IELTS & TOEFL Writing: 5 Common Mistakes

Hi Zahra,

The best way to learn vocab is to read a lot. That way you will see these words in their different uses and remember them better. Also, if you see a word you know but not sure how it’s being used in a sentence, look it up in the dictionary and find its other meanings. Other than that, it’s just time and practice.

Hi Tsamp,

There is no need for the ‘an’ before ability because exposure and ability both serve as objects to the possessive “students'”.

That being said, the ‘to’ after exposure could have been omitted. :)

Keep practicing Soulman. It will come :)

Thanks Katrin :)

We do love our hockey here.

Hi Sofia,

Good question. It’s ok to choose one pronoun (he or she) as long as you stay consistent. Many writers choose to go with the plural to avoid the gender issues in writing, but that’s a personal choice. On the TOEFL you won’t be penalized for choosing one gender.

They apply just as well there Horsekanna. Just keep in mind that for the SAT they do want to see more “big” words ;)

Hi Finnar,

You can find online talks (like ted.com) that have transcripts. Listen and follow along with the transcripts, then record yourself as you repeat the talk. Compare your intonation to the native speaker and pay attention to when they stress or destress things, when they speed up or slow down, accent, etc.

This is a good way to practice.

Take all the time you need Pavanut :)

Hi Adeel,

Technically, the sentence is correct, but you will almost never see this sentence used. Anyway, that’s a passive of do, not go. Go is not used in a passive form.

Good point Danddan. You could remove the “at the same time” but leaving it in emphasises that they achieve both results by the one action , not as separate actions (they build a network by taking to people, which allows them to practice speaking and improve their language skills).

If I left only the ‘while’ then they are doing the two things separately, which doesn’t support the use of the idiom.

Dear Lisa,
a lot of things have happened since you went to London.
We bought a new car.
My brother found a new job.
My parents went on holiday “last week”.
My sister learned/has learned how to ride a bike.(this can be both because she might still be learning as it takes time)
Our Pussy cat took part in a cat show.
It was two days ago.
She won a prize.
I have already written two letters to you.
But I haven’t heard from you yet. Write to me
soon.
Best wishes,
Olga.

Technically, all the “events” should be simple past because they are randomly listed as happening in that time period (since you left until today). The letters show two actions in that period, so they are perfect tenses since they happened over two unknown times, and still waiting to hear from you, so the action continues.

Yes, they are quite common. The first is often used about the media whose reporters conduct interviews and then claim the interviewee said something that they didn’t. (the reporters “interpreted” it that way.)– it’s not necessarily a lie, but not the whole truth either ;)
The second means you can’t changed your mind about an agreement that’s been made.

It’s not an easy quiz Bellatimor. Try again :)

I would write:

– How can I? Wherever I go, I see his name.
or
– How can I? Wherever I go, his name is there.

Though technically, you don’t see a name. Wherever I go, I hear his name.

Hi Amna,

you can email engvid and they will forward the mail to me.