Welcome to the podcast where two ex-examiners sit down every week to discuss all thing IELTS. It doesn't matter if you are new to IELTS or have been struggling to achieve your band scores for a long time, Nick and Shelly will help you complete your IELTS journey in the least painful way possible. So, if you are looking for two teachers who offer clear practical advice about how to prepare for the IELTS test, have over 30-years teaching experience, and make IELTS enjoyable, then you are in th ...
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Conquering the IELTS Speaking test? You are not alone! Join us every week for great tips and free resources. Our social media: facebook.com/JunixLearning instagram.com/junix.learning twitter.com/JunixLearning soundcloud.com/JunixLearning anchor.fm/JunixLearning Our course on Udemy at: www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-fast-track-to-band-6-plus/
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Welcome to "Writing tricks," a free, online course to improve your writing skills. As an English teacher, I know how hard writing is. I will show you how to connect words to make sentences; how to use punctuation; how to write effective paragraphs; how to write coherent and cohesive texts; how to write an essay, articles, reviews, letters, emails, reports, proposal, stories. You'll understand how to pass the written part of Cambridge First, Cambridge Advanced, Trinity College ISE, APTIS, IEL ...
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68. Vocabulary | Easily confused words: beside and besides
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Ever wondered about the difference between 'beside' and 'besides'? 📚 In our next episode, we're breaking down these two commonly confused words. We'll explore how 'beside' keeps things close and physical, while 'besides' opens up a world of additional information. Join me to clarify these distinctions and enhance your writing precision. Don't miss …
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67. Vocabulary | Easily confused words: rise vs. raise
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Confused about when to use 'rise' and 'raise'? 🌅 In this episode, we're tackling this common grammar dilemma. Discover the key differences between these two verbs, how to use them correctly, and the simple rules that will boost your confidence in writing and speaking. Join me for a clear and concise breakdown that will help your language skills soa…
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66. Grammar and Vocabulary | 'At the end,' or 'in the end'? What's the difference?
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Have you ever been puzzled by the subtle difference between 'at the end' and 'in the end'? 🤔 In this episode, we'll unravel the mystery behind these two seemingly similar phrases. Join me as we explore how a small preposition can completely change the meaning of a sentence: from pinpointing precise moments to summing up entire journeys. Tune in to …
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65. Vocabulary | How to talk about losing a job: "being fired" vs. "being laid off"
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Curious about the fine line between being 'fired' and 'laid off'? 🤔 Join me in this episode as we unravel the distinct difference between these two workplace terms. From the origins of the expression "being fired" to its emotional impact, let's dissect the nuances that shape the narratives of job loss...…
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64. Vocabulary | How to say that you love someone
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Ever wondered why a simple "Love you" can feel different from a heartfelt "I love you"? 🤔 In this episode, we delve into the subtle yet profound distinctions between these two expressions of affection. Join me as we explore the nuances of language, emotion, and intimacy in understanding the power behind these words.…
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63. Organisation | How to keep notes that inspire you
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Are you tired of losing track of your inspiration? 📝 In our latest episode, I'm spilling the secrets to capturing creativity on the go! Say goodbye to scattered thoughts in old notebooks and hello to the future of note-taking. Join me as we explore the evolution from Moleskine musings to the digital age of apps designed to keep your inspiration at …
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62. Motivation | How to write gratitude notes (by finding the right mindset)
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Ever thought about leaving a little sparkle of gratitude for a stranger to stumble upon? 🌟 In our upcoming episode, we're diving into the art of writing gratitude notes and the unexpected joy they bring to both the writer and the recipient. Tune in, and we will explore how a simple act of kindness can light up someone's day in ways you never imagin…
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61. Writing process | How to approach editing your personal texts?
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Join me in our latest writing episode as we delve into the art of editing personal texts. Discover a powerful writing trick that can elevate your editing process to new heights: reading your draft attentively before you even begin editing. Uncover the three key benefits of this strategy and learn how it can transform your writing journey. Tune in a…
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We’re back! And talking about UK university life!
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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 mig…
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Let's do a Cambridge IELTS 18 Reading Test!
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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 divid…
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Let's do the IELTS Cambridge 18 Test 4 listening test!
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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, s…
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IELTS Q&A Part 2 - more questions answered by two ex-examiners!
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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 m…
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IELTS Q&A - your questions answered by two ex-examiners!
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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 …
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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…
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Why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing?
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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 …
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New IELTS Band Descriptors for Writing in 2023?
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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 desc…
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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…
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Opposites - the listening trick that IELTS loves not the least!
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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 (althoug…
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Level up your lexis score with phrasal verbs!
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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 In…
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Should you use idioms in your IELTS speaking test?
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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 shoul…
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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…
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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, b…
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A technique for really difficult IELTS listening matching questions!
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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 shar…
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Six real IELTS essay questions from 2023 analysed!
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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 …
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2 ex-examiners give IELTS Speaking Part 3 feedback!
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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 respon…
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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 Sp…
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Reminder to send us your IELTS Speaking Part 3 recording!
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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, yo…
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Unlocking the Questions in IELTS Speaking Part 3
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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 …
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How to develop the arguments in your IELTS essay!
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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…
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All IELTS Cambridge 17 Academic Report Questions analysed!
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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 ha…
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Let's do the IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 3 listening test!
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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. Th…
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Is the format of the IELTS exam changing in 2023?
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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…
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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 que…
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Can Chat GPT help improve your IELTS Writing?
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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 t…
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Will 2023 mark the end of your IELTS journey?
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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…
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Can you hear the sound of bells jingling? That't right! It the final Tuesday before the 25th of December, which can mean only one thing - it is our annual Christmas IELTS Quiz. Only this year, there are absolutely NO questions about IELTS whatsoever, so it really us just a chance for Nick and I to let our hair down and talk about the Christmas trad…
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2 ex-examiners give speaking feedback to 5 IELTS students!
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At the end of last week's episode (in which Nick and I explained how the examiner will band your speaking performance for Fluency and Coherence, I sent out a call on social media for our listeners to record themselves attempting four current speaking part two questions. We will highlight some common errors and give expected scores based on the publ…
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How will the examiner score your Fluency and Coherence in IELTS speaking?
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In the IELTS Speaking exam, the examiner will give you a score in 4 areas: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Range, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Your final score will be the average of these four scores rounded down. However, recently I realised that that there is a lot of confusion among students as to exactly what the examiner …
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A new type of IELTS MCQ's in the reading exam?
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Hey everyone. IELTS reading MCQs have always been one of the most difficult to tackle in IELTS. That is because they can either test your understanding of the information given in the passage of your understanding of the writer's purpose or aim. Until now, 90% of questions have focussed on the former, but I noticed that in Cambridge IELTS Academic …
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Every few weeks I get an email from a student who would like to know how to prepare for the IELTS Life Skills test. Sadly, I know nothing about the test, so I usually just point them in the direction of the official website and wish them luck. However, this week Nick discovered that one of his friend's had recently taken the test, so today he is go…
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5 IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics 2022 analysed!
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Use code BLACK15 to get a 15% discount on all our courses this week. Find out more on this link: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing Hey! IELTS is well-known for recycling the same topics for Speaking Part 2 again and again. However, they do sometimes introduce new topics into the exam, which can confuse some students. Today, Nick and I …
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Shelly is sick today, so we are planning a re-run of our most popular ever episode - how to nail IELTS Listening Part 3! Many students find Part 3 of the IELTS listening test the most difficult. There are a number of reasons for this: there are more than two voices, the questions usually focus on the outcome of a discussion in which many views are …
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Last week, IELTS IDP announced that they are planning to introduce a new test called the IELTS One Skill Retake. This will give students the opportunity to retake only one section of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) in the IELTS test if they did not achieve the score they aimed for the first time around. Obviously, this cou…
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Today, Nick and I take you on a tour of IELTS spelling. We will cover the basic spelling rules that every test-taker needs to know, such as when you should replace a -y with an -ies, and when you have to double consonants in a word. Then, we will look at words that are commonly spelt incorrectly by IELTS test-takers, before finishing with a light h…
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What is parallelism and why do you need to use it in your IELTS writing?
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Yes! That's right - this week Nick and I are looking at a grammar point - parallelism! This is not a topic that is widely discussed in the IELTS world, but if you are looking for a score of 7.0 or higher in Writing, it is definitely something that you should pay attention to. In today's lesson, Nick and I will explain what parallelism is, and take …
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Cambridge IELTS 17 letters analysed (we think!)
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Hey! Today, Nick and I take a look at what we think are the letter prompts from the new Cambridge IELTS 17. (In other words, although the book was published in July, we were unable to get our hands on a copy so are relying that these are the real questions based on a third source!) We will look at each question in turn to analyse which tone you wil…
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How to write a genuinely informal IELTS letter!
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Hey! I have noticed over the last few years that students really struggle to write letters that are genuinely informal. Even good students who follow all of the language rules for informal letters send me letters to mark that feel "cold" and "stiff" and simply still " too formal". Why is that? Well, that is what I sat down this week to ponder, and …
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Hey! We're back this week with a look at some common problems students (who haven't taken our writing course!) run into with essay writing. In today's episode, we look at some common problems with organisation, grammar, and ideas which can prevent YOU from scoring a 7.0. in writing on exam day. In this episode, we will talk about the 5 mistakes Nic…
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We give 7 students IELTS cue card feedback!
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Today, Nick and I give IELTS Cue Card Feedback to 7 of our listeners. We will highlight some common errors and give expected scores based on the recordings. You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-cue-card-feedback-2021 Episode notes Last week, I sent out a call on social media for our listeners to record…
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Let's do the full listening test from Cambridge 17 Test 4!
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Hey! Last week, Nick and I completed an Academic reading passage from Cambridge 17 Test 4. Today, we thought that we would do the full 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 t…
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