Notes

Your First 30 Seconds Matter

The examiner reads your introduction.

They already have an impression.

Good intro: Clear, paraphrased, sets up your response

Bad intro: Copied from question, vague, unclear

The difference? 0.5 to 1 band score.

Let's master the 2-sentence formula that works every time.

Beyond "Increase"

You write: "Sales increased. Profits increased. Everything increased."

Examiner thinks: "Band 5 vocabulary."

The problem: You know one word.

The solution: Learn 8 alternatives.

Each shows:

• Speed (slow vs fast)
• Size (small vs large)

Let's upgrade your vocabulary in 3 minutes.

Beyond "Decrease"

You write: "Sales decreased. Customers decreased. Everything decreased."

Examiner thinks: "Limited vocabulary."

The fix: Learn 8 alternatives for downward trends.

Match the word to the speed and size of the drop.

Your vocabulary score will thank you.

Comparisons Score Points

Task 1 asks you to compare.

Not just describe.

Weak response: "Country A had 50%. Country B had 30%."

Strong response: "Country A exceeded Country B by 20 percentage points."

The difference? Comparison language.

Let's learn phrases that boost your Coherence & Cohesion score.

The Most Confusing Question Type

Students fail here most.

The problem:

You can't find the answer → You panic → You guess wrong.

The reality:

• TRUE = Statement matches passage
• FALSE = Statement contradicts passage
• NOT GIVEN = Passage doesn't say

The confusion: False vs Not Given

Let's fix this with a simple 3-step method.