English at Home

Monday, 1 September 2025

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Linking Words for Comparison

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Do you prefer cities or the countryside? (Make a comparison)
Do you think men and women have similar hobbies?
Do you study better alone or with others?
Do you think schools today are different from the past?
Do you think young people and old people share similar interests?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe two things that are similar.
You should say:

what they are
how they are similar
why they are similar
and use at least three linking words for comparison.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1

Cities are busy, whereas the countryside is calmer. But in the same way, both offer opportunities for relaxation.
Men enjoy football; likewise, women also play it more nowadays.
Studying alone helps me focus; in common with many students, I sometimes prefer group study too.

Part 2 Sample Answer
I’d like to compare English and Spanish. Just as English is spoken widely around the world, Spanish is also an international language. Similarly, both languages have many regional accents. In a similar fashion, learning either one requires practice in reading, writing, and speaking.

✦ Comprehension Test: Linking Words for Comparison

1. "Cities face housing problems; similarly, rural areas struggle with healthcare."
Q: What problem do rural areas face?

2. "Technology is advancing rapidly; likewise, education methods are changing."
Q: What else is changing like technology?

3. "Exercise improves health; in the same way, meditation benefits the mind."
Q: What benefits the mind?

4. "Just as reading improves vocabulary, speaking improves fluency."
Q: What improves fluency?

5. "Both skills are equally important for IELTS success."
Q: What two skills are important?

6. "The company expanded in Europe, in a similar fashion to its growth in Asia."
Q: Where did the company expand?

7. "Prices increased, and correspondingly, demand fell."
Q: What happened to demand?

8. "As with many modern cities, traffic is a serious issue here."
Q: What issue is common in modern cities?

9. "The cost of living in London is comparable to New York."
Q: What is being compared?

10. "In common with most students, I find listening practice challenging."
Q: What skill do many students find difficult?

✦ Answer Key

Healthcare.
Education methods.
Meditation.
Speaking.
Reading and speaking.
Europe.
It fell.
Traffic.
Cost of living.
Listening practice.