Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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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.
IELTS Advice: Having the right aims
Many IELTS students work hard but with the wrong aims. Their hard work takes them in the wrong direction.
Writing Task 1: Graph overview
In this lesson I’ll show you my introduction for the “radio and TV audiences” graph task, and I’ll ask you to write an overview paragraph.
General Writing Task 1: Library suggestions
In this lesson I’ll add two completed paragraphs to my letter outline, and I’ll ask you to write the final paragraph.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Six main topics
If you’re preparing for the IELTS speaking test, make sure that you have some ideas for the six common topic areas in this lesson.
IELTS Listening: Multitasking
Try this multiple choice listening exercise about multitasking.
IELTS Reading: Notice the vocabulary
In all IELTS reading tests you’ll find good vocabulary. When you read an interesting word or phrase, do you notice it and write it down?
Full essay: Best time to be alive
Here’s my band 9 sample answer for the ‘best time to be alive’ question, plus a quick vocabulary exercise.
IELTS Grammar: More mistakes
Here are five sentences written by members of this site. Can you find and correct the mistake(s) in each one?
Writing Task 1: Graph report outline
Let’s start work on a new graph description task. In this lesson, I’ll show you my outline, and I’ll ask you to begin writing the report.
General Writing Task 1: New letter outline
In this lesson we’ll begin working on a new letter task. We’ll start by looking at a perfect outline or plan for the letter.
IELTS Speaking: Strange topics
What should you do if you encounter a strange question or topic that you haven’t prepared for or practised?
IELTS Listening: Sleep
Here’s a quick exercise featuring some very fast speech! See if you can keep up and fill the gaps.
IELTS Reading: A study about sitting
Read the passage about a study into sitting, and decide whether the statements are true, false or not given.
Writing Task 2: Finish the paragraph
In this lesson we look at a more coherent plan for the “best time to be alive” question, and we start writing a paragraph for homework.