Generate Band 9 IELTS Ideas After Doing This

Summary

This video addresses common concerns about generating ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2, particularly when students feel unprepared for difficult topics. The speaker emphasizes that real IELTS questions are not as complex as some might think and often involve everyday topics like education, technology, and the environment. To help students prepare, they are encouraged to regularly read news articles on these topics. The video also critiques traditional brainstorming techniques and offers alternative strategies, such as the 'Coffee Shop' and 'Family Fortunes' methods, to quickly generate relevant, easy-to-develop ideas for the test.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fake IELTS questions online can make the test seem more difficult than it is. Always refer to official sources like Cambridge or the British Council for accurate task examples.
• 😀 Task 2 questions are typically about common topics like education, technology, health, and the environment. Anyone with basic education should be able to generate ideas for these topics.
• 😀 Regularly reading the news in these common topics (e.g., BBC, New York Times) will help you prepare for generating ideas quickly during the test.
• 😀 A good idea for an IELTS Task 2 essay must be relevant to the question, developable with explanations and examples, and accessible quickly under test conditions.
• 😀 Brainstorming is ineffective because it generates irrelevant or undeveloped ideas and wastes time. Instead, focus on generating a few relevant ideas quickly.
• 😀 The Coffee Shop Method involves imagining you’re casually discussing the question with a friend, which reduces stress and helps generate clear, relevant ideas.
• 😀 The Family Fortunes Method asks you to think of the most common answers a group of 100 people would give to the question. This helps keep ideas simple, relevant, and easy to develop.
• 😀 Students often freeze up in test mode, even though they can easily discuss the same topics outside the exam. Normalizing the situation reduces this mental block.
• 😀 Spend just five minutes each day reading about common IELTS topics to ensure you’re always prepared to think of ideas quickly and confidently on test day.
• 😀 Don't overcomplicate your approach to generating ideas. Simplicity is key—focus on relevant, easily developable ideas that you can come up with quickly and efficiently.
• 😀 Using techniques like the Coffee Shop Method or Family Fortunes Method helps students avoid overthinking, stay focused, and generate good ideas for their essays without stress.

Q & A

What is the main concern students have when facing an IELTS Task 2 question on test day?

The main concern is that students may not know how to start or how to think of ideas for the Task 2 question, leading to fear and stress.

Why do some students feel that IELTS questions are too complex?

Some IELTS websites feature fake or misreported questions that are more difficult than the actual ones, which causes students to overestimate the complexity of the test.

How can students avoid the misconception that IELTS questions are too difficult?

Students should refer only to official sources for IELTS questions, such as Cambridge, IDP, or the British Council, and avoid fake or misreported questions to reduce unnecessary stress.

What are some common Task 2 topics in the IELTS exam?

Common Task 2 topics include education, technology, health, environment, and government. These topics appear regularly in the exam.

How can students prepare for IELTS Task 2 idea generation effectively?

Students should read news stories daily from popular English websites like BBC, New York Times, or The Guardian. Focusing on common IELTS topics will help them stay informed and generate relevant ideas quickly.

What makes a good idea for an IELTS Task 2 essay?

A good idea should be relevant to the question, able to be developed with explanations and examples, and easy to think of quickly.

Why is brainstorming not an effective method for generating ideas in IELTS writing?

Brainstorming often results in irrelevant or underdeveloped ideas and wastes time. It can lead to a disorganized list of ideas that don't directly answer the question.

What is the Coffee Shop Method, and how does it help in idea generation?

The Coffee Shop Method involves imagining discussing the Task 2 question casually with a friend, reducing stress and making it easier to generate relevant and simple ideas quickly, as if in a relaxed conversation.

What is the Family Fortunes Method, and who is it most suitable for?

The Family Fortunes Method involves thinking about the most common answers to the question, like a survey. It is particularly helpful for students with a high level of education who tend to overcomplicate ideas, such as doctors or engineers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of visiting extreme tourist destinations like the Sahara Desert?

Advantages include unique experiences and exploring new places, while disadvantages include potential health risks and the expensive cost of traveling to such extreme locations.