Useful linking words and phrases
(Regarding pronunciation, I
underline and have bold the letter that needs to be stressed)
Relevantly
Society should accept that…
...Has/ have become a popular alternative
These days
As a result, …
Some have suggested that…
The advantages of…. outweigh (not ‘outweight’
– ‘weigh’ is the verb, and ‘weight’ is the noun – after all, ‘outweight’ does
not exist) the disadvantages
One of the (main) reasons why…is that…
Although….
This might prevent…from (+ing) …
The benefits of…
It is certainly true (not ‘truth’-
‘truth’ is the noun and ‘true’ the adjective e.g., a true story) that…
This may have a negative effect/ impact on….
However, I do not agree that…
is always the fault of….
I agree with the statement… (e.g.,
in the task)
I think that…
It is true that …, even though (2 words; not ‘eventhough’)
…
After all, (2 words; not ‘afterall’)
…
The problem can/ cannot (do not write can’t as
we do not use abbreviations in our essay) be solved by (e.g., giving)
….
Some people argue that… (e.g., the government should…)
However, I feel that…
…and, therefore, …
As a result of the widespread practice of…
As a result, …
...has proved the most effective way of reducing…
…but nowadays…
Nobody would suggest that we should reverse this practice
Many people decide on…early in their lives (not ‘in their life’)
This, they argue, leads to…
Having said that, there are some people who…
Clearly,… (you may also use it in the conclusion)
In the final analysis…. (conclusion)
To conclude…. (conclusion)
Ultimately,…(conclusion)
In the end,…(conclusion)
It is generally believed that…
In my country, most people have to…
I would argue/say/claim that…
It could be argued that…
It seems to me that…
I tend to think/ believe that…
I feel that…
As far as I am concerned…
It is understood that…
It is generally accepted that…
There is a tendency to believe that…
One of the main arguments in favor of/ against…
is…
Although … the …. has to be considered first
Despite the fact that…
Even though (2 words; not ‘eventhough’) …
Admittedly,
Certainly,
…. but/ However….
It may be true/ likely/ unlikely that…
…is beneficial for…
It seems to me that…has many/few benefits/ drawbacks
While I agree that…
…this encourages…to …
…. (e.g., advertising) is
targeted at/ focuses on (e.g., youth)
I am convinced/ unconvinced that
Some people find it hard to accept that…
It is doubtful whether...
I am uncertain whether…
I disagree with the view/ opinion/ argument that…
It is unjustifiable to say that…
There is little/ solid/ growing/ mounting/
increasing/ compelling (compelling = strong)
evidence to support the view that…
... is encouraging people to…
...is discouraging people from +ing…
enjoy + ing (e.g., I enjoy meeting people)
I would argue that….
To be more precise, …
Here, I am/ am not referring to…
In other words, …
That is/ is not to say…
In fact, …
It is often said that…
They have a positive influence on …
…and by this, I mean that…
This is essential in areas such as…
While I admit that…, I am convinced that…
These problems can be largely avoided if the approach to…is
handled well by…
…and so, naturally they… to handle the…
…particularly at…
Understandably, governments look for ways to reduce (e.g., pollution) …, and one way is…or, alternatively, to…
A good example of this is…, which has successfully
reduced the (e.g., pollution)
…is planning to…
…to encourage people to use it… (e.g., public transportation)
…to discourage people from using…
In my experience, this is a sensible way to tackle/ handle
the...// deal with the/ this issue/ problem
Of course (2 words, not ‘ofcourse’) …
For one thing…
Indeed…
If this is the case, ...
If that were the case (it is not established that it is the case)
Naturally, …
Understandably…
In my experience, …
It is possible, for example, that….
…will be a realistic option now/ in the future
It would completely transform our (e.g., traditional) view of…
It is impossible to predict what type of…
Statistics/ studies show/// research shows/demonstrates that…
For one thing/ Firstly, they are…, and secondly, they…
Generally speaking, …
This reduction has been the result of…
These figures increase/ decrease further when you include…
Such/ these attitudes
may be changing
The majority says/ said they preferred ….
However, these/ such qualities are not highly
rated by the….
This rise/ drop is due to a combination of things, such
as…
Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that this trend will be reversed.
Exponents (exponent = a person who
believes in and promotes the truth or benefits of an idea or theory) claim that…, while opponents argue that…
There is always controversy (pronounced ˈkɒn.trə.vɜː.si or kənˈtrɒv.ə.si)
over whether it is important to… (e.g.,
spend large sums of money on gadgets) or whether…should be…
Without it, we would have no…
Nevertheless/ Nonetheless,
In this field is arguable that…
…throughout the world
Surely it would be more productive and less costly
if…
Others say that…
I agree with the statement (in the task)
Many societies already have systems to help…
I think the problem can/ cannot be solved by….
I think it may be their own fault….
The problem has many different root causes.
People have to take some responsibility for their own welfare
(= the health, happiness, and fortunes of a
person or group)
People/ The government may be to blame for it
People can be responsible for themselves
Society’s welfare system could be better run by…
There are fewer risks (we use 'fewer,' not 'less,' as risk is a countable noun) of...
There is a risk of…
The question of whether we should…
Researchers and governments are primarily interested in...
Trends in...
Norms (norm = something that
is usual, typical, or standard)
…fail to take into consideration the individuals/ society
Little information is released about the harmful/ deleterious/
detrimental/ damaging effects/ ramifications (= complex or unwanted consequences of an action or event) of…on/in…
In the event that…
In addition, there is the issue of…
The rights of the individual should be taken into consideration
As members of society, we should be obliged to….
…is a potentially harmful practice
Some people may also be against it/this
Their needs should be considered when any decisions
are made.
For these reasons, I feel strongly
I strongly/ firmly suggest that….
It should be/ not be obligatory
The individual should have the right to choose whether or
not to… (e.g., participate in…)
It is this dedication that enables
them to achieve their goals
….is related to things like…
Of course, you must also….
So, there are many things to consider when we chose….
Clearly, the…
We develop a more mature understanding of ourselves
In terms of….
It seems that people prefer to have…
It is generally accepted that….
Many people feel that…
Admittedly, it may be true that…
The problem caused by…
So, the problem continues
Although one answer is to… this will only result in…
The internet is a useful
resource for students
It is doubtful (pronounced ˈdaʊt.f(ə)l) whether…
…as a result
As a result,
Some people find it hard to accept that…
That is to say….
To be more precise, I think that…
…should be able to decide for themselves what they….
In fact,
I would argue that….
By this, I mean….
While I admit that….
It is probably true to say that…
Something should be done about it
However, I am not sure that…is the answer
Most people prefer to…
Clearly, it is much better to be able to….
…should work hard and… (e.g., behave well)
That is not to say that they should not….
…but overall, their attitude to…. should be
a serious one
They are, to a certain extent…
…being quite selfish
Also, I am not convinced that…
….is helpful to them
Studies have shown/ demonstrated that…
I tend to think that it is the…’s responsibility to…
I do not mean by this that they should…
…but I do think that...should be…
…should be trained to deal with…
In addition, / Additionally,
they should…
While I accept that…., I feel that…
… (e.g., The government)
should establish rules and ensure that everyone follows them
More of this money/ more funds should be directed towards
('toward' in North American English) ….
Without it, we would have no….
…and this has financial disadvantages
It is an arguable case for discussion. / Arguably,
...
…used to be so expensive/ costly that only the wealthy owned them
Although some people believe humans are responsible for…, others think it is caused by…
From/to my perspective, I
believe that…
To put this into perspective (= compare something to
other things so that it can be accurately and fairly judged (^^)), I believe
that…
I incline to the exponents (= those who believe in the benefits of an idea) / opponents view as I think that….
Other vs. the other vs. others vs. another
When ‘other’ is a determiner, it does not
have a plural form e.g., ‘These boxes are
for toys. The other boxes are for magazines’ (not: The others
boxes).
When ‘other’ as a pronoun refers to more than
one person or thing, it takes the plural form ‘others,’ e.g., ‘Some think that a fat tax will reduce the number of people
with heart disease; others disagree’ (not: other disagree).
‘Other’ must have a determiner before it when it comes in front of
a singular countable noun. If the noun is
indefinite (e.g. a book, a woman, an idea), we use ‘another’,
e.g., ‘I’ve posted the first envelope. What shall I do with that other
envelope?’ (not: What shall I do with other envelope?) /// e.g.,
‘After a year in the UK, I was ready to move to another European country
because of the Brexit’ (not: to move to other European country).
We write ‘another’ as one word
e.g., ‘There is another café a little further down the same street’ (not:
There is an other café)
‘Another’ is singular. We do not use it with plural nouns e.g., ‘Other interesting places to visit in Sydney
include the Opera House and the city harbor’ (not: Another interesting
place to visit)
Reference (Retrieved: February 7, 2018):
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/other-others-the-other-or-another
http://www.grammar.cl/english/another-other-others.htm
http://www.englishcurrent.com/grammar/other-another-difference/
https://www.eslbuzz.com/english-grammar-another-vs-other-vs-others-vs-the-other/
Useful Vocabulary
The way people communicate
Material possessions/ Consumerism
Moral values
Internet-based courses/ distant learning/ university-based
courses/ e-learning
To adjust the law (not ‘the laws’) accordingly
Children mature at a younger age
The interference of parents or teachers (not ‘the parents/teachers’ as we are generally
speaking)
…to make decisions about their lives (not ‘their
life’)
Children are too young to be shouldering (as a verb) such heavy (not ‘such a heavy’) responsibilities
Regular driving tests throughout
their lives// Driving standards
Certain groups of people could/ would benefit
(It is) Useful
in the case of…
May prevent them from…
Many societies already have systems to help … (e.g., the poor/ homeless)
State benefits
People have/ need to take some responsibility for their own welfare
but, at the same time, some people cannot (do not write ‘can’t’ – no abbreviations are allowed in the essay)
...
They struggle to survive each day/ It is hard for
them to survive
…and, therefore, laws should be made forcing…to…
Medical practices
…is/are part of human progress
…but nowadays, sanitation (= conditions relating to public health,
especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal) is better
Career path
Satisfying working life
Their jobs are/ are not enjoyable
They are affected by their experiences
…can have a big/ significant impact on our
goals and ambitions
A public place/ in public
Packaging in supermarkets
Shoppers
Educational programs
Although some people would like to have a lot of…. the cost of….
has to be considered first
Uncensored material (e.g., on the internet)
Urban center
Taking exercise
Leisure activity/ activities
Spend our free time/ My most popular pastime/ hobby
Job commitment
…is the key to success/ to succeed in
… (e.g., students) are motivated by… and this motivation
can only benefit them
Disruptive school students are/
should be grouped and taught (‘teach’ is an irregular verb) together/ separately
…has/ have positive/ negative influence
Otherwise, how can we… (e.g., get around?)
Traffic jam/ congestion
Road rules/ road safety
My hometown
A weekday
Commitment to their subject
was/is more important
They often just do not bother
Recycling centers/ waste
Government taxes
Wealthy people
… (e.g. The World Cup)
is held in a different country… (e.g., every four years)
It generates huge amounts of money
More money should be directed towards treating patients
Medical research/ studies
International funding
Scientists are working independently
Current research being conducted on… (e.g., the HIV virus)
Nowadays, young people are better qualified than (they were) in the past
Competition for jobs is greater than it used to be
The opportunities exist for them
Diseases have been eradicated
Money-saving schemes (pronounced
skiːms)
On religious grounds
Job satisfaction
Naughty children
Physical punishment
School/ work codes of conduct
Obese
(pronounced əʊˈbiːs)
/ people who are overweight/ people with obesity
(pronounced əʊˈbiː.sə.ti)
Unhealthy diet
Global warming
Fossil fuels
Recyclable materials
Pollution levels
Brainstorming – Plan
You may write on a blank paper a list of the important features
as they come into your mind and make a DRAFT, a plan of your answer
[You write the notes briefly (using key phrases), not in full
sentences as in the examples below]
Example: a list of advantages and disadvantages of repeating driving
tests
Advantages:
Reduction of accidents
Useful for older drivers (age + driving years)
Useful for those who do not drive regularly
Keeps drivers updated with road rules
Prevents especially the
younger drivers from driving fast and aggressively (My comment: being ‘fast
and furious’!)
Raises driving standards
Disadvantages:
The extra cost needed for repeating driving tests
They need to be organized – (this
is) not so easy
A written test is needed – not so easy to include it
every time
A longer waiting period for learning drivers
Distinguishing the main from the supporting ideas
1st Example:
Topic: advantages and disadvantages of repeating driving tests
Position: repeating driving tests has many benefits (here, the writer agrees with
the view)
1st Main idea: beneficial to certain groups of drivers
Supporting ideas:
Useful for older drivers (in
age and driving time)
Useful for drivers who do not drive regularly
It may prevent especially the younger drivers from driving fast and
aggressively
2nd Main idea: makes driving safer
Supporting ideas:
Accident reduction
Keeps drivers updated with road rules
Raises driving standards
2nd Example:
Topic: Children over 15 should be allowed to independently make decisions about their lives. Society should accept that children mature at a younger
age and adjust the law accordingly
Position: children should not have the right to make their own
decisions until adulthood (here, the writer disagrees with the view)
Main idea: children need to be protected under the nest of their family and
teachers
Supporting ideas:
It is not appropriate at this age to let them decide
independently
Family and teachers should be responsible
Children may lose education and family care
3rd Example:
Topic: Should parents be obliged by law to immunize their children
against common diseases, or should they have the right to choose not to immunize
their children?
Position: immunization should be
compulsory for children regardless of their parents’ opinion
against them
1st Main idea:
prevention is better than treatment. [Hippocrates (460 – c. 370 BC), ancient Greek doctor, father of medicine]
Supporting ideas:
Vaccines have reduced (diseases such as) polio (= poliomyelitis), rubella, etc.
They have also eradicated diseases such as smallpox. Lives are
saved.
2nd Main idea:
immunization is part of human progress
Supporting ideas:
Better conditions of hygiene ((pronounced
ˈhaɪ.dʒiːn) = conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health
and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness)
If we omit vaccines, it is as if we go backward (or 'backwards' in North American English)
We should aim for (here, do not use 'aim at' or 'aim to') a
better immunization program
Reference
1) Jakeman V., McDowell C., New Insights into IELTS, Workbook with
Answers, Cambridge English, Cambridge University Press, 1st
published 2008, reprinted 2016
2) Jakeman V., McDowell C., New Insights into IELTS, Student’s Book with Answers, Cambridge English, Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 2008, 17th printing, 2015
3) Jakeman V., McDowell C., New Insights into IELTS,
Student’s Book with Answers, Cambridge English, Cambridge University Press,
2016.
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