Mastering ‘Wrap up’ to Ace Your IELTS Speaking Test

Understanding ‘Wrap up’: Definition and Usage

The phrasal verb ‘wrap up’ is a versatile and commonly used expression in English. In the context of IELTS speaking, it’s essential to understand its various meanings and applications.

Primary Definitions:

1. To finish or complete something
2. To summarize or conclude
3. To dress warmly (informal)

Synonyms and Equivalent Expressions:

• Finish up
• Conclude
• Bring to a close
• Sum up
• Wind down

Understanding these nuances can help you wrap your head around the concept more effectively and use it appropriately in your IELTS speaking test.

Contextual Usage of ‘Wrap up’

To use ‘wrap up’ effectively, it’s crucial to understand its application in different contexts:

1. Formal: “The meeting will wrap up at 3 PM.”
2. Informal: “Let’s wrap up this conversation and grab some lunch.”
3. Writing: “To wrap up, the evidence clearly supports the hypothesis.”
4. Speaking: “I’ll quickly wrap up my presentation with a few key points.”

Wrap up usage in IELTS speaking

Grammar Analysis

‘Wrap up’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place an object between ‘wrap’ and ‘up’:

• “Let’s wrap up the meeting.” (Correct)
• “Let’s wrap the meeting up.” (Also correct)

However, if using a pronoun, it must go between ‘wrap’ and ‘up’:

• “Let’s wrap it up.” (Correct)
• “Let’s wrap up it.” (Incorrect)

Applying ‘Wrap up’ in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking

Using ‘wrap up’ can demonstrate your ability to manage time and structure your responses effectively. Here’s how you can incorporate it:

1. Concluding a long answer: “To wrap up my thoughts on this topic…”
2. Managing time in Part 2: “I’ll wrap up my description by saying…”
3. Summarizing in Part 3: “To wrap up, I believe the main factors are…”

Example answer for IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Describe a time you helped someone):

“…and to wrap up, I’d say that helping my neighbor not only solved her immediate problem but also strengthened our community bond. This experience taught me the value of being attentive to others’ needs.”

In IELTS Writing

While ‘wrap up’ is more informal and better suited for speaking, you can use it judiciously in Writing Task 2 to demonstrate range:

“To wrap up this discussion, it’s clear that the advantages of remote work outweigh its drawbacks, particularly in terms of work-life balance and reduced commuting stress.”

Remember to use more formal alternatives in academic writing, such as ‘In conclusion’ or ‘To summarize’.

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Sum up /sʌm ʌp/: To give a brief statement of the main points
   Example: “To sum up, the project was a success despite initial challenges.”

2. Wind down /waɪnd daʊn/: To relax after a period of work or activity
   Example: “After a busy day, I like to wind down by reading a book.”

3. Tie up /taɪ ʌp/: To complete or settle something
   Example: “We need to tie up these loose ends before the project deadline.”

4. Round off /raʊnd ɒf/: To complete or finish something in a satisfactory way
   Example: “Let’s round off the meeting with any final questions.”

5. Bring to a close /brɪŋ tuː ə kləʊz/: To end something
   Example: “The chairperson brought the debate to a close after two hours.”

Related phrasal verbs for IELTS

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. The presenter the seminar with a Q&A session.
2. We need to this project by Friday.
3. Can you your argument in one sentence?
4. It’s getting cold; you should warm.
5. Let’s this discussion and move on to the next topic.
6. The manager asked us to all pending tasks before the holiday.
7. They plan to the investigation by the end of the month.
8. Could you your presentation in the next five minutes?
9. We’ll the meeting with some final remarks.
10. It’s important to loose ends before submitting the report.

Sentence Transformation

1. The meeting ended with a brief summary.
   The meeting was with a brief summary.

2. Let’s finish this conversation quickly.
   Let’s this conversation quickly.

3. She concluded her speech with a powerful statement.
   She her speech with a powerful statement.

4. We need to complete the project soon.
   We need to the project soon.

5. Can you summarize your main points?
   Can you your main points?

6. The conference will end tomorrow afternoon.
   The conference will tomorrow afternoon.

7. They finished negotiations late last night.
   They negotiations late last night.

8. Please conclude your remarks in the next few minutes.
   Please your remarks in the next few minutes.

9. We should finalize all details before the deadline.
   We should all details before the deadline.

10. The author ended the book with a surprising twist.
    The author the book with a surprising twist.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. wrapped up
2. wrap up
3. sum up
4. wrap up
5. wrap up
6. wrap up
7. wrap up
8. wrap up
9. wrap up
10. tie up

Sentence Transformation:

1. wrapped up
2. wrap up
3. wrapped up
4. wrap up
5. wrap up
6. wrap up
7. wrapped up
8. wrap up
9. wrap up
10. wrapped up

Explanations:

• In most cases, ‘wrap up’ is used to mean ‘finish’ or ‘conclude’.
• The past tense form is ‘wrapped up’.
• Remember that ‘wrap up’ can be separated by an object in some cases, but the meaning remains the same.
• In informal contexts, ‘wrap up’ can also mean ‘to dress warmly’, as seen in question 4 of the fill-in-the-blanks exercise.

Memory Tips

To remember ‘wrap up’ effectively:

1. Visualize: Imagine wrapping a gift. Just as you finish by wrapping the final part, you ‘wrap up’ a task or conversation by finishing it.

2. Acronym: W.R.A.P. – Wind down, Recap, Analyze, Proceed to end

3. Context association: Link ‘wrap up’ to common situations where you conclude things, like meetings, presentations, or discussions.

4. Practice phrase: “It’s a wrap!” – This phrase, often used in film production to signal the end of shooting, can help you remember the ‘concluding’ aspect of ‘wrap up’.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using ‘wrap up’ in very formal writing.
   Solution: In academic IELTS writing, opt for more formal alternatives like ‘conclude’ or ‘summarize’.

2. Mistake: Incorrect word order with pronouns.
   Solution: Remember, with pronouns, always place them between ‘wrap’ and ‘up’: “Let’s wrap it up,” not “Let’s wrap up it.”

3. Mistake: Overusing ‘wrap up’ in speaking.
   Solution: While it’s good to use phrasal verbs, vary your language with synonyms like ‘conclude’, ‘finish’, or ‘bring to a close’.

4. Mistake: Confusing ‘wrap up’ with ‘wrap around’.
   Solution: ‘Wrap up’ means to conclude, while ‘wrap around’ refers to encircling something. Be clear on the distinction.

5. Mistake: Using ‘wrap up’ incorrectly in idiomatic expressions.
   Solution: Learn common phrases like “That’s a wrap” (meaning something is finished) to use the phrasal verb naturally.

Conclusion

Mastering ‘wrap up’ can significantly enhance your IELTS speaking performance. It demonstrates your ability to manage time, structure responses, and use colloquial English effectively. Remember to practice using this phrasal verb in various contexts, and don’t forget to explore other related expressions to expand your vocabulary. By incorporating ‘wrap up’ and similar phrases naturally in your speech, you’ll be well on your way to impressing the IELTS speaking examiner and achieving a higher band score. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be wrapping up your IELTS preparation with confidence!