Do you have problems organising and developing your ideas in IELTS writing Task 2?
Do you find it challenging to answer the examiner’s questions in IELTS speaking part 3?
Your issue could be critical thinking.
We prepare many students for the IELTS exam, and we work with students with high levels of English. Many of them get 7.0+ in the listening and reading tests but have problems with speaking and writing. We have noticed a common problem for many of them – critical thinking. They can write and speak well, but when they have to create detailed arguments, develop their ideas in IELTS essays and consider ideas from different points of view, they struggle.
If this sounds like you as well, don’t worry. You are not alone. It is quite common for people to have problems with critical thinking for IELTS.
Reasons why you have problems with critical thinking for IELTS
You did not discuss different ideas during your studies
In many schools and universities around the world, students just need to memorise things and then repeat them in tests. They do not get a chance to explore different sides of arguments and consider the reasons for different viewpoints and beliefs. If you do not learn to do this, it is hard to do it in an English exam. You may be good at remembering vocabulary and grammar, but you cannot write an essay considering two sides of an argument, or justify your ideas well in writing or speaking.
You were not allowed to question your teachers or the material you studied at school
In some schools and universities, you have to accept information from teacher and textbooks without questioning whether it is true. You are not taught to think about bias or whether arguments are logical. If you are not encouraged to question other people’s ideas, whoever they are, it can make it difficult to evaluate arguments independently.
You are scared of making mistakes
Critical thinking requires experimentation and risk-taking, which involves the possibility that you are wrong. Students who fear failure or criticism may avoid questioning ideas or presenting their own opinions.
Although it is challenging, it is essential to have good critical thinking skills both for IELTS and afterwards. Critical thinking is key to academic success. In your studies, you are going to have to write assignments, give presentations and take part in discussions where you consider the views of different writers and evaluate your own opinions. In life, it is essential to be able to solve problems, both at work and at home, and critical thinking enables you to consider the effects of different decisions and choose the right one for you to make. This is why IELTS has been designed to test your critical thinking. It is a life skill that goes hand-in-hand with language ability. This means that you need to be able show you can think critically to get a good score in IELTS.
Why Critical Thinking is Key to a Good IELTS Score
You need to give clear and coherent Ideas
In the writing test, you are assessed on your coherence. This means how well you organise your thoughts logically and present ideas in a structured way that is easy to follow. Critical thinking allows you to identify different arguments and build logical reasons for them.
In speaking part 3, you need to have well-developed ideas if you want to score a band 8.0 in fluency and coherence. Even if you need a lower score, being able to link causes and effects together to explain your thoughts will improve your score.
You need to give well-developed arguments
In Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3, you’re often asked to discuss opinions, advantages, and disadvantages, or provide solutions to problems. A critical thinker can present balanced arguments, evaluate perspectives, and justify their opinions convincingly.
You need to manage your time effectively
In IELTS Writing Task 1, you need to analyse the information and write your response quickly. Critical thinking enables you to quickly identify key points and eliminate irrelevant details. For Writing Task 2, you need to quickly be able to analyse the question, brainstorm your ideas and choose the ones that you can develop in the best way.
If you have problems with critical thinking and this is affecting your IELTS score, what can you do. Here are some suggestions:
Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking for IELTS
Ask “Why” and “How” Questions
When you hear or read about an opinion or idea, you need to challenge it by asking why it is true and what evidence there is for it. For example, if you read about climate change, ask why it’s happening and how it impacts different regions. If you listen to a podcast on globalisation being negative for cultures, you have to think about whether this is always the case and look for evidence to support that.
Practice Analysing Different Perspectives
Take a topic and think about it from various angles. For instance, if you are discussing the effects of tourism, think about it from the point of view of tourists and the local community as well as the government and the environment. Is it positive for all members of the community? If you need to write about whether governments should invest in space travel, you need to think about it from the point of view of scientists as well as local people. This will prepare you to discuss issues in detail
Read Opinion Articles, listen to podcasts and watch Ted Talks
Read articles on current issues on websites like BBC, New York Times and The Guardian. Listen to podcasts and watch Ted Talks, Pay attention to how writers and speakers their arguments, use evidence, and address opposing views. This can provide inspiration for structuring your own responses.
For ideas of podcasts you can listen to, read our post on ‘how to use podcasts to improve your English for IELTS’
Engage in Debates or Discussions
Participate in discussions with other people on common IELTS topics. Debating forces you to think critically about your arguments and respond to counterarguments effectively. It also allows you to see things from different points of view.
Our ‘Boost your ideas for English exams‘ online group speaking course is designed to help improve your critical thinking skills. Each session will focus on a different topic and we will consider different arguments from various points of view. By questioning your own, and other people’s thoughts and opinions, and learning how to properly justify your ideas, you will develop your questioning skills and your ability to build a logical argument.
