Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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IELTS Grammar: I would appreciate it if…
“I would appreciate it if” is a formal way of requesting something. Let’s take a quick look at how to use this phrase correctly.
Writing Task 1: Describing steps in a process
Read my introduction and overview, then write your own paragraph describing the first 3 steps in the sugar production process.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Lost property’ part 3
Can you write two error-free sentences asking for assistance to find some lost documents?
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Customer service
This lesson contains three model answers using my “answer, explain, example” method.
IELTS Listening: ‘Isaac Newton’ gap-fill
Here’s another listening practice exercise for you to try!
IELTS Reading: Migrating birds (paragraph headings)
Choose the best heading for each paragraph in a passage about migrating birds.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay (professionals)
Here’s my band 9 essay on the topic of whether professionals should be allowed to work abroad. There’s also a quick homework task.
Grammar: Nouns that can be countable and uncountable
Some nouns can be either countable or uncountable, depending on how we want to use them.
Writing Task 1: Sugar manufacture
Let’s work on a new ‘process diagram’ task together.
General Writing Task 1: ‘Lost property’ part 2
Can you write two error-free sentences that explain why some lost documents are important?
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Shoes
Here’s a topic that might seem strange at first, but that is actually quite easy if we follow the normal method.
IELTS Listening: ‘Urbanisation’ gap-fill
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?