Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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Writing Task 2: Positives of cold climates
Can you write two error-free sentences about the benefits of living in a cold climate?
IELTS Grammar: Wide range or error free?
If you want a high writing score, is it more important to use a wide range of structures or to write error-free sentences?
Writing Task 1: Using words from the chart
Be very careful when using the words that you see on the graph or chart. You may need to change them when writing full sentences.
General Writing Task 1: Storytelling analysis
In this lesson we analyse an informal letter from the perspective of storytelling.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Friends
Here are some part 3 questions with my model answers. To answer each question, I used my ‘longer answers’ technique.
IELTS Listening: Lifespan
Listen to the recording about the human lifespan, and fill the gaps in the summary sentences below it.
IELTS Reading: Difficult vocabulary
Try this quick exercise that focuses on difficult vocabulary in an IELTS reading test.
Writing Task 2: Paragraph cohesion
A paragraph can be said to have good cohesion if the sentences within it are somehow linked and work together to form a unit.
IELTS Grammar: Write 3 correct sentences
Here are three phrases that I used in my lessons over the last week. Can you write a correct sentence using each one?
Writing Task 1: ‘Flood diagrams’ answer
Here’s another band 9 model answer for ‘comparison diagrams’ task.
General Writing Task 1: Informal holiday letter
Here’s my band 9 answer for the ‘holiday’ letter task. You’ll also see a list of the wide range of vocabulary that I used.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Longer answers
Here are 3 techniques to help you give longer, more detailed answers.
IELTS Listening: Photographic film
Listen to the recording about the history of photographic film, and fill the gaps in the sentences below it.
IELTS Reading: Multitasking
Read the passage about multitasking, and complete the ‘yes, no, not given’ task below it.
Writing Task 2: Paragraph logic
In this lesson I’m going to test your logic using a quick exercise.
IELTS Advice: Don’t prioritise grammar
Have you been taught to prioritise grammar instead of ideas? Do you try to ‘force’ certain grammatical structures into your writing?
Academic Writing Task 1: Fall or reduce?
These two words are often confused by students. Let’s look at how to use them correctly, specifically for writing task 1.
General Writing Task 1: Holiday feelings
In this lesson you can read my description of a holiday activity, and we then move on to describing our feelings about the holiday.
Speaking Part 2: Describe a team project
This lesson contains an IELTS Speaking Part 2 task and my sample answer: Describe a team project that you worked on.
IELTS Listening: Handedness
Try this multiple choice listening exercise about ‘handedness’ (being right-handed or left-handed).
IELTS Reading: The tutorial method
Read the passage about the ‘tutorial method’, then decide which paragraph contains the given information.
Writing Task 2: ‘Climate’ essay skeleton
Today I’m sharing my essay skeleton for a balanced opinion answer about the benefits of hot and cold climates.
IELTS Advice: One problem with formula phrases
I don’t usually recommend that you learn ‘formula phrases’. There are several reasons for this, but today we’ll just look at one reason.
Academic Writing Task 1: Rise or raise?
These two words are often confused by students. Let’s look at how to use them correctly, specifically for writing task 1.
General Writing Task 1: Holiday activity
In this lesson you can read my description of a holiday destination, and we then move on to describing a holiday activity.
IELTS Speaking: If you don’t know (2)
Here’s some more advice about answering questions when you don’t really know what to say.
IELTS Listening: Studying dolphins
Listen to a talk about research into dolphins, and fill each gap in the summary sentences with one or two words.
IELTS Reading: Biometrics
Read the passage about biometrics, and decide whether the four statements below it are true, false, or not given.
Writing Task 2: 13-sentence outline
Let’s practise essay planning by writing a 13-sentence outline for a ‘discuss both views and give your opinion’ question.
IELTS Advice: A bad mix!
What happens when a beginner tries to play an advanced piece of music?