HOW TO USE IELTS VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS?

What Are IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards?

• The IELTS Vocabulary flashcards have been designed keeping in mind the requirements of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

• These are small sets of note cards that are used for repetitive practice. They allow you to systematically organize the way you memorize words. They make learning fun and interactive and are proven to give better results in retaining and recalling words.

• The 352 words have been specially chosen by experts to upgrade your vocabulary and obtain higher band scores in the IELTS exam.

• You can use these flashcards to prepare for both types of tests- IELTS Academic Test and IELTS General Training Test.

How Are The Flashcards Organized?

When you open the box, the first thing that you’ll see is the way the cards have been organized. This has been done to familiarize you with the four language components of the IELTS- Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. There is no particular order of difficulty- it’s just for you to have a ‘mental categorization’ of the types of words provided.

• Task 1: Report Writing (60 words):As the name suggests, report-writing deals with the more technical aspects of writing, such as reports, surveys, journal articles, research material, and so on. This section consists of 3 sub-sections: Graphs, Maps, Processes/Flowcharts. Learning these words will help you add a flair to your formal reports and improve the way you present data and statistics in a written and verbal form. You will be able to perform well in the Listening, Academic Reading, and Academic Writing section of the IELTS. 

• Task 2: Essay (246 words): The Essay section has 12 categories containing a wide range of topics. These are: Arts & Music, Business & Commerce, Communication & Transportation, Education, Environment, Healthcare, Job & Employment, Politics & Government, Science & Technology, Society, Sports, and Travel & Tourism. These words will help you in enriching the essays you write with relevant, appealing words. You will be able to perform well in the Writing section of the Academic/General IELTS.

• Task 3: Linkers/Transition words (46 words): Linkers (or Transition words) are those words which provide a connection between sentences and add consistency to your line of thought. Some linkers join clauses in one sentence, while others are used to join ideas in two sentences. This section comprises of 4 sub-sections: Beginning, Concluding, Contradicting, and Supporting. You can use these words to support the content of your summary, letters or essays in the Academic Writing and General Training Writing section of the IELTS.

What Each Flashcard Will Teach You?

• Meaning: The meaning of the word is given on the back of the flashcard. More than one meaning has been given so that you understand the many potential uses of the word.

• Parts Of Speech: The part of speech which the word falls under will help you to place the word in its context and understand how to use it in a sentence. 

• Pronunciation: The pronunciation of the word is important in understanding how to speak it. If you prefer a visual and auditory demonstration, watch the video pronunciation of each word provided in Online Resources. Access it using the online access code. 

• Application: To understand the application of the word in real-life contexts, two sample sentences are given. You can try and come up with your own sentences using the word. 

• Synonyms and Antonyms: The synonyms of the word will help you gain an understanding of the additional meanings of the word. You don’t necessarily have to memorize the antonyms, but read through them to solidify your understanding of the main word. 

Tab System To Keep Track Of Your Learning

The Tab System provided with the box will help you keep track of the words you’ve learned and the ones you are yet to learn. That way, you can easily evaluate your progress when you look inside the box.

• Kind Of Know: These are words that you may know but are not completely sure if you’ve mastered them. Set aside these words in the Kind Of Know category to re-learn them later.

• Still Learning: These are words that you don’t know at all. You need to spend more time revising them, so set them aside in the Still Learning Category.

• Mastered: These are words that you know well. Set aside those words which you’re completely sure of in the Mastered category.

When you open the box, you will immediately be able to view the progress you’ve made. Motivate yourself to keep adding more and more cards to the Mastered category. Test yourself using the online tests which are part of the online resources (available by using the online access code given inside the box)

Mobile Learning And E-learning

• You can study the flashcards while travelling. An easy-carrying box has been provided with the flashcards to facilitate learning on the go. You can fit up to 50 flashcards in the box and carry them around with you. When you have a little bit of free time, take out the flashcards and try to apply them to situations happening around you. 

• If you prefer interacting with a screen rather than a physical flashcard, you can use the online flashcards included as a part of the online resources to study and memorize the flashcards.

• If you are an auditory learner who prefers listening over reading, the video pronunciation resource included as a part of the online resources can help you look at the word and listen to the pronunciation. 

Recommended Pacing

Whether you are new to the English language, learning for fun, or looking to improve your scores, you can start out by working slowly and methodically through the cards. If you’re a curious learner looking to quickly boost your vocabulary and pick up new words, you can opt for a more fast-paced learning method. 

• Slow and Steady: 2-3 months. Work on 5-7 cards per day. Repeat the ones you’ve studied the day before, then go onto the next set. After completing 50 flashcards, check your progress with the online test provided 

• Swift and Speedy: 30- 45 days. Divide the cards into sets of words you know and the ones that are new to you. Work on 8-10 words per day, starting with the words which are new. After memorizing the new words, work on revising the familiar ones. After completing 50 flashcards, check your progress with the online test provided 

Experts recommend studying for 30-60 minutes per day. Take a five-minute break after studying 10 cards for better retention.

Repetition Is The Key

• To effectively retain what you learn, setting the pace for each word is extremely important. The words which you find the hardest should be revised more frequently than the ones which you find easy to remember.

• Keep track of the words you find hard to remember and repeat them after fixed intervals of time. Mark them with a colorful marker or a pen and set them aside so that you know which words to pay special attention to.

• For example, you could repeat the words you find hard after every 3 cards while studying. 

Alternative Uses

• Apart from the IELTS, the flashcards can be used for several English-language proficiency exams like TOEFL, PTE, OET etc, to perform well in the area of vocabulary and obtain higher scores.

• If you are new to the English language, the flashcards can help you build up your vocabulary and start off the process of language learning. 

• The flashcards are also extremely useful for those looking to update their vocabulary by learning new words. 

How Can Parents And Friends Help?

• Make the word learning an interactive game. You could come up with sentences and ask the child to fill in the blanks with an appropriate flashcard. Or you could ask the child to create sets of matching flashcards that go together, like nouns and adjectives. For example: Place a noun, like ‘wind’ in front of the child and ask them to find an adjective that describes it, like ‘fierce.’

• Another interesting way of learning is to give the child the synonyms of the word and ask them to identify the word from a set of 3-4 flashcards. 

• In group settings, friends can learn together by testing each other on the meaning of the word, or come up with sentences making use of different forms of the word. 

How Can Flashcards Aid Teachers?

• Teachers can use the cards in a classroom setting to teach English in an easy and fun way. The students can be given sets of cards and told to memorize them, and the teacher can hold a test on those words. Students can be asked to take the tests provided in online resources. 

• Additionally, utilizing the online flashcards can be a great way to supplement traditional learning with e-learning. 

• To get access to additional resources for classroom teaching, feel free to contact us at mail@thebigcd.com. 

Have Fun While Learning!

• Remember to have fun while you’re learning

• Reward yourself for the words you’ve mastered every day.

• Ultimately, your vocabulary will be enriched by an addition of 352 words!