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Speaking tips

How to prepare for the IELTS Speaking test, tips and techniques that helped test takers improve and raise their score

IELTS grammar: how to remember the difference between Simple Present and Present Continuous

Today’s lesson will teach you two things – the difference between the Simple Present and Present Continuous verb tenses, and how to use them correctly.

The reason why Adam is talking about the Simple Present and the Present Continuous today is that people confuse them and make a lot of small mistakes that lower their IELTS score. Adam worked as a Speaking examiner for the British Council for 10 years, and in his experience, this was a very common problem for many IELTS test takers. Don’t let this affect you, too! As soon as you learn the difference and see some examples when to use each verb tense, you will stop making these mistakes.

Even if you think you know your Simple Present and Present Continuous but you’re not 100% sure, stick around, watch this video, and in exactly 8 minutes an amazing transformation will happen. You will become absolutely certain and confident about using these two verb tenses and you won’t hesitate – you’ll know which one to use and when.

Right now, when you have two present grammar forms and you don’t know which one to use, it’s a 50-50 chance of you choosing the wrong one 🙂 So let’s turn the odds in your favour!

Watch the video on YouTube here

 

Go here to get Adam to assess your Speaking, estimate you the score you’re likely to get now and tell you how to score higher.


In the video: Simple Present – for routines and permanent situations

Dan works on Sundays. (routine)

I study every morning. (routine)

His parents own a store. (permanent situation)

Present continuous – for actions in progress or temporary situations

She is going to class right now. (action in progress)

Kim and Adam are taking an English class together. (temporary situation)

But this is far from all – there’s a lot more in the video, make sure to watch until the very end.

Talk about a person who openly expresses their feelings (model answers for Speaking Part 2 & 3)

In today’s IELTS Speaking lesson Adam, our Speaking examiner who worked for the British Council for 10 years, will show you ways to answer a Cue Card (Speaking Part 2) question about a person who openly expresses their feelings, and the Speaking Part 3 questions related to it, about people and their feelings.

You will learn:
– what you can say (and whether it’s OK to lie!)
– vocabulary and how to use it in a sentence
– expressions for scoring Band 7 to 9
– grammar you can use to raise your score

So, grab a pen and paper and spend the next 15 minutes raising your IELTS score beyond what you thought was possible!

Watch the video on YouTube here

 

Go here to get Adam to assess your Speaking, estimate you the score you’re likely to get now and tell you how to score higher.


The Part 2 topic Adam talks about in this lesson is,

Describe a person you know who shows their feelings very openly. You should say:

– Who this person is
– How well you know this person
– How you feel about this person
– And explain why you think this person shows their feelings so openly.

Adam saw many test takers hesitate when they got this question, and that is why he knew he had to show you a great way to answer it. Make sure to watch Adam’s model answer for it here.

The Part 3 questions Adam talks about are below. For every question Adam suggests an answer, including some great expressions and impressive vocabulary. Go here to watch his Part 3 answers.

Speaking Part 3 questions

– What are some of the different ways people show their feelings?
– Do you think that children show their feelings more often than adults do?
– Do you think that women and men express their emotions in different ways?
– How might a person’s life improve if they were better able to express their emotions?
– What might be some negative aspects if one is too open with their feelings?
– Do you think people are more open about their feelings now than they were in the past?
– Why do you think many employers try to recruit staff who are sensitive to co-workers’ feelings?
– Do you think it’s true that most people use emotion to make decisions, not logic?
– How do you feel about the idea that great leaders need emotional maturity more than they need intelligence?

Go here to watch Adam’s model Part 3 Speaking answers.