In this post: Core collocations for urbanisation, housing and transport, taken from my own essays, and breakdowns of my Task 6 (overall 7) and Task 41 (overall 7.5) paragraphs.
Cities, Housing and Transport · 3 parts
- 1. Common questions and arguments
- 2. Vocabulary and two breakdowns (you are here)
- 3. Model, mistakes and practice
3. Core vocabulary and collocations
This section only lists verb + noun and adjective + noun collocations, because what really trips you up in the exam is usually “which verb goes with this noun?”. The right-hand column contains sentences from my own essays, exactly as I wrote them. Where there is a mistake, I note a more natural version in brackets.
Urbanisation and the urban–rural gap
| Collocation | Meaning / use | Ting’s original sentence (source) |
|---|---|---|
| hinder the development of rural areas | hold back progress in the countryside | labor productivity in the countryside will definitely decrease, further hindering the development of rural areas (Task 6) |
| threaten the advancements in… | put progress in an area at risk | the phenomenon of immigrating from the countryside to cities absolutely threatens the advancements in the countryside (Task 6; for movement within a country use migrating, not immigrating) |
| the quality of living drops / deteriorates | living standards fall | the quality of living in urban areas decreases considerably if an increasing number of people immigrate to cities (Task 6; quality of life is more common) |
| overcrowding | too many people for the space or services available | when a lot of rural people move to cities, overcrowded population happens (Task 6; change to overcrowding occurs) |
| achieve long-term success | succeed over a long period | all of which hinders the whole community in achieving long-term success and happiness (Task 6; hinder … from achieving) |
| narrow the urban–rural gap | reduce the difference between city and countryside | (notes) new constructions in the suburban area help to narrow the gap between cities and the countryside |
Housing and house prices
| Collocation | Meaning / use | Ting’s original sentence (source) |
|---|---|---|
| pose a financial burden on | create a money problem for someone | the fee to rent a house might pose a financial burden for individuals (Task 41; burden takes on) |
| prove one’s financial capability | show that you can afford something | he needs to prepare a house first to prove his financial capability (Task 41) |
| a humble background | an ordinary, not wealthy, family origin | If a boy in humble background wants to marry a girl from rich family… (Task 41; from a humble background) |
| be overemphasized | be given too much importance | the importance of family backgrounds will be overemphasized simultaneously (Task 41) |
| house prices / housing costs | what homes cost to buy / to live in | the prices of houses are too high for youngsters to afford (Task 41; house prices are too high) |
| rental fees / rent | money paid to a landlord | having a house is indispensable in some nations because of costly rental fees (Task 41) |
| get on the property ladder | buy your first home | (model) Many young people struggle to get on the property ladder in big cities. |
Transport and public facilities (borrow from map questions too)
A Task 1 map question describes how a town changes: roads are widened, a pedestrian-only street appears, a new bus station is built, factories become housing. The same words work just as well in Task 2 questions on transport and urban planning.
| Collocation | Meaning / use | Ting’s original sentence (source) |
|---|---|---|
| a dual carriageway | a road with a central barrier separating two directions of traffic (British English) | a dual carriageway will be built to connect the whole town centre (Task 46) |
| a pedestrian-only street | a street closed to cars | The main road will be taken place by a pedestrians only pathway (Task 46; replaced by a pedestrian-only street) |
| a roundabout connects… | a circular junction joining roads | a roundabout connects two roads, and eight factories surround the roads and the roundabout (Task 31) |
| be replaced by housing areas | be redeveloped as homes | the places that housed factories will be replaced by housing areas (Task 31) |
| cater to various users | meet the needs of different groups | several facilities are going to be built to cater to various users (Task 46) |
| a staff-only car park | parking reserved for employees | a car park for both staff and public located on the right of the hospital road (Task 19; was located) |
| ease traffic congestion | reduce traffic jams | (model) Expanding the metro network is the most effective way to ease traffic congestion. |
| improve the public transportation system | make buses and trains better | (notes) workers will choose to go to work by bus or MRT when public transportation is available and cheaper |
4. Breaking down my own paragraphs
The three examples below (4-3 is in Part 3) are the original versions I sent for marking, completely unedited, with spelling and grammar mistakes left in. I explain why each paragraph earned its score, where the chain of reasoning is complete and what could still be added.
4-1 Task 6: rural people moving to cities (Positive / Negative)
The question, in short: rural people around the world are moving to cities; is this a positive or negative development? I chose “negative”, and my second body paragraph argued that quality of life in cities falls.
Moreover, the quality of living in urban areas decreases considerably if an increasing number of people immigrate to cities. To put it another way, when a lot of rural people move to cities, overcrowded population happens; consequently, the cost of living increases because of the scarcity of fundamental materials like housing and foods, which undoubtedly makes the quality of living drop. According to a study conducted by National Taiwan University, when the population in cities or metropolitans increased 10%, an increase of 10% expenditure on daily necessities happened simultaneously; therefore, the immigration detertorised the quality of living in cities.
What works: the chain of reasoning is complete. More people arrive → overcrowding → shortages of housing and food → higher cost of living → lower quality of life. Every step is carried by a linking phrase (To put it another way, consequently, which), so the reader never has to fill in the logic. In my reading of the band descriptors, this is why Coherence reached 7.
Main problem 1: the example looks like invented data. “A National Taiwan University study found that when the urban population rose by 10%, spending on daily necessities also rose by 10%.” The two numbers are identical, which reads very unnaturally. This was my favourite move in my early essays, but it does little for Task Response: the examiner cannot tell whether it is true, and it can make the argument look empty. A better approach is a hypothetical situation, for example “if a city’s population grows quickly and housing supply cannot keep up, rents will be pushed up”. Persuade with cause and effect, not with numbers.
Main problem 2: imprecise word choice. Immigrate means moving to another country; moving from the countryside to a city within the same country is migrate or move. Overcrowded population happens is a translated-sounding phrase; change it to overcrowding occurs. Metropolitans should be metropolitan areas, and detertorised is misspelt (deteriorated). None of these errors blocks understanding, so LR and GRA could still reach 7, but to move towards 8 they have to go.
4-2 Task 41: why people in some countries insist on buying a home (Two-question)
The question, in short: in some countries owning a home is far more important than renting one. Why? Is this good or bad? My first body paragraph answered “why”.
There are two reasons why owning houses is important in specific nations. The primary one is that the fee to rent a house might pose a financial burden for individuals. In some countries, the tax or payments of renting houses may be incredibly expensive due to the policy implemented by the authorities, especially in those countries which always motivate individuals to own their poverty. Another factor is that houses sometimes represent the social status. Take traditional Taiwanese culture as an example. If a boy in humble background wants to marry a girl from rich family, there is no denying that he needs to prepare a house first to prove his financial capability. Therefore, having houses is so important for some Taiwanese people to show off their status and the level of wealth.
What works: the first sentence tells the reader there are two reasons, so the structure is clear at a glance. The example for the second reason (traditionally in Taiwan, a man is expected to have a home ready before marriage) is specific and culturally grounded, and it directly proves that a home is a symbol of social status. The last sentence then ties back to the point. In my analysis, this complete “point → cultural example → wrap-up” pattern is the key to Task Response reaching 8.
What could be stronger: the explanation of the first reason is thin. “Taxes or payments on renting are expensive because of government policy” only states a conclusion; it does not explain why expensive renting makes people want to buy. One more step would help: monthly rent and monthly mortgage payments are similar, but a mortgage eventually leaves you with a home while rent leaves you with nothing, so people prefer to buy. Also, own their poverty was meant to be property. Typing poverty reverses the meaning completely, and this kind of slip has to be caught when you check your work.
Continue reading · Part 3 of 3
IELTS Notes in English · Topic Guides (post 6 of 10)
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Task 1 Structure · Task 2 Structure · Topic Guides · Writing Language · Band Score Samples · Practice Methods · Speaking & Study Tips
✦ Target Your Future
Some days you practise for hours and the score still does not move. I hope these notes remind you that the setbacks are part of the road: every recording you replayed, every essay you rewrote and every sentence you finally dared to say is progress you have already made.
I wrote this down so the next person can take fewer detours. You do not have to follow my method exactly. Find a rhythm that works for you, rest when you need to, and come back for the next small step.
I hope what you take away is more than a number on a score report: a little more confidence in yourself, and the courage to step a bit closer to the world.
— Ting
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