Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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IELTS Reading: ‘Lobsters’ paragraph headings
Try today’s paragraph headings exercise.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Elderly care problems
In this lesson we’ll write the problems paragraph for the ‘elderly care’ task.
IELTS Advice: “I know this already”
Remember: There is a huge difference between understanding something and really knowing it.
Academic Writing Task 1: Where to put the figure
Let’s compare some sentences with figures in different positions.
General Writing Task 1: Formal phrases to informal
Can you rewrite five formal phrases in an informal way?
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Computer games
Here are some part 3 questions and band 9 sample answers on the topic of ‘computer games’.
IELTS Listening: Words with silent letters
In English, some words contain silent letters. Test your spelling of 10 of these words.
IELTS Reading: Habits (Y, N, NG)
Try this ‘yes, no, not given’ exercise.
IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Problem + solution’ essay skeleton
Read my essay skeleton for the ‘elderly care’ task. What can you learn from it?
IELTS Grammar: Test the simplest form
If you want to know whether a phrase is grammatically correct or possible, here’s a useful trick.
Academic Writing Task 1: Ways to prepare
Here are some study ideas for Academic Writing task 1.
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ answer
Here’s my band 9 answer for the ‘university offer’ letter task. I’ve also made a list of the useful phrases in my answer.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Be direct!
Compare two possible answers to a speaking part 1 question. Which is best?
IELTS Listening: ‘Antarctic lakes’ gap-fill
Listen to the beginning of a lecture about lakes in Antarctica, and fill each gap in the summary sentences with ONE word only.
IELTS Reading: ‘Computer art’ multiple choice
Try today’s multiple choice exercise.
IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Elderly care’ topic
Can you finish my introduction for this ‘problem and solution’ essay task?
IELTS Grammar: Past habits with ‘used to’ and ‘would’
We need to be very careful when describing past habits with these words.
Academic Writing Task 1: Double, twice as, twofold
Are you able to use double, twice as, three times, twofold, threefold etc.?
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ part 4
Can you finish the email with an appropriate ‘ending’ sentence?
IELTS Speaking Part 1: ‘Flowers and plants’ topic
Here are some more part 1 questions and model answers. How would you answer question 4?
IELTS Listening: Spelling test 9
Here’s another spelling test. See if you can write all 10 words without making a mistake.
IELTS Reading: ‘Pedestrian zones’ gap-fill
Read the passage and fill the gaps in the summary sentences.
Writing Task 2: What is your writing ‘style’?
Everyone has a writing style. Maybe you don’t realise it, or you haven’t thought about it, but you have a writing style too.
IELTS Advice: Reuse your best stories
The best speakers have a repertoire of stories and anecdotes that they have retold many times. You can do this too!
Writing Task 1: Hospital maps
Here’s another band 9 model answer, with some notes about three types of ‘linking’.
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ part 3
Can you finish the final paragraph in this letter task?
IELTS Speaking Part 2: ‘Summer holiday’ answer
Here’s my full model answer, at band 9 level, for the ‘summer holiday’ task.
IELTS Listening: Marine Biology (multiple choice)
Listen to a short talk about a university degree course in Marine Biology, and answer the multiple choice questions.
IELTS Reading: Choose the title 12
Try today’s practice exercise. Read the passage and choose the best title.
Writing Task 2: Making sentences clearer
Compare two sentences written by students with my improved versions.