Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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IELTS Reading: Extinction
Here’s another quick ‘true, false, not given’ exercise.
Positive or negative: Countries becoming similar
This lesson contains an essay that I wrote with a group of students. Can you fill the gaps to add your own examples?
IELTS Grammar: A complex sentence
In this lesson I break down and analyse a long, complex sentence from the essay that I shared on Monday.
Writing Task 1: TV and radio graph
This lesson contains my band 9 model answer for the ‘television and radio’ line graph task that we’ve been working on.
General Writing Task 1: Tone
This lesson contains a table that compares differences in ‘tone’ according to whether the letter is formal or informal.
Speaking Part 1: Communication
Here are some more part 1 questions and sample answers. The topic in this lesson is communication, and my answers are short and direct.
IELTS Listening: Volunteering
Listen to six people talk about their experiences of doing volunteer work, and fill each gap in the summary sentences with one word.
IELTS Reading: Three study tips
Here are 3 tips to help you prepare for the IELTS reading test.
Model essay: Music and arts
Note: The quality of vocabulary in this essay is particularly high – above band 9.
IELTS Grammar: Linking with ‘this’
Read this lesson to understand why “this” is one of the best linking words.
Writing Task 1: Perfect sentence practice
Can you write one error-free sentence that compares figures on a graph? Most people find this difficult.
General Writing Task 1: Scoring a letter
See how I score a student’s letter.
IELTS Speaking: 3 useful expressions
Here are three expressions that you could use in the speaking test.
IELTS Listening: Agriculture
Listen to a recording about the future of agriculture, and fill the gaps in the summary.
IELTS Reading: Ecotourism
Try this multiple choice exercise. To get the answers, look for keywords in the questions and passage.
Writing Task 2: The best essay structure
In this lesson we compare three possible ways to structure a 4-paragraph essay. Let me know which way you prefer.
IELTS Advice: ‘Cleaner’ sentences
This lesson contains an observation from a student about the difference between my teaching and the way IELTS is often taught.
Academic Writing Task 1: Perfect sentence problems
Last week I asked you to write one perfect sentence, but this task caused more problems than I had expected. Here are my tips and correct versions.
General Writing Task 1: A student’s mistakes
This lesson contains a GT task 1 letter written by a student. The letter contains a lot of mistakes. Can you list them?
Speaking Part 2: Describe an old building
This lesson contains an IELTS Speaking Part 2 task and my sample answer: Describe an old building that you have visited.
IELTS Listening: John Dewey
Listen to a recording about the American philosopher John Dewey, and fill the gaps in the summary.
IELTS Reading: 19th century studies
Here’s another quick ‘true, false, not given’ exercise.
Model essay: Foreign language problems
Here’s another band 9 sample answer with essay plan and a quick vocabulary exercise.
IELTS Advice: The other 75%
Remember that grammar is only 25% of your score, and it’s easier to improve the other 75%.
Academic Writing Task 1: One perfect sentence
In this lesson, I want to give you a challenge: Can you write one perfect sentence that contains no grammar or vocabulary mistakes?
Writing Task 1: Library improvements letter
The band 9 letter and list of vocabulary in this lesson could be useful for both general and academic IELTS students.
Speaking Part 1: Negative answers about dancing
How do you answer questions about a topic that you are not interested in? For example, many people have no interest in dancing.
IELTS Listening: Spelling test
Many IELTS candidates lose marks because of spelling mistakes. See if you can spell the 10 words in today’s exercise.
IELTS Reading: Choose the title 3
Read the passage and choose the best title.
Full essay: Traffic congestion
Here’s another band 9 sample answer with my essay plan and a quick vocabulary exercise.