Today, Nick and I look at the importance of learning IELTS lexis in context. We will start by analysing an Instagram post with synonyms for “highest” to show how the dictionary can definitely NOT be your friend. Then, we will review a set of IELTS flash card from Educational Software Technologies Limited, and give our verdict on whether they are a good purchase for IELTS students or not. You can view and purchase the flashcards on this link and remember to use the code SHELLY10 for a 10% discoun...
May 24, 2022•54 min
Hey everyone! In a recent podcast, Nick and I completed an Academic reading passage from Cambridge 15 Test 4. Today, we thought that we would do the listening from the same test. Click here to download the questions for the lesson Join us as we complete each section of the test. We will starting by outlining how we would approach each part and reminding you of the best way to approach each one. Then, we will give you a chance to listen and answer the questions, before giving you our answers and ...
May 17, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Hey! We all know that it can be hard to find the motivation to start studying for IELTS, which is why Nick and I have recorded so many episodes in the past about finding motivation. First, we did our 30-day motivation challenge , then we spoke about how to avoid procrastination in by eating those frogs , and last year we discovered a new way of self-studying by using metacognition . Today, we return with Motivation May - a month where we try to fill you with motivation for all things IELTS. Toda...
May 10, 2022•40 min
Hey! Today Nick and I are trying a new style of lesson. Instead of giving you lots of information about one topic, we are going to break down one element of essay writing - how to write an introduction to an IELTS agree / disagree essay. Join us to learn the three ingredients that you need to write an introduction well (they may not be what you expect) and how you can tackle questions that include "some people" or a background statement. By the end of the short lesson, you should be able to writ...
May 03, 2022•51 min
Join Nick and I today as we go through the Cambridge IELTS Reading - Changes in Reading Habits from Cambridge 16, Test Four, Passage Two. We will show you how to put the technique into action. First, we will explain how to analyse the questions before you read (which will be a nice revision of Multiple Choice and Summary Completion questions for those who have missed previous lessons). Then, we will move through every paragraph, answering all three sets of questions at the same time, explaining ...
Apr 26, 2022•46 min
One of the most common questions asked about IELTS writing is how you should present your opinion in an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay. Do you need to write a separate paragraph with your opinion? Can you wait until the conclusion to "reveal" your opinion? And what does it mean to offer "positive" arguments for each view? That is what Nick and I will discuss in today's episode. You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-should-you-present-your-opinion-in-an...
Apr 19, 2022•42 min
One of the most useful sentence structures in your grammar toolkit should conditional sentences. But, how many types of conditional sentences are there, and where can they be used NATURALLY in your speaking and writing? That is what Nick and I look at today. Useful Links Watch the first three lessons in our GT Task 1 Writing Course here: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1 Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.c...
Apr 12, 2022•45 min
Preparing for IELTS can feel daunting with four modules to prepare for and seemingly endless amounts of information available online to "help" you do so. But, how long do you really need to prepare for IELTS? And what should you cover if you only have one month or two months to prepare? That is what Nick and I will discuss in this episode. In this episode, we will talk about where to start your preparation if you are an absolute beginner discuss the amount of "noise" about IELTS there is online ...
Apr 05, 2022•44 min
This week, Shelly is travelling in Brussels (drinking all the beer) so we thought we would have an easy episode this week and look at the Cambridge IELTS 16 essay questions. A couple of weeks ago Nick and I looked at the letter questions from the new Cambridge 16 IELTS General Training book, and ranked the letter prompts from easiest to most difficult. Who can forget the letter to Mrs Barrett?!!!! Today we do the same with the essay questions in the book. Which is the easiest of the Cambridge IE...
Mar 29, 2022•36 min
One of the enduring problems for many IELTS test-takers is being able to use uncountable and plural nouns correctly. Today, Nick and I take a deep-dive into the common problems that IELTS test-takers make in their writing and speaking. We will spend a lot of time discussing the definite article (the), so I strongly recommend that you watch our free grammar lesson so that you understand the 7 fundamental article rules. We have designed this lesson as an extension of the basics explained here as m...
Mar 22, 2022•41 min
Hey! In IELTS reading matching sentence endings is a strange question type. At first glance, they can seem simple. After all, your only task is to match the start of a sentence with its correct end. And, as all of the possible endings are given to you, the challenge seems minimal. However, as we will see today, matching sentence endings question are unique as they rarely contain clear scaling words. This makes them unique as they are both "slow" (because identifying the sentence that contains th...
Mar 15, 2022•50 min
I repeat the YouTube channel is live! Yes, this is just a short reminder that from 7am GMT today, you will be able to watch 8 My IELTS Classrooms lessons for free on our YouTube channel. Just click here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg Plus, we will be releasing a video every day in the coming week, including 3 that have only ever been available to my paying subscribers. Then, from March 25th, we will be releasing totally new weekly content every Friday!!! If you are a ...
Mar 11, 2022•2 min
Hey everybody. This week Nick and I have a huge announcement to make. Can you guess what it is? No, we are not getting married (don't worry Nick), but we are finally launching our YouTube channel. Join us today to find out what content we plan to release. Plus, Shelly will share the techniques she used to get over her mental block over the channel - I mean, she has been promising to launch for 3 years, so what changed in the last few weeks? You can sign up the channel on this link . The first le...
Mar 08, 2022•32 min
In recent weeks, Nick and I have spent a lot of time talking about Academic Writing Task 1, so we thought that today it was time that we gave some love to our General Training students! Join us as we rank the four prompts in the new Cambridge IELTS 16 in order of difficulty from easiest to most challenging. Trust me, the Cambridge IELTS 16 letters are NOT the same as previous Cambridge books! The letter to Mrs Barrett is worth the price on its own! You can read more about today's episode at: htt...
Mar 01, 2022•50 min
Hey! This week, Nick and I look at how you should tackle IELTS Object Cue Cards, which are one of the most common in Part 2 of the exam. We will start with a brief review of IELTS Speaking Part 2 (as it has been along time since we did a speaking episode!), and then share a range of useful lexis to describe objects. Finally, we will demonstrate how you can put all of these skills together by completing one 2-minute turn each. You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassr...
Feb 22, 2022•57 min
Today, Nick and I continue our series on writing both paragraphs by looking at how to write IELTS paragraphs that contain just one idea. We will look at the different language blocks that you can use to build your paragraphs, the different sentence structures that are often used in each block, and the importance of progression. In other words, we will show you everything you need to write these paragraphs well! You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ ielts-...
Feb 15, 2022•52 min
I think that being able to construct a paragraph is the most fundamental IELTS writing skill. If you are able to start with a clear topic sentence and then build a logical argument, you are almost guaranteed a high score for Task Response and Coherence (and you have a good chance of a high one for Coherence and Cohesion too!) Today, Nick and I start with the basic question "What is a paragraph?" and end by showing you how being specific in your arguments can increase your score. However, there i...
Feb 08, 2022•51 min
Hey! There are always times in life when things don't go as planned. You buy a wardrobe and think it will take an hour to put together, but it takes 10. Or you have a lovely week planned and then you unexpectedly have your wisdom tooth removed! But what happens if things do not go as planned in the IELTS exam? When should you complain? And, more importantly, how can you make an IELTS complaint? That is what Nick and I discuss today. You can also listen to today's episode on our blog - https://bl...
Feb 01, 2022•44 min
Can you here the trumpets playing? Yes, back by popular demand, today Nick and I break down the first IELTS essay questions 2022. As always, we will choose 6 essay topics that have been reported from recent exams that we think are difficult, and offer you our arguments and tips for organisation. You are welcome to sit and passively enjoy the episode, but you will get a lot more out of the lesson if you actively take part. This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read an...
Jan 25, 2022•51 min
In 2020, Nick and I recorded an episode of the podcast that gave you a complete fail-prof system for tackling any type of IELTS line graph. You can listen to that episode here . We went through the basics, such as the vocabulary you need to describe changes and how to organise your paragraphs, to more complex advice such as how to find key features and write your specific details from start to finish. Plus, we also looked at a new type of key feature that IELTS had recently started using and no ...
Jan 18, 2022•48 min
We all have topics that we are familiar with in IELTS . But, there are also other topics which we may meet with a blank mind. So, what can you do to feel your knowledge gaps. In today’s episode Nick and I will look at a difficult topic for us – housing. We will start by covering some fundamental vocabulary and then, show you how you can utilise Google to find essay ideas. Plus, this will give us a chance to see indirect vocabulary learning in action. Hopefully, by the end of the lesson, you will...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 9 min
In IELTS Writing Task One, you will be asked to write a report based on a chart. These can come in a number of forms. You may be given a line graph, a pie chart, a bar chart, or even a map or a process. However, one chart that strikes fear into the heart of most students is the dreaded table. Tables can be confusing as they can contain an overwhelming amount of data and it is not always clear what key features need to be included in the overview. However, in today’s episode, Nick and I will show...
Jan 04, 2022•59 min
Hey! As the year draws to an end, it is time to sit back and reflect on what 2021 brought for IELTS test-takers. Obviously, there have been difficulties. Many test centres around the world have remained closed thanks to COVID, and migration programmes, particularly express entry into Canada, have been hit hard. However, despite the havoc caused by the pandemic, this has been the most successful year to date here at My IELTS Classroom. Our podcast has grown significantly, with more that twice as ...
Dec 28, 2021•55 min
Yes - it is time for our annual Christmas episode! This year, I have taken some of my favourite Christmas games and adapted them to test your knowledge of IЕLTS. It is nothing too serious, so if your test is soon and you are looking for some genuine lessons, you can access over 100 in our archive here. However, it is good to sometimes let your hair down. It has been a long year. COVID is still causing havoc with tests and, as a result, migrating or studying abroad is still far more complicated t...
Dec 21, 2021•59 min
Do you have enough topic specific vocabulary to discuss the essay topics in depth. Can you follow the listening or reading passages easily? Can you discuss the abstract topics in Speaking Part 3 with ease? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you are probably interested in upgrading your vocabulary. However, what is the best way to learn new lexis? And how much can you realistically learn in one month, or two, or six? That is what Nick and I will be discussing on this week's podca...
Dec 14, 2021•56 min
In today’s podcast, Nick and I are going to interview two of our new teachers, Kristina and Tanya, about their experience teaching metacognition for IELTS learners. This is a technique that I was introduced to only recently, but one which I think has the potential to transform the way many students prepare for IELTS (and, indeed, learn throughout their lives) I am really very excited to be sharing this episode today, but I also know that metacognition may be a new concept for many listeners, so ...
Dec 07, 2021•58 min
Last week Nick and I looked at how effective video courses can be. The answer was "very" but only if you are actually actively partaking in the course. What we didn't discuss though is how you can make sure that your online course is actually guiding you in the right direction. Thanks to COVID, it seems like hundreds of now courses have sprung up overnight, which makes it hard than ever for students to choose a good. Today, we will look at some simple questions you can ask yourself before signin...
Nov 30, 2021•44 min
Never before has IELTS students had so much free material to learn from. But is having so many free IELTS videos , really helping students to prepare for the test in the best way or could thy actually be having a detrimental effect on some students' preparation? Today, Nick and I discus the dangers of watching IELTS videos and give clear advice about how to make the most of online content. You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ ielts-videos In this episode...
Nov 23, 2021•47 min
Every week I get questions from students asking how they can generate good ideas for essays. Usually, my advice starts from the point of thinking of ideas, but this week I realised that many students are skipping a vital step before that - analysing the question to make sure that their arguments100% address the question given. This is a mistake! Today, Nick and I look at 6 common types of question that are often misinterpreted by students. We will show you what he words are that signal these que...
Nov 16, 2021•53 min
Using inversion in IELTS writing can definitely improve your GRA score, but many students make basic errors when forming these sentences, and even more struggle to use them in the appropriate context. Join Nick and I today to find out how to make 5 types of inversion sentence and how and when to use them in the IELTS exam. You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ inversion-ielts-writing / In this episode, we will go through the basics of question forming so ...
Nov 09, 2021•51 min
