Hey! To end 2024, Shelly is going to take you on a tour of the CEFR. She will explain what the Common European Framework of Reference is and how it underpins every high-quality language test, including IELTS. More importantly, she will explain what happens when "teachers" forget that IELTS is based on the CEFR (Spoiler: It is not good). There is a YouTube video to accompany this post, which will be posted later this week. So, if you would like to see the slides and examples of the CEFR tables, y...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Hey! Nick and I are back with our final (and second!) episode of 2024 - our breakdown of the essay questions in the Cambridge IELTS General Training 18 book. As usual, we analyse the four questions in turn, offering our ideas and discussing what could make each question easy or difficult for test-takers. And, boy-oh-boy, do the questions in this book range in difficulty! We think they go all the way from a 0 to a 10, which just shows how much the difficulty of a test can vary based on the topic ...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr
Hello? Is anybody still out there? It has been 410 days since we last released a podcast, but Nick and I are back to spread some Christmas IELTS joy! Is this the start of a new run of My IELTS Classroom episodes, or just some festive fun? Well, you will have to listen to find out! Support the show
Dec 20, 2024•18 min
Yes, after 76 days of silence, Nick and I are back to start a new season of My IELTS classroom! Today, we consider how much IELTS actually prepares you for university life in the UK. We will consider what skills you need to succeed in a degree course and how many are covered in the exam. More importantly, we’ll think about what “gaps” a student might have in their academic skills even if they gave achieved a high-level score. Useful Links Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Ban...
Nov 06, 2023•39 min
Hey! Today Nick and I tackle a reading from the new Cambridge IELTS 18 book. We choose to passage 3 from Test 2, which is titled "An Ideal City". Why? Well, it's because it contains a rather unusual summary completion question. Usually summaries are given in a single paragraph, or divided into two shorter paragraphs. This summary, however, is divided into THREE parts and is much longer than the usual summaries that appear. What difference does this make to the way that you should approach this q...
Aug 22, 2023•53 min
Hey! Today, Nick and I tackling the listening test from IELTS Cambridge 18 Test 4. This is the latest book of past test papers, so is a great chance for you to practice the most recent IELTS test format. Plus, Nick and I will analyse all of the questions and discuss which we think are "easy" and which are difficult. This is an interactive lesson, so you can download the listening test that we use in this lesson here: . Useful Links Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS...
Aug 01, 2023•1 hr 29 min
Hey. Last week Nick and I answered 6 of your questions about the IELTS exam. Today, we go though more of my mailbox to give you answers to enquiries such as how can you tell if a letter is semi-formal or informal when you should complain about speaking scores whether singular and plural nouns are important in the listening exam or not You can ask me a question any time by emailing hello@myieltsclassroom,com. Useful Links Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptor...
Jul 25, 2023•46 min
Every week I get dozens of emails from our My IELTS Classroom students, podcast listeners, YouTube followers and Newsletter subscribers asking questions about the IELST exam. They range from questions are about exam procedures to questions about how the exam is marked or how the student can maximise their preparation. Today, I thought that I would share a range of the emails that I have received in the last couple of weeks. Not only will that give you an insight into the life of an IELTS teacher...
Jul 18, 2023•37 min
Yes! Finally, on our third attempt, Nick and I have managed to successfully record an episode analysing the essays in the new Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic book. We offer our ideas and insights into the new questions, including how we will organise each essay and what our position would be. Plus, we rate the difficulty level of each question. This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you spend at least 5 minutes generating ideas for each essay before you listen. Useful Links Download my free ebo...
Jul 11, 2023•47 min
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? You can find the full episode notes and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/ This is a re-run of an episode from 2020, so don't be surprised if Nick and I sound so youthful! Episode Notes Following on from our lesson last week, today w...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Hey! A couple of weeks ago, we received an email from one of our listeners (thanks Adam!) asking if all the fuss happening on YouTube about the "NEW IELTS Band Descriptors" was true. My immediate reaction was "probably not", but when I did a deep dive, it turned out that it was! Yes, IELTS have finally released the examiner version of the band descriptors for writing. Let me be clear, this will NOT change the way that your writing is marked in any way. However, it does give students a better ide...
Jun 20, 2023•48 min
Today, we continue our journey into the world of IELTS listening any how the exam writers try to confuse you by playing with opposites. This week, we move away from lexis and into the word of grammar. In particular, the 2nd and 3rd conditionals. Nick and I will explain exactly what the 2nd and 3rd conditional are, how they are formed, and how IELTS using them in listening recordings to confuse you! This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join ...
Jun 13, 2023•40 min
Hey! Nick and I have recorded many episodes about IELTS listening. Usually, we focus on one particular type of question and break down which listening skills it is testing, and how you should approach it best. Plus, for everyone type of question, there are two or three "tricks" that IELTS uses to try to force you to choose the wrong answer (although these are not really "tricks" but good testing methods that check that you really understand the recording!) Today, we are doing something different...
Jun 06, 2023•37 min
Hey! Today, Nick and I continue our journey into idiomatic language by looking at phrasal verbs. We will explain what phrasal verbs are, how some are separable and some are inseparable, and demonstrate phrasal verbs in action in Speaking Part 1! Useful Links Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/ Rate and review My IELTS Classroom If you are on Apple P...
May 30, 2023•41 min
Hey! One of the criteria to score a 7.0 or higher in the IELTS speaking test is being able to show good use of "idiomatic language". But, what is idiomatic language, and when should you introduce it into your vocabulary. Join Nick and I today to discuss the path that most English language learners take when they are learning lexis when idioms should be introduced the problems second-language learners face when using idioms which idioms we fee could be useful for IELTS test-takers And finally, we...
May 23, 2023•53 min
Hey! It is the first podcast episode in May, which can only mean one thing - it is time to get motivated! Spring can be a great time of year to start new patterns of living and affect change in our lives. So, why not join Nick and I today as we go back and look at some of the motivational techniques that we have recommended in previous years to see if we still feel they work. Plus we will offer a brand new technique (The "Do Something" principle), and Shelly will share a personal story that she ...
May 16, 2023•53 min
We have spoken in depth on the podcast about IELTS maps , and IELTS line graphs before, but today it is the turn of IELTS bar charts. I would say of all the possible charts that you could be given on your exam day, IELTS bar charts are the most versatile. Why? Well, not only can they be used to represent change or to show comparisons individually, but they can also be used to show changes without time! Intrigued? You should be! In this episode, Nick and I will clearly explain how you should look...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr
Hey! Way back in 2020, Nick and I discussed the basic techniques for completing IELTS listening matching questions. However, these are some of the most difficult question in the exam, especially in Part 3, and we have noticed that many students still struggle answering them even when they know the basic principles. That's why today, we want to share a more advanced technique that can help you deal with tricky questions in the exam. Plus, we will attempt one of the most difficult questions that w...
Apr 18, 2023•59 min
Join Nick and I today as we look at six essay questions that have recently appeared in the IELTS Academic and General Training exams. We will discuss our ideas for each topic, explain what our positions would be, and give each question a difficulty rating. You will get far more from this episode if you spend 2 or 3 minutes looking at each question and planning your IELTS essay now Some people think that water is the most important natural resource. Others believe that other resources (such as oi...
Apr 04, 2023•1 hr
Hey! 2 weeks ago Nick and I set you to the challenge of recording your answers to 5 very difficult Speaking Part 3 questions. Today, Nick and I listen to the recordings sent by our our listeners to give feedback. We will consider the quality of the students' ideas (and how they could be improved) the appropriacy of the vocabulary used in the responses the impact of L1 on pronunciation the affect of small grammar errors on a test-takers's score Thank you to everybody who sent us a recording - we ...
Mar 21, 2023•49 min
Hey! We have a technical difficulty here at My IELTS Classroom - the wind is blowing a gale and it has knocked out Shelly's Wifi, so Nick and I couldn't record an episode this week. Therefore, we are re-running our original episode on Speaking Part 3. That way, you can listen to this episode and last week's episode and then take part in our free Speaking Part 3 feedback. If you want to take part in next week's episode, you can record your answers to the IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions at the sta...
Mar 14, 2023•57 min
Just a reminder that we are giving you the chance to record your own responses to five IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and send them to us for feedback on next week’s episode. Record your answers to the following questions on your phone or computer, and email them to us at hello@myieltsclassroom.com before March 12th to be on the show. Remember, your recording should be no more than about 4 minutes! Why are people more likely to expect things instantly now than in the past? Do you think society ...
Mar 09, 2023•2 min
Take part in our competition to win a free One Month Subscription to all the My IELTS Classroom videos and live lessons, plus a free piece of marking by leaving a comment on one of our YouTube videos that includes the word "podcast" here Then join Nick and I as we first discuss the basics of IELTS Speaking Part 3 and some simple strategies to help you address the questions even when they are super-hard, and then look at how to identify the "hidden" topic in these questions. If you would like to ...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Last year, Nick and I recorded two episodes about how to build paragraphs. They are among our most popular content and have been viewed over 20,000 times. However, even when students extend their ideas and try to justify their position, they can still end up with arguments that are vague and contain almost no topic-specific lexis. Today, Nick and I show you how to identify vague arguments and fix them by giving more specific explanations and examples. As you will see, doing this can really take ...
Feb 28, 2023•46 min
Hey! I have always loved teaching IELTS Academic Task 1. Many students are afraid of charts, but I have always found that if you teach test-takers some basic principles, then it is always possible to find the key features and organise the report well. However, this week, I was looking at the new IELTS Cambridge 17 Academic Report Questions and I have to say that two of the prompts in the current book are VERY difficult. I am talking climbing Everest bare-foot with an elephant on your back diffic...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Hey! Today, Nick and I are travelling back in time to complete the IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 3 listening test, which was first published in 2007. Why? Well, it's not because we were younger and better looking then, but because we want to give you a chance to experience the older IELTS test format, which seems to be making a come back in exam rooms. This is an interactive lesson, so you can download the listening test that we use in this lesson here Useful Links Download my free ebook "An ex-examine...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Hey! Please do NOT panic! There are no major changes happening to the IELTS exam (that I am aware of) in 2023 - they are not adding a new section to the speaking exam, or changing the amount of time that you have for each section, or making the reading passages more difficult. However, some of our students have reported over the last few weeks that some of the exams that they have sat at the start of 2023 have deviated slightly from the current Cambridge book format. Today, Nick and I explain wh...
Feb 07, 2023•45 min
Hey! Yes, Nick and I have finally got out hands on a copy of the new Cambridge IELTS 17 General Training book! Today, we look at the four essay questions to discuss how difficult the questions are, how we would approach each one, and what ideas we would use as the basis of our arguments. As always, we recommend that you spend time analysing the questions and coming up with your own arguments before you listen to the episode? Why? Well, Nick and I won't be sitting on your shoulder in the real tes...
Jan 31, 2023•51 min
Unless you have been living under a rock (or not spending every moment on social media), I am sure that you have heard about Chat GPT - the new artificial intelligence search engine that can write advertising campaigns, poems, or hundreds of pages of code in milliseconds (and trust, me this is just the tip of the iceberg). Oh, and I did I mention that it will deliver these to you as if they had been written by a human? Seriously, the future is now! However, while the launch of this product is ca...
Jan 24, 2023•56 min
Happy New Year! Yes, we are back for a third year of the My IELTS Classroom podcast (albeit a bit late as Shelly has had COVID!) Last year we helped students in 138 different countries prepare for IELTS in 52 episodes that totalled almost 2,500 hours of contest! If you were one of the 150,000 people who downloaded an episodes - THANK YOU! It really means a lot. Today, Nick and talk about New Year's resolutions - why people have them, what they usual are, and how you can make sure that you actual...
Jan 17, 2023•54 min
