Listen to a recording about cities and urbanisation, and complete the summary sentences.
IELTS Reading: Paragraph headings about dictionaries
Try today’s paragraph headings exercise. Many people find this one tricky!
IELTS Writing Task 2: Professionals working abroad
See if you can finish the last sentence of my paragraph.
Writing Advice: Balanced opinion vs concede + answer
A subscriber asked me to explain the difference between these two types of essay structure.
Writing Task 1: Process diagram paraphrasing
Try this quick paraphrasing task, but remember that you won’t be able to change every word.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Lost property’ part 1
Can you write two error-free sentences that explain where and when you lost some important work documents?
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Holidays
Here are some more part 1 questions with my model answers. Remember that the priority in part 1 is to answer fluently, not to show off!
IELTS Listening: ‘Work experience’ gap-fill
Listen to a talk by a director from Stanford Business School, and fill each gap in the summary with ONE word only.
IELTS Reading: First sentence of each paragraph?
Is it a good idea to read the first sentence of each paragraph before you attempt any questions?
IELTS Writing Task 2: Easy conclusion method
Some students write long conclusions because they think that a long, ‘impressive’ conclusion will boost their scores. Is this true?
IELTS Advice: Know what you know!
What should you do in the final week before your IELTS exam?
Writing Task 1: Silkworm life cycle
The model answer in this lesson contains an interesting contrast between active and passive verbs.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Lost property’ task
Can you write a ‘purpose sentence’ for the formal letter task in this lesson?
Speaking Part 2: Describe a café
Describe a café that you have been to recently. Read my sample answer, and see if you can find the informal phrases that I used.
IELTS Listening: Singular or plural?
Try this quick exercise. Should the answers be singular, plural, or either.
IELTS Reading: Chores for children (match the names)
One possible question type in the IELTS reading test is “name matching”. This lesson contains a useful practice exercise.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion conclusion
Can you write a suitable conclusion to finish my ‘essay skeleton’ for the discussion task about professionals moving abroad?
Writing Advice: Can you partly agree with ‘best’?
Is it possible to ‘partly agree’ when the word ‘best’ is used in a writing task 2 question? This lesson contains my answer.
IELTS Writing Task 1: shows, compares, illustrates
Many IELTS students learn ten different ways to paraphrase “the graph shows”. But is this a good idea? Is “the graph exhibits” correct?
General Writing Task 1: Informal, formal, neutral
When writing a formal or informal letter, it’s important to understand that most language is what I call ‘neutral’.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: ‘Reading’ topic
Here are some part 3 questions and model answers on the topic of ‘reading’. There’s also a quick homework task in this lesson.
IELTS Listening: Are you doing these things?
Are you doing the following seven things in order to prepare and practise for the IELTS listening test?
IELTS Reading: Megacities (true, false, not given)
Try today’s ‘true, false, not given’ exercise about large and important cities.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion introduction
Can you finish my essay introduction in today’s lesson?
IELTS Grammar: Uncountable plurals
Did you know that some plural nouns are uncountable?
Writing Task 1: ‘Educational problems’ table
Read my band 9 report about a table showing different educational problems in two schools. I’ve also included my scoring analysis and a homework task.
General Writing Task 1: Informal vs formal
Can you rewrite some informal or ‘friendly’ phrases in a more formal way?
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Chocolate
Here are some more part 1 questions with my model answers. Remember that your priority in speaking part 1 is to demonstrate fluency.
Listening Advice: Test your own spelling
Here’s an easy way to check and improve your spelling for the IELTS listening test.
IELTS Reading: ‘Super-Earth’ multiple choice
Try today’s interesting multiple choice exercise!