Mastering ‘Make up for’ to Boost Your IELTS Speaking Score

Phrasal verbs are an essential component of the English language, and mastering them can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. In this article, we’ll explore the phrasal verb ‘Make Up For’ and how you can effectively use it to impress the IELTS examiners.

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb ‘make up for’ means to compensate for something or to do something good to balance a previous mistake or bad situation. It’s often used when someone wants to correct a wrong or improve a situation.

Synonyms: compensate for, atone for, offset

2. Usage in Context

‘Make up for’ is commonly used in both formal and informal situations. Here are some examples:

• “I forgot her birthday, so I’m planning a surprise party to make up for it.”
• “The company offered free products to make up for the shipping delay.”
• “He’s working overtime to make up for the days he missed due to illness.”

3. Grammar Analysis

‘Make up for’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning that you cannot put the object between ‘make’ and ‘up for’. The correct structure is:

make up for + object

For example:

• Correct: “I need to make up for lost time.”
• Incorrect: “I need to make lost time up for.”

4. Application in IELTS

In Speaking:

You can use ‘make up for’ to demonstrate your vocabulary range when discussing personal experiences or hypothetical situations.

Example question: “Describe a time when you made a mistake and had to correct it.”

Sample answer: “Last year, I accidentally missed my best friend’s wedding due to a misunderstanding about the date. I felt terrible and wanted to make up for my absence. So, I organized a special surprise dinner for the newlyweds when they returned from their honeymoon. I invited all our close friends and prepared a slideshow of their childhood memories. This gesture helped me make up for missing their important day and showed them how much I cared.”

In Writing:

‘Make up for’ can be used effectively in both Task 1 and Task 2 essays to express ideas of compensation or balance.

Example for Task 2: “While technology has reduced face-to-face interactions, social media platforms make up for this by providing new ways for people to connect and communicate across long distances.”

Using 'make up for' in IELTS Speaking

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Catch up on /kætʃ ʌp ɒn/ – to do something you did not have time to do earlier
   Example: “I need to catch up on my emails after the vacation.”

2. Get over /ɡet ˈəʊvə/ – to recover from an illness or a sad experience
   Example: “It took her months to get over the loss of her pet.”

3. Make up with /meɪk ʌp wɪð/ – to restore friendly relations after a disagreement
   Example: “They argued but quickly made up with each other.”

4. Put up with /pʊt ʌp wɪð/ – to tolerate or endure something unpleasant
   Example: “I can’t put up with his constant complaining anymore.”

5. Stand in for /stænd ɪn fɔː/ – to temporarily replace someone
   Example: “Sarah will stand in for me at the meeting while I’m on vacation.”

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. He worked extra hours to __ __ __ the time he lost due to illness.
2. The hotel offered a free spa treatment to __ __ __ the inconvenience caused by the noisy construction.
3. She’s trying to __ __ __ her lack of experience with enthusiasm and hard work.
4. The company planted trees to __ __ __ the environmental damage caused by their factory.
5. He bought his wife an expensive gift to __ __ __ forgetting their anniversary.
6. The athlete trained harder to __ __ __ his poor performance in the last competition.
7. The restaurant offered free desserts to __ __ __ the slow service.
8. She volunteered at the animal shelter to __ __ __ for neglecting her own pet when she was younger.
9. The government introduced new policies to __ __ __ the economic losses during the pandemic.
10. He’s taking extra classes to __ __ __ the subjects he failed last semester.

Rewrite the sentences:

1. I compensated for my rudeness by apologizing and sending flowers.
   I __ __ __ my rudeness by apologizing and sending flowers.

2. The beautiful scenery compensated for the long journey.
   The beautiful scenery __ __ __ the long journey.

3. He’s working overtime to compensate for the days he took off.
   He’s working overtime to __ __ __ the days he took off.

4. The company is offering bonuses to balance out the lack of pay raises this year.
   The company is offering bonuses to __ __ __ the lack of pay raises this year.

5. She’s volunteering at the hospital to atone for her past mistakes.
   She’s volunteering at the hospital to __ __ __ her past mistakes.

6. The extra features of the phone compensate for its high price.
   The extra features of the phone __ __ __ its high price.

7. He’s trying to balance his poor grades with excellent extracurricular activities.
   He’s trying to __ __ __ his poor grades with excellent extracurricular activities.

8. The comedian told more jokes to compensate for the weak opening act.
   The comedian told more jokes to __ __ __ the weak opening act.

9. She’s being extra nice to compensate for her behavior at the party.
   She’s being extra nice to __ __ __ her behavior at the party.

10. The company offered free upgrades to offset the inconvenience caused by the delay.
    The company offered free upgrades to __ __ __ the inconvenience caused by the delay.

Answers and Explanations:

Fill in the blanks:

1. make up for
2. make up for
3. make up for
4. make up for
5. make up for
6. make up for
7. make up for
8. make up for
9. make up for
10. make up for

Rewrite the sentences:

1. I made up for my rudeness by apologizing and sending flowers.
2. The beautiful scenery made up for the long journey.
3. He’s working overtime to make up for the days he took off.
4. The company is offering bonuses to make up for the lack of pay raises this year.
5. She’s volunteering at the hospital to make up for her past mistakes.
6. The extra features of the phone make up for its high price.
7. He’s trying to make up for his poor grades with excellent extracurricular activities.
8. The comedian told more jokes to make up for the weak opening act.
9. She’s being extra nice to make up for her behavior at the party.
10. The company offered free upgrades to make up for the inconvenience caused by the delay.

Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘make up for’ is used to express the idea of compensating, balancing, or atoning for something negative with a positive action or attribute.

7. Memorization Tips

To remember ‘make up for’, think of it as creating (making) something positive to fill up a negative space or gap. Visualize yourself filling a hole (the mistake or negative situation) with good deeds or positive actions.

You can also create a memorable sentence: “Makeup for your face, ‘make up for’ your mistakes!” This plays on the dual meaning of ‘makeup’ as cosmetics and the phrasal verb we’re learning.

Visual aid for memorizing 'make up for'

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect word order: Remember, ‘make up for’ is inseparable. Never put the object between ‘make’ and ‘up for’.
   Incorrect: “He made his mistake up for.”
   Correct: “He made up for his mistake.”

2. Confusing with ‘make up’: ‘Make up’ without ‘for’ means to invent or to reconcile. Always include ‘for’ when you mean to compensate.
   Incorrect: “I’ll make it to you.”
   Correct: “I’ll make it up to you.”

3. Using the wrong preposition: It’s always ‘make up for’, not ‘make up to’ or ‘make up with’ (which means to reconcile).
   Incorrect: “She made up to her absence by working late.”
   Correct: “She made up for her absence by working late.”

4. Overuse in formal writing: While ‘make up for’ is acceptable in most contexts, in very formal academic writing, you might want to use alternatives like ‘compensate’ or ‘offset’ for variety.

To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘make up for’ in different sentences and contexts. Pay attention to its usage in native English content, such as news articles or podcasts. Regular exposure and practice will help you internalize the correct usage.

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘make up for’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It demonstrates a sophisticated command of English and can help you express complex ideas more naturally and fluently. Remember to use it in context, practice regularly, and don’t be afraid to incorporate it into your IELTS responses. With consistent use, ‘make up for’ will become a valuable tool in your English language arsenal, helping you to achieve that higher band score you’re aiming for.

Keep practicing and remember, every bit of effort you put into learning now will make up for any difficulties you might face during the IELTS exam. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!