The IELTS Podcast offers practical preparation advice for people taking the IELTS exam. Episodes cover strategies and lessons for the listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections, along with tips for improving vocabulary, grammar, and exam technique. It is aimed at learners who want expert guidance and structured support as they work toward their target band score.
Episodes
Improving Your Pronunciation In The IELTS Speaking Exam
In this tutorial, we look at what the examiner is actually listening for when they mark your pronunciation, and why your accent is probably not part of it.
We look at:
What is really being marked: individual sounds, word and sentence stress, and intonation
Why switching between British and American is a good sign rather than a problem
How intonation works as the music of your speech, and what a f
How To Plan An IELTS Essay In Five Minutes
In this tutorial, we look at how to plan an IELTS Task 2 essay in five minutes, worked through live on a real exam question.
We look at:
How to classify the question before you write anything, and why getting this wrong costs you the whole essay
How to fix your position for each body paragraph first, and leave the introduction until last
How to build an example that earns marks, even when you inv
His 6.5 blocked him going to Canada
How Rohan Overcame IELTS Writing Challenges to Achieve His Dream
Many IELTS candidates face a frustrating roadblock: scoring 6.5 in writing when they need a 7.0. This was exactly the challenge Rohan from Mumbai, India, encountered. He needed to improve his IELTS score to qualify for Canadian immigration. After multiple attempts, he discovered IELTS Podcast and transformed his writing skills. This
How to Write Formal Letters (part 2)
The aim of this tutorial is to help you:
-Understand the questions and the setting or context for the letter.
-Think about what to write – how to use the prompts that you are given in the question rubric.
-Understand how to start and how to finish your letters – with IELTS you cannot make mistakes on this!
-How to get your letter in a logical order which will help your coherence.
-How to use great
How to Write Formal Letters (part 1)
In this tutorial we cover how to:
Understand the questions and context for the letter.
Think about what to write – how to use the prompts that you are given in the question rubric.
Work out how creative to be? Is it ok to make up lots of strange facts and information?
Understand how to start and how to finish your letters – this is so important and at IELTS level you cannot make mistakes on
Using a Checklist for Academic Task1
Preparing for the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re unsure of what examiners are looking for. In a recent episode of the IELTS Podcast, hosts Ben Worthington and Daphne provided a comprehensive checklist to help you ace this task. This article summarises their key points, offering practical advice and examples to guide your preparation.
1.
Playing The IELTS Examiner
In this podcast, our essay corrector Ellen puts YOU in the driver’s seat as you review a student’s essay with her, deciding what band score the essay should get. With the band descriptors as your guide, you will learn
How the introduction makes a first impression on the examiner
How mistakes and missteps can influence the examiner along the way
How some strong arguments, precise vocabulary and a
IELTS Vocabulary: The Future of Public Transportation
Public Transportation Innovations and Urban Planning
Introduction
Public transportation innovations and urban planning are crucial for creating sustainable, efficient cities. This article discusses how these developments can transform urban environments, providing a comprehensive overview of their impact on society.
Grammar Point Covered
Linking words for addition and comparison, such as &#
How to Answer Map Questions (Vocabulary List Included)
In this tutorial, you’ll learn
How an IELTS examiner would look at one of the more usual Task 1 questions – MAPS! I love map questions but many students are unfamiliar with them and so might panic in the exam!
How to understand what is needed and what clues to look for before you start writing.
Examples of good grammar and key useful vocabulary from our review of 2 students’ essays &#
IELTS Vocabulary: Mental Health Awareness
Introduction
Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, yet it often remains overshadowed by physical health concerns. This article will explore the role of public awareness campaigns in changing perceptions and attitudes towards mental health issues.
Grammar Point Covered
Adverbial clauses to show contrast are used to highlight how two ideas differ from each other. These clauses of
12 years of IELTS experience in 20 minutes
Facing a blank mind during IELTS Task 2? You’re not alone. Here are practical tips from my 12 years of experience to help you excel.
1. Filling Your Brain with Ideas
When your mind goes blank, it’s crucial to prepare by actively filling it with ideas. Engage in regular reading, focusing on understanding different writing styles and arguments. This helps you build a mental repository of
IELTS Vocabulary: The Impact of Globalisation
Globalisation and Cultural Exchange
Introduction
Globalization and cultural exchange have become integral to the modern world, shaping societies and their interactions on a global scale. This article examines the impact of these phenomena on cultures and societies, using complex sentence structures to elucidate cause and effect.
Grammar Point Covered
Complex sentence structures for cause an
Jess Gets 7.5 and Goes to Australia!
Jess’s Amazing IELTS Journey: From Struggles to Success in Australia
Hello, IELTS students! Today, we’re excited to share an incredible story that will inspire you to chase your dreams. Meet Jess from Indonesia, who overcame her IELTS challenges and is now heading to Australia for her studies!
Jess’s IELTS Goals
Jess needed high IELTS scores to qualify for a scholarship to study
IELTS Reading – Master Paraphrasing and Score Band 7
Let’s look at some high-level examples of what you might encounter on the IELTS reading exam. Imagine you’re reading a passage about climate change, and you come across this sentence:
“The unprecedented rate of global temperature increase has led to a cascade of environmental repercussions, including but not limited to the accelerated melting of polar ice caps and the consequent rise i
Your 20 Minute Academic Task 1 Crash Course
Lesson 1: Academic Task 1
To excel in Academic Task 1 of the IELTS exam, focus on understanding the task requirements, which typically involve describing visual data like graphs, charts, or tables. Here are some key tips:
Understand the Data: Before writing, spend time analysing the data to identify key trends, differences, and overall patterns.
Structure Your Response: Start with an introduction
IELTS Vocabulary: Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy and sustainable technologies are pivotal in shaping a sustainable future. This article delves into the societal impacts of these technologies, utilizing passive voice to describe processes inherent in their development and deployment.
Grammar Point Covered
The passive voice is often used in English to emphasise the action and the receiver of the action rather than the doer. This i
Marta Gets Band 7 in Writing and Speaking and Goes to the US!
From Struggle to Success: How Marta Achieved Her IELTS Goals and Secured a US Scholarship
Have you ever felt stuck while preparing for the IELTS exam? Meet Marta, a bright student from Ukraine who turned her IELTS struggles into triumph. Let’s dive into her story and see how she went from a 6.5 to a 7 in both writing and speaking!
Marta’s IELTS Journey
Marta needed high IELTS
IELTS Vocabulary: Ocean Pollution and Microplastics
Ocean Pollution and Microplastics: An In-depth Analysis
Introduction
Ocean pollution and microplastics are becoming increasingly critical issues, impacting marine ecosystems and human health globally. This article aims to explore various aspects of these issues, including societal impacts and potential solutions.
Grammar Point Covered
The Passive Voice for Describing Processes is employed t
IELTS Academic Task 1 – How to Describe a Pie Chart (and score Band 7 or higher)
Are you aiming to pass the IELTS exam? Do you want to walk in with confidence, knowing you’re well-prepared? It’s simple: you could study, you should study, and if you don’t, you might face difficulties.
The resources you have are like a toolbox full of useful tools. But just owning the tools isn’t enough—you need to know how to use them effectively.
Don’t Just Turn Up, Show Them What You Can Do
I
Expand Your Academic Vocabulary for IELTS
Expanding your vocabulary is a crucial aspect of preparing for the IELTS exam. A rich vocabulary not only improves your comprehension skills but also enhances your ability to express complex ideas. One effective way to expand your vocabulary is by learning about prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
This article explores these linguistic tools, their origins, and provides examples from the Academic
