Ielts speaking--how to improve your bandscore

Chapter Four:
Planning and making notes (part 2)
Why are planning and making notes important in the IELTS Speaking test?
Knowing ideas corresponding to the questions you are asked to answer during
the examination and the right way of expressing those ideas using words and
sentences are very vital to getting a good band score in IELTS. Formulating the
appropriate answer can be done when one plans.
Planning for Speaking part 2 is an essential key to approach the topic and to be
able to come up with an organized answer that can help you talk within the given
two minutes. It is also an effective tool so that you will not run out of words or
grope for them when you are in the middle of delivering your answer.
Making notes is the concretization of the plans. This is when you write what
comes to your mind as a response to questions on the cue card.
How and when do we make notes?
One-minute preparation time is allocated before you start speaking in IELTS
Speaking part 2. This is the period when you have to use the sheet of paper given
by the examiner where you can write down keywords and ideas on.
As mentioned in lesson 3, you have to write the keywords of your answer, which
may be a noun, verb, pronoun, or adjective. Write at least 3 less common words
for you to have a better score in lexical resource.
Write notes for every question on the cue card. Never skip one, for your failure
to answer one of the questions from the topic card would mean a penalty on your
score.
What are the different styles of making notes?
There are different ways that can be employed in note taking. You can choose
one that you think is useful and time efficient. Let’s have this topic and see how
different styles of note taking are used:

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Describe an artist or entertainer you admire.
You should say the following:
Who they are and what they do
How they became successful
How you found out about them
Why you admire them
Style 1
I like two of the famous singers in my country, and they are internationally
recognized. They came from very humble beginnings.

Their talents were discovered in two different singing competitions sponsored by
one of the leading TV stations in our country.

One of their performances was featured on YouTube, which eventually attracted
many viewers. Afterwards, they were interviewed by famous TV personalities like
Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres.

A series of international concerts were then staged, and they were invited as
guests by famous singers, like Celine Dion and others.

I have actually watched their performances from the time they joined the singing
competitions. From that time on, I began to love their music.

I am one of their fans because they bring honour to my race and they remind me
of a lesson in life that dreams do come true.
The first style of making notes is time-consuming and very hard to accomplish
only within the given minute.
However, many IELTS candidates adopt this because they just read what they
have written, but there is still a risk of sounding unnatural.
Style 2
Charice Pempengco—known internationally; Arnel Pineda—lead vocalist

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of band Journey; powerful voices
singers
international exposure / concerts / Youtube
Interviews by TV personalities like Oprah and Ellen Degeneres
TV shows, singing competitions
bring honor to my country / represent common people / dreams do come
true
Style 3
Who?
Charice Pempengco (international singer); Arnel Pineda (lead vocalist of
band Journey)
How (succeed)?
International exposure / concerts / YouTube videos
interviews by known TV personalities (Oprah Winfrey and Ellen
Degeneres)
How (I know)?
singing competition on TV; first media exposure
Why (I admire)?
because represent common people / dreams do come true / bring honor to
my race