Tag: My IELTS Classroom

The symbols e dot g dot which are used to denote an example are used to illustrate that the text is about how to add good examples in your IELTS essay, for example essay

Using good examples in IELTS essays

Posted on by Shelly

Using good examples in IELTS essays Every IELTS essay question ends with the same instruction: Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from you own knowledge or experience Write at least 250 words Include relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Mmm – this instruction seems clear enough, but what does is actually mean? What are “good examples in IELTS essays? Can I give personal examples from my own life? Should I invent statistics to cite in my essays? Do I need an example in every paragraph? Well, these are the questions we’re going to answer in today’s blog. Plus, we’ll look at FIVE nice ways to add examples to your body paragraphs. But before we look[…]

The yellow M of Mcdonalds sits on a red background to show that IELTS is a franchise and to assess the question British Council vs IDP?

British Council vs IDP? What you need to know about the IELTS Franchise

Posted on by Shelly

British Council vs IDP? Many students who are just starting their IELTS journey ask the question:  IDP or the British Council, which one is better? And, I understand why, I mean, it’s logical – there has to be SOME difference between them, right? There can’t be two organisations offering exactly the same service to people, can there? Well, yes, there can! 😲

A cartoon image of 2 hands shaking inside a pink circle on a light blue background symbolise the importance of Subject / Verb Agreement in IELTS essays

IELTS Grammar: Subject / Verb Agreement

Posted on by Shelly

IELTS Grammar: Subject / Verb Agreement So, you’ve finished writing your essay but there’s 2 minutes left in the exam – what do you check for first? ⏱ Well, there are lots of mistakes that students make in their essays – articles, unnecessary passives, fragments, bad use of contrast clauses, etc –  but perhaps none are as costly as  💀 NOT having subject / verb agreement 💀 So, in today’s post I want start by looking at what subject / verb agreement is, and how you can avoid the most common errors made by many IELTS test-takers.

A red and white cartoon alarm clock sits on a dark grey background. The image conveys that the post will discuss how long you should talk for in IELTS Speaking Part 1

How long should your answers be in IELTS Speaking Part 1?

Posted on by Shelly

How long should your answers be in IELTS Speaking Part 1? IELTS Speaking Part 1 lasts between 4 and 5 minutes, during which the examiner should ask you between 7 and 11 questions. Think about that – 5 minutes for 11 questions. That works out at about 27 seconds per question (including the time it takes the examiner to ask them!). It’s not a great deal of time, but it’s such a short amount either. (I mean – it’s a quarter of your cue card time!) Now, I have seen a lot of sites that tells students to answer each Part 1 question in 2 or 3 sentences. In general, I think that this is great advice. 💥 IN GENERAL! 💥

Different shades of blue fan from the the left of the screen to the right to mimic winds in the sky. The picture symbolises the need to stay calm in the IELTS exam

How to stay calm in your IELTS test

Posted on by Shelly

How to stay calm in your IELTS Test We all know the IELTS exam is a high-stakes exam: it’s often the only barrier that stands between a student and their new life. Test-takers spend a lot of time and effort preparing for the exam and, as a result, exam day can feel very high-pressure. Plus, IELTS is expensive! Nobody wants to pay those fees more than once! But, one of the most important things you can do on exam day is TRY TO STAY CALM🧘‍♀️.

A red heart filled with smaller icons sits on a yellow background. The images inside the heart represent the common topic that students are asked to discuss in IELTS speaking Part 2. In particular, questions that start with the expression "Describe your favourite".

Common IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Your “favourite” things

Posted on by Shelly

Common IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics: Your “favourite” things Hey! One of the most common IELTS speaking Part 2 topics  is talking about your favourite something. On the face of it, it should be easy, so why so many test-takers struggle with these questions? THEY ARE HARD TO CHOOSE!