101Helpful Hints for IELTS

101 Helpful Hints for IELTS
TEST Parents who drink and smoke to excess are, in effect, telling their children that it is
THREE acceptable to abuse their bodies with drugs. Consequently, children may have a similar
view towards illegal drugs, even if their parents are against their use. In addition, drug use
shown on television and in films can only confuse children who are also taught at school
that drug abuse is wrong.
TEST
FOUR
Nuclear power stations provide an important source of cheap power for many
industrialised nations and some developing countries. However, there is always the
danger of radiation leaking from these plants. Even though safety precautions are taken, there
have been numerous disasters such as the explosion of a nuclear plant in Russia not long ago.
As with the introduction, the topic sentence of each first body paragraph (shown in bold print) states
or refers to the main idea of the paragraph, and the ideas within the paragraphs are joined together
with connective or linking words (shown underlined).
Note the use of the sequencing phrase ( "In the first place ") in the first body paragraph of Writing
Test One. A sequencing word ("Secondly ") is also used in the second body paragraph. Notice that
the same sequencing construction is not used repetitively ("Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly,"). For this
reason, the technique is not used in both of the model answers to the writing tasks of Test One.
In each case, the sentences of the first body paragraph are relevant to the main idea or topic of the
paragraph. The same is true of all the body paragraphs. The body paragraphs develop the main idea
of the essay. If a new idea is introduced, it is supported with additional detail or with examples.
If you are developing an argument, you should support each statement you make with appropriate
evidence. Note that the statements made can contrast with as well as support the main idea, in order
to develop the argument. This can be seen in the first body paragraph of Writing Test Four.
The final sentence of a body paragraph often completes the main idea
of the paragraph
Balancing the Argument
Look at the third body paragraph of the Task 2 model answer to Writing Test One:
However, there are obvious advantages of learning English in Britain. Every day there are
opportunities to practise listening to and speaking with British people. Also, students can
experience the culture first-hand, which is a great help when trying to understand the
language. This is especially true if they choose to live with a British family, as exchange
students for example. Furthermore, if students attend a language school full-time, the
teachers will be native speakers. In this case, not only will students speaking and listening
skills improve, but attention can be given to developing reading and writing skills as well.
Essays requiring an argument of some kind should be balanced by including a paragraph which either
gives an alternative viewpoint, or states and refutes the opposing side of the argument.
The argument in Task 2 of Writing Test One is whether or not studying the English language in an
English-speaking country is the only way to learn the language. The position taken by the writer is
that it is not the only way to learn the language. In order to balance the essay, the alternative viewpoint
is also considered. In this case, because the writer fully agrees that there are many advantages of
studying English in an English-speaking country, the opposing argument is not directly refuted.
However, if you disagree with the other side of the argument, you will need to refute that opinion
or position. This means that you first state the opposing side of the argument, and then give reasons
why you do not agree. Perhaps the opposing argument is weak, or does not include all the known
facts. Or maybe yours is a more compelling argument, in which case you must say why. Of course,
you may disagree strongly, mildly, or only partially.
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