Quick tips to help you with the Speaking Challenge followed by a Reading Passage 2 about the tool-making abilities of crows (and what we have in common with them). True/False/Not Given. Get the full reading here https://www.ieltsetc.com/2018/11/ielts-reading-two-wings-toolkit/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ielt…

This is my walkthrough of an Academic Passage 1 about Stonehenge.Keyword before you listen:‘Winter solstice’ - the shortest day of the year (December 21st)Meaning: to stand stillThe solstice (combining the Latin words sol for “sun” and ‘sistere’ for “stand still”) is the point where the Sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest point in the…

This listening about a research project contains several examples of ‘academic’ language (language related to studying at university) that you need to understand Listening Part 3. It's about a volcanic eruption, and is adapted from a Cambridge Past Paper (Book 18). Get the full lesson notes and video in the Bronze Membership on my website ieltsetc.…

This Part 4 Listening is all about moving elephants. In the lesson you'll learn about: using word prompts to keep your place using intonation and sentence stress to identify answers using spelling patterns and plurals to get the right answers The full transcript is available in the Bronze Membership on my website. https://ieltsetc.com/2023/10/ielts…

This is a relatively easy Passage 2 from a Cambridge Past Paper, with 3 sets of questions [Matching Information, Categorising and Gapfill]. https://ieltsetc.com/2023/10/ielts-reading-forest-management/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This Listening Part 4 about a writer called Victor Hugo is taken from the new Practice Book 18. In the podcast you'll learn why this particular test is more difficult than usual how reference words give you the answer (if you can remember what they refer to) techniques for predicting and retaining information common gapfill answers and how they're …

This is a Passage 3 review about a book about The Birth and Growth of Manhattan's Skyscrapers. Seriously, I don't expect anyone to listen to this for more than 5 minutes. If you've got the text in front of you, it might help, but not much. All I can do is give you strategy tips for this one because trying to explain the answers is painful. The only…

Farming and agriculture is my Number 1 Vocabulary topic for IELTS, and I noticed that most of the readings in this new Cambridge Practice Test Book (18) are related either to the environment (Week 1 of my vocab course) or to cities/architecture/buildings (Week 2 in my Vocabulary course - the Man-Made Environment). So make sure you re-read this text…

This is a pretty straighforward Academic Part 2 about Stadiums. In this podcast we'll go through 3 question types (Matching Statements, Gapfill Summary and Choosing from a list.) Get more in the Members Academy https://ieltsetc.com/courses. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message…

I guarantee that you can do this in under 10 minutes if you follow my system. Find the Reading online and do it yourself before you listen. Learn more about my IELTS Reading techniques with TWO courses in the Members Academy. ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message…

Get the full blog with audio on my website: https://ieltsetc.com/2023/04/ielts-listening-tips-complete-guide/ In this lesson, I examine the MACRO and MICRO skills you need to get all of the answers right in this Section 2 IELTS Listening about a holiday company. For example: Background knowledge (what you already know about holiday companies, tour …

There are many free online IELTS Writing checkers available, and they can be useful when you’re starting your IELTS preparation. Online writing checkers such as Grammarly can give you simple feedback on your grammar, vocabulary and linking words. There are more sophisticated versions available that claim they can assess your IELTS writing using the…

[Skip the 5-minute introduction if you want to just get to the question types!] Different websites have different ways of categorising IELTS Reading Question types. See my latest blog for all the details: https://ieltsetc.com/2023/03/how-many-ielts-reading-question-types/ In my online courses, I follow the official IELTS.org guidelines, and I have …

The best thing about the IELTS Test is that you cannot fail it. The test simply takes a ‘snapshot’ of your current level of English. So if you’ve suddenly realised that you need to take the test in 10 days don’t panic too much. Consider it a ‘practice run’. 10 days is just enough time to familiarise yourself with the test requirements so you can gi…

There are 7 key features of fast speech and pronunciation that you need to develop a better understanding of in order to increase your Listening Score: Features of connected speech (dropping sounds, adding sounds, changing sounds, weak sounds and twin sounds). Word boundaries Homophones Sounds that are different or don’t exist in your language Acce…

In this Listening Section 2 we look at: - Multiple choice questions - distractors - matching from a list - the word 'staff' and how it's repeated 32 times- how to pronounce 'staff'- academic language you can use in Task 2Improve your IELTS score with my intensive Listening Course:ieltsetc.com/courses--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.s…

What will you do differently in 2023? Here are my 7 resolutions to help you get the IELTS test over and done with once and for all. Get all the tips on my Daily Tips page https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en and get all my lessons on my website ieltsetc.com. Join the Members Academy to make faster progress.--- Send in a voice message: https:…

In this episode, I'll take you through one of my Guided Readings - it's an Academic Passage 3 from Book 17 and, unusually, it's a book review. Follow my Advent Challenge on my website: https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-advent-adventure/ Join the Members Academy: https://ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/s…

Question: "How do I cope with so much information when I'm preparing for the IELTS test?"Answer: "Just do as much as you need to do for the Band score that you want."In all aspects of life, there are different levels of expertise and knowledge.Deciding what you want to do with your IELTS score will help you manage your time and your learning.I've c…

Can you guess the answers to the gapfill before you listen? In this episode I talk you through a Passage 4 where I think about 60% of the answers are guessable! Thinking of becoming a Member of my Academy? Find out more on my website: ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message…

A tricky GT Part 3 Reading with Matching Headings, Multiple Choice, and Matching Sentence Endings.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

I've spoken a lot about Mindset for IELTS in 2 earlier blogs: 1. How to train your mindset for IELTS https://ieltsetc.com/how-to-train-your-mindset-for-ielts/ 2. How to stop making excuses and start making progress https://ieltsetc.com/2020/11/improve-ielts-score/ In this (rather long) podcast I talk about asking SMARTER questions to get smarter an…

In this podcast, you'll practice listening for the tricks in Multiple Choice Questions. This is yet another Listening based on the topic of farming, and it includes many of the keywords on my IELTS planner list Day 1 (Agriculture), for example: - breed - bred/reared - livestock - to increase production - domesticated animals - controlling and eradi…

This Reading will also help your Task 2 Writing. Watch this quick video to see why: https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/week-2-september-challenge-reading-about-farming --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

In today's September Challenge, we're reviewing Task 2 essays, starting with how to write a good Introduction. Check out the blog I refer to here (with a model essay): https://ieltsetc.com/2021/03/ielts-band-9-sample-essay-charity/ and learn more about Introductions here: https://ieltsetc.com/2020/05/ielts-writing-task-2-how-to-write-an-introductio…

Day 3 of the September IELTS Planner Challenge is all about describing changes in Writing Task 1. See the graph and video here. https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/september-challenge-day-3-writing-task-1 Or just go to my Daily Tips Day 3 on ieltsetc.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message…

Day 2 of the September 2022 Challenge. This is a Part 1 but full of TRICKS! Get the full video version in the Members Academy. Join the challenge on my website: www.ieltsetc.com (find it in the Daily Tips section) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This is Day 1 of my free IELTS September Challenge 2022. Follow the challenge every day on my website (What's new - daily tips): https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/september-challenge-day-1-reading-the-best-hiking-boots Get your FREE copy of the planner and work through it with me: https://payhip.com/b/7OZlV --- Send in a voice message: ht…

This is a slightly unusual Listening Part 1 from the latest Cambridge Test Book 17.Get more in the Members Academy:https://members.ieltsetc.com/academyand on my websitehttps://ieltsetc.com--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This is a fascinating Section 3 General Training Reading text about the origins of women's football and why it disappeared for 50 years. Practice Multiple Choice Questions, Matching Information and Gapfill Summary. Get the full video version with all of the other General Training Courses in the Members Academy: https://members.ieltsetc.com/academy …

In this lesson we cover more words from The List (my 100 Most Common Listening Gap Fill Answers).Pay special attention to the second half, where the speaker describes how maple syrup is produced. This is really useful for Academic Writing Task 1.Get my guide to IELTS Reading Book 17 (Course) in the Members Academy with all the other workbooks, guid…

This is an Academic Test Passage 2 Reading from Book 17 and the podcast covers 3 types of questions: matching information, matching people, and gapfill.In the podcast I discuss how you can understand more of the text if you learn my basic vocabulary lists - you can buy my 3 IELTS vocabulary workbooks and guides on my website shop:- A complete guide…

Book 17 Test 1 Part 4I chose this Listening just because it's from the most recent Cambridge Practice Test book, and I was pleased to see that all of the gapfill answers conformed to my theories about common IELTS gapfill answers e.g. uncountable nouns, irregular word forms, "made from ____" etc.I put all of my research together in a handy little b…

This is a Section 4 IELTS Listening Test Gapfill Summary based on a lecture about the history of keeping clean.Get more listening practice on my website or follow my 28-day Listening Course in the Members Academy.https://ieltsetc.com/courses--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message…

Here's my roundup of daily tips from February. Watch the video version on YouTube with this link: https://youtu.be/zZ0TLDv0qxc In the podcast we'll review: - Idioms for IELTS Speaking ('food for thought' 'peckish' 'flagging') - Formal language ('a high risk of failure') - How to use inversion (Rarely I have? Or Rarely have I?) - Tech tools to help …

Here's my round-up of the weekly tips that you can find on my website (ieltsetc.com). This podcast is also on YouTube/fionawattam: https://youtu.be/TNcyL63yWbI https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en In this episode we look at my daily tips from January 19th: - when to use the contraction 's' instead of 'is' (Pronunciation) - how to start a let…

This is a particularly challenging Reading Passage 1, which follows the structure of a Passage 3 'discursive' argument rather than the usual Passage 1 'factual' description.The title gives us a warning of this academic style - it starts with a question, suggesting that there will be a theory developed, with the opinions of expert. It will pose a pr…

This podcast talks you through a fortnight of daily tips, with an accompanying YouTube video.https://youtu.be/byb9_Dg2UP8Get the daily tips here on my website.https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/enIn this episode we cover: Pronunciation features - weak sounds e.g Fishnchips How to spot a terrible "Model answer" Free Flashcards for common IELTS…

In this IELTS GT Part 3 Reading lesson we'll practise Matching Headings, Multiple Choice and Gapfill summary on the topic of plastic.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

In today's podcast you'll review my daily tips from my annual advent challenge which you can find on my website under "What's New" and https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-advent-adventure/ Day 9: "It's not worth + ing" Day 10: Pronunciation - Juncture e.g. Ice-cream/I scream, That stuff/That's tough Day 11: Factor vs reason vs cause Day 12: Linking devices …

In this episode I catch up with the daily tips that you can find on my website under "What's new". This episode covers: Pronunciation of phrasal nouns vs phrasal verbs (to give someone the go-ahead) The meaning of 'a shambles = shambolic' The real meaning of 'actually' The use of 'tripling' (reduce, reuse, recycle) Inversion (Never have I ever...) …

This is a nice GT Part 3 Reading to get 2022 off to a great start. It practises Matching Headings, Multiple Choice AND gapfill, and it's absolutely jam-packed with useful IELTS vocabulary, so I made a Quizlet for you to review it.Go to my website "What's new" to get the Quiz Link.https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/new-podcast-marine-ecosys…

This is an academic Passage 3 about the importance of laughter.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

In this episode I go through a week of tips about: "is pissed" vs "ears pierced", PEEL paragraphs, Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand accents ("bed" vs "bid"), Bruce Willis, The Sixth Sense and modals of deduction ("He must be a teacher"), Why Martin Luther King didn't say "I've got a dream", Are you feeling OVERWHELMED?, Cost vs value, When "I will" s…

This is my weekly round-up of tips from the "What's New" tab on my free website: ieltsetc.com In this episode we look at Pronunciation mazes by Matt Hancock (the 'ou' and 'ow' sounds and spelling), What's the opposite of 'must'?, "It's not worth it", Listening tricks and synonyms "at least" and "a minimum of", Is it ok to use "etc" in formal writin…

That's a tough question. It's so hard for anyone to measure the quality and effectiveness of an IELTS course objectively unless they've taken all of the IELTS courses available! So here's a quick checklist of things to look for in a course. Go to the blog to download the checklist; I designed it to help you make an informed decision. https://ieltse…

Here's the latest round-up of all my IELTS Daily Tips blog that you can find on my website.In this blog we go through and revise: Have or get something done How to pronounce 'ative' How to pronounce 'able' Thinking critically Research vs researchers Economic vs economical deteriorate vs get worse instill vs install funnest vs the most funGet all th…

I'm trying out a new way of sharing my tips and advice for IELTS. If you go to the 'What's new' tab on my website, you'll find a daily tip: https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en You can leave a comment there and ask questions if you need help or if you have any requests. In this podcast I cover the last 7 days of tips: Should I appeal my IELT…

Have you ever been ripped off, conned, scammed, tricked, duped or just misled when buying an online IELTS course? In this blog and podcast, I've outlined the 10 'red flags' that you need to know about before you decide which course provider to go with. Here are are some common tactics that you may not even notice, and they range from being simply '…

The Members Academy Reading Bootcamp started today (you can still join - it's just $28 and includes 28 days of both live and recorded lessons). This week's focus is on True False Not Given questions, so here's a taster of today's lesson. This is an Academic Passage 1 about a sculptor called Henry Moore. I try to get my students to make educated gue…