Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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Writing Task 1: Land degradation table
Can you write the final sentence of this model answer?
General Writing Task 1: Job advice letter
Here’s my band 9 answer for the ‘job advice’ letter task. You’ll also see a list of the good vocabulary that I used.
Speaking Part 1: Learning languages
Here are my model answers for the ‘learning languages’ topic in part 1 of the speaking test.
IELTS Listening: Spelling advice
Many people lose easy marks in the IELTS listening test because they make spelling mistakes.
IELTS Reading: John Dewey
Read the passage about a famous American, and complete the ‘true, false, not given’ exercise below it.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Two examples
In this lesson we’re writing a paragraph that contains two ideas and two supporting examples.
IELTS Advice: ‘Heavy’ words vs good phrases
Here’s a useful question from a student: What is more important for IELTS, “heavy words” or good phrases?
Writing Task 1: Land degradation pie chart
Read my short description of the ‘land degradation’ pie chart, and fill the gaps with the most appropriate words.
General Writing Task 1: Job advice part 3
Let’s continue working on the ‘job advice’ informal letter task. In this lesson we’ll move on to the final bullet point.
Speaking Part 1: Find the mistakes
Try the quick exercise in this lesson. Which sentences are correct, and which sentences contain mistakes?
IELTS Listening: Campsite matching exercise
Listen to some information about facilities provided by a holiday company, then try today’s matching exercise.
IELTS Reading: Choose the title 6
Try today’s practice exercise. Read the passage and choose the best title.
‘Words vs Pictures’ essay skeleton
Let’s look at a ‘partly agree’ essay structure for the ‘pictures vs words’ essay task.
IELTS Advice: Mistakes are ‘stepping stones’
Are you making mistakes and learning from them?
Writing Task 1: Land degradation overview
Can you finish my overview paragraph for this ‘pie chart and table’ task?
General Writing Task 1: Job advice part 2
Let’s continue working on the ‘job advice’ informal letter task.
Speaking Part 2: Describe a positive experience
I think this is an easy task because you could answer it in so many different ways. Let me know what you think.
IELTS Listening: Maps
Listen to a university lecturer as she describes a course about maps, then do today’s multiple choice exercise.
IELTS Reading: Ancient tribe
Try this multiple choice exercise that many students find difficult.
Writing Task 2: A new ‘rule’
After checking the introductions that people wrote below last week’s lesson, I’m going to introduce a new rule for ‘agree or disagree’ tasks.
IELTS Advice: What’s the secret?
What’s the secret to learning English and passing the IELTS test?
Writing Task 1: Land degradation task
Let’s start work on a new ‘pie chart and table’ task. Follow my advice to write the introduction.
General Writing Task 1: Job advice part 1
In this lesson I’ll show you how I would begin the ‘job advice’ letter, and then we’ll move on to the first bullet point.
Speaking Part 1: Home town
This is a very common topic, so it’s a good idea to prepare some easy answers that you can give without much hesitation.
Listening Advice: Listen again and again
If you want to improve your ‘ear’ for English, try the ‘deep listening’ exercise that I describe in this lesson.
IELTS Reading: Harry Houdini
Read the passage about a famous illusionist, and complete the ‘true, false, not given’ exercise below it.
Writing Task 2: Pictures vs Words
In this lesson we start work on a new essay topic, and I’ve asked ChatGPT for some ideas. Look what it gave me!
IELTS Advice: Being ‘original’
Question: Millions of students take the IELTS exam in my country, so should I try to write differently and be original? Read my answer in this lesson.
General Writing Task 1: Job advice task
Let’s start work on a new informal letter task. It’s a letter to a friend giving him or her some advice about getting a job.
Academic Writing Task 1: Different word forms
A good way to vary the language you use is by learning different forms of the same word e.g. rise (verb), a rise (noun).