In this lesson, students practice expressing the effects of various causes, and the causes of various effects.

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Function:  Expressing Cause and Effect
Key Words:  Because/since/as

Expressing Cause and Effect: Since I won’t graduate until June, I hope to find a job in advertising sometime next summer.

Read the following causes and determine what the effects might be.

1. Staying up all night.  Effect:  ____________________________________________________
2. Forgot your book for class.  Effect:  ____________________________________________
3. Ran out of gas in your car.  Effect:  _____________________________________________
4. Your cell phone battery died.  Effect:  __________________________________________
5. Your computer crashed.  Effect:  _______________________________________________
6. It’s freezing cold outside.  Effect:  ______________________________________________
7. Your flight was over-booked.   Effect:  _________________________________________
8. You arrived late to work.  Effect:  ______________________________________________
9. You caught the flu.  Effect:  ______________________________________________________
10.  Your refrigerator stopped working.  Effect:  __________________________________

Finish the sentences according to the prompts given.

 1. While in university, I was interested in ___________________________; therefore, I chose to study ______________________________________.

2. During my school years I never really liked ____________________, so I ______________________________________________________________.

3. Since rainy days make me feel ____________________, I often __________________________________________________.

4. As cooking is _____________________ in our culture, we ________________________________________________________.

5. I find visiting museums ___________________, so ______________________________________________________________.

6. Sports to me are ____________________________; therefore, ___________________________________________________.

7. Since my free time is _______________________, I normally ____________________________________________________.

8. Painting is something I ________________________________, with this in mind, ___________________________________.

9. My hometown has ___________________________________, so I would recommend _______________________________.

10. I’ve always loved ____________________ music, so ___________________________________________________________.

Read through the prompts again.  What were the questions asked?

 1. ________________________________________________________________________________

 2. _____________________________________________________________________________________

 3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

 4. ___________________________________________________________________________________

 5. ____________________________________________________________________________________

 6. ____________________________________________________________________________________

 7. _____________________________________________________________________________________

 8. _____________________________________________________________________________________

 9. _____________________________________________________________________________________

 10._____________________________________________________________________________________

Read through the following effects and try to determine the cause.

 1. I was soaking wet when I got to work.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

2. I changed my major from math to English.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

3. I have to manage my finances carefully.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

4. Traveling is a big part of my life.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

5. I never take a taxi.

Cause: _____________________________________________________________

6. Eating vegetables with every meal is something I do every day.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

7. I usually go to bed very early.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

8. I have 2 cats and 3 dogs.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

9. We often invite people over for dinner.
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

10. We rarely use the air conditioner
Cause: _____________________________________________________________

This lesson gives students a chance to practice expressing what they “would” do in certain conditions (“if” something happens).

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Function:  Expressing Condition
Key Words:  If……,(then)….

Example:  If I graduate this year, I’ll start looking for a job in advertising because that has always been my dream.

Answer the following questions, using the key words above, and giving reasons for your answer (“…because…”).

 1. What would you do if you won a million dollars?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 2. If you took a vacation on a boat, where would you go?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 3. If you wrote a book, what would you write about?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 4. If you saw someone breaking the law, what would you do?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 6. If you had a party, what type of food would you serve?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 7. If your house were burning down, what would you take on your way out?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________

 8. If it was your mom’s birthday, what would you buy for her?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because ___________________________________________________________________________

 9. If you took a trip, how what mode of transportation would you prefer?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because ___________________________________________________________________________

 10. If it’s rainy and cold outside, what do you normally do?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

because ___________________________________________________________________________

Task 2 is usually an open-ended question that will ask you to compare or contrast, state advantages and disadvantages, or state whether you agree or disagree with a point of view. You are required to write 250 words.

Tips:

1. Make sure you understand the question and answer it completely.
2. This task can be completed in 4-5 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1: Paraphrase the question and state what you are going to write about, your opinion.

Paragraph 2-4: State your points and give reasons to back your opinions. Paragraph 5-Summarize your point and write a brief conclusion.

1. Make sure you write 250 words and spend 40 minutes writing; this question carries more weight than Task 1.
2. Stay on topic, do not drift off, state your point, give a reason for that point, and move on.

General Tips

1. Monitor your time; allow yourself 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.

2. Make a quick outline before you start writing. This will help you stay on topic and serve as a reference while you write. It will also help you stay organized; the examiner will look for proper organization.

3. You will not get extra points if you write more than the required number of words.

4. Try to use complex sentences as much as possible.

5. Use vocabulary that you are comfortable with.

6. Do not write memorized chunks; write according to what you know and use the sentence structures and vocabulary that you are able to effectively use.

7. Take a minute to review what you have written. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes.

8. Make sure you paraphrase the questions for both tasks; this shows that you understand what is being asked.

9. Connect your paragraphs through points using, ‘First, Next, Finally,’ or ‘Initially, Then, Lastly.’ This will keep you organized.

10. Begin the last paragraph with, “In summary,” or “In conclusion.” This shows that you are ending the essay.

11. Practice writing by sitting in a place with people around you. This will help you become accustomed to the real test atmosphere. Candidates will sit next to each other at tables during the actual test.

12. Time yourself while you practice the writing questions.

13. Never use a dictionary while you practice.

14. Have someone else read your practice answers and have them point out the mistakes. You should also read their answers and point out their mistakes.

15. Practice with someone who will also be taking the test; they may know things that you do not.

Below are two sample essays, with scores and critiques from an actual IELTS examiner.

Question:  In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university.  Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year before starting university. (Word requirement:  250 words)

Essay 1

About education, every countries have their own customs.  In some countries, parents often encourage their children go traveling after finishing high school; however, some prefer their children keep studying.  Let’s see what’s the advantages and disadvantages for youngers to do.

If people choose to work or travel after graduating from high school, they may probably know more about the society or this world.  For working people, they can start earing money and raise their families.  Their economy can be independent which means they can decide the way to deal with their salary by themselves.  Also, they can save money as the fee to go to university.  As for those who choose to go traveling, they can meet many strangers and view lots of beautiful scenes on the way they travel.  What difficulties they meet in travel can make them become stronger.

However, if they want to go university, after working or traveling, they may forget some knowledges and their classmates.

Comments:  The essay is short and doesn’t fully answer the question.  A detailed introduction and conclusion are not presented and there are several errors in phrasing.  Overall, the question is not fully answered, the advantages are given but only one disadvantage.  There is some good use of complex sentences, organization and vocabulary, but this is not sustained.  IELTS:  4.5-5.0

Essay 2

When a person reaches 18, which is roughly around the fine finishing his or her high school years, what comes up to the person next is an important major decision-going to university or take a break.  If he or she decides to take a break at the moment, that person will probably need to choose between work or travel.

We live in a color world; it is good to have a change to explore it.  To open our eyes when we are still young can help us to know more about what is going on right now, and to be more aware of the relationship between ourself and the world. What happened during one’s trip to a different place would help he or she applies the experience to a different situation when feeling needed.  If somebody decides to go to work instead of travel, she or he could learn from the work experience, which may be helpful when becoming a full-time worker.

While both going to work and traveling can give a person some information regarding one’s future plan, it’s not always a good idea to do so.  Sometimes when people didn’t choose to finish school very soon, they will find it’s harder for them to return to school after doing other things outside the campus.  They may have a feeling that they can not adjust to a formal academic life because they are free for too long.  It can cause a problem when nowadays academic achievement is so important for a brighter future.

Whatever people choose to do after their high school years, it’s so important to know what you really want and like.  It’s the best way to have a happy life and love what you choose.

Comments:  Organization is strong, the question is answered and the word requirement is met.  There is good use of complex sentences and vocabulary.  The introduction and conclusion could be a bit stronger and there are some phrasing and agreement issues.  It should be clear what the question is in the introduction and this is only slightly able to be determined.  Overall, the essay may score a Band 6.

Below are two sample essays, with scores and critiques from an actual IELTS examiner.

Question:  Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.  To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Word Requirement:  250 words)

Essay 1

Looking back on the last two generations, our parents receive the education system that is regulated to include both sexes.  The pre-organized mechanism allows both male and female students to understand each other better as well as to create a better environment for the students to come up with a variety of solutions when facing difficulties.  Therefore, I strongly agree that universities ought to accept fair numbers of male and female students in all subjects.

To begin with, university is a place where people learn.  In other words, no one should be excluded or limited to choose what they want to take part in. Also, with equal sexes in classes, students can exchange different ideas from opposite sex that according to a study, it stimulates students to think.

Next to go would be, no one can deny that universities are stepping stones of the fickle society.  If a student who go to a university that only accept males or females, they would not be full fledge to deal with various problems that will be encountered after they graduate.

To sum up, based on the abovementioned, history is the mirror of tomorrow; thus, keep taking in the same amount of male and females students would accelerate students’ learning efficiency.

Comments:  The essay is a bit short and the conclusion could use a bit more content.  There is some awkward phrasing but overall, the writing shows a sense of style.  The use of vocabulary is advanced, the organization is strong and the introduction leads nicely into the essay.  If the essay was a bit more developed, it would score a 7 but because it is short, it would achieve an IELTS 6.5.

Essay 2

Nowadays, females and males are at equal status.  In many ways, girls can do some difficult jobs like working in a factory and even more better than boys.  In addition, man can be a nurse and more careful than women.  Thus, in universities, of course they should accept equal numbers of male and female student in every subject for university may affect what people do in the future.

In the past, there were few or even no boys studied nursing for they had stereotype-nursing was not suit boys because it was too ‘female.’  Besides, people thought men were not careful, they were careless and it would be dangerous to patients.  However, this stereotype caused males not to got into nursing even though how much they wanted to be.

Besides, it was the same condition as girls.  Girls were limited by their parents or people’s thought.  What girls studied were nursing, English, French or something more ‘quiet’ instead of powerful.  For example, if female majored in mechanic, people would think, “What? You get into mechanic?”  “What can you do in the future?  You are not stronger than men, what you should do is teacher or secretary, so you should choose other subjects.”  Therefore, how unfair it was.

No one can decide what boys and girls want to be, people should not depend on their thought to consider what they suit for.  There are no absolutely answers that men should do what and women should studied what.  Consequently, just accept them instead of say something to let them listen to your advices and be the person you want them to be.

To sum up, I agree that equal numbers of boys and girls access to every subjects in university.  Do not dwell in the past, people should change their thought and make a more diversity society.  Try to respect others decision and their subjects or works rather than use gender to decide what they should be or what subjects what they should major in.

Comments:  This essay does meet the word count and the organization is very clear.  There are some good points made and some good use of complex sentences.  However, there are several awkward phrases, agreement problems, and overall usage errors.  This would likely score a 5.5 on IELTS.