Anyone taking the IELTS General Training test is required to write a letter for Writing Task 1. To show you what a strong letter looks like, I asked
5 Ways to Improve Your IELTS Speaking Preparation
We recently posted a video which featured the top 5 ways you can improve your IELTS speaking preparation. This advice came straight from our former
Is accent important?
Is accent important in the IELTS speaking test? Pronunciation is a key part of getting a high score in the speaking test. Therefore, it is natural
Should I use a pen or pencil in the IELTS exam?
Should I use a pen or a pencil in the IELTS exam? This article will answer some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from IELTS students
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Checklist
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 This article will introduce you to IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 and give you a checklist of everything you need to
IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success
Do you need to improve your Writing Task 2 score but don't know where to start? This unique lesson will give you a free document that will guide you
5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary
A strong vocabulary is a vital tool for anyone that needs to improve their IELTS skills.In this week’s blog post, I’ll highlight 5 things you must
How to Talk About an Unfamiliar Topic in IELTS Speaking
It’s common for IELTS students to worry about getting an unfamiliar topic on the speaking exam. However, this article will outline the reasons why
VIP Academy: Reviews from our Students
I know how difficult it is choosing the IELTS course that’s right for you.To help you decide whether you’re a suitable candidate for one of our
How long will it take me to get Band ‘X’?
Do you need to prepare for the IELTS exam but have no idea how long it will take you? Perhaps you fear that you’re running out of time before your
How to get the IELTS score you need
This article is only intended for those that wish to improve their IELTS scores by investing the time and energy required. Are you tired of
How to Find IELTS Material on Social Media
It’s no secret that IELTS preparation tools and practice papers are in high demand, with more than 3 million people taking the exam every year. This
Pros and Cons of Choosing the Computer-Based IELTS Exam
Around three years ago, IELTS introduced the option for IELTS students to take the test on a computer instead of on paper. Since then, we receive
IELTS Beginners: Do I Need Help From a Teacher?
Designed to answer one of the most frequently asked questions we receive, this article will help you decide whether you need a professional’s help to
IELTS Beginners: Which Methods Should I Follow for Writing and Speaking?
This article will direct you towards the best methods you should use to improve your Writing and Speaking skills from home.If you’re completely
IELTS Beginners: How do I Start my IELTS Preparation?
In this article, I will answer some of the most commonly asked questions I get about the IELTS exam, outlining the four steps you must take in order
IELTS Beginners: What is IELTS?
This post is the first of a five-part series for IELTS beginners, designed to answer some of the most commonly asked questions we get about the IELTS
How to Complete IELTS Reading in Less than an Hour
One of the most challenging parts of IELTS Reading is completing it within the time that you are allocated. With just one hour to complete 40
How to Spot an IELTS Scam
Millions of people take the IELTS exam every year, many of whom choose an online course or teacher to help with their preparation.This means that
IELTS Tips and Tricks
If you are reading this article, it is because you are looking for some easy tips and tricks to prepare you for the IELTS exam. However, before we get
IELTS Listening: 10 Steps Towards a Band 8
Our mission here at IELTS Advantage is to help pupils get the score they need on their IELTS exam. Recently, we have received an influx of requests
How to Get Band 7+ in 5 Steps
Do you need to score a high band in the IELTS exam but don’t know how to achieve it?This post will highlight a simple five-step strategy you must
Writing Task 1 Academic in 5 Easy Steps
Writing Task 2 Preparation
IELTS Writing Pre-Check
Are you ready for the IELTS Writing Tasks? Writing is said to be the hardest of all the four IELTS skills to master. This is not because it is more
IELTS vs. OET: Which is better for medical professionals?
The NMC and GMC now accept both IELTS and OET as proof that you can use the English language to the required level.With this news, I've had a huge
Why The Average IELTS Student Gets a 5.5
The average student will open up their IELTS results and see a writing score of 5.5 looking back at them. For most people, this will result in a huge
How to Overcome Stress on IELTS Test Day
https://youtu.be/2cMpiRBp_6s Below is a transcription of the video above. For many people doing the IELTS test, it doesn't matter what level or
IELTS Writing Task 2- Coherence and Cohesion
https://youtu.be/Dq8N3MqJju0Below is a transcript of the video above: Hey, guys. Chris here from ieltsadvantage.com. Today, what we're going
From Failure to IELTS Band 8.5 In 1 Month
Congratulations to this student who got an 8.5 overall today.She failed to get the score she needed first time and worked hard for one month to
7 Ways to Use IELTS Speaking Sample Questions
Of all the stupid things you can do while preparing for your IELTS test, and there are quite a few of them, collecting lots of IELTS Speaking sample
IELTS Writing Practice: Improving Your Writing Score
IELTS Writing practice is essential for anyone who wants to improve their score, but you must know where to find real IELTS questions and you must
IELTS General Writing: Your General Training Guide
This article will show you the differences between IELTS General Writing and IELTS Academy Writing and also show you exactly where to find all the
IELTS Reading Practice: Practice at Home for Free
IELTS reading practice tests are freely available on the internet and you can also use any reading material to sharpen your reading skills before your
IELTS Speaking Practice: How To Practice For Free
IELTS speaking practice can be tricky. You know you need to practice in order to improve, but you probably have no idea how to practice effectively or
IELTS Practice: Your Ultimate Free Guide
This article will tell you everything you need to know about practising for the IELTS exam, including: How to find the best practice material
Governments should spend more money on railways rather than roads- Sample Answer
Governments should spend more money on railways rather than roads.To what extent do you agree or disagree?One of my students attempted this
12 Things I Learned From Being an IELTS ‘Concierge’
Last week in my VIP Group, I offered students a new service- a VVIP Concierge Service. Don't worry, I'm not going to try and sell you anything. In
IELTS Exam Preparation – Ultimate Resource Guide
Preparing for the IELTS exam is tough enough, but the huge selection of resources makes it even tougher. To make your life easier, I've collected all
Why do the best doctors fail to get the IELTS score they need?
Doctors need a good score in IELTS to relocate to Australia, the UK, or Canada. It can be a real life changer and so a good score is crucial.
IELTS Task 2 Sample Answer- Self-Driving Cars
On 24th of June 2017, a number of my students did the test and reported the following Writing Task 2 questions:Scientists predict
Using Collocations to Boost Your IELTS Score
The correct use of collocations is an essential part of improving your English level and boosting your IELTS score. Using collocations correctly
5 Things Band 7+ IELTS Students Do
I'm a bit obsessed with the difference between a student who gets the scores that they need and those that don't. Every time I get an email from
25 Most Frequently Asked Questions
I get around 1000 questions per day from students through email and during my Facebook Live sessions. Nearly all of them are one of the 25 below, so I
A Guide to Telling the IELTS Examiner Lies
I was chatting to an IELTS examiner about things that stop students doing well on their speaking and writing tests and one thing he said was really
Top 10 IELTS Articles of 2016
Here are the most popular IELTS posts, on my site, over the past year. Enjoy!Top 10 Most Common Task 2 Topics Writing Task 2 Structures
7 Ways Idioms Can LOWER Your IELTS Score
I probably get asked more questions about idioms than any other single thing. Every day I get questions like:Will using idioms increase my
7 IELTS Fluency Problems
Of all of the things I assess on the IELTS Speaking test, the most common problem is fluency.Fluency is your ability to speak smoothly (not
How to Improve IELTS Reading and Listening Skills
Students often ask me 'How do I improve my reading and listening skills?'The short answer is 'Read and listen more.' However, this is not a very
Top 6 Mistakes General Training Students Make
https://youtu.be/5ovyqyx1XW0What is the difference between General Training and Academic IELTS?The Listening and Speaking tests are
Is Writing Task 1 Important?
At least once a week I get a student who emails me saying that they got a 6.5 yet again and they are stuck on this score. When we look at the main
IELTS Writing Task 2 Exercise
I recently gave the question below to a group of students and most of them made at least one major mistake that lowered their overall mark.I
Should I Get My IELTS Test Remarked?
One of the biggest concerns students have is whether or not to get their tests remarked if they don't get the scores they were expecting.There is
Recent Confusing Questions
A lot of you send me your Writing questions after you do your exam. Recently, there have been a few very confusing questions. One student even emailed
IELTS Essay Topics
Most people doing IELTS Writing Task 2 get stressed out about which IELTS essay topics they will face. They worry about getting an unfamiliar topic
IELTS Scores
IELTS is graded on a scale of 0-9. You will receive a score for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. These scores are then averaged and this will
Skip a Line and Use a Pencil
Paragraphing When marking someone's IELTS Writing it is very frustrating when you see one big block of text. What I mean by this is a full essay that
British Council or IDP?
One of the strangest things I have heard from students goes something like this:''I'm going to book my test with IDP, the examiners give higher
My IELTS test is next week, what should I do?
Do you think that one week is enough time to prepare for the IELTS test? How about one month? How about 3 months?You would not believe the amount
Yumiko’s Band 9 Essay
After just 5 days of using IELTS Writing Academy, one of my students was able to produce an essay of the very highest quality. I am so proud of her
Speaking Part 3 Tips
After your 2 minute monologue in Part 2 of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you around 4-5 more abstract questions about the same general
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Tips
Many consider Speaking Part 2 to be the most difficult part of the IELTS Speaking test because it is a monologue. A monologue is different from the
Surveillance Essay
In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce crime, but some people believe these measures restrict
IELTS Speaking Part 1- Dos and Don’ts
Speaking Part 1 lasts between 4-5 minutes and you will be asked questions about familiar topics, such as:Your job/studies Your family Your
Task 2 Environment Essay
With the increased global demand in oil and gas, undiscovered areas of the world should be opened up to access more resources.To what extent do
Student’s Task 2 Answer
Sometimes I like to show you a student's essay, so that you can compare it with your own and see what other people are capable of. Below is one such
Double Question on Physical Appearance
This is a tricky question because there are a few different elements to the first statement and then there are two separate questions. Here is how I
Task 2 Sample Answer- Shopping
In most developed countries shopping is not only about buying the goods you need, it is also perceived as entertainment. Is it a positive or negative
IELTS Simon Interview
It's great to get different perspectives on online IELTS teaching and Simon from IELTS Simon has been kind enough to answer a few of my questions.
Easy Ways to Extend Your Part 1 Answers
This article will look at how long your answers should be in Part 1 of the Speaking test and some simple ways to make your answers better.I am
Latest Real Task 2 Questions
Lots of you send me your Task 2 questions, so I've decided to record them all on one page.Of course, the same questions will not come up again,
Best Podcasts for English Learners
The best English students are always looking for new ways to develop their skills, and increasingly, podcasts have become an unparalleled source of
Using Personal Pronouns in IELTS Essays
Last week I produced a video of me writing an IELTS essay live and I got lots of great feedback, but also some negative emails too. I love to receive
How to Write Like an IELTS Expert
We get lots of emails every week thanking us for our articles and resources, but they normally end with things like: I'll never be able to write like
IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples
Writing Task 2 Sample Answers: How should I use them? Writing Task 2 sample answers are great because they provide a good model for you to compare
From Band 6 to 8 in 6 Weeks
Tina is one of my 1 on 1 students and she jumped an amazing 2 bands in her writing in just 6 weeks.I decided to share her story because there are
5 Common Task 1 Mistakes That Stop You Getting Over a Band 6
Last month I launched our new writing correction service and after marking hundreds of Task 1 essays I noticed that most students make the same
Band 6 Student Answer with Examiner’s Report
Lots of students only require a Band 6 or 6.5 in their IELTS test and I get lots of questions every week about what a Band 6 essay looks
Band 9 Student Answer With Examiner’s Report
My essay correction service has been running for just over a month now and I was delighted to mark my first Band 9 essay yesterday.This is truly a
The Danger of Synonyms
Introduction Synonyms are different words that have exactly the same or nearly the same meaning, such as male and man or third-level education and
General Training Task 1 Strategy
The most important thing you have to do for any IELTS Writing Task is to answer the question. For General Training Task 1 questions you always have to
Discuss Both Views Sample Answer- Changing Jobs
One of the lovely people using my essay correction service wrote the essay below. What do you think of it? What band score would you give it and
6 Common Mistakes in Writing Task 2
Quick Links A few weeks ago I launched our new writing correction service and after marking hundreds of essays I noticed that most students make the
Writing Task 2 Sample- Teaching Online
Giving lectures in auditoriums to large numbers of students is an old way of teaching. With the technology available today there is no justification
Task 1 Sample Answer: Abroad Students
The chart below shows the percentage change in the share of international students among university graduates in different Canadian provinces between
Cohesive Devices
Introduction Cohesive devices, sometimes called linking words, linkers, connectors, discourse markers or transitional words, are one of the most
Agree or Disagree Sample Essay – Arts at Primary Level
Some say that music, art and drama are as important as other school subjects, especially at the primary level. Do you agree or disagree?It is
Agree or Disagree Sample Essay- Technology
Life was better when technology was simpler. To what extent do you agree and disagree?It is argued that our lives were more fulfilling when
Using Examples in Writing Task 2
Introduction If you look at the official Writing Task 2 Marking Criteria you will notice that to get a band 9 you must:present a fully developed
Discuss Both Views Sample Essay- Mixed Schools
Some people think that it is better to educate boys and girls in separate schools. Others, however, believe that boys and girls benefit more from
IELTS Pronunciation Guide
Introduction On the IELTS Speaking test you will be graded on four different things:Vocabulary (25%) Grammar (25%) Fluency and Coherence
Advantages and Disadvantages Sample Essay
Multinational companies are becoming increasingly common in developing countries. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?More and more
IELTS Essay – Balanced Approach
Lots of you have been asking me to write an essay with a balanced approach, or in other words when you agree with both sides. I normally advise my
Double Question Sample IELTS Essay – Technology
Nowadays the way people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of
IELTS Writing Correction Service
Are you ready for the IELTS Writing Tasks? Writing is the hardest of all the IELTS skills to master. In fact, the average score worldwide is just
100 IELTS Writing Sample Questions
Introduction Below are over 100 IELTS Writing sample questions. All of the essay questions below have been taken from real past papers and will give
IELTS Writing Task 1: Process Questions
Introduction In Part 1 of the IELTS Writing test, you might be asked to describe a process. IELTS Task 1 process questions are not as common as
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 in 5 Easy Steps
Writing Task 1 IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 requires you to write 150 words about data (in the form of a bar chart, line graph, pie chart or table),
Can I Use American English?
Introduction I have had lots of emails this month asking if it is OK to use American English in the IELTS test. Whenever this topic comes up in class
Speaking: Asking the Examiner Questions
What If I Don't Understand the Question? It is totally natural not to be able to understand some of the questions the examiner might ask you. Think
IELTS Speaking: Formal or Informal?
Formally Speaking One of the things that surprised me when I started teaching in Asia was how many formal phrases some students used.Phrases like
How to Plan an IELTS Essay
This post will show you how to make a great plan that will help you write a clear essay every time.The Benefits of Planning There are normally
10 English Words Even Native Speakers Find Difficult to Pronounce
You might think that all native English speakers have no trouble with their pronunciation, but you would be wrong.You shouldn't feel guilty about
A Problem Solution Essay
Below is a problem solution essay that achieved a band score of 9. I have also included an examiner’s report to help you understand how this candidate
IELTS Preparation Books
There are hundreds of IELTS preparation books on the market and choosing the right one can make the difference between studying effectively and
IELTS Speaking Criteria
A few months ago I wrote post about the difference between band 5 and band 8 answers on the writing test and lots of people have asked me to do the
Aim of Education – IELTS Task 2 Sample Answer
Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. Others believe there are much wider benefits of university
IELTS Speaking Topics
'IELTS speaking topics' is one of the most searched for IELTS terms on Google and one of the biggest concerns students have in my own classes. Many
Teenage Years – IELTS Task 2 Essay
This post gives you a band 9 sample answer and a structure to help you answer questions like this on test day. It is a General Training essay but is
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is easier?
A question I regularly get from students is 'Should I take the IELTS or TOEFL test,' and also 'IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is the easiest?'This post
IELTS Listening- Summary Completion Lesson
This lesson will help you prepare for the IELTS listening test by familiarising you with summary completion questions, giving you some tips and a
IELTS Task 2 Essay- Some people believe that unpaid community…
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving
How to Write Effective IELTS Conclusions
This post will help you write effective conclusions for IELTS writing task 2 essay questions. It is suitable for both General Training and Academic
Writing Task 2 Sample Essay- Public Health
Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have
IELTS Reading- Short Answer Questions
This post will help you answer short answer questions more effectively by looking at a sample question, identifying common problems and giving you a
IELTS Listening- Multiple Choice Questions
This post will show you how to effectively answer multiple choice questions in the IELTS listening test. It will show you the three different types of
IELTS Listening- Labeling a Map or Plan
This post will help you answer labeling map or plan IELTS questions more effectively by looking at common problems, useful language and giving you a
How To Write an Informal IELTS Letter
This post will show you how to write an informal IELTS letter to a friend in task 1 of the General Training module. If you are doing the Academic
How To Write a Formal IELTS Letter
This post will show you how to write a formal letter in task 1 of the IELTS writing test. This post is for students doing the General Training module.
IELTS Letter Writing Tips
This post will help you to write better letters in task 1 of the General Training IELTS paper. If you are doing the Academic module please take a look
IELTS Listening Overview and Tips
Listening OverviewThe IELTS listening test is the same for both those taking the Academic and General Training papers.It consists of 40
Introduction to IELTS Writing Task 1 Video Lesson
The British Council have some great videos about the IELTS test. I decided to use one of them to introduce task 1 (academic) to a new
How to Prepare for IELTS Speaking
This article will show you how to prepare for the IELTS speaking test.Understand the Speaking Test Format This might seem like an obvious
IELTS Speaking Tips
These are the speaking tips I share with all of my IELTS classes. You can use these tips for speaking in both the academic and general IELTS