·The five mistakes
The video goes over five common mechanical mistakes that hold back C1: two from Speaking (describing the photos separately and going blank in Part 4), two from Writing (mixing registers in the formal email and answering the chat with telegraphic sentences) and one from grammar (not using inversions). Each mistake comes with its fix.
1/5Mistake 1 and how to fix it: really comparing two photos (Speaking, Part 3)
In Part 3 of General Speaking you compare two photos and talk about them for the time indicated in each question. The mistake is to describe photo A first and then photo B: that way you list instead of compare.
To fix it, join the two images in your first sentence with a contrast linker such as whereas or while. With a single sentence you compare the topic and show advanced vocabulary, and you have time left to speculate about how the people feel.
Whereas the first image portrays an urban setting buzzing with commuters, the second one conveys a sense of peacefulness and relaxation.
2/5Mistake 2 and how to fix it: the register of the formal email (Writing, Part 4)
The costliest mistake in the formal email is register contamination: a single contraction such as I'm or don't, or an aggressive, colloquial complaint, breaks the formal tone however good your grammar is.
To fix it, use a fixed template: zero contractions (always I am and do not), indirect politeness to ask for changes and a formal closing.
I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction regarding the recent decision.I would be grateful if you could consider an alternative schedule.I look forward to receiving your prompt response.
3/5Mistake 3 and how to fix it: blocking in Part 4 (Speaking)
In Part 4 of Speaking you have one minute to take notes and two minutes in a row to talk about three questions. The usual mistake is to answer all three too quickly and go blank before the time is up: a long silence breaks your fluency.
To fix it, use the hourglass technique, in three blocks: first you answer the questions directly; then you tell a personal anecdote in the past (I vividly recall a time when…); and finally you offer an abstract reflection on the future of society. That way you combine present, past and future and never run out of content.
I vividly recall a time when…
4/5Mistake 4 and how to fix it: the chat with short answers (Writing, Part 3)
In Part 3 of Writing, three club members ask you three questions and you answer each time with 30–40 words. The mistake is to reply like a quick WhatsApp message, with simple subject-verb-complement sentences.
To fix it, apply the three-part rule: a linker with your opinion, a justification with another linker and a follow-up question to the other member. That way you reach about 35 fluent, connected words.
From my perspective, that sounds like a remarkable initiative.Primarily because it fosters community engagement.and a follow-up question to the other member
5/5Mistake 5 and how to fix it: using inversions (C1 grammar)
If in your texts and your speaking you only use standard if sentences, you are not showing advanced structures. Inversions are one of the clearest signs of C1 level.
These are the three worth memorising: the conditional, the addition one with not only and the prohibition one with under no circumstances.
Had we received the notification earlier, we could have prevented it.Not only was the venue inadequate, but the staff were unresponsive.Under no circumstances should members be excluded without notice.
·Demonstration and next step
To wrap up: pick one of the five mistakes and go over your latest answers looking for it.