Are you stressed about studying for IELTS?
Hopefully today’s episode will lift a weight off your shoulders!
You’ll learn vocabulary and phrases for describing stress and anxiety.
This will be extremely useful on test day!
Today’s question
A student in our community asked about the idiom “a weight lifted off my shoulders.”
They were wondering if it should be shortened to just “a weight lifted.”
Both work!
You can say the long version or shorten it.
We often do this with longer idioms in English.
For example, we shorten “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”
We often just say, “Grass is greener!”
Stress on IELTS
Stress and anxiety often come up on the exam.
Questions could be asked on IELTS Speaking that will allow you to share about stress and stress relief.
We’ll also share band 9 sample answers with today’s vocab!
Here are examples of questions you might see on IELTS speaking:
Pt 1: How do you deal with anxiety? What do you do to relax?
Pt 2: Describe a situation where you felt a great sense of relief after a stressful experience. Describe an activity that has helped you relax.
Pt 3: Do teenagers experience anxiety more today than in the past? Is there a stigma around therapy in your country?
#1: Weight lifted
This is said a few different ways.
– weight lifted off one’s shoulders / weight off my shoulders / weight lifted
Examples:
When I got the job, I felt a weight lifted.
A weight was lifted off my shoulders when it was finally Friday.
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#2: Relieved
This is a slightly more formal verb that means the same as “weight lifted.”
Examples:
I was so stressed before my doctor appointment and extremely relieved when I got the test results.
She was relieved to hear she passed the exam.
#3: Let out a big sigh of relief
This can be physical or not.
You might actually be describing the loud, visible air released when you sign in relief.
Alternatively, we describe this as a feeling.
Examples:
I let out a big sigh of relief when she forgave me.
It was such a big sigh of relief when we made it on time.
Band 9 sample answers
Lindsay and Aubrey provide band 9 answers to the following questions:
Take note of the vocabulary used.
Also notice their variety of intonation.
- Pt 1: Do you easily get stressed out?
- Pt 1: What do you do to relax?
Practice answering these questions using today’s vocabulary!
Takeaway
There’s a good chance you will be asked about stress or ways to relax on IELTS speaking!
Be ready with today’s vocabulary and sample answers.
Practice answering these questions with your own answers!
For all the strategies you need, sign up for 3 Keys IELTS!
What questions do you have from today’s episode?
Please leave a comment below.
