My IELTS Classroom Podcast

Today, Nick and I continue our series on writing both paragraphs by looking at how to write IELTS paragraphs that contain just one idea. We will look at the different language blocks that you can use to build your paragraphs, the different sentence structures that are often used in each block, and the importance of progression. In other words, we will show you everything you need to write these pa...

I think that being able to construct a paragraph is the most fundamental IELTS writing skill. If you are able to start with a clear topic sentence and then build a logical argument, you are almost guaranteed a high score for Task Response and Coherence (and you have a good chance of a high one for Coherence and Cohesion too!) Today, Nick and I start with the basic question "What is a paragrap...

Hey! There are always times in life when things don't go as planned. You buy a wardrobe and think it will take an hour to put together, but it takes 10. Or you have a lovely week planned and then you unexpectedly have your wisdom tooth removed! But what happens if things do not go as planned in the IELTS exam? When should you complain? And, more importantly, how can you make an IELTS complain...

Can you here the trumpets playing? Yes, back by popular demand, today Nick and I break down the first IELTS essay questions 2022. As always, we will choose 6 essay topics that have been reported from recent exams that we think are difficult, and offer you our arguments and tips for organisation. You are welcome to sit and passively enjoy the episode, but you will get a lot more out of the lesson i...

In 2020, Nick and I recorded an episode of the podcast that gave you a complete fail-prof system for tackling any type of IELTS line graph. You can listen to that episode here . We went through the basics, such as the vocabulary you need to describe changes and how to organise your paragraphs, to more complex advice such as how to find key features and write your specific details from start to fin...

We all have topics that we are familiar with in IELTS . But, there are also other topics which we may meet with a blank mind. So, what can you do to feel your knowledge gaps. In today’s episode Nick and I will look at a difficult topic for us – housing. We will start by covering some fundamental vocabulary and then, show you how you can utilise Google to find essay ideas. Plus, this will give us a...

In IELTS Writing Task One, you will be asked to write a report based on a chart. These can come in a number of forms. You may be given a line graph, a pie chart, a bar chart, or even a map or a process. However, one chart that strikes fear into the heart of most students is the dreaded table. Tables can be confusing as they can contain an overwhelming amount of data and it is not always clear what...

Hey! As the year draws to an end, it is time to sit back and reflect on what 2021 brought for IELTS test-takers. Obviously, there have been difficulties. Many test centres around the world have remained closed thanks to COVID, and migration programmes, particularly express entry into Canada, have been hit hard. However, despite the havoc caused by the pandemic, this has been the most successful ye...

Yes - it is time for our annual Christmas episode! This year, I have taken some of my favourite Christmas games and adapted them to test your knowledge of IЕLTS. It is nothing too serious, so if your test is soon and you are looking for some genuine lessons, you can access over 100 in our archive here. However, it is good to sometimes let your hair down. It has been a long year. COVID is still cau...

Do you have enough topic specific vocabulary to discuss the essay topics in depth. Can you  follow the listening or reading passages easily? Can you discuss the abstract topics in Speaking Part 3 with ease? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you are probably interested in upgrading your vocabulary. However, what is the best way to learn new lexis? And how much can you realisticall...

In today’s podcast, Nick and I are going to interview two of our new teachers, Kristina and Tanya, about their experience teaching metacognition for IELTS learners. This is a technique that I was introduced to only recently, but one which I think has the potential to transform the way many students prepare for IELTS (and, indeed, learn throughout their lives) I am really very excited to be sharing...

Last week Nick and I looked at how effective video courses can be. The answer was "very" but only if you are actually actively partaking in the course. What we didn't discuss though is how you can make sure that your online course is actually guiding you in the right direction. Thanks to COVID, it seems like hundreds of now courses have sprung up overnight, which makes it hard than...

Never before has IELTS students had so much free material to learn from. But is having so many  free IELTS videos , really helping students to prepare for the test in the best way or could thy actually be having a detrimental effect on some students' preparation? Today, Nick and I discus the dangers of watching IELTS videos and give clear advice about how to make the most of online content. Y...

Every week I get questions from students asking how they can generate good ideas for essays. Usually, my advice starts from the point of thinking of ideas, but this week I realised that many students are skipping a vital step before that - analysing the question to make sure that their arguments100% address the question given. This is a mistake! Today, Nick and I look at 6 common types of question...

Using inversion in IELTS writing can definitely improve your GRA score, but many students make basic errors when forming these sentences, and even more struggle to use them in the appropriate context. Join Nick and I today to find out how to make 5 types of inversion sentence and how and when to use them in the IELTS exam. You can read more about today's episode at:   https://blog.myieltsclas...

You put down your pen. The essay and report / letter are written. Yes! But there are still 3 or 4 minutes left on the exam clock What do you do in this time? The temptation may be to read through your essay from start to finish to check for errors, but is this really the most efficient way to find your errors? And which mistakes should you actively be looking for? Find out today as Nick and I talk...

Today, Nick and I review the Duolingo English Test. We will explain what the test is, which students it might benefit, and then compete a practice version of the test to discuss how it works. Then, you can make the decision if this is the right test for you, or if you should stick to IELTS or TOEFL. You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/duolingo-english...

You can guarantee that some point during your IELTS exam, you will need to demonstrate that you can make good comparisons. Interestingly, although the language of comparison is introduced at an Elementary level in most English course books, this is something that many high-level students still struggle with. Today, Nick and describe 4 ways that you can make comparisons in IELTS compare essays, and...

From 2022 IELTS test-takers around the world will have the opportunity to take a secure version of the test at home in a new product called IELTS Online. What does that mean for you and your IELTS journey? Plus Nick and I have a big annoucement about the future of the podcast ...... You can find out more about IELTS Online here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-online-2022/ And more about o...

Do you struggle with IELTS reading time management? Do you use scanning and skimming but still find that you run out of time? Do you find some types of question very difficult and can never find the right answer (particularly headings match, MCQ's and information match)? Is your neck sore by the end of the exam from looking back and forth and back and forth from the questions to the passage a...

IELTS Summary Completion questions may be my favourite type of question in the IELTS exam. They are quick and often relatively easy to answer and give you the opportunity of grabbing 3 or 4 quick points in a the space of one short paragraph. If you compare that to Multiple Choice or Headings Match questions, which can require you to read and interpret an entire paragraph for just one point, you ca...

This week, I updated my recent IELTS letters blog post to show 20 prompts that have been given in exams this year. Today, Nick and I discuss 6 of those semi-formal  questions in detail to look at what how you can decide the correct tone for your letter. You see, like formal and informal letters that have a fixed tone, semi-formal letters can swing between very formal and very informal depending on...

Before we start today's show, a quick shameless pieces of advertising for our courses. September means the start of a new school year for those living in the northern hemisphere, and for many adults, the month when they want to make a fresh start on a hobby or study. If you feel that it is time to start studying IELTS seriously or to renew your efforts, then why not come and join one of our I...

Over the last 12 months, I have noticed a definite move trend in the type of questions that IELTS students are being asked to address in writing task two. It seems that the classic "problem / solution" questions are appearing less and less and, instead, test-takers are being asked to write an IELTS 2-Part essay. But, what is a 2-part essay? And how should you approach one to maximise you...

One of the main frustrations for IELTS test-takers is that IELTS does not provide a breakdown of the scores for writing or speaking. So, you know that you  got a 6.5 for writing, but you don't know why. Was it a problem with lexis? Did you write off-topic? Or was it your Task One that let you down? Until now the answer has simply been, only the examiner knows. However, this week, I received a...