Touchstone Educational IELTS Training Institute Chandigarh

Using Idioms in IELTS speaking test

Use of idioms is one of the major differences between native English speakers and those who learn English as a second language. Well, idioms can really help to improve you score in the IELTS speaking test but can also result in lowering the score if not used correctly.

Before discussing further, let’s have a little talk about the meaning of idioms

An idiom is a group of words or phrases that has a meaning which is not clear through the words used.

For instance, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ means that it is raining heavily, but if we go by the literal meaning of the text it means that cats and dogs are falling from the sky.

Got confused? Let’s have a look at another example.

For someone who is’ High as a Kite’ doesn’t mean that he/she is flying, rather it means that he/she is on drugs.

To clearly understand what idioms mean, we have to understand these 2 words: Literal and Metaphorical.

Literal means the actual meaning of a word.

Metaphorical describes words being used as a symbol for something else.

So, in ‘High as a Kite’, High means located above the earth’s surface but metaphorically it states that someone is under the influence of drugs.

Thus, to understand the meaning of an idiom, it is important o understand the actual meaning of a metaphor.

Should idiom be used in writing or speaking test?

dioms are generally used in an informal conversation and therefore, their use in the writing should be avoided.

Since spoken English is less formal than academic written English, it is acceptable and advisable to use idioms in the speaking test.

Should idioms be memorized?

Well, the answer to this question is a big NO. The most common mistake in IELTS speaking test is that candidates learn a lot of idioms and use them in the test to score high.

It is important to know that the examiners are trained to spot candidates using crammed/inappropriate idioms.

How to use them effectively?

Use an idiom only when you know the proper context in which they are to be used and when you are 100% sure of using them in the correct way.

Common Idioms

Once in a blue moon- happens rarely

Over the moon- to be extremely happy

A drop in the ocean- a small chunk/part of something big

A piece of cake- very easy

Back to the drawing board- when you fail to do something and have to re-plan things

The in thing- something trendy/fashionable

The real McCoy- genuine

Run of the mill- very common/ordinary

Down in the dump- sad

Go the extra mile- doing more than expected

Sit on the fence- to be undecided

Cost an arm and a leg- really expensive

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Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+ 2 minutes review time )

Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your pronunciation, grammar, accuracy, fluency and lexical resources while speaking English. There are three (3) parts to this test, with each part fulfilling a specific function in terms of task input, interaction pattern and the test taker’s output.

Part 1: Introduction & Interview This part includes general questions about the test taker like residence, work,family, interests, etc.

Part 2: Long Run Cue cards are shared on a particular topic and one (1) minute will be given to prepare to speak for upto two (2) minutes on the topic.

Part 3: Discussion This part gives you the opportunity to discuss the topic from the cue card in further detail, in a more general and abstract way

Total time: 11-14 minutes

Reading

The IELTS Reading test is designed to test a wide range of reading skills including reading for skimming, details, gist, understanding arguments and writer’s opinions,attitude and purpose

IELTS Academic Reading – It includes three (3) reading passages (with a variety of questions) ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These passages are of general interest dealing with interesting and recognizably appropriate issues, with at least one passage containing a detailed logical argument

Note: The reading texts may contain non-verbal materials as well like graphs, diagrams or illustrations.

IELTS General Reading – It includes three (3) daily passages (with 2-3 short texts in the first passage, 2 texts in the second passage and 1 long text in the third passage), based on an English-speaking environment, from notices, newspapers, magazines or advertisements.

Reading passage 1: texts based on social survival, like advertisements, notices and timetables

Reading passage 2: texts based on workplace survival, like contracts, job descriptions, staff development & training material

Reading passage 3: texts based on general reading, involving more extended prose and a complex structure.

No. of questions: 40

Marks: each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 60 minutes (no additional transfer time)

Note: Please note that the question types in the Listening & Reading sections can include multiple choice answers, true or false answers, matching information/headings or sentence, table & flow-chart completion.

Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+10 minutes transfer time)