IELTS series-3: NO to ‘ACCORDING TO ME?’

NO to ‘ACCORDING TO ME?’

Are you going to write IELTs?
Then this is for you.

if you are interested in correcting your usage, this piece of information is going to be valuable to you!

Which one is correct?
1." According to me, IELTs is one of the easiest tests to assess our English skills." our English teacher was encouraging us in the class.
2." In my opinion, IELTs is one of the easiest tests to assess our English skills." our English teacher was encouraging us in the class.

ANSWER.....2.
So don't use 'ACCORDING TO' with 'ME' . Replace it with 'IN MY OPINION"

But , you can use 'According to Obama' or 'According to my teacher, IELTs test format is one of the best methods of rating our English'.

In IELTS there may be a catch in Speaking or Writing tests and we may feel quite comfortable with ‘ACCORDING TO ME’. But never use it.

REPUTABLE or REPUTED?

IELTS SERIES-2

REPUTABLE or REPUTED?

My friend, a learned one, visited UK and US last month. He was looking for a bank in one of the busiest streets of the city.

.

He asked a good looking English man “Hello, I’m Naresh Sharma from India. Would you please, help me in locating my bank.”  The Englishman threw a suspicious look at my friend.

“Where is this ... this...this... Bank’s branch?”  My friend continued without identifying the bank’s name.

He usually forgets names when they are more than ever needed. Again there was a strange look from the other side.

My friend struggled to add more to his description “It is a REPUTED international bank. ...I often forget names. Very sorry”

Again the local man intensified his distrustful look “What? Reputed...?”

Suddenly there was a flash in Naresh’s confused eyes “Yes. Now ... I remember. It is Barclays”

“Oh...Barclays! Go around that corner. You will find it opposite to McDonalds” he went away showing the road and also tossing a question “What is the word REPUTED? Did you mean REPUTABLE?”

My friend, on his return, asked about usage of the word ‘reputed’.

I also verified. I also asked my Teacher Mrs. Grass teaching English in a reputable British Foundation.

“Yes.... in most of the countries, especially, in US and UK we make use of ‘REPUTABLE’. We don’t use ‘reputed’, though some of the Dictionaries have included this word”

Further she added “It is OK within your country. But don’t use this in International examinations like IELTS or TOFEL and other interactions abroad.”

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AT or IN which to use? IELTS SERIES-1

AT or IN? Beware IELTSians

It was invariably the same answer from everybody. Now you may wonder what the question is.

It is about using IN and AT with some oft-used words.

Dr.Rakesh shared one of his research experiences with me.

He asked a school girl, a college student and a research scholar the same question as a part of his research.

“Where were you?” is Dr. Rakesh’s question to all.

The answers were: “I was in the school”, “hmmm...I was in the college” and “I was in the University” (Though, in reality they might have bunked the classes...)

Dr.Rakesh, further, went on. He asked the same to his grandson in England. His answer was “I was at the college”

I was very much interested in knowing which is right.

He told me that we have to use ‘AT’ with ‘SCHOOL, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY and HOME’.

Correct usage: “I am at school” “He is at college doing lab-work”  “They are at university attending a seminar ”

“Now, I am at home listening to you. Am I Correct?”  I, like an expecting child, looked at him with a grin.

Yes.... You are.” Replied  Rakesh encouragingly.