Sample IELTS Speaking Topics

Part 1 oI the IELTS Speaking Moduleconsists oI

personal questions about you, your Iamily, your
work, your education or other Iamiliar topics. A
categorized list oI such topics and questions is
given below. You can use these sample
questions to rehearse Ior this part oI the oral
interview. Make sure you can speak correctly,
clearly, and with ease and conIidence in response
to each question. Remember to make your answer
interesting by providing more than the most basic
inIormation. Some of these sample questions are
highly likely to appear on your exam, so review
them well.

YOU
Describe yourselI.
FAMILY
O Describe your Iamily?
O Do you have a large or small Iamily?
O ow much time do you spend with your
Iamily?
O hat do you like to do together as a Iamily?
O Do you get along well with your Iamily?
O Are people in your country generally close
to their Iamilies?
ORK
O hat do you do?
O hat are your responsibilities?
O ow many hours do you work each day?
O Do you enjoy your work?
O Is there some other kind oI work you would
rather do?
O II you could change your job or proIession,
what would you do?
O Describe the process oI getting a job in your
country.
O Describe the company or organization you
work Ior.
O hat is your position?
O hat do you like about your job?
O hat do you dislike about your job?
EDUCATION
O Describe your education.
O hat kind oI school did you go to as a
child?
O Did you go to a co-educational school?
O hat was your Iavourite subject as a child?
O ho was your Iavourite teacher?
O hat is the education system like in your
country?
O Do you think your country has an eIIective
education system?
STUDIES
O hat are you studying now?
O hat is your area oI specialization?
OMETON
O Describe your hometown.
O hat`s special about it?
O here is your hometown located?
O Is it easy to travel around your hometown?
O hat is it known Ior?
O hat do people in your town do?
O hat are the main industries in your
hometown?
O hat problems Iace your hometown?
O hat languages are spoken in your
hometown?
O hat are the advantages oI living in your
hometown?
O hat are some problems Iaced by your
hometown?
O Compare your hometown with another city.
O hat are some environmental problems
Iaced by your hometown?
EATER
O hat`s the weather like in your country?
O Does the weather aIIect your mood?
O ow do rainy days make you Ieel?
O hat`s your Iavourite season oI the year?
O hat do you like to do when it`s hot?
O hat do you usually do in the winter?
O ow many seasons does your country have?
OME
O Describe your home.
O hat kind oI building do you live in?
O ow long have you lived there?
EDDING
O ave you ever been to a wedding?
O hose wedding was it?
O here was it held?
O hat clothes do people wear?
O Describe the wedding ceremony.
O hat sort iI giIts do people buy Ior the
bridal couple?
O hat kind oI clothes did the bride and
groom wear?
TRAVEL
O Do you like to travel?
O hat kind oI places have you visited in
your liIe?
O hich place would you really like to visit?
hy?
O hat`s the best place you`ve ever visited?
COMPUTERS
O Do you think computers help society?
O Do you think computers are bad Ior health?
O ow do you think computers have changed
the world?
I
NTERNET
O Do you use the Internet much during the
day?
O hat do you usually do on the Internet?
O hat are some advantages oI the Internet?
O hat are some disadvantages?
O Do people in your country use the Internet a
lot?
O Do you do any shopping on the Internet?
EMAIL
O Do you send and receive email regularly?
O ho do you usually communicate with?
O ow oIten do you check your email?
O Do you think writing email has strengthened
or weakened people`s writing skills?
O hat are some disadvantages oI email?
FRIEND
O Describe a Iriend.
O ow long have you known each other?
O hat do usually do together?
O hat do you like the most about him / her?
O ow oIten do you see each other?
PLACE
O Describe a place you like to go.
O hy is this place special to you?
O hen did you Iirst visit this place?
O here is this place located?
O hat language is spoken here? Do you
speak this language?
SMOKING
O hat do you Ieel about smoking in public
places?
O Do you think smoking should be banned in
people`s homes?
MARRIAGE
O hat is the attitude toward marriage in your
country?
O Do most young people plan on getting
married in your country?
O hat are some oI the advantages oI
marriage?
O hat are some oI the disadvantages?
O Is the divorce rate high in your country?
O Do you think people should be allowed to
get divorced?
OBBIES
O Do you have any hobbies?
O hat are some oI your hobbies?
O hen did you Iirst develop tis hobby?
O hat are some oI the advantages oI having
a hobby?
O ow much time do you spend on your
hobby?
FILMS
O Do you enjoy watching movies?
O hat`s your Iavourite Iilm?
O ho are your Iavourite actors?
O ow oIten do you watch Iilms?
SOPPING
O Do you enjoy shopping?
O ow do you Ieel about shopping?
O Do you like shopping on the Internet?
O Do you have any Iavourite stores?
O hat don`t you like about shopping?
O hich is the most popular place to shop in
your hometown?
SPORTS
O Do you like sports?
O Do you enjoy watching sports?
O Do you enjoy participating in any sports?
O hich sports are most popular in your
country?
O hat`s your Iavourite sport/
O hen did you Iirst become interested in
sports?
O ow oIten do you participate in sports?
O hat equipment do you need Ior your
Iavourite sport?
FOOD
O hat are some oI your Iavourite Ioods?
O hat Ioods are popular in your country?
O hat are some oI the Iamous dishes oI your
country?
O Do you enjoy cooking?
FESTIVAL
O hat`s the most important Iestival in your
country?
O ow do people celebrate this Iestival?
O hat special Iood is associated with this
Iestival?
O hat special activities are associated with
this Iestival?
O hat do you enjoy most about this Iestival?
O Do you think Iestivals are important Ior a
society?
TELEVISION
O Do you watch television a lot?
O hat do you usually watch on television?
O ow many hours oI television do you
usually watch?
O hat are the most popular shows in your
country?
O hat kind oI shows do you like to watch?
O hat are some advantages oI television?
O hat are someoI the disadvantages oI
television?
O hat did you last watch on television?
O hy do you think certain TV shows are so
popular?


TOURISM
O hich places would you recommend to a
visitor to your country?
O Do a lot oI tourists visit your country?
O hat do they usually do there?
O ow has tourism changed your country?
O Is your country expensive Ior most tourists?
O hat are some Iamous landmarks in your
country?
DAILY ROUTINE
O Describe your daily routine.
O hat do you usually do?
O hat do you do on the weekend?
O hat is you typical weekday like?
O Does your liIe change much Irom week to
week?
O Do you have any Iree time during the week?
YOUR COUNTRY
O hich country are you Irom?
O here is this country located?
O hich part oI the country do most people
live in?
O hat are the main industries in your
country?
O Is it easy to travel around your country?
CLOTES
O hat type oI clothes do you like to wear?
O hat kind oI clothes do people in your
country usually wear?
O ow important is Iashion to you?
O hat kind oI clothes do you dislike?
O Do you think people behave diIIerently in
diIIerent kinds oI clothes?
O hat kind oI clothes do people wear to
work in your country?
O Are clothes expensive in your country?
GOING OUT
O Do you like going out or staying at home?
O hat do you like to do when you go out?
O ow oIten do you go out?
O Do people in your country go our a lot?
O ow and where do people in your country
usually socialize?
O hat kind oI entertainment is popular in
your country?
GAMES
O Do you enjoy playing any games?
O hat kind oI games do you play?
O Do you think adults should play games?
O hat do children learn Irom games?
O hat kind oI games did you play when you
were a child?
O hat games are popular in your country
today?
O hat kind oI games were popular when you
were young?
O Do you think mental games like chess are
good Ior you?
O COLOURS
O Do you have a Iavourite colour?
O hat are your country`s colours?
O Do you think colours aIIect our moods?
O Can you learn anything about a person Irom
the colours he / she likes?
O Do you like the same colours now as you
did when you were a child?
MUSIC
O Do you like music?
O hat kind oI music do you like?
O hen do you usually listen to music?
O hat kind oI music did you like when you
were younger?
O hat kind oI music is popular in your
country?
O Do you play any musical instruments?
O Do you wish you could play any musical
instruments?
O hich is your Iavourite instrument?


IELTS Speaking Module - Part 2 - Sample Topics
In Part 2 oI the IELTS Speaking Module, you
need to give a short talk, oI about 1-2 minutes, on
a simple topic. The questions do not require any
speciIic knowledge, but are based on personal
experience. You are handed a card with the topic
and you have one minute to prepare your talk.
You can make notes and use these notes during
your monologue. The examiner will not ask you
any questions during this part oI the test, so you
must know how to answer all parts oI the question
you are given and speak Iluently Ior a Iew
minutes by yourself. Sample IELTS Speaking
Module topics (for Part 2) are given below. It is
quite likely that you will be given one oI these
topics or something very similar, so make sure
you can speak conIidently and clearly on each
one.

Describe an artist or entertainer you admire.
You should say:
O ho they are and what they do
O ow they became successIul
O ow you Iound out about them
O And explain why you admire them

Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school.
You should say:
O hen and where you started studying it
O hat lessons were like
O hat made the subject diIIerent Irom other
subjects
O And explain why you enjoyed the subject
Describe an important choice you had to make in
your liIe.
You should say:
O hen you had this choice
O hat you had to choose between
O hether you made a good choice
O And explain how you Ielt when you were
making this choice
Describe a job you have done.
You should say:
O ow you got doing the job
O hat the job involved
O ow long the job lasted
O Describe how well you did the job
Describe an area oI countryside you know and
like.
You should say:
O here it is
O hat its special Ieatures are
O hat you and other people do in this area
O And explain why you like it
Describe an object you particularly like.
You should say:
O hat it is and what it looks like
O hat it is made oI
O hat it is Ior
O And explain why it is special Ior you
Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy
reading.
You should say:
O hat kind oI newspaper / magazine it is
O hich parts oI it you read regularly
O hen and where you read it
O Explain why you enjoy reading it
Describe something healthy you enjoy doing.
You should say:
O hat you do
O here you do it
O ho you do it with
O And explain why you think doing this is
healthy
Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing.
You should say:
O hat kind oI sport it is
O ho you play it with
O here you play it
O And explain why you enjoy playing it
Describe someone in your Iamily who you like.
You should say:
O ow this person is related to you
O hat this person looks like
O hat kind oI person he/she is
O And explain why you like this person
Describe a museum or art gallery that you have
visited.
You should say:
O here it is
O hy you went there
O hat you particularly remember about the
place.
Describe an enjoyable event that you experienced
when you were at school.
You should say:
O hen it happened
O hat was good about it
O hy you particularly remember this event.
Describe a song or piece oI music you like.
You should say:
O hat the song or music is
O hat kind oI song or music it is
O here you Iirst heard it
O And explain why you like it
Describe a Iestival that is important in your
country.
You should say:
O hen the Iestival occurs
O hat you did during it
O hat you like or dislike about it
O And explain why this Iestival is important


Sample IELTS Essay Topics
In both the Academic and General IELTS
Writing sections, you need to write an essay of
at least 250 words. This means that your essay
will be about 4-5 paragraphs long. Below are
several sample IELTS essay topics, organized
under eight broad categories. You should plan to
write at least one essay Irom each category to gain
some experience in handling various types oI
subjects. Ideally, you should write several such
essays so you can do so eIIectively and within 40
minutes.
GOVERNMENT
1.
Should wealthy nations be required to
share their wealth among poorer nations by
providing such things as Iood and
education? Or is it the responsibility oI the
governments oI poorer nations to look
aIter their citizens themselves?
2. hat should a government do Ior a
country to become successIul?
3. Should money be spent on space
exploration?
4. Should rich countries Iorgive all debts Ior
poor countries?
5. Does Ioreign aid help donor countries
more than the recipients?
6. Should rich countries pay more Ior
environmental damage?
7. Most high level jobs are done by men.
Should the government encourage a
certain percentage oI these jobs to be
reserved Ior women?
8. Should developing countries concentrate
on improving industrial skills or should
they promote education Iirst?
9. SaIety standards are important when
building people's homes. ho should be
responsible Ior enIorcing strict building
codes - the government or the people who
build the homes?
10.Discuss the advantage and disadvantage oI
giving international aid to poor countries.
11.Should criminals be punished with lengthy
jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated
using community service programs Ior
instance, beIore being reintroduced to
society?
12.In most countries disabled people are not
catered Ior adequately, e.g. buildings are
oIten inappropriately designed.
Governments rely too heavily on charities
and voluntary organizations to provide
assistance and Iunding. hat Iurther
measures could be taken to assist disabled
people?
13.In your opinion should government
intervene in the rights oI the individual
with regard to Iamily planning?
14.The best way to reduce the number oI
traIIic accidents is to make all young
drivers complete a saIe driving education
course beIore being licensed to drive.

MODERN SOCIETY
1. Nowadays doctors can become very rich.
Maybe they should not Iocus on proIitable
activities such as plastic surgery or looking
aIter rich patients and concentrate more on
patients health, no matter how rich they
are?
2. Does travel help to promote understanding
and communication between countries?
3. In your opinion what Iactors contribute to
a good movie?
4. Are Iamous people treated unIairly by the
media ? Should they be given more
privacy, or is the price oI their Iame an
invasion into their private lives?
5. Is animal testing necessary?
6. Some businesses now say that no one can
smoke cigarettes in any oI their oIIices.
Some governments have banned smoking
in all public places. Do you agree or
disagree? Give reasons.
7. To what extent is the use oI animals in
scientiIic research acceptable?
8. uman beings do not need to eat meat in
order to maintain good health because they
can get all their Iood needs Irom meatless
products and meatless substances. A
vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet
containing meat. Argue Ior or against the
opinion above.
9. Forests are the lungs oI the earth.
Destruction oI the world's Iorests amounts
to death oI the world we currently know.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
10.Are our zoos cruel to wild animals?
Discuss.
11.Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but
not poor alternatives to a natural
environment. Discuss some oI the
arguments Ior and/or against keeping
animals in zoos.
12.To what extent will migration Irom the
developing world to the developed world
become a social and political issue in the
21st century?
13.In Britain, when someone gets old, they
oIten go to live in a home with other old
people where there are nurses to look aIter
them. Sometimes the government has to
pay Ior this care. ho should be
responsible Ior our old people? Give
reasons.
14.The Iirst car appeared on British roads in
1888. By the year 2000 there may be as
many as 29 million vehicles on British
roads. Alternative Iorms oI transport
should be encouraged and international
laws introduced to control car ownership
and use. hat do you think?
15.The best way to reduce the number oI
traIIic accidents is to make all young
drivers complete a saIe driving education
course beIore being licensed to drive.
16.News editors decide what to broadcast on
TV and what to print in newspapers. hat
Iactors do you think inIluence their
decisions? ave we become used to bad
news? ould it be better iI more good
news was reported?
17.TV: could you be without it? Discuss.
18.To what extent will migration Irom the
developing world to the developed world
become a social and political issue in the
21st century?
19.The mass media, including TV, radio and
newspapers, have great inIluence in
shaping people's ideas. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons Ior your answer.
20.Tourism is becoming increasingly
important as a source oI revenue to many
countries but its disadvantages should not
be overlooked. hat are some oI the
problems oI tourism?
21.The mass media, including TV, radio and
newspapers, have great inIluence in
shaping people's ideas. To what extent do
you agree or disagree this statement? Give
reasons Ior your answer

1. TECNOLOGY
Does modern technology make liIe more
convenient, or was liIe better when
technology was simpler?
2. ill modern technology, such as the
internet ever replace the book or the
written word as the main source oI
inIormation?
3. e are becoming increasingly dependent
on computers. They are used in businesses,
hospitals, crime detection and even to Ily
planes. hat things will they be used Ior
in Iuture?.Is this dependence on computers
a good thing or should we be more
suspicious oI their beneIits? Use speciIic
details and examples in your answer.
4. In what ways has inIormation technology
changed work and working practices in the
past 10 years?

5. Technology is making communication
easier in today's world, but at the expense
oI personal contact as many people choose
to work at home in Iront oI a computer
screen. hat dangers are there Ior a
society which depends on computer
screens rather than Iace-to-Iace contact Ior
its main means oI communication?
6. ill the Internet bring people oI the world
closer together?
7. The Iirst car appeared on British roads in
1888. By the year 2000 there may be as
many as 29 million vehicles on British
roads. Alternative Iorms oI transport
should be encouraged and international
laws introduced to control car ownership
and use. hat do you think?
8. The mass media, including TV, radio and
newspapers, have great inIluence in
shaping people's ideas. To what extent do
you agree or disagree this statement? Give
reasons Ior your answer.
EMPLOYMENT
1. Should retirement be compulsory at 65
years oI age?
2. Telecommuting' reIers to workers doing
their jobs Irom home Ior part oI each week
and communicating with their oIIice using
computer technology. Telecommuting is
growing in many countries and is expected
to be common Ior most oIIice workers in
the coming decades. ow do you think
society will be aIIected by the growth oI
telecommuting?
3. In some countries the average worker is
obliged to retire at the age oI 50, while in
others people can work until they are 65 or
70. Until what age do you think people
should be encouraged to remain in paid
employment? Give reasons Ior your
answer.
ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
1. To what extent should economic planning
be inIluenced by the need oI
environmental conservation?
2. Damage oI the environment is an
inevitable consequence oI worldwide
improvements in the standard oI living.
Discuss.
3. The rising levels oI congestion and air
pollution Iound in most oI the world cities
can be attributed directly to the rapidly
increasing number oI private cars in use. In
order to reverse this decline in the quality
oI liIe in cities, attempts must be made to
encourage people to use their cars less and
public transport more. Discuss possible
ways to encourage the use oI public
transport.
EDUCATION
1. Education is the single most important
Iactor in the development oI a country. Do
you agree?
2. hat are Iactors which are related to
academic success in high-school students?
3. Do the beneIits oI study abroad justiIy the
diIIiculties? hat advice would you oIIer
to a prospective student?
4. The idea oI going overseas Ior university
study is an exciting prospect Ior many
people. But while it may oIIer some
advantages, it is probably better to stay
home because oI the diIIiculties a student
inevitably encounters living and studying
in a diIIerent culture. To what extent do
you agree or disagree this statement? Give
reasons Ior your answer.
5. Education is recognized as vital to the
Iuture oI any society in today's world.
Governments throughout the world should
make education compulsory Ior all
children between the ages oI 5 and 15. To
what extent do you agree or disagree with
this statement?
6. Foreign language instruction should begin
in kindergarten. Discuss.
7. Should sports classes be sacriIiced in igh
School so students can concentrate on
academic subjects?
8. To what extent should universities
Iunction as training grounds Ior
employment?
9. To what extent should university courses
be geared to the economic needs oI
society?
10.Should children be taught sex education in
schools?
11.Computers can translate all kinds oI
languages well. Do our children need to
learn more languages in the Iuture?
12.Are zoos necessary Ior education?
PARENTS & CILDREN
1. Children should never be educated at home
by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
2. Children learn best by observing behavior
oI adults and copying it. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this statement?
GENDER ISSUES - ESSAY TOPICS
1. To what extent has the traditional male
role changed in the last 20 years?
2. Many people believe that women make
better parents than men and that this is
why they have the greater role in raising
children in most societies. Others claim
that men are just as good as women at
parenting rite an essay expressing your
point oI view. Give reasons Ior your
answer.


IELTS riting - Academic Task 1 -
Types oI Charts
In the IELTS Academic Task 1, you must be able
to identiIy, understand and describe various types
oI graphic inIormation. This is considered an
important academic skill, because it shows you
can intelligently and clearly interpret and describe
data presented in charts, tables, graphs and
diagrams. II you have written your answer very
well, even someone who cannot see the graphic
should be able to understand what happened.
5 STEPS TO MASTERING ACADEMIC TASK
1
To prepare yourselI to complete Task 1, Iollow
the Iive steps below:
1. Learn to recognize and identiIy diIIerent
graphic Iorms, such as line graphs, bar charts,
pie charts, etc.
2. Know what key inIormation, comparisons
and trends to look out Ior.
3. Practice using the speciIic vocabulary
required to describe those trends.
4. Learn how to Iollow a plan to start, complete
and Iinish your answer. Use sample Task 1
questions, included on this website, to
practice writing out a Iull response. At Iirst,
do not time yourselI. Later, once you've got
the hang oI it, time yourselI and make sure
you Iinish in 20 minutes.
5. Know what NOT to include in your response.
By Iollowing the steps above, you will be
prepared and conIident, no matter what type oI
question appears in Task 1 oI your actual IELTS
exam.
TEPS 1 & 2 IDENTIFY TYPES OF CARTS,
LOOK FOR TRENDS
BAR CARTS
A bar chart consists oI rectangular bars arranged
horizontally or vertically Irom the x or y axis.
The length oI a bar shows the values it represents.
The values are listed on one axis and each bar
shows what is being measured on the other axis.
Bar charts are useIul Ior comparing data. In
studying a bar chart, you may want to look Ior the
Iollowing inIormation:
O hich is the tallest bar?
O hich is the shortest bar?
O ave the bars changed over time? ow?
O ow do the bars compare to each other?

PIE CART
A pie charts is a circular chart divided into sectors
or pie slices. It presents inIormation in segments
oI a circle or pie, which together add up to 100.
ere's an example:

Ask yourselI:
O hich is the largest segment?
O hich is the smallest segment?
O ow do the segments compare with each
other?
LINE GRAP
A line graph plots the changes in data over time:
Ask yourselI:
O hat is the highest level / point?
O hat is the lowest level / point?
O Is there a point till when the trend was
increasing or decreasing?
O hen did the trend change?
TABLES
A table presents inIormation in diIIerent
categories, making it easy to compare.
The sample table below shows the percentage oI
students who came to college on Ioot, by car,
bicycle or public transportation, at illiams
College in the year 2005-2006.
Method of Student Travel to College by
Percentage
alking 12
Bicycle 20
Car 25
Public Transport 43
Look out Ior the Iollowing:
O hat is the highest Iigure?
O hat is the lowest Iigure?
O hat is second highest, etc.?
STEP 3 VOCABULARY OF TRENDS
To get high marks on the Academic Task 1, you
must show the examiner that you know how to use
a range oI vocabulary to describe and interpret
visual inIormation. You must be able to use the
appropriate verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs
to provide precise descriptions.
For a detailed list oI essential vocabulary, check
the section oI this website on Vocabulary Ior Task
1.
STEP 4 RITE YOUR ANSER
ACCORDING TO A PLAN
To be able to complete Task 1 in 20 minutes or
less, write your answer according to the Iollowing
plan:
1. rite one sentence to introduce the subject
and graphic.
2. rite one or two sentences to show the
relationship between the data or to comment
on the main trend.
3. rite an in-depth description oI the
inIormation given. Include details Irom the
most important to the least important,
depending on time.
4. rite one sentence to conclude your answer.
STEP 5 - AT NOT TO RITE
Only describe the data. Don not give your
interpretation oI it. You are not being asked why
you think the data in the chart is the way it is, so
do not write about that.
IELTS riting - Academic Task 1 -
Vocabulary
The Iollowing words and phrases will help you
describe trends:
ouns
a rise
an increase
a surge
a growth
a peak

a Iluctuation
a variation

a period oI stability
a plateau

a Iall
a decrease
a decline
a dip
Verbs
to rise
to increase
to surge
to grow
to peak
to skyrocket

to Iluctuate
to vary

to Iall
to decrease
to decline
to dip
to dive
to plunge
Phrases
to show an upward trend
to show a downward trend
to hit the highest point
to hit the lowest point
to reach a peak
to show some Iluctuation
to Iluctuate wildly
to remain stable
to remain static
to remain unchanged
to stay constant
to reach a plateau
to level oII
to Ilatten out
the highest
the lowest
the second highest
the third highest

compared to
compared with
relative to
Adverbs
sharply
suddenly
rapidly
abruptly
dramatically
signiIicantly
steadily
considerably
markedly
slightly
gently
gradually
wildly
Adjectives
sharp
sudden
rapid
abrupt
dramatic
steep
signiIicant
steady
considerable
marked
slight
gentle
gradual
SAMPLE SENTENCES
O There was a substantial increase in the value oI
stocks on March 15th.
O ouse prices rose dramatically in July.
O The number oI tourists visiting New York Iell
sharply in October.
O The percentage oI students walking to school
continued to rise gradually over the ten year
period Irom 2000-2010.
O There was a sharp increase in employee
turnover aIter the strike.
O Interest in environmental issues has risen
steadily over the last 10 years.
MORE USEFUL ORDS AND PRASES
1. Percent the word percent comes aIter a
number

,25les.
More than 25 oI the students are Irom
Brazil.
More than 25 percent oI the students come
Irom Brazil.
2. Percentage - The word percentage comes
aIter words like the, a, this and that. OIten, it
is preceded by an adjective.
,25les.
A small percentage oI residents have lived in
the building Ior more than 20 years.
The percentage oI students who live on
campus has Iallen sharply since the Iire.
3. For numbers up to ten, write the numbers in
words. For numbers over 10, you can write
the numbers in numbers.
,25les.
Five percent oI the employees were late this
month.
More than 50 percent oI the students handed
in their assignments late aIter the long
weekend.
4. II the sentence starts with a number, always
write it in words.
,25les. rong: 25 students were Irom
China.
Right: Twenty-Iive students were Irom
China.
GRAMMAR
Take note oI the Iollowing prepositions which you
will need to describe dates, numbers and
comparisons:
ates
In December,
In 2005,
From 2001-2010,
By 1998,
Between 1965-1969
umbers
Increase oI 25
Decreased by 10
Fell Irom 200 in July to 150 in August
Comparison
Compared to
Compared with
Relative to

IELTS riting -
Key ords & Expressions
By learning to use common phrases and set
expressions, you can add variety and interest to
your writing. You will also be able to write more
quickly and eIIectively during exams, when time
is limited.
OI course, you won't need to use all of the
expressions on the IELTS. Ideally, you should
be comIortable using at least three or Iour
expressions Irom each group below, so they come
to mind easily during the IELTS. It is also helpIul
to have someone call them out so you can test
your spelling. UnIortunately, students sometimes
make spelling errors even in these commonly
occurring expressions. Practice suIIiciently so you
don't lose points unnecessarily on something that's
within your control.
KEY ORDS Ior IELTS RITING

Stating Your Opinion
In my opinion, According to me,
In my view, To me,
From my point oI view, I think
It seems to me that I believe
From my perspective To my way oI thinking
It appears that I suppose
I realize I understand
I imagine I Ieel

Giving Examples
For example, For instance,
such as In other words,
as like
that is namely
To illustrate To paraphrase

Comparing
Similar to As...as
in common also
Either...or In the same way,
Neither...nor At the same time
Just as resemble

Contrasting
owever, But
On the contrary, On the other hand,
DiIIer Irom Nevertheless
Although Though
Otherwise Instead
Alternatively, Even though

Generalizing
Generally, Generally speaking,
Overall, On the whole,
In general, By and large,
It seems to me that I believe
All in all, Basically,
Essentially, As a rule,
All things considered For the most part

Expressing Certainty
Certainly, Undoubtedly,
Doubtless, No doubt,
DeIinitely, OI course,

Expressing Partial Agreement
More or less, To some extent,
Up to a point, Almost,
In a way, So to speak,
Showing cause
Due to Because
Because oI Owing to

Showing effect
ThereIore, As a result,
Consequently, For this reason,
Thus, So,
thereby Eventually,
ence, The reason why

Marking time
First, Last
Second, Lastly,
Third, Then,
Firstly, First oI all,
Secondly, BeIore
Thirdly, AIter
During hile
To begin with At the same time
Simultaneously AIter this / that
Since Meanwhile
AIterwards Following this
hen As soon as

Adding Information
Furthermore In addition
Also And
Moreover Similarly
Likewise As well as
Besides Too
Even hat`s more

Expressing condition
II hether
In case Unless
Provided that So that

Concluding
To summarize In conclusion
Lastly, Finally,
To conclude with, In short,