn’t have expected to
Idiom 8 “stuck between a rock and a hard place”
Definition having two very bad choices
Idiom 9 “bite my tongue”
Definition wanting to say something, but stopping yourself
Idiom 10 “cut to the chase”
Definition leave out the unnecessary details and get to the point
Idiom 11 “put your eggs in one basket”
Definition putting all your resources in one possibility
Idiom 12 “every cloud has a silver lining”
Definition believing that ever bad situation has a positive side
Idiom 13 “what must be must be”
Definition there is no use in regretting or resisting what one cannot control
Idiom 14 “go the extra mile”
Definition doing much more than is required when doing something
Idiom 15 “hit the nail on the head”
Definition say exactly the right thing
Idiom 16 “the heat of the moment”
Definition saying or doing something suddenly without thinking about it

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 Idiom 17 “keep an eye on somebody/ something”
Definition watch someone or something carefully
Idiom 18 “kicked the bucket”
Definition passed away or died
Idiom 19 “let sleeping dogs lie”
Definition avoid a conflict
Idiom 20 “let the cat out of the bag”
Definition tell someone something that you were not supposed to
Idiom 21 “bite the hand that feeds you”
Definition hurt or upset someone who is helping you
Idiom 22 “sitting on the fence”
Definition not making a firm decision between different choices
Idiom 23 “judge a book by its cover”
Definition appearance can be deceiving
Idiom 24 “practice makes perfect”
Definition continuously doing something to improve
Idiom 25 “smell a rat”
Definition to sense that something is not right
Idiom 26 “the spitting image”
Definition to look exactly like someone else
Idiom 27 “the ball is in your court”
Definition telling someone it is now their turn to make a decision
Idiom 28 “until the cows come home”
Definition for a very long time
Idiom 29 “you cannot judge a book by its cover”
Definition appearances are deceiving
Idiom 30 “there will always be a next time”
Definition there will be another better chance to do something

N.B: Forget about them for your writing (though they could be used in an informal letter for
the General Training module).

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Appendix 8 - Gap Fillers that you may Use in Speaking.
[We use them to avoid pauses/ silences and to give yourself some time to think.]
1. Well

“Well,” can be used in a few different ways. You can use it to show that you’re thinking.

“Well, I guess $20 is a good price for a pair of jeans.”

You can also use it to put a pause in a sentence.

“The apples and cinnamon go together like, well, apples and cinnamon.”

You can even use the word to stall.

“Well… fine, you can borrow my car.”

==============

2. Um/er/uh

“Um,” “er” and “uh” are mostly used for hesitation, such as when you don’t know the
answer or don’t want to answer.

“Um, er, I uh thought the project was due tomorrow, not today.”

You can use any of the words at any time—they don’t all have to go together.

“Umm… I like the yellow dress better!”

=============

3. Hmm

“Hmm” is a thoughtful sound, and it shows that you’re thinking or trying to decide
something.

“Hmm, I like the pink bag, but I think I’ll buy the black one instead.”

===============

4. Like

“Like” is sometimes used to mean something is not exact.

“My neighbor has like ten dogs.”

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In the above example, the neighbor probably doesn’t have exactly ten dogs. Rather, the
neighbor has a lot of dogs.

Usually, though, the word is used when you need a moment to figure out the next word to
use.

“My friend was like, completely ready to like kick me out of the car if I didn’t stop using the
word ‘like’.”

=============

5. Actually/Basically/Seriously

“Actually,” “basically” and “seriously” are all adverbs—words that describe actions. Many
adverbs (though not all of them) have an “-ly” at the end of the word, which makes it easier
to recognize them. All these words can be used as fillers which change the strength of a
statement.

For example, the word “actually” is used to point out something you think is true, when
others might not agree:

“Actually, pugs are really cute!”

“Basically” and “seriously” change the sentence in slightly different ways too. “Basically” is
used when you’re summarizing something, and “seriously” is used to show how strongly
you take the statement.

“Basically, the last Batman movie was seriously exciting!”

===============

6. You see

“You see” is used to share a fact that you assume the listener doesn’t know.

“I was going to try the app, but you see, I ran out of space on my phone.”

===============

7. You know

“You know” is used to share something that you assume the listener already knows.

“We stayed at that hotel, you know, the one down the street from Times Square.”

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It can also be used instead of an explanation, in cases where we feel the listener just
understands what you mean.

“When the elevator went down, I got that weird feeling in my ears, you know?”

==============

8. I mean

“I mean” is used to clarify or emphasize how you feel about something.

“I mean, he’s a great guy, I’m just not sure if he’s a good doctor.”

It’s also used to make corrections when you misspeak.

“The duck and the tiger were awesome but scary. I mean, the tiger was scary, not the
duck.”

“The cave is two thousand—I mean—twenty thousand years old!”

===============

9. You know what I mean?

“You know what I mean?” is used to make sure the listener is following what you’re saying.

“I really like that girl; you know what I mean?”

==============

10. At the end of the day

“At the end of the day” is a phrase that means “in the end” or “in conclusion.”

“At the end of the day, we’re all just humans, and we all make mistakes.”

=============

11. Believe me

“Believe me” is a way of asking your listener to trust what you’re saying.

“Believe me, I didn’t want this tiny house, but it was the only one I could afford.”

It’s also used to emphasize what you’re about to say.

“Believe me, this is the cheapest, tiniest house ever!”

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=============

12. I guess/I suppose

“I guess” and “I suppose” are used to show that you’re hesitant, or not really sure about
what you’re saying.

“I was going to eat dinner at home, but I guess I can go eat at a restaurant instead.”

“I guess” is used more often in speech, but “I suppose” can sound classier (a bit smarter).

==============

13. Or something

“Or something” is a sentence ending that means you’re not being exact.

“The cake uses two sticks of butter and ten eggs, or something like that.”

=============

14. Okay/so

“Okay” and “so” are usually used to start sentences, and can be a sign that a new topic is
starting.

“So what are you doing next weekend?”

They can also be used to introduce a summary.

“Okay, so we’re going to need to buy supplies for our trip this weekend.”

=============

15. Right/mhm/uh huh

“Right,” “mhm” and “uh huh” are all affirmative responses—they all mean a “yes”
response.

“Right, so let’s prepare a list of all the things we’ll need.”

“Uh huh, that’s exactly what he told me too.”

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Appendix 9 - Fifteen Punctuation Marks and Ten Capitalization Rules

Fifteen Punctuation Marks

Punctuation is the name for marks used in Writing. They are to help understanding
and correct reading. These are the most common punctuation marks used in English:

1- (.) a period in American English or full stop in British English.

It is used to: - end a sentence…
- indicate numbers that are smaller than one (e.g., 7.5) …
- and make words shorter (e.g., Dr. {US English}).
2- (,) a comma It is used to:
- separate things in a list (e.g., I like apples, oranges and bananas.)
- separate two sentences with a conjunction (e.g., When I get home, I’ll call you.)
- and to indicate a pause when addressing someone (e.g., Jack, are you OK?)
3- (?) a question mark
It is used to: - write a question or ask something…
- to make an inquiry, request or an offer…
4- (!) an exclamation mark
It is used to: - write about a strong emotion…
- write the words a person shouted…
- and to make a statement stronger.
5- (’) an apostrophe It is used for:
- ownership: something belongs to someone else (e.g. Mr Saeed’s booklet)…
- and contractions: to put two small words together (e.g. He’s).

6- (“ ”) left and right quotation marks or inverted commas.

- They are used in quotes (e.g. “Easy come, easy go.”)…
- and around the words that people have said.
7- (:) a colon
- It is used at the beginning of a list.
8- (;) a semi-colon It is used to:
- connect two independent clauses into a single structure…
- and to separate items in a series when the items contain elements.
9- (…) an ellipsis It is used to:
- show where words have been missed out when writing what a person said…
- and to show that there is more to be said, but the person stopped at that point.

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10- (-) a hyphen Hyphens have many uses in writing:
- to write some numbers (e.g. twenty-five) …
- when spelling out a word (e.g. H-Y-P-H-E-N)…
- in compound words (e.g. a two-year-old boy)...
- and when a word is too long to fit in one row of writing.
11- (*) an asterisk It is a little star symbol.
It can be used to: - indicate a footnote…
- and to re-edit words in informal text.
12- (/) a slash
It is used: - between alternatives (e.g. and/or) …
- in fractions (e.g. 1/3)…
- between separate elements of a text…
- or to indicate the transcription of a word in phonetics.

13- ( ) parentheses (round) brackets

They are used to enclose extra information or explanation which interrupts the normal
progression of the sentence.
14- [ ] square brackets
They are mainly used to enclose words added by someone other than the original writer or
speaker, typically in order to clarify the situation.
15- (é) an accent mark
It is a symbol used over letters, commonly vowels, to help emphasize the pronunciation of a
word, like in the word café.

N.B.: Standard English usage is to have no spaces before any of the above-mentioned
punctuation marks, and just one space after.

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Ten Capitalization Rules

In IELTS Listening, you can write your answers either in “lowercase” or “CAPITAL
LETTERS”. For example, if your answer is the word “budget”, you can write it “budget” or
“BUDGET”. In Reading, you just need to copy the answers from the passage correctly as
they are.
However, in English Writing you should apply the capitalization rules below:

1- Capitalize the first letter of a new sentence.

2- Capitalize the pronoun “I” when referring to you.
3- Capitalize days of the week, months of the year, and holidays.
4- Capitalize proper people, names, name initials.
5- Capitalize titles like: Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, and Prof.
6- Capitalize proper places like: countries, states, provinces, cities,
towns, roads, streets, mountains, parks, rivers, seas, and oceans.
7- Capitalize proper things like: specific brands, companies, religion
names, languages, nationalities, specific directions.
8- Capitalize novel, movie and song titles. For instance: “Animal Farm” -
“School of Rock” - “Here I Am”.
9- Capitalize the greeting and the closing of a letter (e.g., Dear … and Yours …).
10- Capitalize the first word in a direct quotation. For example, Mr Happy said, “Use
capitalization in IELTS writing.”

Course Task: Send me on WhatsApp!

Practice:
Correct the words that need capital letters in the following letter.

dear all,
hello. my name is elsaid rashad. i am your english teacher. i was born in
april. my favourite day of the week is friday. i am from egypt and i have lived
in china for three years in a city called baicheng in changchun province. i like
the movie named brave heart. my super quote is “speak out in acts; the time for
words has passed, and only deeds will suffice”.
best regards,
mr happy

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 References

If you are a serious IELTS candidate, these reliable sources are for you. They
give you a lot of amazing tips and techniques how and what to do in each section
of the exam. You will realize doing IELTS is not that difficult at all. You just
need to study hard.

Books:
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
- Cambridge English Grammar for IELTS
- Cambridge English Vocabulary for IELTS
- BARRON’S IELTS Strategies and Tips
- Collins Books (Vocab + the 4 skills)
- Rayan’s band 9 essays
- Elsaid Rashad’s DELTA Module 3 Assignment

Websites:
www.ielts.org
www.ielts-simon.com
www.ieltsbuddy.com
www.ieltsadvantage.com
www.goodluckielts.com
www.mrhappyenglish.com

YouTube Channels:
- IELTS Liz
- Write to Top
- The IELTS Teacher
- E2 IELTS
- IELTS Simon
- The IELTS Coach

*These are my #IELTS_Booklet References

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet 111

ELSAID RASHAD IELTS Booklet