Tag: IELTS band descriptors

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My IELTS Classroom Podcast 16: IELTS Cue Card Feedback

Posted on by Shelly

IELTS Cue Card Feedback Hey! This week we have something different! Last week, I sent out a call on social media for our listeners to record themselves attempting three speaking part two questions. So today, Nick and I will be giving IELTS cue card feedback. This is a great opportunity for you to learn how your speaking performance will be judged by the examiner. Trust me –  it is one thing to learn about the IELTS speaking band descriptors in theory, but it is quite another to hear a test-taker speaking and then an examiner’s feedback (well, two ex-examiners in our case!). So, sit back and enjoy today’s episode (and if you want to take part in the next event[…]

The podcast thumbnail for My IELTS Classroom Podcast sits on the left of the picture, next to the words "Why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing?"

My IELTS Classroom Podcast 7: Why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing?

Posted on by Shelly

Why are students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing? Welcome to My IELTS Classroom podcast. Today, Nick and I discuss one of the most important IELTS questions – why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing? Is it because there is a conspiracy to trick test-takers, or are there other less sinister reasons? 

The word Grammatical Range and Accuracy sit on a pink background. Some of the letters are falling off the page to illustrate that this blog post will discuss the 10 most common IELTS grammar mistakes

5 Most Common IELTS Grammar Mistakes

Posted on by Shelly

5 Most Common IELTS Grammar Mistakes Hey! Grammatical Range and Accuracy makes up 25% of your IELTS Writing and Speaking scores so should be a very important part of your preparation. Today, I want to look at the 5 most common IELTS grammar mistakes that I saw as an examiner with GRA to help you avoid them.

5 Common IELTS Lexical Resource Mistakes

Posted on by Shelly

5 Common IELTS Lexical Resource Mistakes Hey! Today I want to complete my series of “common IELTS mistakes” by looking at Lexical Resource. If you haven’t already read my previous posts on Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, or Grammar, I recommend that you have a look at those lessons too. You will find that the four blog posts together, offer you a powerful insight into the main problem areas that most examiners see as they mark. However, there is a reason why I have left IELTS Lexical Resource until the end – for me, it is the hardest part of the IELTS test to teach. So, before we move on to the common errors, let’s spend a couple of moments looking at[…]

The words coherence and cohesion sit on a blue background. Some of the letters are falling down the page to signal that this lesson is about the 5 most common IELTS Coherence & Cohesion errors

5 Most Common IELTS Coherence & Cohesion Mistakes

Posted on by Shelly

5 Common IELTS Coherence & Cohesion Mistakes Even though coherence and cohesion makes up 25% of a student’s score for Writing Task 1 and Task 2, it is probably the area that most IELTS test-takers overlook in their preparation. Quite honestly, I am sure that 50% of students aren’t even sure what the two words mean, let alone how they affect their band score! So, in today’s post, I want to look at the 5 most common IELTS Coherence & Cohesion mistakes and show you how to avoid them.

The words Task Response appear in crimson on a yellow background. However, the final K of "task" and the "S" in response are slightly out of position to signify that the blog post will discuss 5 common mistakes with Task Response

5 Common IELTS Task Response Mistakes

Posted on by Shelly

5 Most Common IELTS Task Response Mistakes Every week I mark dozens of IELTS essays, and each student has their own unique problems stopping them achieving a high score. Some struggle with subject/verb agreement, others have problems using joining their ideas, and many use unsuitable vocabulary. However, despite these differences, it never fails to amaze me that students make the same FIVE mistakes with Task Response, no matter which country they are from or what their level. So, in today’s blog post, I want to go through the 5 most common IELTS Task Response mistakes, and how you can avoid them 🚀