Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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Writing Task 2: ‘Advertising products’ topic
In this lesson we’ll write the introduction for a new essay task, which comes from Cambridge IELTS book 16.
Writing Advice: Good lists, bad lists
Sometimes listing is good, but sometimes it’s bad. In this lesson we look at two examples that show the difference.
Academic Writing Task 1: List sentences
One easy way to describe the information on a graph or chart is by writing a sentence that lists three related figures.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Offering help’ letter
Here’s my band 9 answer for the ‘offering help’ letter task. You’ll also see a list of the good vocabulary that I used.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Three question types
In this lesson we look at examples of three types of question that are often used in part 3 of the speaking test.
IELTS Listening: ‘Retirement planning’ multiple choice
Listen to some advice about financial planning for retirement, and choose the best answers for the multiple choice questions.
IELTS Reading: ‘Happiness’ multiple choice
Try today’s multiple choice exercise on the topic of happiness.
Academic Writing Task 2: How to use the 40 minutes
You have 40 minutes for task 2, so try organising your time in the following way.
Back on Monday 6th November
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IELTS Vocabulary: Individual words aren’t impressive
If you want to impress the examiner with good vocabulary, you shouldn’t be worrying about individual words.
Academic Writing Task 1: How to use the 20 minutes
You have 20 minutes for task 1, so try spending 5 minutes on each paragraph.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Offering help’ part 3
Finish my model answer by writing the last two sentences.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a tree
Describe a plant, flower or tree that is famous or important in your country.
IELTS Listening: Answers with dates
The following situation often confuses people.
IELTS Reading: Benefits of exercise (T, F, NG)
Read the passage about the benefits of exercise, and complete the ‘true, false, not given’ exercise below it.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Balanced opinion essay (cultural differences)
Should we adapt to the cultures of other countries that we visit? Here’s my band 9 answer and a quick homework task.
IELTS Grammar: Common pronoun mistake
Do you ever make this common pronoun mistake?
Academic Writing Task 1: Don’t practise this!
You will never see a graph like this one in an IELTS test. But why?
General Writing Task 1: ‘Offering help’ part 2
Can you finish my sentence to complete the second paragraph in this letter?
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Public transport
Here are some part 1 questions and model answers on the topic of ‘public transport’.
IELTS Listening: ‘Undersea cables’ gap-fill
Here’s another gap-fill practice exercise for you to try.
Reading Advice: Stuck on the same score?
What can you do if you keep getting the same score (for example 6.5) in the reading test?
Writing Task 2: Accepting cultural differences
Read and complete my paragraph about accepting cultural differences.
Speaking Advice: If you don’t understand
What would you do if you didn’t understand a word or phrase in part 3 of the speaking test?
Writing Task 1: ‘Hospital attendance’ bar chart
Here’s a model bar chart answer with detailed language analysis.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Offering help’ part 1
Can you finish my sentence to complete the first paragraph in this letter?
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Status symbols
Do you know what a ‘status symbol’ is? Here are some part 3 questions and sample answers on this topic.
IELTS Listening: How to use practice tests
Here’s some advice to help you benefit from doing practice listening tests.
IELTS Reading: ‘Cultivation theory’ multiple choice
Try today’s multiple choice exercise, which is about an interesting theory in psychology.
Writing Task 2: Two-idea paragraph
Can you finish my paragraph with a personal example?