Home 9 Category: Free IELTS preparation resources

Free IELTS preparation resources

Academic IELTS free reading test 2

Academic IELTS free reading test 2

Try this free IELTS reading practice test with instant band score. Passage 1: Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Passage 2: Cough Medicines and Cough Syrups Passage 3: The Tempest: Shakespeare’s Final Play

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Using idioms in IELTS

Using idioms in IELTS

What are idioms? English idioms are expressions that have a meaning of their own, and where understanding all of the individual words doesn't necessarily mean you will understand an idiom. For example, the idiom 'a can of worms' actually has nothing to do with cans or...

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How Task 1 General Training is scored

How Task 1 General Training is scored

Narration: The examiner is looking for your Task 1 letter to demonstrate 4 different aspects in order to get a good result: task achievement, cohesion and coherence, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy First is task achievement, which looks at whether...

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Describing trends in Task 1 Academic reports

Describing trends in Task 1 Academic reports

Describing trends in Task 1 Academic reports. In Task 1 of the IELTS test, you may be required to write about a graph or a chart, identifying trends. A trend is the general direction of movement in a graph. Here are some simple examples:   This is an upward trend...

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5 tips to improve your IELTS reading skills

5 tips to improve your English reading skills. Are you preparing for an English exam, but not seeing your score improve? Stuck on the same level with your reading with no improvement? You're not alone - this is a very common problem, especially when you are studying...

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Skimming and scanning skills for IELTS

Skimming and scanning skills for IELTS

Skimming and scanning skills for IELTS are essential in order to get a good result. With only 60 minutes to answer 40 questions, you need to be able to locate the correct answer quickly - you don't have time to read in a relaxed, leisurely way. Using a combination of...

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Academic IELTS Task 1 model answer 17 – Diamond mining

Academic IELTS Task 1 model answer 17 - Diamond mining. This is a Band 9.0 (top score) model answer. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The process shows diamonds moving from the mine to the retailer. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting...

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IELTS Task 2 model answer 12 – What is success?

IELTS Task 2 model answer 12 - What is success? The best way to get the most out of the model answers on this site is to read them closely, make a note of the phrases you find useful and if there are any words you don't know, look them up online. You should spend...

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IELTS Task 2 model answer 9 – Zoos should be closed

IELTS Task 2 model answer 9 – Zoos should be closed. The best way to get the most out of the model answers on this site is to read them closely, make a note of the phrases you find useful and if there are any words you don't know, look them up online. You should spend...

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Academic Module Task 1 Band 5 sample answer 2

Band score: approximately 5.0 The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the report. You should spend about 20 minutes on...

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Free General Training IELTS writing test 1 model answer

[sc name="writing-assessment"] Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening. Write a letter to your relative. In your letter:...

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IELTS Academic Module writing practice test 1

IELTS Academic Module writing practice test 1

Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The chart shows how people travelled to work in 2012 and 2018. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. The chart shows...

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Free General Training IELTS writing test 1

Free General Training IELTS writing test 1

Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening. Write a letter to your relative. In your letter: explain arrangements you have...

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Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test

In Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test, the examiner will ask you between 4 and 9 questions. These questions will be in some way related to the subject of the topic card you spoke about in Part 2 of the speaking test. In total, this section of the test will take between...

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Part 2 of the IELTS speaking test

In Part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you need to speak for 2 minutes about a topic that the examiner will give you. This section of the test is also referred to as the long turn. Before you need to speak, the examiner will give you one minute to prepare what you are...

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The differences between the CBT and PBT IELTS tests

When considering the differences between the CBT and PBT IELTS tests, there are some important points to consider. [sc name="full-membership"] Transfer time - With the computer based IELTS test, you don't need to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Once you...

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Part 1 of the IELTS speaking test

Part 1 of the IELTS speaking test takes 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner will ask you questions about personal or familiar topics, such as your hometown, travel, food and your free time. Here are some example questions (you can find more in the practice tests section): Do...

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The 4 types of IELTS Task 2 writing questions

The 4 types of IELTS Task 2 writing questions. Every IELTS Task 2 writing question falls into one of the 4 different 'types' below. It is important to identify which type of Task 2 essay you are writing about because this will have an impact on the  way you plan your...

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How Task 2 is scored

On this page, we will look at how Task 2 is scored. The examiner is looking for your essay to demonstrate 4 different aspects in order to get a good result. Task response (have you completed the task?) Cohesion and coherence (does your answer make sense?) Lexical...

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The instructions for Task 2 IELTS

In the first part of this lesson, we will look at the instructions for Task 2 IELTS. Here's an example of a Task 2 essay question. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Studying business or science related subjects at...

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Model answer for describing an image for PTE – a graph

Now let's use the 4 point checklist for organising your description to create a model answer for describing an image for PTE - a graph. Here's the checklist: (a) General content (b) Main trend / notable point (c) Detail (d) Concluding statement And here's the graph:...

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The 6 types of Academic IELTS reports

On this page, we will look at The 6 types of Academic IELTS reports, as well as the instructions you need to follow. The aim of Task 1 in the Academic Module is simple - you need to transfer information. That means to describe what you see in the question. Let's start...

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How to improve your reading speed for IELTS

To improve your reading speed for IELTS, you need to focus on speed reading. There are a number of points that you need to consider: 1. Improve your reading speed for IELTS by not stopping! When reading, a lot of people stop and go back, reading the same words again....

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Tips for the IELTS speaking test

On this page are tips and hints for speaking in the IELTS test. If you have a question or a tip that you think would benefit others, let us know using the message form at the bottom of the page. *Note that the speaking test is the same for the General Training and...

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Tips for the IELTS writing test

On this page are tips and hints for writing in the IELTS test. If you have a question or a tip that you think would benefit others, let us know using the message form at the bottom of the page. Start with Task 2 The scoring system for IELTS means that your Task 2...

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IELTS listening – writing numbers as answers

In the listening test, some answers may be in number form. Often, the instructions will indicate whether a number is required if it states NO MORE THAN (ONE/TWO/THREE) WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER. When transferring your answer, make sure you write it correctly as often an...

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Speaking more formally in Part 3 of the IELTS test

As you probably know, there are three parts in the IELTS speaking test. In Part One, the examiner will ask you questions about yourself. In Part Two, you will have one minute to prepare and then need to talk for two minutes based on a topic card (also called a 'cue...

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General advice about preparing for IELTS

Become familiar with the test format When you have decided that you need to take the IELTS test, it is worthwhile making sure you are prepared. The first step is to be aware of the format of the test. How long is the reading test? What do I have to do in the writing?...

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How to get ideas for Task 2 IELTS writing

On this page, we will look at wow to get ideas for Task 2 IELTS writing. With only 40 minutes to read the question, get ideas, plan your essay, write the essay and then proofread your work, you need to be quick getting ideas. [sc name="writing-assessment"] How to get...

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Common myths about IELTS

Is the IELTS test harder in some countries? Is IDP easier than the British Council? Can you predict the next writing topic? In the years that we have been teaching and preparing candidates for IELTS, these are some of the comments we have heard and our responses to...

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How to book your IELTS test

Visit the official website The first step in booking your IELTS test is to find out the location of your nearest testing centre by clicking here (this will open a new window to the official IELTS website). Complete the application form You will then need to complete...

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What is the IELTS test?

IELTS is the acronym for the International English Language Testing System. It is a test of English language ability. It is increasing in popularity against other English standard tests such as the TOEFL test. Who accepts IELTS? The majority of universities and...

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IELTS Task 2 avoiding emotional language

A common error in the IELTS test is not writing in a formal, academic manner for Task 2. In this post, we will look at writing too emotionally. Compare these two sentences  -which is better? A: People who spend extended periods in front of a television could be...

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IELTS Task 2 Writing more academically

To write a good Task 2 essay for IELTS, you need to know how to write more formally and to present yourself in an academic manner. This post will show you some of the common errors in the IELTS writing test and how to avoid them. Using personal pronouns (I / we / you...

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Can I use use idioms and phrasal verbs in IELTS?

An idiom is a phrase created from a group of words that does not necessarily have any meaning related to the words themselves. For example, 'that rings a bell' actually has nothing to do with ringing or bells - it simply means that something is 'vaguely familiar'....

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IELTS listening improving your result

So you've practiced, you've listened to the radio, taken practice tests, you've even taken the IELTS test - often a number of times - and you're still not getting the result you're looking for in the IELTS listening test. What's going wrong? Here's a handy 7 point...

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Writing good topic sentences for IELTS

To write in a clear and logical way, the first sentence of your paragraph should define what the rest of the paragraph will be discussing. For example: Tighter gun control or even the abolition of firearms would lead to a decrease in the number of deaths and injuries....

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Giving and justifying opinions for IELTS speaking

Giving and justifying opinions for IELTS speaking The IELTS speaking test is like most conversations.  If you give an opinion, you should justify it, and if possible, offer a reason, solution or speculation. For example: I don’t think people should automatically be...

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Tips for the day of your IELTS speaking test

So the day has finally arrived - it's test day! Depending on the test centre you are taking your test in, you might have the speaking on a different day to the other parts of the test or at the beginning or end of the same day. Whenever your speaking assessment is,...

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6 tips for making notes in Part 2 speaking

Here's an example of a topic card used in Part Two of the IELTS speaking test: Describe your favourite leisure activity. You should say: what it is how often you do it when you first started doing it. You should also say why it is important to you. Using the...

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Giving longer answers in IELTS speaking

This post focuses on a formula you can use to help you keep speaking fluently during the IELTS speaking test, especially in Part 2 (the topic card). Consider the following question. How could you expand your answer? Do you think traditions are important? Now read the...

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Listening for numbers in IELTS listening

In the IELTS listening test, it is very common to have to listen for numbers to get a correct answer. In this exercise, you can practice your listening by listening to the recording and entering the numbers and dates into this news report. There are three different...

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Facts about the IELTS writing test

Facts about the IELTS writing test

Here's a collection of some of the most common questions we are asked about the IELTS writing test. If your have a question that isn't answered here, post it in the comments section at the bottom of the page and we'll add it to the page with an answer. Q: Do I write...

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Predicting and anticipating in the IELTS listening test

As the listening test begins, you will hear a voice on the recording telling you what section you are about to complete, as well as the question numbers. Then you are given a short amount of time to read the questions. During this preparation time, it is important...

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Completing IELTS Task 2 in time

Completing IELTS Task 2 in time is essential if you are aiming for a good score. For that, you need to practise, but you also need to have a clear plan of how you are going to spend your time. In the years we have helped IELTS candidates prepare for their test, this...

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7 essential tips for preparing Task 2 IELTS

Here are the 7 steps you should take to plan your answer for IELTS writing Task 2. To illustrate the steps, we will be using this question: Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour. Therefore working hours should be reduced. To...

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The different types of learning and learner

In many traditional, conservative learning environments, the most common way to study is to gather groups of students in a room with a teacher or lecturer speaking about a particular subject. There are, however, alternative ways to study that have proven to be...

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Essay writing – writing an introduction

There are three main sections to think about when essay writing - writing an introduction, the body and the conclusion. In this lesson, 'essay writing - writing an introduction' we will look at the skills needed to write an effective introduction for a short essay....

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Understanding reference words for IELTS reading

What's wrong with this sentence? Some people believe that a university education should be available to everyone as a university education will help with employment. The problem here is that 'university education' has been repeated - the sentence would have been...

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How to practice your spoken English for IELTS

4 ways you can practice speaking English Getting enough English speaking practice can be one of the biggest problems for learners of English who want to improve their speaking skills, especially if they live in a non-English speaking country. However, there are some...

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6 tips for speaking more fluently in IELTS

Here are 6 tips for speaking fluently in the IELTS test, based on over 20 years of preparing candidates for the IELTS test (and 15 years as an IELTS examiner!) For many people preparing for the IELTS test, it can be difficult to improve your fluency unless you have an...

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Do I need Academic or General Training IELTS?

As you probably know, there are two types of IELTS test - the Academic Module and the General Training Module IELTS test. One of the most common questions we hear from candidates about to being their IELTS preparation is Do I need Academic or General Training IELTS?...

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Making predictions in IELTS

NOTE: This lesson is aimed at IELTS writing, but can also be useful for the speaking test. Expressing predictions is a useful IELTS skill. Not only does it apply to writing a conclusion, but there is also the possibility of having an essay title that asks you to...

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Word count in IELTS writing

As you probably know, the word requirements for the IELTS writing test are a minimum 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2. Test what you know about the IELTS word count by answering the question below. Question: According to IELTS rules, how many words are...

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Avoiding pronouns in Task 2 writing

As you probably know, it is important to write formally in Task 2, using an academic writing style (even in the General Training module). We have looked at some aspects of this in previous lessons (such as using the correct register and writing more academically) but...

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Qualifying words in IELTS reading

Qualifying words in IELTS reading. By now, you should be familiar with the idea of looking for key words in the question before looking for the answer in both the IELTS reading and listening test. However, a common reason for IELTS candidates to lose points is by not...

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Writing about cause and effect in IELTS

In the IELTS writing test, thinking of cause and effect allows you to extend your ideas and justify your opinions. Using a range of connectors will also make your essay more academic. 'Further education has become more accessible for a wider range of people. As a...

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What to do if you don’t understand Task 2

As you may already know or have read about on our site, we recommend starting with Task 2 in the writing test (it's worth more points than Task 1). But what happens if you get a Task 2 essay title with words you don't understand? Consider this Task 2 style topic:...

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Understanding parallel expressions in IELTS reading

Understanding parallel expressions in IELTS reading is an essential skill if you are looking for a good result in the IELTS reading test. Parallel expressions (also referred to as 'paraphrasing') are words, phrases or sentences that have the same meaning but are...

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Understand meaning in IELTS reading

Understand meaning in IELTS reading. As you've probably experienced, it can sometimes be difficult to understand meaning in IELTS reading, and this can sometimes be caused by indirect sentences, where the meaning is (intentionally) not immediately clear. Consider this...

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IELTS listening strategies for section 4

Over the 4 sections of the IELTS listening test, the recordings and questions become more challenging, so by the time you reach Section 4, you should expect it to be the most difficult. In order to get a good result, here are some useful tips and suggestions. Tip 1 -...

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Facts about the IELTS speaking test

Facts about the IELTS speaking test

There are lots of websites, forums, blogs and posts on the internet giving advice about the speaking test, but so much of the information available is either incomplete or incorrect! To help, we have assembled some of the most common points below and listed them as...

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10 tips to improve your IELTS reading score

Here are 10 tips to improve your IELTS reading score. 1. Improve your IELTS reading with better timing Did you run out of time and not manage to cover all of the texts? This is one of the most common issues candidates face when taking the IELTS reading test. The key...

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Time to think in the IELTS speaking test

As we've mentioned in previous posts (and is probably obvious!), when you are asked a question in the speaking test but cannot think of a response straight away, you should avoid just using words like 'Umm....errr.....'. Here are some expressions that you can use to...

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Giving examples in Task 2 IELTS writing

In Task 2 writing, you are required to give examples to support and develop your point of view. Here are some of the points to consider when writing your Task 2 essay. Avoid being overly personal Bad example: There are many reasons to argue that certain professions...

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Task 2 Band 8 sample answer 2

Band score: approximately 8.0 Task: Task 2 The answer below has been rated purely based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the report. You should spend...

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Task 2 Band 8 sample answer 3

Band score: approximately 8.0 Task: Task 2 The answer below has been rated purely based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the report. You should spend...

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Task 2 Band 7 sample answer 3

Band score: approximately 7.0 Task: Task 2 The answer below has been rated purely based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the report. You should spend...

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Listening for details in IELTS

NOTE: This post includes 3 audio recordings, so make sure you have your speakers on or headphones attached. In the IELTS listening test, you are often tested not just on your ability to listen for general information or to follow the approximate flow of the recording,...

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Paraphrasing in IELTS writing

Being able to paraphrase (express the same meaning using different words) is a very useful skill for the IELTS writing test, but it can also help you identify answers in the reading and listening. Here are some sentences that have been rephrased. Before you click the...

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IELTS band scores converter

Your IELTS result is given as a result from 0 to 9.0, increasing by 0.5 bands at a time (e.g. 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5). The result is calculated depending on your score for the four skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. For example, if you get 6.0 for writing,...

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Unit 10 Task 1 Band 8 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is...

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General Training Task 1 Band 8 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is...

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Unit 9 Task 1 Band 8 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You recently became a...

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General Training Task 1 Band 7 sample answer 2

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You are a member of...

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Unit 8 Task 1 Band 7 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You are a member of...

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Unit 7 Task 1 Band 7 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. New neighbours have...

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General Training Task 1 Band 7 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. New neighbours have...

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General Training Task 1 Band 6 sample answer 2

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You are a member of...

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Unit 6 Task 1 Band 6 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You are a member of...

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General Training Task 1 Band 6 sample answer 3

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. New neighbours have...

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Unit 5 Task 1 Band 6 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. New neighbours have...

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Unit 4 Task 1 Band 6 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You have enrolled in...

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General Training Task 1 Band 6 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You have enrolled in...

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General Training Task 1 Band 5 sample answer 3

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is...

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Unit 2 Task 1 Band 5 sample answer 1

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is...

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General Training Task 1 Band 5 sample answer 2

The answer below has been rated based on the public IELTS descriptors. Click the word or words in red to see the correction, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read our comments on the letter. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A family member is...

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Unit 2 Task 1 model answer 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. A friend has invited you to a party but you will not be able to attend. Write to your friend. In your letter: Tell your friend you can't come Explain why you are unable to attend Arrange another time to meet You do NOT...

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Phrases for ending your Task 1 letter

Here's a useful list of ways you can close your letter. Request a reply from the person you are writing to Let me know what you think. (informal) Hope to hear from you soon. (informal / semi-formal) I look forward to your reply. (semi-formal/formal) I look forward to...

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5 tips to improve your IELTS reading

READING: 5 tips to improve your reading result Are you taking practice test after practice, but not seeing your score improve? Stuck on the same level with your reading for ages? You're not alone - this is a very common problem, especially when you are studying on...

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Free IELTS speaking test 1

Free IELTS speaking test 1

Answer the questions. Try to speak for the time shown in brackets for each section. Part 1 (4 to 5 minutes) "Do you enjoy cooking?" "Do you prefer home cooked meals or fast food?" "What would you typically eat for lunch? " "Let's talk about photographs. Do you take...

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Free IELTS speaking test 2

Free IELTS speaking test 2

Answer the questions. Try to speak for the time shown in brackets for each section. Part 1 (4 to 5 minutes) "Let's talk about shopping. Do you often go shopping for clothes?" "Do you think it's important to dress well?" "Do you have particular national dress in your...

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Free IELTS speaking test 3

Free IELTS speaking test 3

Answer the questions. Try to speak for the time shown in brackets for each section. Part 1 (4 to 5 minutes) "Do you live in a house or a flat?" "What kind of facilities do you have in the surrounding area?" "Would you recommend this area to a friend?" "I’d like to...

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Types of communication / communicator

The following vocabulary is useful for understanding and discussing types of communication / communicator Types of spoken communication A discussion - when two or more people discuss a specific matter. It is often a formal situation where topics are discussed, often...

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Describing places in IELTS speaking

Describing places in IELTS speaking

On this page, we will look at some vocabulary for describing places in English. As with all new vocabulary, make sure to use it often to help you remember it, and if possible write it down in a notebook or a piece of paper so you can review it in a few days. Useful...

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Unit 8 Task 2 model answer 3

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: The number of car accidents is increasing annually. This is the result of poor driving skills. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples...

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