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I have a standard British accent which is very clear and easy to understand and a good role model for your own accent
The number one thing my students say about me is that I am patient and kind which makes them look forward to and enjoy my lessons
I identify errors and help my students correct them, but it is not all grammar, I work on pronunciation and vocabulary, too and you will learn idiomatic language with me.
Read my FAQ about the IELTS speaking test to learn how to increase your vocabulary score to a band 8.0.
How is the IELTS speaking test scored?
The IELTS speaking test is scored by how easy you are to listen to and understand as you are speaking English. The factors that affect this are
What percentage of the IELTS speaking test is vocabulary?
It is 25% of the marks
How do I get an 8.0 IELTS vocabulary score?
To score an 8.0 in IELTS vocabulary in speaking you should use plenty of idiomatic vocabulary.
You should use less common words that identify very precise meanings. For example instead of “I agree” identify your level of agreement precisely with phrases such as “yes I definitely agree” or “well, I guess I kind of agree.”
You should use collocations accurately – words that naturally go together, for example, “take a walk”, or “make a mistake.”
You should also use less common collocations such as phrasal verbs. For example, instead of “I like my colleagues,” use “I get along well with my colleagues.”
Finally, you should understand how formal or informal the words you use are and be able to choose the right word for the right occasion.
Can I use very informal vocabulary in IELTS
Often very informal vocabulary sounds uneducated or rude to native speakers. It Is likely that you know when a word you have learned is too informal for the test.
But relatively informal words that are not rude are preferable to extremely formal words in the speaking test.
For example, the more informal expression “on top of that” sounds better than “moreover” unless you are discussing a weighty topic such as climate change or education.
Two synonyms for informal are relaxed and friendly. It is good to be able to sound relaxed, easy going and friendly when answering the IELTS part 1 speaking questions about your job, home, hobbies, likes and dislikes because it proves you can perform well in social English conversation.
In IELTS writing, the opposite is true and when you are writing serious points about such topics as climate change or education in third world countries it is better to use more formal language.
Should I use phrasal verbs in IELTS academic?
Most phrasal verbs are spoken English rather than written English.
I can illustrate this with the phrase “to give something back” and to “return something”. They both mean the same thing but the first is a phrasal verb and the second is a more formal alternative.
“To give something back” sounds better in speaking. The speaking test is the same in IELTS for both academic and general. For speaking, I would always recommend using phrasal verbs, except very informal ones which have rude connotations.
But phrasal verbs are informal and academic writing is not.
In a university essay, it would be better to use the word “return” than “give back” every time. And it is good to get into this habit earlier than later so if you are taking academic IELTS my advice is to start now.
Best speaking tutors will explain your band score to you. I do this. Courses to achieve 6, 7 and 8 in IELTS covering all aspects of IELTS marking: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and fluency and cohesion.
My courses in both academic and general IELTS writing are held through live online one-2-one student/teacher discussions of your work. Explanations of each mark are given.