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Pete J

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  1. Hi As you probably know, IELTS Speaking Part 3 is the most difficult part of the IELTS Speaking test for most candidates. For a good example of how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions from a band score 8.5 candidate (Nils from Belgium), check out my latest IELTS video below. In the video, Nils answers some Part 3 questions on the topic of advertising and then I explain how Nils organises his answers to make them easy to follow. Pete
  2. I've just posted a review of the book 'IELTS Trainer', a book of IELTS Academic Practice tests. What I like most about the book is that it contains suggested steps to take when answering different types of IELTS question. You can read my full review here: www.freeieltscourse.com/ielts-books-and-resources/ielts-trainer-review/ Pete
  3. Just posted another video in my series of IELTS Speaking videos. In this video, an IELTS candidate from China (Alvin) talks about an IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic, and then I talk about a common grammar mistake that he makes and how you can avoid making the same mistake in your IELTS Speaking test. Check it out at Pete
  4. Hi I've done some research into the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 topics in 2015 and thought I'd post the topics and an example here for those of you taking an IELTS test soon. From what IELTS candidates have reported, two of the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 topics have been school and university education. Here's an example of an IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 reported by IELTS candidates this year: Many people believe that cooking is an essential life skill and should be taught to boys and girls in schools. Others disagree and believe it is a waste of school time. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. For more examples, check out my latest blog post at www.freeieltscourse.com/ielts-writing-topics/ielts-writing-task-2-topics-2015/ Pete
  5. Hi Alecia, Check out the series of IELTS Speaking videos on my YouTube channel here. Each video in the series includes an IELTS candidate answering some IELTS Speaking questions and then some feedback on the candidate's speaking from me. I don't have any specific advice for finding a speaking partner but do have some advice for when you find someone to practice with: Get more speaking practice and improve your IELTS Speaking band score Best wishes, Pete
  6. Hi The latest IELTS statistics show that over 2.2 million IELTS tests are taken every year! If you'd like to know what the average IELTS band scores are, and which part of the test (listening, reading, writing or speaking) is the most difficult, then check out the infographic here: the latest IELTS statistics. Pete
  7. I'm glad you find my IELTS blog useful, Anerf. If you haven't already done so, check out my latest post 'Three common mistakes in IELTS Speaking'. Pete
  8. Just following on from my post above... To get a band score 7.0 in your IELTS Speaking test, another thing that you need to do is... give extended answers to the examiner's questions easily To see an example of a band score 7.0 candidate answer some IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions, check out the video in my latest blog post at www.freeieltscourse.com/ielts-speaking-topics/ielts-speaking-part-1-questions-and-answers/ Pete
  9. Hi Anerf, I've reviewed some IELTS books on my blog at www.freeieltscourse.com/category/ielts-books-and-resources/ You'll also find a free online IELTS course on my website. Best of luck with your test, Pete
  10. Thanks for letting me know, Abhishek. If the question was 'Discuss both views...', and you only discussed one view, you would be limited to a band score 5 for the content of your writing: IELTS band score 5: Candidate addresses the task only partially (i.e. answers only part of the essay question) If the question was 'To what extent...', you could get a higher band score because it's okay to write about one side of the argument for this type of question. To get a band score 8 or above for the content of your writing, you need to avoid overgeneralisation (i.e. a statement that isn't accurate because it isn't true for everyone all of the time). Here are a couple of examples of overgeneralisation from your writing: If the entry is made free no one would understand the importance of such places. Moreover, people would then visit such places just for time pass and the core reason of opening such places will not be met. To avoid overgeneralisation in these sentences, you need to include words like 'many' or 'most': If the entry is made free most people would not understand the importance of such places. Moreover, many people would then visit such places just for time pass and the core reason of opening such places will not be met. Good luck with your test, Pete
  11. Thanks for posting your essay, Abhishek. Can I ask where you got the IELTS Writing Task 2 question from? The reason I'm asking is that it isn't written like an official IELTS Writing Task 2 question, and it isn't clear if you have to write about one side of the argument or both. (If you were given a score for this essay, it may not be very accurate because the question isn't clear). In a real IELTS test, this topic would probably be written as a 'Discuss both views..' or 'To what extent...' question. Some people think that entry to museums and art galleries should be free of charge to the general public. Others, however, believe that people should have to pay an admission fee to enter these attractions. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. For a 'Discuss both views...' question, if you only discuss one view (like you have done in your essay), you would lose marks for the content of your writing. Museums and art galleries should be free for the general public to enter. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? For a 'To what extent...' question, it's okay to write about one side of the argument (like you have done in your essay). You can learn more about IELTS Writing Task 2 questions on my free ielts course at www.freeieltscourse.com. Best wishes, Pete
  12. I'm glad you found my suggestion helpful. To help you understand how good your writing is and how to improve, here's what it says in the public version of the official IELTS band score descriptors for Writing Task 2: IELTS band score 7: Candidate uses less common vocabulary with some awareness of collocation IELTS band score 8: Candidate skilfully uses less common vocabulary but there may be occasional inaccuracies in collocation In terms of collocations, based on my post above and these descriptions, do you think your use of collocations is more like a band score 7 or 8? If you want to learn more about less common vocabulary, check out my blog post about IELTS Speaking band score 7 vocabulary at www.freeieltscourse.com/ielts-speaking-tips/ielts-speaking-band-score-7-vocabulary/ Pete
  13. Hi I often get asked by candidates about how they can get an IELTS Speaking band score 7.0, and so I'd like to post one of the requirements for getting this band score here. To get a band score 7.0 in your IELTS Speaking test, one of the things you need to do is use certain types of vocabulary: less common vocabulary and idiomatic vocabulary. less common vocabulary are words or phrases that are not frequently used in everyday conversation (the word 'idiomatic' in this post is an example of less common vocabulary) idiomatic vocabulary are words or expressions that are natural for native speakers to use or that contain an idiom (for example, 'a couch potato') To see more examples of these types of vocabulary, have a look at my latest blog post: 'IELTS Speaking band score 7 vocabulary' Pete
  14. Thanks for posting your essay. I think it will be useful for you (and other IELTS candidates) to know which combinations of words are used correctly in your essay and which aren't. Combinations of words that naturally go together are called collocations, and it will help you get a higher IELTS band score for your vocabulary if you use them. Here are some examples of collocations from your answer that are used correctly: an effect on... to opt for... a compelling reason to enforce a law an advance in... Here are some examples of mistakes with collocations: to make an impact (it should be 'have an impact') a detrimental impact (it should be 'a detrimental efffect') to draw some solutions (it should be 'put forward some solutions' or 'suggest some solutions') to mitigate the situation (it should be 'improve the situation' or 'rectify the situation') stringent laws (it should be 'stringent regulations') to curb the situation (it should be 'change the situation' or 'improve the situation') Good luck with your IELTS test. Pete
  15. Hi Hsinang, To get a band score 6.0 or above for your writing in Task 2, you need to do the following: answer all parts of the question(s) organise your ideas clearly, separate your ideas into paragraphs, and use some different linking words/phrases (e.g. 'on the other hand' and 'for example') correctly use enough vocabulary to express your ideas without making a mistake that can cause a misunderstanding use some complex grammar without making more than one or two mistakes that make it difficult for the reader to understand what you mean You can see the official IELTS band score descriptors for IELTS Writing Task 2 on the official IELTS website here. You should also check out my blog post 'How not to write an introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2' here. Pete
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