Band scores in all aspects of the IELTS Test can be increased by demonstrating accurate usage of a broader vocabulary. I’ve mentioned before that one way to extend your vocabulary is to note and learn unfamiliar words together with synonyms and antonyms. You’ll recall that synonyms are words which are similar or have a related meaning to another word. Their use makes your speaking and writing much more interesting (especially to an IELTS examiner!) as they help you to avoid repeating the … [Read more...]
How to pass the IELTS Speaking Test
“How to pass the IELTS Speaking Test?” – I’m frequently asked to summarise the IELTS speaking exam for students. Students want to know what examiners are looking for. Students want to understand the key aspects of the IELTS speaking exam exam so they can better prepare to pass it. The IELTS Writing Test, IELTS Listening Test and IELTS Reading Test have their own posts on this site. This post provides a summary of my advice: What’s the format of the IELTS Speaking Test? IELTS Speaking Test … [Read more...]
What is the IELTS Exam?
One of the most popular English examinations today, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is becoming a household name. It is not surprising to read or hear countless claims, discussions, and even debates on how to get a desired band score. To ensure success candidates must complete a sufficient amount of preparation with its four components: IELTS listening, IELTS reading, IELTS writing, and IELTS speaking. So what is the IELTS exam? Put simply, IELTS is an … [Read more...]
7 Idioms for Compelling English
Native English speakers pepper both speech and writing with idioms. This makes them sound more compelling. For the IELTS Test student this is a good skill to develop. It makes speech interesting and vibrant. However, using too many idioms can make you sound like a comedy sketch – lampooning idiom users. So what is an idiom? A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words, e.g., a bird in the hand is worth two In the bush – this … [Read more...]
IELTS Practice – How Important?
IELTS practice helps students to learn about the possible questions and the format of the questions that can appear in the exam. People often ask about IELTS practice. In particular, students should get an IELTS professional to assess their performance. This identifies strengths and weaknesses and allows the student to establish a better-focussed preparation plan ahead of the IELTS test. Every student planning to take the IELTS Test needs to make sure that they take at least one … [Read more...]
