27 - 6 Useful Sentence Patterns to Improve Your IELTS Writing
01/07/19 • 11 min
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In this episode, Eliot and Naomi talk about a very important IELTS Writing skill: sentence construction. They'll cover:
- Powerful sentence patterns and;
- How you can use them to improve your writing
Episode resources and links:
Learn how to improve your IELTS band score with Magoosh! Use coupon code ieltspodcast to save 20% at ielts.magoosh.comEpisode 27 Transcript - 6 Useful Sentence Patterns to Improve Your IELTS Writing
Translations: (Tiếng Việt, فارسی)
Intro
Welcome to the Magoosh IELTS Podcast! This is Episode 27. In this episode, we’ll discuss a very important IELTS Writing skill: sentence construction. Eliot and I will talk about some powerful sentence patterns, and how you can use them to improve your writing.
And don’t forget to visit us at IELTS.Magoosh.com for more great resources to improve your IELTS band score. Use coupon code “ieltspodcast” to save 20% off your IELTS test prep!
Okay, let’s get started!
Part 1Naomi: Sentence structure can be so tricky, can’t it Eliot? I mean, there must be thousands of useful sentence patterns in English.
Eliot: That is true Naomi. But at the same time, you won’t need to use thousands of sentence patterns in your IELTS Writing Tasks.
Naomi: So how many different sentence patterns should our students be thinking about?
Eliot: A handful of really good ones should do the trick for IELTS Writing. In fact, I have a short list that could serve a lot of our students well: six simple but powerful sentence patterns.
Naomi: Only six? Those sentence types must really pack a punch.
Eliot: They do. But what’s really important is that students focus on a small number of sentences they think they can do really well. Trying to master too many sentence patterns can wear you out and waste time. Several good ones is enough.
Naomi: I’m excited to hear about your picks, then. What’s the first pattern students should know from Eliot’s “Stupendous 6?”
Eliot: Let’s start with “it is” plus adjective, plus “that.”
Naomi: (Repeating slowly) “It is + adjective + that.”
Eliot: Right. The phrase “it is,” followed by an adjective, followed by the word “that.” It’s a common sentence beginner. It’s great way to start the kinds of smart-sounding academic sentences you’d use in an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.
Naomi: Intriguing! But can you give me an example?
Eliot: Yes, let me think of one. OK.... Suppose, for example, that you get a prompt where you are asked whether or not the Internet has improved people’s lives or made their lives more complicated. To describe some of your thoughts on the topic, you could say:
“It is indisputable that the Internet plays an essential role in people’s lives today.”
Naomi: Ooh, that’s a good one! But what if there was a different IELTS Writing topic. What about... say...education!
Eliot: OK, give me a moment, I have something for this....
“It is undeniable that education offers us opportunities to get higher salaries and a better life.”
Naomi: I like it. Let me do one! Hmm...“It is clear that modern technology makes our world more connected and entertaining than ever before.”
Eliot: Nice one! OK, shall we look at another sentence pattern?
Naomi: Yes, please!
Eliot: You can start a sentence with “there is no doubt that....”
Naomi: Could you also say “There is no denying that...?”
Eliot: Yes, that’s a good variation on the pattern. So, an example. How about....
“There is no denying that the cost of living is rising higher and higher in big cities.”
Naomi: Or...
“There is no doubt that child safety is an important concern for parents.”
Eliot: You are coming up with such good examples, Naomi.
Naomi: Aw, thank you. You too, Eliot. OK, what sentence pattern are we going to try out next?
Eliot: Next, let’s look at sentences th at include the phrase “an increasing number.” Or alternatively, “a growing number....”
Naomi: “A growing number of experts feel that climate change is the most serious env...
In this episode, Eliot and Naomi talk about a very important IELTS Writing skill: sentence construction. They'll cover:
- Powerful sentence patterns and;
- How you can use them to improve your writing
Episode resources and links:
Learn how to improve your IELTS band score with Magoosh! Use coupon code ieltspodcast to save 20% at ielts.magoosh.comEpisode 27 Transcript - 6 Useful Sentence Patterns to Improve Your IELTS Writing
Translations: (Tiếng Việt, فارسی)
Intro
Welcome to the Magoosh IELTS Podcast! This is Episode 27. In this episode, we’ll discuss a very important IELTS Writing skill: sentence construction. Eliot and I will talk about some powerful sentence patterns, and how you can use them to improve your writing.
And don’t forget to visit us at IELTS.Magoosh.com for more great resources to improve your IELTS band score. Use coupon code “ieltspodcast” to save 20% off your IELTS test prep!
Okay, let’s get started!
Part 1Naomi: Sentence structure can be so tricky, can’t it Eliot? I mean, there must be thousands of useful sentence patterns in English.
Eliot: That is true Naomi. But at the same time, you won’t need to use thousands of sentence patterns in your IELTS Writing Tasks.
Naomi: So how many different sentence patterns should our students be thinking about?
Eliot: A handful of really good ones should do the trick for IELTS Writing. In fact, I have a short list that could serve a lot of our students well: six simple but powerful sentence patterns.
Naomi: Only six? Those sentence types must really pack a punch.
Eliot: They do. But what’s really important is that students focus on a small number of sentences they think they can do really well. Trying to master too many sentence patterns can wear you out and waste time. Several good ones is enough.
Naomi: I’m excited to hear about your picks, then. What’s the first pattern students should know from Eliot’s “Stupendous 6?”
Eliot: Let’s start with “it is” plus adjective, plus “that.”
Naomi: (Repeating slowly) “It is + adjective + that.”
Eliot: Right. The phrase “it is,” followed by an adjective, followed by the word “that.” It’s a common sentence beginner. It’s great way to start the kinds of smart-sounding academic sentences you’d use in an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.
Naomi: Intriguing! But can you give me an example?
Eliot: Yes, let me think of one. OK.... Suppose, for example, that you get a prompt where you are asked whether or not the Internet has improved people’s lives or made their lives more complicated. To describe some of your thoughts on the topic, you could say:
“It is indisputable that the Internet plays an essential role in people’s lives today.”
Naomi: Ooh, that’s a good one! But what if there was a different IELTS Writing topic. What about... say...education!
Eliot: OK, give me a moment, I have something for this....
“It is undeniable that education offers us opportunities to get higher salaries and a better life.”
Naomi: I like it. Let me do one! Hmm...“It is clear that modern technology makes our world more connected and entertaining than ever before.”
Eliot: Nice one! OK, shall we look at another sentence pattern?
Naomi: Yes, please!
Eliot: You can start a sentence with “there is no doubt that....”
Naomi: Could you also say “There is no denying that...?”
Eliot: Yes, that’s a good variation on the pattern. So, an example. How about....
“There is no denying that the cost of living is rising higher and higher in big cities.”
Naomi: Or...
“There is no doubt that child safety is an important concern for parents.”
Eliot: You are coming up with such good examples, Naomi.
Naomi: Aw, thank you. You too, Eliot. OK, what sentence pattern are we going to try out next?
Eliot: Next, let’s look at sentences th at include the phrase “an increasing number.” Or alternatively, “a growing number....”
Naomi: “A growing number of experts feel that climate change is the most serious env...
Previous Episode
25 - How to Prepare for IELTS Academic Speaking
In this episode, Eliot and Naomi talk about IELTS Speaking. They'll cover:
- What makes IELTS Speaking so different
- All three parts of the IELTS Speaking section
- IELTS Speaking scoring categories
Episode resources and links:
Learn how to improve your IELTS band score with Magoosh! Use coupon code ieltspodcast to save 20% at ielts.magoosh.comEpisode 25 Transcript - How to Prepare for IELTS Academic Speaking
Translations: (Tiếng Việt, فارسی)
Intro
Welcome to the Magoosh IELTS Podcast! This is Episode 25. In this episode, we’ll discuss all things IELTS-Speaking. Check the show notes for a complete transcript, and links to the IELTS Speaking resources we discuss.
And don’t forget to visit us at IELTS.Magoosh.com for more great resources to improve your IELTS band score. Use coupon code “ieltspodcast” to save 20% off your IELTS test prep!
Okay, let’s get started!
Part 1Eliot: The IELTS Speaking section really is unique. You’re not just sitting there alone in a test center with your exam booklet.
Naomi: It is a real change of pace, isn’t it, Eliot? Can you tell our students more about what makes IELTS Speaking so different?
Eliot: Well, most noticeably, it’s an actual interview, where you talk to a real human being.
Naomi: An interview. That sounds intimidating. Is it stressful, like a job interview?
Eliot: Don’t worry, it’s definitely not structured like a job interview and shouldn’t be nearly as stressful. The interview has different sorts of questions, and comes in three parts....
Naomi: What makes each part different?
Eliot: You can think of them as three different pieces of the same conversation. And each part has a connection to the next. In Part 1, you’re asked a series of questions about your personal life. But nothing that’s deeply personal or embarrassing-- just questions about your hobbies, things you like to do with your family, your hometown, etc.... This part of the interview lasts 4 or 5 minutes.
Naomi: That does sound easier than a job interview. So how does IELTS Speaking Part 1 lead to the second part?
Eliot: For the second part, you’re still talking about something personal from your life. But now you need to give a short solo speech. You’ll be given a topic card, and a minute to prepare a speech based on the topic card. The speech itself will last for 1 to 2 minutes. This is longer than you’ll speak on your own during any other part of the test. So they call the IELTS Speaking Part 2 speech “the long turn.”
Naomi: Does that mean Part 2 is even shorter than Part 1? Is IELTS Speaking Part 2 just 2 or 3 minutes long?
Eliot: No, it still lasts 4-5 minutes. After you give your speech, the interviewer asks you some follow-up questions about how you responded to the topic card.
Naomi: About that topic card. I’m having a little trouble picturing it. What does it look like?
Eliot: It’s a small index card with a detailed question written on it. Actually, why don’t I read a typical IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic card to you?
Naomi: Oh yes, that would be very helpful.
Eliot: OK, here’s one:
Describe an important tradition in your family.
You should say:
- What the tradition is.
- How it’s celebrated.
- When it’s celebrated.
And explain why the tradition is important to your family.
Naomi: That really is a lot like the kinds of things you’d discuss in Part 1. So tell me: Does the IELTS set up the Part 1 questions so that they cover the same subject as the Part 2 “long turn”?
Eliot: That would be nice, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, the topics that come up in Part 1 and Part 2 are random, and aren’t guaranteed to be directly related to each other. But here’s the good news: Part 3 does deal with the same subject you see on the Part 2 “long turn” topic card.
Naomi: You don’t have to give another speech, do you?
Eliot: Thankfully, no. Instead, Part 3 is kind of a “wind-down” exercise from Part 2. The interviewer and the student will have a short follow-up conversa...
Next Episode
26 - 3 Example Agree-Disagree Questions
In this episode, Eliot and Naomi talk about how to understand and respond to an IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 essay question. They'll cover:
- Writing Task 2 requirements
- Different ways you can write responses to three Task 2 Agree-Disagree example questions
Episode resources and links:
- IELTS Academic Writing Task 2: The Complete Guide
- IELTS Writing: To What Extent Do You Agree or Disagree?
- The Best IELTS Task 2 Writing Template
- Brainstorming Ideas for the IELTS Task 2 Essay
- IELTS Paraphrasing Task 2 | Video Post
Episode 26 Transcript - 3 Example Agree-Disagree Questions
Translations: (Tiếng Việt, فارسی)
Intro
Welcome to the Magoosh IELTS Podcast! This is Episode 26. In this episode, you’re going to learn how to understand and respond to an IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 essay question that is formatted as an Agree-Disagree question. First Eliot and I will explain the Task 2 requirements, and then we’ll walk you through the different ways you can write responses to three Task 2 Agree-Disagree example questions.
And don’t forget to visit us at IELTS.Magoosh.com for more great resources to improve your IELTS band score. Use coupon code “ieltspodcast” to save 20% off your IELTS test prep!
Okay, let’s get started!
Part 1:Naomi: Today Eliot and I are discussing IELTS agree-disagree questions. You may run into this type of essay question in the Academic IELTS Writing Task 2.
Eliot: In this episode, we’re going to go over three example agree-disagree question prompts, and show you the ways you could structure your response to each of them.
Naomi: Before we get started with the example questions, let’s talk a little more about Academic Writing Task 2. Eliot, what do you think students should know about this section of the IELTS?
Eliot: Well, IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 is the second of two writing tasks on the IELTS. In Task 2, you’ll be asked to respond to an open-ended essay prompt. If the prompt ends with the phrase: ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree’, you’re dealing with an agree-disagree essay question.
Naomi: Task 1 definitely isn’t easy, but most students find IELTS Writing Task 2 even more challenging. Would you recommend that students spend more time on Task 2 than on Task 1?
Eliot: Yes, definitely. You’ll have a total of 60 minutes to complete both tasks. I suggest that you spend only 20 minutes on Task 1 and use the remaining 40 minutes for Task 2.
Naomi: Ok, so what makes Task 2 more difficult than Task 1?
Eliot: Well, first of all, Task 1 just asks you to transfer information from a visual into writing. But Task 2 requires you to answer an open essay question. There’s no clear or “correct” answer.
Naomi: And Task 1 has a lower minimum word count, right?
Eliot: Exactly. Task 1 requires that you write 150 words or more, but for Task 2 you will be expected to write at least 250 words.
Naomi: So are the two Tasks weighted equally in terms of points?
Eliot: That’s a great question, and the answer is no! Task 2 is worth twice as many points as Task 1, so it’s a really good idea to spend a bit more time on Task 2.
Naomi: So to recap: you recommend that students spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. How should students break down those 40 minutes?
Eliot: Writing speed varies a lot from student to student, so how you’ll want to break down that 40 minutes...
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