IELTS with Fiona: a comprehensive guide to IELTS

By IELTS with Fiona

What's IELTS with Fiona: a comprehensive guide to IELTS about?

Join me for a weekly talk-through of IELTS topics to help you learn about the issues, vocabulary, tips and strategies you need to prepare.

Find all my tips on my website ieltsetc.com and join the Members Academy for all the downloads, step-by-step online courses, and support to get you a Band 7+ in the #ielts test.

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IELTS with Fiona: a comprehensive guide to IELTS episodes:

02.05.2024
IELTS Reading: Crows and tools
Quick tips to help you with the Speaking Challenge followed by a Reading Passage 2 about the tool-making abilities of crows (and what we have in common with them). True/False/Not Given. Get the full reading here https://www.ieltsetc.com/2018/11/ielts-reading-two-wings-toolkit/ --- Send in a...
12.24.2023
IELTS Reading: Stonehenge
This is my walkthrough of an Academic Passage 1 about Stonehenge. Keyword before you listen: ‘Winter solstice’ - the shortest day of the year (December 21st) Meaning: to stand still The solstice (combining the Latin words sol for “sun” and ‘sistere’ for “stand still”)...
11.26.2023
IELTS Listening
This listening about a research project contains several examples of ‘academic’ language (language related to studying at university) that you need to understand Listening Part 3. It's about a volcanic eruption, and is adapted from a Cambridge Past Paper (Book 18). Get...
10.22.2023
IELTS Listening: Elephant translocation
This Part 4 Listening is all about moving elephants. In the lesson you'll learn about: using word prompts to keep your place using intonation and sentence stress to identify answers using spelling patterns and plurals to get the right answers The...
10.03.2023
IELTS Reading: Forest Management
This is a relatively easy Passage 2 from a Cambridge Past Paper, with 3 sets of questions [Matching Information, Categorising and Gapfill]. https://ieltsetc.com/2023/10/ielts-reading-forest-management/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
07.22.2023
IELTS Listening: Victor Hugo
This Listening Part 4 about a writer called Victor Hugo is taken from the new Practice Book 18. In the podcast you'll learn why this particular test is more difficult than usual how reference words give you the answer (if you...
06.27.2023
Get some coffee before you do this Reading test
This is a Passage 3 review about a book about The Birth and Growth of Manhattan's Skyscrapers. Seriously, I don't expect anyone to listen to this for more than 5 minutes. If you've got the text in front of you, it might...
06.12.2023
IELTS Reading: Urban farming
Farming and agriculture is my Number 1 Vocabulary topic for IELTS, and I noticed that most of the readings in this new Cambridge Practice Test Book (18) are related either to the environment (Week 1 of my vocab course) or...
06.01.2023
IELTS Reading: Stadiums
This is a pretty straighforward Academic Part 2 about Stadiums. In this podcast we'll go through 3 question types (Matching Statements, Gapfill Summary and Choosing from a list.) Get more in the Members Academy https://ieltsetc.com/courses. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
05.19.2023
IELTS Reading: The development of the London underground railway
I guarantee that you can do this in under 10 minutes if you follow my system. Find the Reading online and do it yourself before you listen. Learn more about my IELTS Reading techniques with TWO courses in the Members Academy. ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send...
04.20.2023
IELTS Listening Part 2: Matthews Island Holidays
Get the full blog with audio on my website: https://ieltsetc.com/2023/04/ielts-listening-tips-complete-guide/ In this lesson, I examine the MACRO and MICRO skills you need to get all of the answers right in this Section 2 IELTS Listening about a holiday company. For example: Background knowledge...
03.23.2023
There are many free online IELTS Writing checkers available, and they can be useful when you’re starting your IELTS preparation. Online writing checkers such as Grammarly can give you simple feedback on your grammar, vocabulary and linking words. There are more sophisticated versions available...
03.10.2023
How many IELTS Reading question types are there? (Tips on how to tackle different questions in the IELTS Reading test)
[Skip the 5-minute introduction if you want to just get to the question types!] Different websites have different ways of categorising IELTS Reading Question types. See my latest blog for all the details: https://ieltsetc.com/2023/03/how-many-ielts-reading-question-types/ In my online courses, I follow the official IELTS.org guidelines,...
02.20.2023
How to prepare for IELTS in 10 days
The best thing about the IELTS Test is that you cannot fail it. The test simply takes a ‘snapshot’ of your current level of English. So if you’ve suddenly realised that you need to take the test in 10 days don’t...
02.11.2023
Pronunciation for IELTS Listening - how to understand fast speech
There are 7 key features of fast speech and pronunciation that you need to develop a better understanding of in order to increase your Listening Score: Features of connected speech (dropping sounds, adding sounds, changing sounds, weak sounds and twin...
01.26.2023
IELTS Listening: Hotel Staff Turnover
In this Listening Section 2 we look at: - Multiple choice questions - distractors - matching from a list - the word 'staff' and how it's repeated 32 times - how to pronounce 'staff' - academic language you can use in Task...
01.13.2023
IELTS New Year Resolutions 2023
What will you do differently in 2023? Here are my 7 resolutions to help you get the IELTS test over and done with once and for all. Get all the tips on my Daily Tips page https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en and get all...
12.16.2022
IELTS Reading: To catch a king
In this episode, I'll take you through one of my Guided Readings - it's an Academic Passage 3 from Book 17 and, unusually, it's a book review. Follow my Advent Challenge on my website: https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-advent-adventure/ Join the Members Academy: https://ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice...
11.13.2022
IELTS Mindset:
Question: "How do I cope with so much information when I'm preparing for the IELTS test?" Answer: "Just do as much as you need to do for the Band score that you want." In all aspects of life, there are different levels...
11.04.2022
IELTS Listening:
Can you guess the answers to the gapfill before you listen? In this episode I talk you through a Passage 4 where I think about 60% of the answers are guessable! Thinking of becoming a Member of my Academy? Find out more...
10.25.2022
IELTS Reading: Feathers as decoration in European History
A tricky GT Part 3 Reading with Matching Headings, Multiple Choice, and Matching Sentence Endings. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
10.16.2022
IELTS Mindset Part 3: How to ask SMARTER questions
I've spoken a lot about Mindset for IELTS in 2 earlier blogs: 1. How to train your mindset for IELTS https://ieltsetc.com/how-to-train-your-mindset-for-ielts/ 2. How to stop making excuses and start making progress https://ieltsetc.com/2020/11/improve-ielts-score/ In this (rather long) podcast I talk about asking SMARTER questions to get...
09.26.2022
IELTS Listening Part 3: Veterinary science students
In this podcast, you'll practice listening for the tricks in Multiple Choice Questions. This is yet another Listening based on the topic of farming, and it includes many of the keywords on my IELTS planner list Day 1 (Agriculture), for example: -...
09.09.2022
IELTS Reading: Reducing injuries on the farm
This Reading will also help your Task 2 Writing. Watch this quick video to see why: https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/week-2-september-challenge-reading-about-farming --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
09.05.2022
IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a Band 9 essay [Introductions]
In today's September Challenge, we're reviewing Task 2 essays, starting with how to write a good Introduction. Check out the blog I refer to here (with a model essay): https://ieltsetc.com/2021/03/ielts-band-9-sample-essay-charity/ and learn more about Introductions here: https://ieltsetc.com/2020/05/ielts-writing-task-2-how-to-write-an-introduction/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
09.04.2022
IELTS Writing Task 1:
Day 3 of the September IELTS Planner Challenge is all about describing changes in Writing Task 1. See the graph and video here. https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/september-challenge-day-3-writing-task-1 Or just go to my Daily Tips Day 3 on ieltsetc.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
09.02.2022
IELTS Listening Part 1:
Day 2 of the September 2022 Challenge. This is a Part 1 but full of TRICKS! Get the full video version in the Members Academy. Join the challenge on my website: www.ieltsetc.com (find it in the Daily Tips section) --- Send in a voice...
09.01.2022
IELTS Reading GT:
This is Day 1 of my free IELTS September Challenge 2022. Follow the challenge every day on my website (What's new - daily tips): https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en/september-challenge-day-1-reading-the-best-hiking-boots Get your FREE copy of the planner and work through it with me: https://payhip.com/b/7OZlV --- Send in a voice message:...
08.26.2022
IELTS Listening:
This is a slightly unusual Listening Part 1 from the latest Cambridge Test Book 17. Get more in the Members Academy: https://members.ieltsetc.com/academy and on my website https://ieltsetc.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
08.18.2022
IELTS Reading GT ⚽️: History of women's football in Britain
This is a fascinating Section 3 General Training Reading text about the origins of women's football and why it disappeared for 50 years. Practice Multiple Choice Questions, Matching Information and Gapfill Summary. Get the full video version with all of the other...
07.27.2022
IELTS Listening
In this lesson we cover more words from The List (my 100 Most Common Listening Gap Fill Answers). Pay special attention to the second half, where the speaker describes how maple syrup is produced. This is really useful for Academic Writing...
07.18.2022
IELTS Reading:
This is an Academic Test Passage 2 Reading from Book 17 and the podcast covers 3 types of questions: matching information, matching people, and gapfill. In the podcast I discuss how you can understand more of the text if you learn...
07.09.2022
IELTS Listening: Labyrinths
Book 17 Test 1 Part 4 I chose this Listening just because it's from the most recent Cambridge Practice Test book, and I was pleased to see that all of the gapfill answers conformed to my theories about common IELTS gapfill...
06.25.2022
IELTS Listening:
This is a Section 4 IELTS Listening Test Gapfill Summary based on a lecture about the history of keeping clean. Get more listening practice on my website or follow my 28-day Listening Course in the Members Academy. https://ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice...
05.09.2022
⭐️IELTS with Fiona daily tips from February 2022⭐️
Here's my roundup of daily tips from February. Watch the video version on YouTube with this link: https://youtu.be/zZ0TLDv0qxc In the podcast we'll review: - Idioms for IELTS Speaking ('food for thought' 'peckish' 'flagging') - Formal language ('a high risk of failure') ...
04.17.2022
⭐️ IELTS tips ⭐️ Jan 19th - 31st (also on YouTube)
Here's my round-up of the weekly tips that you can find on my website (ieltsetc.com). This podcast is also on YouTube/fionawattam: https://youtu.be/TNcyL63yWbI https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en In this episode we look at my daily tips from January 19th: - when to use the contraction 's' instead of 'is'...
04.06.2022
IELTS Reading:
This is a particularly challenging Reading Passage 1, which follows the structure of a Passage 3 'discursive' argument rather than the usual Passage 1 'factual' description. The title gives us a warning of this academic style - it starts with a...
03.19.2022
⭐️ IELTS tips ⭐️ podcast Jan 1st - Jan 17th 2022 with YouTube video
This podcast talks you through a fortnight of daily tips, with an accompanying YouTube video. https://youtu.be/byb9_Dg2UP8 Get the daily tips here on my website. https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en In this episode we cover: Pronunciation features - weak sounds e.g Fishnchips How to spot a terrible "Model answer" ...
03.03.2022
IELTS Reading:
In this IELTS GT Part 3 Reading lesson we'll practise Matching Headings, Multiple Choice and Gapfill summary on the topic of plastic. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
02.03.2022
IELTS ⭐️Daily tips⭐️from Fiona Dec 9th - 24th 2021
In today's podcast you'll review my daily tips from my annual advent challenge which you can find on my website under "What's New" and https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-advent-adventure/ Day 9: "It's not worth + ing" Day 10: Pronunciation - Juncture e.g. Ice-cream/I scream,...
01.26.2022
IELTS ⭐️Daily Tips⭐️from Fiona Nov 20 - Dec 8
In this episode I catch up with the daily tips that you can find on my website under "What's new". This episode covers: Pronunciation of phrasal nouns vs phrasal verbs (to give someone the go-ahead) The meaning of 'a shambles =...
01.04.2022
IELTS Reading: Marine ecosystems
This is a nice GT Part 3 Reading to get 2022 off to a great start. It practises Matching Headings, Multiple Choice AND gapfill, and it's absolutely jam-packed with useful IELTS vocabulary, so I made a Quizlet for you to...
12.05.2021
IELTS Reading: Having a laugh
This is an academic Passage 3 about the importance of laughter. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message
11.27.2021
⭐️IELTS tips⭐️ Nov 9th - 20th
In this episode I go through a week of tips about: "is pissed" vs "ears pierced", PEEL paragraphs, Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand accents ("bed" vs "bid"), Bruce Willis, The Sixth Sense and modals of deduction ("He must be a...
11.24.2021
⭐️IELTS tips⭐️ Oct 27th - Nov 8th 2021
This is my weekly round-up of tips from the "What's New" tab on my free website: ieltsetc.com In this episode we look at Pronunciation mazes by Matt Hancock (the 'ou' and 'ow' sounds and spelling), What's the opposite of 'must'?, "It's...
11.15.2021
That's a tough question. It's so hard for anyone to measure the quality and effectiveness of an IELTS course objectively unless they've taken all of the IELTS courses available! So here's a quick checklist of things to look for in a...
11.05.2021
⭐️IELTS tips⭐️ Oct 17th - 27th
Here's the latest round-up of all my IELTS Daily Tips blog that you can find on my website. In this blog we go through and revise: Have or get something done How to pronounce 'ative' How to pronounce 'able' Thinking critically ...
10.17.2021
⭐️IELTS tips⭐️: a weekly summary
I'm trying out a new way of sharing my tips and advice for IELTS. If you go to the 'What's new' tab on my website, you'll find a daily tip: https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en You can leave a comment there and ask questions if you need...
09.20.2021
Things you need to know before you buy an online IELTS Course
Have you ever been ripped off, conned, scammed, tricked, duped or just misled when buying an online IELTS course? In this blog and podcast, I've outlined the 10 'red flags' that you need to know about before you decide which course...
09.06.2021
IELTS Reading: Henry Moore (TFNG Bootcamp Day 1)
The Members Academy Reading Bootcamp started today (you can still join - it's just $28 and includes 28 days of both live and recorded lessons). This week's focus is on True False Not Given questions, so here's a taster of...

What's IELTS with Fiona: a comprehensive guide to IELTS about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

IELTS with Fiona: a comprehensive guide to IELTS episodes:

IELTS Reading: Crows and tools

IELTS Reading: Stonehenge

IELTS Listening

IELTS Listening: Elephant translocation

IELTS Reading: Forest Management

IELTS Listening: Victor Hugo

Get some coffee before you do this Reading test

IELTS Reading: Urban farming

IELTS Reading: Stadiums

IELTS Reading: The development of the London underground railway

IELTS Listening Part 2: Matthews Island Holidays

How many IELTS Reading question types are there? (Tips on how to tackle different questions in the IELTS Reading test)

How to prepare for IELTS in 10 days

Pronunciation for IELTS Listening - how to understand fast speech

IELTS Listening: Hotel Staff Turnover

IELTS New Year Resolutions 2023

IELTS Reading: To catch a king

IELTS Mindset:

IELTS Listening:

IELTS Reading: Feathers as decoration in European History

IELTS Mindset Part 3: How to ask SMARTER questions

IELTS Listening Part 3: Veterinary science students

IELTS Reading: Reducing injuries on the farm

IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a Band 9 essay [Introductions]

IELTS Writing Task 1:

IELTS Listening Part 1:

IELTS Reading GT:

IELTS Listening:

IELTS Reading GT ⚽️: History of women's football in Britain

IELTS Listening

IELTS Reading:

IELTS Listening: Labyrinths

IELTS Listening:

⭐️IELTS with Fiona daily tips from February 2022⭐️

⭐️ IELTS tips ⭐️ Jan 19th - 31st (also on YouTube)

IELTS Reading:

⭐️ IELTS tips ⭐️ podcast Jan 1st - Jan 17th 2022 with YouTube video

IELTS Reading:

IELTS ⭐️Daily tips⭐️from Fiona Dec 9th - 24th 2021

IELTS ⭐️Daily Tips⭐️from Fiona Nov 20 - Dec 8

IELTS Reading: Marine ecosystems

IELTS Reading: Having a laugh

⭐️IELTS tips⭐️ Nov 9th - 20th

⭐️IELTS tips⭐️ Oct 27th - Nov 8th 2021

⭐️IELTS tips⭐️ Oct 17th - 27th

⭐️IELTS tips⭐️: a weekly summary

Things you need to know before you buy an online IELTS Course

IELTS Reading: Henry Moore (TFNG Bootcamp Day 1)