IELTS is not more difficult in Australia, and Noah's experience acts as evidence. In this conversation, I talk with Noah about his two disappointing IELTS experiences in Vietnam and how they compared to the success he had in Australia. It's a great conversation, and I'm grateful Noah took the time to be on the show.

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In this episode, Syeda details exactly what she did to score band 8 in writing. She stresses the importance of varied language, and chose a scenario for her General Task 1 letter that made it easier for her to come up with synonyms. Syeda's advice regarding structure and tone is also excellent, and she shares a number of helpful resources candidates can plug into online.

If you're looking for writing or speaking feedback, post your Task 1 or 2 writing sample or MP3 IELTSNetwork.com and a professional will get back to you within a few days.

Do you have a great IELTS story to share? Get in touch with me (Ryan) via email ([email protected]), Twitter (ieltsnetwork), or WeChat (ieltsnetwork). We've also got an active WeChat group! Add my contact to join. 

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Good luck!

Glenn used technology to his advantage while preparing for his IELTS. As he explains in this interview, he found useful apps on both Facebook and his phone to help him practice his language while on the go. Using 'Criminal Case' on the Facebook platform and 'Word Mess' on his iPhone, Glenn pushed his lexicon and honed his ability to use different words in different contexts. If you are an IELTS candidate, give these resources a try.

This interview also has a bit of a back story. Glenn and I actually held the interview in the summer of 2014, but the file I recorded on my laptop became corrupted. It was thus a pleasant surprise to discover the file playable almost two years later! Glenn's advice is just as valid today as it was in 2014, so I think you are going to get a lot out of this talk.

I hope you enjoy this episode! Please don't forget that IELTS speaking and writing coaches are standing by at IELTSNetwork.com to provide you with the feedback you need to succeed. Come and post your samples right now!

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Good luck!

A few weeks ago, I opened my inbox and saw an email entitled 'Have you ever thought about how American football is like the IELTS?' I had to admit to myself that I had NEVER thought about that...nor did I ever think I would think about that! The email was from Slava, an IELTS aspirant that managed to score band 8 in reading and band 7 overall. His strategies, results, and American football comparisons were intriguing, so I set up a time to talk with him and tap into his insight.

In this interview, you will hear Slava talk about how he strengthened himself mentally through a somewhat Pavlovian approach to his training. Weeks ahead of time, he was progressing through his Saturdays as though they were exam days - getting up early, doing a few mild warmup exercises, and engaging a practise exam. His relentless approach to grooming himself for exam success paid off with the mark he needed. This is a great conversation, and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to talk with Slava about this success.

If you are an IELTS candidate that has scored band 8 or higher, consider coming on the show and sharing your story. Your advice could be what unlocks IELTS success for another person, so don't hesitate - email me (Ryan) at [email protected]!

Be sure to visit ieltsnetwork.com for more episodes like this one and free feedback on your speaking and writing.

Don't stop at 7. Go and get that 9!

You are not going to want to miss this episode. Nura and I talk about her three IELTS attempts and what helped her grow from overall 6.5 to 8. Nura explains how testing strategy is just as important as raw language ability, and I think this is a very valid point that candidates often forget.

Get in touch if you have scored band 8 or more on the IELTS and want to tell the world about your experience! Find me at ieltsnetwork.com.

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I've been a little distant this past year, and I just wanted to record a quick episode to let the online IELTS community know what I've been up to and what I'm hoping to do with my time and with the ieltsnetwork.com community over the next few months. There is no interview in this episode. The episode is a simple ten minute introspective monologue, and I hope you enjoy it! As always, if you've scored band 8+ on your IELTS and would like to share some insight on this show, please get in touch. I'm scheduling new interviews for the few weeks remaining in 2015, and the IELTS community and I would really appreciate hearing from you!

This was a great conversation. David (band 8.5) and I talk about how altering his lifestyle helped improve his performance on the IELTS. At almost two hours, it's one of the longer interviews in the IELTSCast series, but I think you'll agree that the information David imparts is really actionable.

If you're looking for more IELTS related discussion, navigate to http://www.ieltsnetwork.com. We now have TWO active examiners on site ready to answer your questions (so long as their confidentiality arrangement permits them to do so). Join in the discussion NOW!

Are you on Facebook? The IELTS Network Facebook page has over 200,000 likes and is always buzzing with exciting IELTS news. Like the page and receive IELTS updates in your Facebook feed! https://www.facebook.com/IELTSNetwork/

This is a really interesting episode. Prashenjit and I talk about exam approaches and how study strategies may vary between one candidate and another.

Be sure to join us at the ieltsnetwork.com community, where you can get your speaking and/or writing assessed completely free of charge. For more episodes like this one, check out the 'Podcast episodes' section.

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This is a great talk. Linh explains her IELTS success and some specific training she underwent that could be helpful to other candidates from Vietnam.

For more episodes like this one, and to talk to me and other IELTS enthusiasts, join IELTSNetwork.com. Be sure to get in touch with me if you have achieved band 8 or higher on the exam.

Sarojini and I talk at length about her successful performance at an IELTS exam in Denver, Colorado. It is a great episode. Sarojini's detailed description of her preparation will inspire you.

Don't forget to join us at ieltsnetwork.com, where you can get free feedback on your speaking and writing.