Unit 1

An overview of the writing test, Task 1 • Interpreting Task 1 questions • Interpreting and describing visual information: Pie charts and bar charts • Linking different points • Useful vocabulary: Statistics • Checking content and language errors

Unit 2

Dos and don'ts for Task 1 • Selecting information • Organising ideas • Writing introductions • Writing conclusions • Describing graphs • Describing numbers • Useful vocabulary: Tendencies

Unit 3

Useful vocabulary: Objects and actions • Describing how an object works • Choosing a starting point • Using sequence expressions • Using ellipsis • Using synonyms • Using active and passive verb forms

Unit 4

Describing change • Describing position • Collocations of increase and decrease • Describing when something happened • Referring back • Useful vocabulary: Urban environments

Unit 5

Useful vocabulary: Industrial processes • Editing content • Editing style • Avoiding repetition • Improving cohesion • Checking spelling • Tips for Task 1

Unit 6

An overview of the writing test, Task 2 • Evaluating ideas • Developing an argument and giving examples • Using linkers to improve clarity and cohesion • Using passive forms to improve clarity and cohesion • Useful vocabulary: Health and illness

Unit 7

Organising ideas • Writing introductions • Writing conclusions • Identifying opinions • Using expressions to indicate cause and effect • Using expressions of time and place • Useful vocabulary: Leisure

Unit 8

Useful vocabulary: Education • Practising ellipsis • Reference • Pronouns: this/these and it/they • Determiners: this/these and the

Unit 9

Text organisation • Problem and solution language • To + infinitive • For + -ing vs. to + infinitive • The -ing form • Useful vocabulary: The environment

Unit 10

Expressing opinions • Hedging • Qualifying using adjectives and adverbs • Linkers • Useful vocabulary: Society

diminish

diminish (v)

to decrease, to become less

gender

gender (n)

male or female sex

overtake

overtake (v)

to pass, to become more

pattern

pattern (n)

the repeated way that something happens

principal

principal (adj)

most important

soar

soar (v)

to go very high

source

source (n)

the place from which something originates

advent

advent (n)

arrival, appearance

alike

alike (adv)

in the same way

devote

devote (v)

to dedicate

factor

factor (n)

something that contributes to a result

generation

generation (n)

the average time between different stages in a family; for example, between parents and children

luxury

luxury (n)

something expensive or hard to get

misspent

misspent (adj)

spent in a bad way

pursuit

pursuit (n)

an activity or hobby

quotation

quotation (n)

a phrase or passage copied exactly from another person, usually with an acknowledgement of the source

quote

quote (v)

to repeat a phrase or passage copied exactly from another person

rhetorical

rhetorical question (n)

a question to which no answer is expected, used for dramatic effect or to make people think

sedentary

sedentary (adj)

done sitting down

expense

at the expense of (exp)

causing a negative effect on

battle

battle (v)

to fight

bullied

bullied (participle)

treated badly or aggressively

cope

cope with (v)

to deal successfully with

count

count (someone) as (v)

to consider, to believe

duly

duly (adj)

in a proper way

elite

elite (n)

the most rich or powerful members of a community

removed

far removed (adj)

very different

middle

middle ground (n)

the idea between two extreme ideas

ponder

ponder (v)

to think about carefully

practicable

practicable (adj)

capable of being done

puzzle

puzzle over (v)

to think deeply about in an attempt to understand

regardless

regardless of (adj)

without taking notice of

split

split (v)

to divide

struggle

struggle (v)

to find difficult

transferable

transferable (adj)

able to be used in different situations

varying

varying (adj)

diverse, different

viable

viable (adj)

possible

well-off

well-off (adj)

rich

willing

willing to (adj)

prepared to, happy to

constant

constant (n)

something that does not change

crops

crops (n)

plants cultivated by people

culprit

culprit (n)

a person or thing responsible for something bad happening

dam

dam (v)

to construct a barrier across a river

decompose

decompose (v)

to decay, to rot

drought

drought (n)

a long period with little rain

dry

dry up (v)

to become completely dry

end

end up as (v)

to finally become

fluctuation

fluctuation (n)

a change

give

give off (v)

to emit, to release

inexhaustible

inexhaustible (adj)

existing in large quantities that will never be completely used

infiltrate

infiltrate (v)

to spread into a space

irrigate

irrigate (v)

to supply land with water artificially

knock-on

knock-on effect (adj)

an effect which is the result of another effect

last

last resort (n)

an option used only when all others fail

rubbish

rubbish tip (n)

a place for throwing away large quantities of rubbish

sewage

sewage (n)

waste and dirty water from houses

stricken

stricken by (adj)

very badly affected by

throwaway

throwaway (adj)

happy to throw things away

waste

waste (n)

an unwanted product or substance, rubbish

widespread

widespread (adj)

affecting a large area

be

be a different story (exp)

be very different

carer

carer (n)

a person who cares for and is responsible for another

domain

domain (n)

a particular area of activity or interest

former

former (n)

the first thing mentioned

latter

latter (n)

the second thing mentioned

role

role (n)

a function or position

shelter

shelter (n)

a place that provides protection

suited

suited to (adj)

appropriate for

upbringing

upbringing (n)

the education and care of a child

when

when all is said and done (exp)

when everything is considered

bark

bark (n)

the outer covering of the trunk of a tree

catch

catch (v)

to notice and treat successfully

conventional

conventional (adj)

established by accepted customs

cut

cut (n)

a decrease

implement

implement (v)

to carry out, to execute

ineffectual

ineffectual (adj)

useless

redirect

redirect (v)

to send to a new destination

screen

screen (v)

to test to detect disease

side

side effect (n)

an unwanted effect of a drug or treatment

substance

substance (n)

a particular material

trade-off

trade-off (n)

an exchange

well-being

well-being (n)

the state of being healthy

write

write off (v)

to consider useless

breakdown

breakdown (n)

a list of separate parts, specific details

level

level off (v + particle)

to become stable, not rise or fall

peak

peak (v,n)

(to reach) a maximum

take

take part (v + particle)

to participate

thereafter

thereafter (adv)

after the date just mentioned

throughout

throughout (prep)

for the duration, during

appliance

appliance (n)

an electrical machine, especially in the home

equidistant

equidistant (adj)

with equal distance between two or more points

hose

hose (n)

a flexible tube, especially for conducting water

load

load (v)

to put into

merge

merge (v)

to combine to make one whole thing

overview

overview (n)

a general description of the whole thing

valve

valve (n)

a device for turning on or off the flow of water, gas, etc

viewer

viewer (n)

a person looking at something

undergo

undergo (v)

to experience

cope

cope with (v + prep)

to deal successfully with difficulties

thatched

thatched (adj)

covered with plant stalks

tiled

tiled (adj)

covered with thin ceramic blocks

bricked

bricked up (v + particle)

closed using bricks

piecemeal

piecemeal (adj)

in stages, not homogenous

draft

draft (n)

a version of a text (a first draft is the original, rough version)

flow

flow (n)

movement, the way water moves along a river

funds

funds (n)

money

linear

linear (adj)

in a straight line

purchase

purchase (n)

something someone has bought

supply

supply chain (n)

the network involved in taking a product from the supplier to the customer

via

via (prep)

by way of

warehouse

warehouse (n)

a large building used for storage