Today's best IELTS tip is a video on how to score band score 7 in the IELTS Writing Tes, Task 1.
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If you have enjoyed the information in this video and would like some Speaking Test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about improving your IELTS Reading skills.
How often has it happened to you in an English class that the teacher asks you to read a passage and then asks 'So what's it about?' and the room is so silent that you can hear a pin drop?! I always advise my students to practise note-taking to prepare for the test as you need to be able to identify ideas in a text.
I suggest you use a table similar to the one below:
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Doing this type of exercise whenever you practise reading will help train your brain into looking for the main idea and supporting details when you are reading.
Before you attempt any of the tasks in the IELTS Reading Test, you should read the passage quickly for gist first. After that initial reading, you want to have a clear idea of the key ideas and the previous exercise will help you get into the habit of doing this.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about IELTS Speaking Test Part 3.
In Speaking Part 3, the Examiner asks you about more abstract aspects of a topic. You can often extend your replies by talking about the advantages and disadvantages of something. You can also discuss the arguments for and against it.
In this post, I'd like to give you some useful phrases for IELTS Speaking Part 3::
Arguing for something
Arguing against something
Not sure
Remember, as with any suggested phrases I give you, you need to learn how to use the phrases in context. They also need to be used naturally. Finally, you can modify the phrases as you see fit.
For more speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about how to deal with the 'labelling a diagram' task in the IELTS Reading Test.
To begin with, you should have skim-read the text (as for any task). First, look at the diagram carefully and any labels that are already given. Next, find the part of the text that describes the diagram and carefully complete the labels.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about improving your vocabulary for the Reading Test.
OK, first of all, you should read everything you can. The ideal situation (if you usually read in your own language) would be to constantly have a book in English 'on the go'). In any case, aside from reading English for pleasure, you need to be reading intensively in English for 10/15 minutes a day. So what do I mean, 'intensively'? Well, you need to take note of how the author uses cohesive devices, both within and between sentences, how the grammatical structures are formed, what verb tense is used and why, which prepositons are used and if certain verbs are always followed by that preposition etc. This intensive reading will improve both your reading and your writing for the Writing Tes.
So, now on to the title of this post; 'Improving your vocabulary for the IELTS Reading Test'. You need to train yourself to work out or guess the meaning of words rather than immediately reaching for the dicionary (you can always use the dictionary to confirm later). You should be taking into account any prefixes or suffixes and how these change the root of a word. This will help you to prepare for the Reading Test in which you are not allowed to refer to a dictionary.
When noting down new vocabulary, it should note it down in 'famillies'; note down related words and how the word is used in context. You should also note down the different parts of speech of the word; for example, if the word is a noun, what is it's verbal or adjectival form
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about improving your vocabulary for the Reading Test.
OK, first of all, you should read everything you can. The ideal situation (if you usually read in your own language) would be to constantly have a book in English 'on the go'). In any case, aside from reading English for pleasure, you need to be reading intensively in English for 10/15 minutes a day. So what do I mean, 'intensively'? Well, you need to take note of how the author uses cohesive devices, both within and between sentences, how the grammatical structures are formed, what verb tense is used and why, which prepositons are used and if certain verbs are always followed by that preposition etc. This intensive reading will improve both your reading and your writing for the Writing Tes.
So, now on to the title of this post; 'Improving your vocabulary for the IELTS Reading Test'. You need to train yourself to work out or guess the meaning of words rather than immediately reaching for the dicionary (you can always use the dictionary to confirm later). You should be taking into account any prefixes or suffixes and how these change the root of a word. This will help you to prepare for the Reading Test in which you are not allowed to refer to a dictionary.
When noting down new vocabulary, it should note it down in 'famillies'; note down related words and how the word is used in context. You should also note down the different parts of speech of the word; for example, if the word is a noun, what is it's verbal or adjectival form
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS information is about whether to take Academic or General Training IELTS.
I've been asked the question, 'Which test do I take?' so many times, so here's the information I generally give students. If you want to study overseas, you must take Academic IELTS, if you want IELTS for immigration to Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you should take the General Training IELTS.
Recently, a visitor to my website told me he had taken Academic IELTS six months ago (scoring band 7) and if I thought he'd be able to immigrate to Australia with the exam he'd taken. OK, so here's the heads-up as I understand it. Immigration authorities usually as for a particular General Training IELTS score but on more than one occasion I have had students who have successfully used their Academic IELTS score. I have trawled the internet for information on this and it appears that Australian and Canadian immigration both accept Academic IELTS as well as General Training IELTS, which is somewhat logical as the Speaking and Listening Tests are the same for both formats and Academic Reading and Writing Tests are more challenging than their General Training counterparts.
In any case, I strongly advise you contact the relevant immigration authorities to confirm this. You should keep the following in mind; you must take the Academic test for study purposes and as the General Training test is less taxing than the Academic test, take that one if that's what you're asked for. One of my students needed IELTS for immigration and study so he took Academic IELTS and was successful in both aims.
Remember that your IELTS test result is only valid for two years so do your research before enrolling for a test. You must find the balance between giving yourself enough time to achieve the IELTS result you need before any applications and sitting an IELTS Test too early (thinking of possible future plans) and finding that your score is no longer valid. You don't want the additional expense of sitting a test more than once.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS information is about whether to take Academic or General Training IELTS.
I've been asked the question, 'Which test do I take?' so many times, so here's the information I generally give students. If you want to study overseas, you must take Academic IELTS, if you want IELTS for immigration to Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you should take the General Training IELTS.
Recently, a visitor to my website told me he had taken Academic IELTS six months ago (scoring band 7) and if I thought he'd be able to immigrate to Australia with the exam he'd taken. OK, so here's the heads-up as I understand it. Immigration authorities usually as for a particular General Training IELTS score but on more than one occasion I have had students who have successfully used their Academic IELTS score. I have trawled the internet for information on this and it appears that Australian and Canadian immigration both accept Academic IELTS as well as General Training IELTS, which is somewhat logical as the Speaking and Listening Tests are the same for both formats and Academic Reading and Writing Tests are more challenging than their General Training counterparts.
In any case, I strongly advise you contact the relevant immigration authorities to confirm this. You should keep the following in mind; you must take the Academic test for study purposes and as the General Training test is less taxing than the Academic test, take that one if that's what you're asked for. One of my students needed IELTS for immigration and study so he took Academic IELTS and was successful in both aims.
Remember that your IELTS test result is only valid for two years so do your research before enrolling for a test. You must find the balance between giving yourself enough time to achieve the IELTS result you need before any applications and sitting an IELTS Test too early (thinking of possible future plans) and finding that your score is no longer valid. You don't want the additional expense of sitting a test more than once.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is a video on how to score band score 7 in the IELTS Speaking Test.
If you have enjoyed the information in this video, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about Academic IELTS Writing Task 1.
Don't forget that there is sometimes more than one diagram in Task 1. I find that students often get anxious when there is more than one chart, graph or table. So my first piece of advice is 'Don't be anxious'; if there is more than one diagram, the information in them will be linked in some way.
You need to find this link when you first study the diagrams. I cannot stress enough the importance of setting some time aside to study the diagram(s) before you begin planning and writing.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS information is about IELTS Test Centres and IELTS Test dates.
I have a lot of people contact me about where and when they can sit the IELTS Test.
Some centres offer more than one test each month but most offer just one. There are about three hundred test centres in the world, located in over one hundred countries so you will probably want to locate the best IELTS centre for you.
Using the above link will help you make sure that you choose a centre that is approved by UCLES, IDP Education Australia, or The British Council. This is very important as believe it or not, there are imposters.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is a video on how to score band score 7 in the IELTS Speaking Test.
If you have enjoyed the information in this video, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS information is about how to calculate your IELTS score.
If you click on the links next to the test you are interested in, you'll find information (very similar to what the Examiners use) on how ot calculate your score:
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For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS information is an IELTSscore calculator.
I suggest you refer to the chart every time you do a practice IELT Reading or Listening Test.
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| Approximate IELTS score | Number of correct answers | Approximate IELTS score | Number of correct answers | Approximate IELTS score |
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| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 4 | 2.5 |
| 4-6 | 3 | 4-6 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 7-9 | 3.5 | 7-9 | 3.5 | 9 | 3.5 |
| 10-13 | 4 | 10-12 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
| 14-16 | 4.5 | 13-15 | 4.5 | 15 | 4.5 |
| 17-20 | 5 | 16-19 | 5 | 18 | 5 |
| 21-24 | 5.5 | 20-22 | 5.5 | 21 | 5.5 |
| 25-28 | 6 | 23-25 | 6 | 26 | 6 |
| 29-32 | 6.5 | 26-28 | 6.5 | 31 | 6.5 |
| 33-35 | 7 | 29-32 | 7 | 35 | 7 |
| 36-37 | 7.5 | 33-35 | 7.5 | 37 | 7.5 |
| 38 | 8 | 36-37 | 8 | 38 | 8 |
| 39 | 8.5 | 38 | 8.5 | 39 | 8.5 |
| 40 | 9 | 40 | 9 | 40 | 9 |
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For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
When you sit for the IELTS Test, you really do want to get the best IELTS score possible.
Whenever I teach a new IELTS course, at a certain point I do a survey with my students to find out what they want exactly. I'm now doing the same thing with the visitors to my site. I want your help and opinions!
I have had very positive feedback from students and visitors who have downloaded and read my free IELTS Speaking report Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. and am putting together a comprehensive IELTS ebook. This is YOUR book so tell me what you want to see in it. For example; do you want the focus to be on all four skills or just writing?
What else do you want to see on my best IELTS site? Contact me and let me know. On 5th December, I will select three names at random from the people who contacted me with fheir ideas and give them a free IELTS practice interview on skype and these people will slso be given a free copy of the ebook once completed.
Looking forward to your email!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about Academic IELTS Writing Task 1.
I have found that many of my students panic a little bit when they come across an Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 that has more than one chart, graph or table. Ok, the first thing to do is take a deep breath and stop panicking! Remember that when there is more that one chart, graph or table, the information will be connected in some way. When you first study the diagrams, you need to find the link between them.
You can then use my Task 1 Writing plan; Best IELTS Writing Plan for Academic Task 1 keeping in mind that you are dealing with more than one diagram.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
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One of the IELTS Listening Test Task Types is ‘labelling a map’. You should look at the map carefully before the recording starts. Then you should listen carefully to the beginning of the dialogue to find out where to start on the map.
At this point you will listen for prepositions of place to help you follow the directions. Prepositions of place are used to clarify a specific place and are used with all nouns. The preposition usually comes before the noun or the pronoun. The preposition never comes before a verb.
I’ve given you a list here of the prepositions of place I think are most useful for this type of IELTS Listening task. I suggest you make sure you understand what they mean and write a sentence containing the word to understand them in context.
· across
· against
· around
· at
· at the back of
· between
· behind.
· by
· in
· inside
· on the corner of
· in the middle of
· near
· next to.
· to the left of
· to the right of
· opposite
· outside
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is an audio I've made with some common sense tips for the IELTS Listening Test.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about flowcharts and diagrams in the IELTS Reading Test.
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4In this post, I’d like to share with you the list of tips I give my students when dealing with this question type:
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS news is once again about IELTS in the USA.
This morning I was reading the official IELTS website and I learnt that more than 3,000 institutions and programs in the USA accept IELTS scores as proof of English language skills
I also found contact details for IELTS in the USA.
825 Colorado Boulevard, Suite 112
Los Angeles, CA 90041
USA
Telephone: 323 255 2771
Email:ielts@ieltsintl.org
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today I came across an article which I think might be the best IELTS news for many people.
I found this article on the MBA Admissions Program at Indiana University and was pleasantly surprised to read that they are not accepting IELTS as well as TOEFL. Could this be the beginnings of a trend developing in the U.S.?
IELTS has always traditionally been the test used in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, whereas American institutions have always favoured TOEFL. I have been hearing whispers for some time now that IELTS is maybe creeping in to the U.S. and this article is promising.
I know that many of my students found this good news indeed; it means they only need to sit one English language test when applying for study overseas.
Read the article here:
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/sep2010/bs20100922_473680.htm
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today I came across an article which I think might be the best IELTS news for many people.
I found this article on the MBA Admissions Program at Indiana University and was pleasantly surprised to read that they are not accepting IELTS as well as TOEFL. Could this be the beginnings of a trend developing in the U.S.?
IELTS has always traditionally been the test used in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, whereas American institutions have always favoured TOEFL. I have been hearing whispers for some time now that IELTS is maybe creeping in to the U.S. and this article is promising.
I know that many of my students found this good news indeed; it means they only need to sit one English language test when applying for study overseas.
Read the article here:
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/sep2010/bs20100922_473680.htm
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about making use of key words in the IELTS Reading Test questions.
So, my students often ask me, "What do you mean by 'key words ?'"
Well, when you read an IELTS Reading Test question, you should look out for the following three things:
Now that you've determined the key words (1 and 2) and identified the focus of the question, let's look how we can use this in practice.
In some IELTS Reading Test Task Types, you are given half a sentence and need to complete it by selecting its second half from a list of choices.
E.g. Questions 1-6 are the first half of a sentence and you must find the matching half from choices A-K
What I suggest my students do is read the questions 1-6, determine the key words and the focus of the question and then look for these ideas expressed in a similar way in the text. You then select the appropriate ending from the list A-K, reading through all the options to check you've chosen the correct one.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is an audio I've made about multiple choice task type questions in the IELTS Listening Test.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about how to improve your reading for the IELTS Reading Test.
Time and time again, I say to my students, "Read EVERYTHING". Why do I say this? Well, for me extensive reading serves three purposes:
So, what kind of things can you read? Some of the suggestions on this list will be better suited to the Academic IELTS Reading Test, some to the General Training Reading Test, you decide which ones suit your purpose best. Some suggestions are easier to implement if you're living in an English-speaking country. The most important thing, though, is to try to enjoy it!
I studied French and German at university and speak fluent Italian and have followed my own advice over the years. Trust me, it works!
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is the 'Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 plan' I give my students so that they can approah their Task 1 Writing in a systematic way:
1. Look at the task. What is the topic? What do you have to do?
2. Decide what the time period is (look at the axis). Is it
Think about the verb tenses you will use.
3. What is the topic? Write a sentence to introduce the information.
e.g. The graph shows....................
4. Write a general sentence to show the trend. e.g.
Generally,............
In general,...........
5. Give a more in-depth description. Give the details.
6. Write a sentence to conclude your writing. e.g.
To sum up,..........................
To summarise,.....................
In conclusion,......................
7. Check your writing.
Print off these guidelines and follow them when doing practice tests until they become habit.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about useful language for describing graphs in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Students often express their concerns about what to do when a graph does not show precise data. I give them the following list of phrases that express approximation:
Remember that it isn't necessary to use all the phrases but at the same time, you should try to get some variety in your IELTS Writing.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about useful language for describing graphs in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
I always tell students that it's important to use a variety of language in their writing and give them the following lists for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1:
Verbs meaning 'to go up'
Verbs meaning 'to go down'
It is also important to use the correct verb tense. Here are some examples:
There are also certain time expressions which are common with each tense:
past simple
present continuous
present perfect simple
future with 'will'
future perfect
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
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Today's best IELTS tip is about IELTS General Training Writing. I've put together a video about the layout of formal letters.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about IELTS General Training Writing. I've put together a video about the layout of informal letters.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about IELTS Writing. I've put together a video about paragraphing, which is important in both General Training IELTS and Academic IELTS, both Task 1 and Task 2.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about IELTS Speaking Part 2.
It's always a nice idea to introduce your topic in Part 2 by saying exactly what your talk is.
Here's an example:
Describe a place you have visited that you particularly liked.
You should say:
when you visited it
who you visited it with/how you got there
what was most memorable about this place
'Today I've been asked to describe a place I have visited that I particularly liked and I'm going to describe Rome. For me, Rome is the most beautiful ciy in the world...........................'
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip looks at multiple-choice task types in the IELTS Reading Test.
Make sure you read the options carefully. In parfticular you should look out for misleading options. Misleading options :
Remember you are only answering questions about the text. I have seen a number of students lose marks because they fall into this 'trap'.
Again, I have seen many students fall into this 'trap'. Read the options carefully and make sure you know what each one actually means. When you choose an option, imagine that I am there asking you 'Why?' and that you must justify why you chose that particular option and why the others are not correct.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
If you're enjoying my best IELTS tips, why not look me up on 'youtube'. My channel is 'bestieltsonline'.
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tips look at the subject of vocabulary.
You obviously need a wide range of vocabulary to understand IELTS Listening and IELTS Reading. Your use of vocabulary is one of the crieria used to assess IELTS Speaking and Writing (as can be seen at www.bestieltsonline.com).
I highly recommend you invest in a good English-English dictionary as a good dictionary can give you a lot of useful information. Below I have included a dictionary definition of the word 'vocabulary' to illustrate my point:
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This dictionary definition tells us:
You must also decide on how you're going to organise new vocabulary. The following show some of the different methods that students of mine have used over the years:
1. (alphabetical)
B
bicycle
beautiful
brandy
2. (parts of speech)
Verbs
memorise
justify
collect
3. (according to the date the word is learnt)
Vocabulary diary 26th January 2008
meanwhile
purpose
euphemism
4. (as a 'dictionary definition')
bid (v & n)
offer money to buy something e.g. bid for something on ebay.
5. (as a mind map)
You must think about the advantages and disadvantages of each method and decide which method is best for you.
For speaking test tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
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Alanna
Here's the fourth video in my best IELTS Speaking Test pronunciation tips series. In video 1, I talked about the pronunciation of vowel sounds in British English, in video 2 diphthong sounds and in both videos 3 and 4, I talked about the pronunciation of eight consonant sounds.
This video talks about the pronunciation of the final eight consonant sounds.
If you have enjoyed the information in this video, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Here's the fourth video in my best IELTS Speaking Test pronunciation tips series. In video 1, I talked about the pronunciation of vowel sounds in British English, in video 2 diphthong sounds and in video 3, I talke about the pronunciation of eight consonant sounds.
This video talks about the pronunciation of another eight consonant sounds and video 5 covers the final eight.
If you have enjoyed the information in this video, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
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Here's the third video in my best IELTS Speaking Test pronunciation tips series.
If you have enjoyed the information in this video, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tips are about the IELTS Listening Test.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the Examiner will ask you about more absract features of a topic.
Make sure that you give and extended reply to every question. Give reasons and, if possible, add more points connected to te topic to develop the discussion.
Don't panic if the Examiner asks you challenging questions; this part of the test is designed to push you as far as you can go. It's a positive thing!
For speaking tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tips are about the IELTS Listening Test.
Make sure you make the most of every second in the IELTS Listening Test; read questions carefully in advance. While you are reading the questions, think about the type of information required; is it a number, a place name, a noun or an adjective?
Remember that the order of the questions usually follows the order of the audio. You should also study the layout of the questions as this can help you follow the information you are going to hear.
Sometimes you are given a list of items (A-G) and then in the questions that follow, choose one of these answers. I suggest you approach this type of question in the following way:
For speaking tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is another tip about the IELTS Writing Test.
Remember that there are more marks awarded to IELTS Writing Task 2 than to IELTS Writing Task 1. Task 2 carries two-thirds of the marks, Task 1 only a third. I therefore strongly suggest that you keep to the suggested timing of 20 minutes for task 1 and 40 minutes for task 2.
I have heard of too many situations where candidates have spent far too long on task 1 in the IELTS Writing Test and therefore not finished Task 2. You must successfully complete both tasks to score well.
Make sure you do some time practice IELTS Writing Tasks before the day of your IELTS test so that you know exactly what 20 / 40 minutes 'feels like'.
For speaking tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
Today's best IELTS tip is about the IELTS Writing Test. It is relevant both for IELTS Writing Task 1 and IELTS Writing Task 2, both for General Training and Academic.
Always, always, always answer the question; you must keep to the topic set. If you check out the writing band descriptors, you will see that this is one of the Examiner's marking criteria; Task Achievement for Task 1 and Task Response for Task 2. Think about it, the Examiner doesn't know you, if he/she reads an answer that doesn't answer the question, he/she may assume you didn't understand the question and that not understanding the question is possibly a reflection of your level of English.
Never, never try to memorise sections of text for the writing test. You will be penalised for this.
For speaking tips, why not download my free IELTS Speaking report; Speaking Test Tips from an IELTS Tutor. I'm sure you'll find it useful!
Alanna
