Mastering ‘Keep at’ for IELTS Success: Boost Your Speaking and Writing Scores

Understanding ‘Keep at’: Definition and Usage

The phrasal verb ‘keep at’ is an essential expression for IELTS candidates to master. It means to continue doing something persistently, especially when faced with difficulties or challenges. This versatile phrase can significantly enhance your language skills and help you express determination and perseverance effectively.

Key Meanings and Synonyms

‘Keep at’ primarily conveys the idea of:

1. Continuing to do something despite obstacles
2. Persisting in an activity or task
3. Maintaining effort over time

Synonyms include: persist, persevere, continue, carry on, and not give up.

Contextual Usage

‘Keep at’ is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts:

• Informal: “I’m struggling with this math problem, but I’ll keep at it until I solve it.”
• Formal: “The research team kept at their experiments, eventually leading to a breakthrough.”

IELTS candidate practicing speaking skills

Grammatical Analysis

‘Keep at’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place the object between ‘keep’ and ‘at’ or after ‘at’:

• “She kept at her studies all night.”
• “She kept her studies at all night.”

However, if using a pronoun, it must come between ‘keep’ and ‘at’:

• “She kept at it all night.”
• “She kept it at all night.” (Incorrect)

Applying ‘Keep at’ in IELTS

IELTS Speaking

Incorporating ‘keep at’ in your IELTS Speaking responses can demonstrate your language proficiency and ability to express determination. Here are some examples:

1. Describing a challenge:
   “When learning English, I encountered many difficulties with pronunciation, but I kept at it, practicing every day until I improved.”

2. Talking about a goal:
   “My dream is to become a doctor. It’s a long and challenging journey, but I’m determined to keep at it until I achieve my goal.”

3. Discussing a hobby:
   “I’ve been learning to play the guitar for two years now. It was frustrating at first, but I kept at it, and now I can play several songs.”

IELTS Writing

In Writing Task 2, ‘keep at’ can be used to express persistence in addressing global issues or personal development:

• “To combat climate change, we must keep at our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices.”
• “Success in any field requires not only talent but also the ability to keep at one’s goals despite setbacks and challenges.”

Remember to use this phrasal verb judiciously, as overuse may appear unnatural.

IELTS candidate using 'keep at' in Writing Task

Related Phrasal Verbs

To expand your vocabulary, here are some related phrasal verbs:

1. Keep on (/’kiːp ɒn/): Continue doing something
   Example: “Despite the rain, they kept on walking.”

2. Keep up with (/’kiːp ʌp wɪð/): Stay at the same level or rate as someone or something
   Example: “It’s challenging to keep up with the rapid changes in technology.”

3. Keep to (/’kiːp tuː/): Adhere to (a plan, promise, etc.)
   Example: “We must keep to the schedule if we want to finish on time.”

4. Keep away (/’kiːp əˈweɪ/): Stay at a distance from someone or something
   Example: “The sign warned people to keep away from the cliff edge.”

5. Keep off (/’kiːp ɒf/): Avoid; stay away from
   Example: “Please keep off the grass; it’s newly planted.”

For more in-depth information on related phrasal verbs, you can check out our articles on keep on and keep up with.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. Despite the difficulties, she __ __ her studies and eventually graduated.
2. If you want to improve your English, you need to __ __ practicing every day.
3. The team __ __ the project until they found a solution.
4. He __ __ trying until he finally mastered the skill.
5. We must __ __ our efforts to protect the environment.
6. The researcher __ __ her experiments for months before making a breakthrough.
7. __ __ your dreams, no matter how challenging they may seem.
8. They __ __ working despite the late hour.
9. To succeed in business, you need to __ __ innovating and adapting.
10. She __ __ the task until it was completed to perfection.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: She continued practicing the piano despite the challenges.
   Transformed: She __ the piano despite the challenges.

2. Original: They persisted in their research until they found the answer.
   Transformed: They __ their research until they found the answer.

3. Original: I won’t stop trying until I achieve my goals.
   Transformed: I’ll __ until I achieve my goals.

4. Original: The company continued developing new products despite the economic downturn.
   Transformed: The company __ new products despite the economic downturn.

5. Original: We must persist in our efforts to improve education.
   Transformed: We must __ our efforts to improve education.

6. Original: He didn’t give up learning Japanese even though it was difficult.
   Transformed: He __ learning Japanese even though it was difficult.

7. Original: The athletes continued training regardless of the weather conditions.
   Transformed: The athletes __ training regardless of the weather conditions.

8. Original: She persevered with her writing until she finished the novel.
   Transformed: She __ her writing until she finished the novel.

9. Original: We need to continue working on this project until it’s perfect.
   Transformed: We need to __ this project until it’s perfect.

10. Original: They didn’t stop searching until they found the lost hikers.
    Transformed: They __ searching until they found the lost hikers.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. kept at
2. keep at
3. kept at
4. kept at
5. keep at
6. kept at
7. Keep at
8. kept at
9. keep at
10. kept at

Sentence Transformation:

1. kept at practicing
2. kept at
3. keep at it
4. kept at developing
5. keep at
6. kept at
7. kept at
8. kept at
9. keep at
10. kept at

Explanations:

• In all these sentences, ‘keep at’ or ‘kept at’ is used to express the idea of persisting or continuing with an action despite challenges or over an extended period.
• The tense changes (keep/kept) depending on whether the action is in the present/future or past.
• In some cases, ‘it’ is added after ‘keep at’ for emphasis or when the object is implied.

Memory Tips

To remember ‘keep at’, visualize a person climbing a steep mountain. Despite the difficulty, they keep climbing (keep at it) until they reach the top. This image represents persistence and continuing despite challenges.

Another helpful method is to create a memorable phrase:
“Keep at it, don’t quit!”

This rhyme can help you recall both the phrasal verb and its meaning of perseverance.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using ‘keep on’ instead of ‘keep at’
   Correct: While both express continuation, ‘keep at’ emphasizes persistence against difficulties.
   Example: “I’ll keep at my studies until I pass the exam.” (Not “keep on my studies”)

2. Mistake: Incorrect word order with pronouns
   Correct: Always place pronouns between ‘keep’ and ‘at’
   Example: “Keep at it!” (Not “Keep it at!”)

3. Mistake: Overusing in formal writing
   Correct: While ‘keep at’ is acceptable in formal contexts, use it sparingly in academic writing. Consider alternatives like “persevere” or “continue diligently” for variety.

4. Mistake: Forgetting to change tense
   Correct: Use ‘kept at’ for past tense situations
   Example: “She kept at her training for months.” (Not “She keep at her training for months.”)

5. Mistake: Using with intransitive verbs
   Correct: ‘Keep at’ is typically used with activities or tasks, not with intransitive verbs
   Example: “He kept at his work.” (Not “He kept at sleeping.”)

By avoiding these common errors, you can use ‘keep at’ more effectively in your IELTS responses, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of English phrasal verbs.

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘keep at’ is crucial for achieving a high score in IELTS. This versatile expression not only enhances your language proficiency but also allows you to articulate persistence and determination effectively. By incorporating ‘keep at’ into your speaking and writing, you demonstrate a sophisticated command of English idiomatic expressions.

Remember, the key to success in IELTS is not just learning new phrases, but practicing their use in context. Keep at your studies, apply these phrasal verbs in your daily conversations, and you’ll see significant improvement in your English skills. For more inspiration on maintaining your motivation for learning, check out our article on describing a person who inspires you to keep learning.

As you prepare for your IELTS test, keep at it, stay motivated, and remember that consistent effort is the path to success. With dedication and the right approach, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections with confidence.