Master ‘Pick up’ to Ace Your IELTS Speaking Test

Understanding ‘Pick up’ and Its Importance in IELTS

The phrasal verb ‘pick up’ is a versatile and commonly used expression in English. Mastering this phrasal verb can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS Speaking test, allowing you to express yourself more naturally and fluently. Let’s dive into its various meanings and applications to help you pick up this useful phrase quickly and effectively.

Definition and Explanation

‘Pick up’ has several meanings depending on the context:

1. To lift or gather something from a surface
2. To collect someone or something
3. To learn or acquire a skill or knowledge
4. To resume or continue an activity
5. To improve or increase

Synonyms include ‘acquire’, ‘learn’, ‘collect’, or ‘improve’, depending on the specific usage.

Contextual Usage

Here are some examples of ‘pick up’ in different contexts:

• “I need to pick up my dry cleaning on the way home.” (collect)
• “She picked up French quickly during her stay in Paris.” (learn)
• “Business has started to pick up after the slow winter months.” (improve)
• “Can you pick up some groceries on your way back?” (buy/collect)
• “Let’s pick up where we left off in our last meeting.” (resume)

Person picking up a language book

Grammar Analysis

‘Pick up’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning that in some cases, you can place the object between ‘pick’ and ‘up’:

• “I’ll pick up John at the airport.” OR “I’ll pick John up at the airport.”

However, if the object is a pronoun, it must come between ‘pick’ and ‘up’:

• “I’ll pick him up at the airport.” (Correct)
• “I’ll pick up him at the airport.” (Incorrect)

Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking

Using ‘pick up’ effectively can demonstrate your command of colloquial English. Here are some ways to incorporate it:

1. Describing hobbies: “I recently picked up photography as a hobby.”
2. Discussing learning experiences: “I picked up some useful skills during my internship.”
3. Talking about travel: “I love to pick up local phrases when I visit new countries.”

Sample answer for “Describe a skill you’ve learned recently”:

“Well, I’ve recently picked up the art of baking. It all started when I was browsing through social media and saw these amazing homemade bread pictures. I thought to myself, ‘Why not give it a try?’ So, I picked up a few baking books from the library and started experimenting. At first, it was quite challenging, but I gradually picked up the techniques. Now, I can confidently say I’ve picked up a valuable skill that not only serves as a great hobby but also allows me to treat my family and friends to delicious homemade bread.”

In IELTS Writing

While ‘pick up’ is more informal and better suited for speaking, you can still use it in Writing Task 2 when discussing everyday topics or giving examples:

“Many young people pick up valuable life skills through part-time jobs, which can be beneficial for their future careers.”

Remember to use it sparingly in formal writing and consider more academic alternatives when appropriate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Take up /teɪk ʌp/ – To start a new hobby or activity
   Example: “I decided to take up yoga to improve my flexibility.”

2. Catch up /kætʃ ʌp/ – To reach the same level or position as someone else
   Example: “I missed a week of classes, so I need to catch up on my assignments.”

3. Keep up /kiːp ʌp/ – To maintain the same rate or level of activity
   Example: “It’s hard to keep up with the latest technology trends.”

4. Brush up /brʌʃ ʌp/ – To improve or refresh one’s knowledge or skill
   Example: “I need to brush up on my Spanish before my trip to Mexico.”

5. Look up /lʊk ʌp/ – To search for information
   Example: “If you don’t know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.”

Person picking up a new skill

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks

1. I need to my sister from the airport at 3 PM.
2. He quickly _____ the local dialect during his stay.
3. Can you some milk on your way home?
4. Business tends to _____ during the holiday season.
5. She _____ painting as a hobby last year.
6. We’ll _____ our discussion where we left off yesterday.
7. The economy is starting to _____ after the recession.
8. Could you my dry cleaning this afternoon?
9. Children often _____ new languages faster than adults.
10. The team needs to _____ the pace if they want to win.

Rewrite the sentences

1. I learned French very quickly while living in Paris.
   → I _____ French very quickly while living in Paris.

2. The business is improving gradually.
   → The business is _____ gradually.

3. Can you collect the kids from school today?
   → Can you the kids from school today?

4. She started knitting as a new hobby recently.
   → She _____ knitting as a new hobby recently.

5. Let’s continue our meeting from where we stopped yesterday.
   → Let’s _____ our meeting from where we stopped yesterday.

6. The stock market is showing signs of improvement.
   → The stock market is showing signs of _____.

7. He’s learning to play the guitar without formal lessons.
   → He’s _____ playing the guitar without formal lessons.

8. Could you buy some groceries on your way back?
   → Could you some groceries on your way back?

9. The team resumed their training after a short break.
   → The team _____ their training after a short break.

10. She’s acquiring new skills quickly in her new job.
    → She’s _____ new skills quickly in her new job.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the blanks:

1. pick, up
2. picked up
3. pick, up
4. pick up
5. picked up
6. pick up
7. pick up
8. pick, up
9. pick up
10. pick up

Rewrite the sentences:

1. I picked up French very quickly while living in Paris.
2. The business is picking up gradually.
3. Can you pick the kids up from school today?
4. She picked up knitting as a new hobby recently.
5. Let’s pick up our meeting from where we stopped yesterday.
6. The stock market is showing signs of picking up.
7. He’s picking up playing the guitar without formal lessons.
8. Could you pick some groceries up on your way back?
9. The team picked up their training after a short break.
10. She’s picking up new skills quickly in her new job.

Tips for Memorization

1. Create mental images: Visualize physically picking up objects to represent learning or improving.
2. Use mnemonic devices: “P.I.C.K. U.P.” – Progress In Collecting Knowledge Unlocks Potential
3. Practice in context: Use the phrasal verb in daily conversations to reinforce its usage.
4. Create personal examples: Think of situations in your life where you’ve ‘picked up’ skills or habits.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect word order with pronouns: Remember to place pronouns between ‘pick’ and ‘up’.
   Incorrect: “I’ll pick up it later.”
   Correct: “I’ll pick it up later.”

2. Overusing in formal writing: While versatile in speaking, use more formal alternatives in academic writing.
   Informal: “The study picked up interesting results.”
   Formal: “The study yielded interesting results.”

3. Confusing with similar phrasal verbs: Be careful not to confuse ‘pick up’ with ‘pick out’ or ‘pick on’.
   “I’ll pick out a book for you.” (choose)
   “Don’t pick on your younger brother.” (bully)

Conclusion

Mastering the phrasal verb ‘pick up’ can significantly enhance your English language skills, particularly in the IELTS Speaking test. Its versatility allows you to express various concepts naturally, from learning new skills to discussing improvements. Remember to practice using it in different contexts and be mindful of its appropriate usage in formal and informal situations. By incorporating ‘pick up’ and other phrasal verbs into your language repertoire, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a higher score in your IELTS test and improving your overall English fluency.