Mat Clark ielts speaking

particularly, in fact, such as, for example, specifically. 
So  you  have  described  one  difference.  Now  you  need  to  introduce  a  second 
difference. 
 
Begin with a linking word: 
In addition … 
Additionally … 
As well as this … 
On top of this …. 
Moreover … 
After that … 
 
Say there is another important difference. 
… a second key distinction would be that … 
… a subsequent contrast could be that … 
… a futher distinction might be that … 
 
Now describe the second difference. For example, ―… men are quite keen on …‖ 
 
Now use your second comparative linking structure. 
While on the other hand … 

---

Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking 
 
 
172
 
Alternatively … 
Conversely … 
Then again, in opposition … 
 
Then give a sentence to describe the second  part of the  second difference. You only 
need to describe two differences. 
Tenses for Time Comparison 
Sometime  people  call  these  questions  ―changes‖  questions.  However  the  question 
―How has X changed in recent years?‖ is actually the same question as, ―Is X nowadays the 
same as X in the past (20 years ago, 50 years ago etc.)?‖ 
 
The answer is actually the same, because if you describe the changes you are simply 
describing the difference between past and present. 
 
In  your  answer,  when  you  describe  the  past,  the  easiest  tense  to  use  accurately  is 
―used to‖. For example: 
X used to be much smaller … 
X always used to be more … 
X didn’t use to have as many … 
X didn’t use to be as … 
 
Now use your own answer structure to practice the following compare questions. 
 
Are schools nowadays the same as schools in the past? 
Are TV programmes nowadays the same as TV programmes in the past? 
Are restaurants nowadays the same as restaurants in the past? 
Are free-time activities nowadays the same as 20 years ago in your 
country? 
Are shops nowadays the same as shops when you were younger> 
Are trips nowadays the same as trips that your parents had when they were 
young? 
In what ways are magazines different to newspapers? 
Do adults and children make friends in the same ways? 
Are families nowadays the same as families in the past? 
Are buildings nowadays the same as buildings 100 years ago? 

---

Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking 
 
 
173
 
Is public transport nowadays the same as public transport 20 years ago? 
Do old and young people like the same hobbies? 
Do men and women have the same attitudes to shopping? 
What’s the difference between things made by hand and things made by 
machines? 
Do people nowadays eat the same food as people 50 years ago? 
Is the weather in North China the same as the weather in South China? 
How has education changed in recent years in your country? 
Nowadays, do people make new friends in the same way as people 20 
years ago? 
Are the ways in which people become famous nowadays the same ways 
that people became famous 100 years ago? 
 
This is not a complete list of every comparison question in Part Three, but if you can 
confidently  use  your  comparative  structure  for  all  of  these  questions,  you  will  have  no 
problem answering this type of question – regardless of the topic.