Pete J

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hi Hsinang, The first thing I noticed about your writing was that you have separated your ideas into clear paragraphs and that you have stated your opinion clearly in the introduction and conclusion. I then noticed, however, that you have copied large parts of the actual writing task in your first paragraph, i.e. you have haven't written the first sentence of your introduction in your own words. You copied '...convenience foods will become... prevalent and eventually... replace traditional foods and traditional methods of food preparation.' If you do this in the real IELTS Writing test, you may lose marks as the examiner will not count the parts you have copied. Here's how you could have paraphrased the topic of the writing task: Some people think that convenience foods such as ready meals will become more and more common and that people will cook traditional foods less often than they do now. To give yourself the best chance of getting the band score you need in your IELTS Writing test, make sure you write the introduction in your own words. Good luck, Pete

Hi ronitakon27, I've read your writing and can see an area that you may need to improve to meet the description for band score 8.0, and that's your use of punctuation (e.g. commas, full stops and capital letters). Here are some corrections (in red): Technology has revolutionized the way people form relationships, for better in some case and worse in others. This has literally changed the way many people interact with... For example, m... On the contrary, technology has been abused... ...there can be both sides to a story. However more focus should be given... To get a band score 8.0 for the grammar and punctuation in IELTS Writing, you can only make very occasional mistakes. Here’s what it says in the public version of the official IELTS descriptors for grammar and punctuation in IELTS Writing Task 2: IELTS band score 6: “[Candidate] makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication” IELTS band score 7: “[Candidate] has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors” IELTS band score 8: “[Candidate] makes only occasional errors” The fifth example above is an example of a mistake that a lot of students make. In this example, you should use the linking word 'however' to connect ideas between two sentences (not to connect ideas within one sentence as you have done in your writing). Good luck with your test, Pete

Hi Martin, I think the general rule is that you have to provide some useful information within the post and then a link to more information is acceptable. You can contact the administrators to clarify what is and isn't acceptable in the feedback forum. Pete

Hi Do you know the differences in meaning between the words ‘lose’ and ‘loose’ or ‘rise’ and ‘raise’? To find out the differences and to see how some IELTS candidates mix these words up, check out our latest blog post 'IELTS vocabulary mix-ups' at www.e-englishteacher.com/ielts-vocabulary/ielts-vocabulary-mix-ups. Pete

You're welcome. Once you've used some of the IELTS preparation books on your list, it would be great if you could say on this forum which book(s) you found most useful so that other IELTS candidates have a better idea of which book they could use. Pete

Hi A book which gives a good introduction to the IELTS Academic and General Training test, and includes some useful tips for the different parts of the exam, is 'New Insight into IELTS'. It's the book that a lot of schools use on their IELTS preparation courses, but you can also use it for self-study. For practice tests, I recommend using the Cambridge IELTS series (e.g. Cambridge IELTS 6, 7 and 8) because they include official versions of the test. Each book provides four IELTS Academic tests, as well as extra reading and writing modules for IELTS General Training. For some reviews of the books 'Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced' and 'Reading for IELTS', have a look at the following two posts on our IELTS preparation blog: www.e-englishteacher.com/ielts-vocabulary/vocabulary-for-ielts-advanced-a-review/ www.e-englishteacher.com/ielts-reading-practice/reading-for-ielts-a-review/ Best wishes, Pete

I'm glad you found the link useful. Pete

Are you looking for a free IELTS Academic or General Training practice test? If you'd like do a practice test as part of your IELTS preparation, then check out our latest blog post at www.e-englishteacher.com/ielts-exam-preparation/free-ielts-practice-test/ for a link to an online practice test from the British Council and some advice about what to do after you've done the test. Good luck, Pete

Hi Anands, If you mean a list of verbs like 'get' and 'give' that have irregular verb forms in the past, then check out the game at http://www.macmillandictionary.com//verb-wheel/ for a list of irregular verbs and some practice at remembering them. Pete

I'm glad you found our website useful, Latifa. If you'd like some individual help with your writing or speaking for IELTS, have a look at the tutoring options on our website. If you have any questions, you can contact me through the contact form on our website or by email - I've sent you a message with my email address. Regards, Pete