Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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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.
IELTS Grammar: Students’ mistakes
Here are 10 sentences written by members of this site. Can you find and correct the mistake(s) in each one?
Writing Task 1: Paragraph organisation
Describing diagrams: In this lesson I use “signposting phrases” to improve two paragraphs about changes to a public park.
General Writing Task 1: Letter to a magazine
The band 9 letter and list of vocabulary in this lesson could be useful for both general and academic IELTS students.
IELTS Speaking: How to feel confident
Here are some tips to help you feel more confident when you go for your IELTS speaking test.
IELTS Listening: Fulfilling work
Listen to the first part of a talk about fulfilling work, and fill the gaps to complete the written transcript.
IELTS Reading: The meaning of genius
One possible question type in the IELTS reading test is “name matching”. This lesson contains a useful practice exercise.
Writing Task 2: A more coherent outline
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.
IELTS Grammar: Correct the mistakes
Can you find and correct the mistakes in five sentences written by one of our members?
Writing Task 1: Skilful paragraphing
In this lesson we look at the idea of ‘skilful paragraphing’: how to group information in paragraphs that have a clear central idea.
General Writing Task 1: Private tutor request
Here’s another band 9 formal letter. The task is to write to a private tutor to request some extra lessons for a school student.
Speaking Advice: Add detail
Many students worry too much about grammar. For speaking parts 2 and 3, it’s more important to worry about the quality of your answers.
IELTS Listening: Road Safety
Listen to a talk about road safety in Europe, then complete the summary by filling each gap with one word only.
IELTS Reading: Minority languages
Read the passage about minority languages, and decide whether the statements are true, false or not given.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Overall coherence
By improving the overall coherence or ‘harmony’ of our paragraphs, we can turn a good essay into an excellent piece of writing.
Advice: The ‘noticing’ Skill
Most people read things too quickly and miss the little learning opportunities. The best learners are good at ‘noticing’.
Writing Task 1: Park plans verb tenses
Did you notice the three verb tenses that I used in last week’s diagram description lesson?
General Writing Task 1: Seven Steps
Here are 7 steps that I recommend taking before you write your task 1 letter.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Politeness
Here are three more speaking questions with my model answers at band 9 native-speaker level.
IELTS Listening: Innovation
Listen to a talk about ideas and innovation, then complete the summary by filling the gaps.
IELTS Reading: Find the similar words
Try this quick exercise to practise an important reading skill: finding keywords.
Best time to be alive essay ‘skeleton’
Let’s look at a possible essay skeleton for the ‘Best time to be alive’ question.
Vocabulary review exercise
Try this quick exercise that encourages you to review some key words and phrases from the last week of lessons here on the member site.