Daily lessons with Simon,
ex-IELTS examiner
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IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Elderly care’ topic
Can you finish my introduction for this ‘problem and solution’ essay task?
IELTS Grammar: Past habits with ‘used to’ and ‘would’
We need to be very careful when describing past habits with these words.
Academic Writing Task 1: Double, twice as, twofold
Are you able to use double, twice as, three times, twofold, threefold etc.?
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ part 4
Can you finish the email with an appropriate ‘ending’ sentence?
IELTS Speaking Part 1: ‘Flowers and plants’ topic
Here are some more part 1 questions and model answers. How would you answer question 4?
IELTS Listening: Spelling test 9
Here’s another spelling test. See if you can write all 10 words without making a mistake.
IELTS Reading: ‘Pedestrian zones’ gap-fill
Read the passage and fill the gaps in the summary sentences.
Writing Task 2: What is your writing ‘style’?
Everyone has a writing style. Maybe you don’t realise it, or you haven’t thought about it, but you have a writing style too.
IELTS Advice: Reuse your best stories
The best speakers have a repertoire of stories and anecdotes that they have retold many times. You can do this too!
Writing Task 1: Hospital maps
Here’s another band 9 model answer, with some notes about three types of ‘linking’.
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ part 3
Can you finish the final paragraph in this letter task?
IELTS Speaking Part 2: ‘Summer holiday’ answer
Here’s my full model answer, at band 9 level, for the ‘summer holiday’ task.
IELTS Listening: Marine Biology (multiple choice)
Listen to a short talk about a university degree course in Marine Biology, and answer the multiple choice questions.
IELTS Reading: Choose the title 12
Try today’s practice exercise. Read the passage and choose the best title.
Writing Task 2: Making sentences clearer
Compare two sentences written by students with my improved versions.
Finally up to date!
I have now answered all of the comments that I missed while I was on holiday. Please also read this quick message…
Academic Writing Task 1: An interesting word choice
I used an unusual word in one of my recent model answers. Can you explain why?
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ part 2
Can you finish the second paragraph in this letter task?
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Summer holiday
Can you finish my ‘summer holiday’ answer with a short description of something you particularly enjoyed?
IELTS Listening: ‘Bronze Age’ gap-fill
Listen to a description of the period known as the Bronze Age, then fill the gaps in the summary sentences.
IELTS Reading: Photosynthesis (T, F, NG)
Try today’s ‘true, false, not given’ exercise.
IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Friends and opinions’ essay
Here’s my full band 9 essay for the ‘friends and opinions’ task.
Update from Simon
Please read this quick update.
Academic Writing Task 1: Put the overview second
You can put the overview at the end of the report if you want, but I prefer to put it straight after the introduction.
General Writing Task 1: ‘University offer’ part 1
Can you finish the first paragraph in this letter task?
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Summer holiday ideas
Let’s continue our summer holiday description.
IELTS Listening: Spelling test 8
Here’s another spelling test. See if you can write all 10 words without making a mistake.
Reading Advice: Go deeper, learn more
Every reading exercise is also an opportunity to learn more about the English language.
IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Friends and opinions’ paragraph 3
Can you add a personal example to finish my paragraph?
IELTS Advice: Stay 100% on-topic
In both the IELTS writing and IELTS speaking tests, you must stay 100% on-topic.