In the final episode of our IELTS 101 series, Nick and I introduce to the IELTS writing test (which is our favourite part of the test!). You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/

Episode Notes

There is so much to say about IELTS writing that it was hard for Nick and I to stick to the basics today, but I think that we did a great job of including all the information you need for a broad overview of the two exams (General Training and Academic).

We start by having a look at the content of both tests and the explaining the skills you will need to demonstrate to get a high score. Then we introduce you to the IELTS band descriptors, which are what the examiners use to grade your writing. Today, we will explain the four writing skills that the band descriptors assess and give you a brief explanation of how your writing can satisfy them. Then, we'll end with our top tips for preparing for the writing exam. In short, you will find out everything you need to start your IELTS writing journey in the best possible way!

In this episode, you will learn:

1. the basic facts about the IELTS writing test and how the Academic and General Training Tests differ
2. the importance of the word count and how you should divide your time
3. how your final IELTS writing score is calculated
4. what you have to do in General Training Writing Task 1
5. what you have to do in Academic Writing Task 1
6. what topics you may have to have to discuss in your IELTS essay 
7. the eight types of IELTS essay
8. how IELTS writing tests your language and your academic writing skills
9. what the four parts of the band descriptors are and what they test

Useful Links 

• Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
• Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
• Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors

Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.

Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:

• IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
• IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
• IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
• Free Podcast episodes: 

If you are worried about IELTS reading, then you are in the right place! Today, Nick and I will tell you everything you need to start preparing for the IELTS reading test. This is the fourth episode of our IELTS 101 series and can find the full episode notes and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/

Episode Notes

Yes, it is time to look at IELTS reading - the first of the two tests that are different for Academic and General Training students. Today, Nick and I will talk you through the basic facts of both tests, such as how long they last, and the type of texts you can expect to find in each part. Then, we will have a look at each of the question types in the exam and give you some clear advice about how to tackle each of them (spoiler - scanning does not work for every question!). We'll also show you which reading skills each of the questions is targeting, so that you can understand what your weak areas are and how you can improve them.

In this episode, you will find out:

1. basic facts about the IELTS reading test (number of sections, time, etc)
2. what types of topics you can expect to read about in the passages of the Academic and General Training reading tests
3. the 10 types of question that you might be asked to tackle in the text
4. how you should start to prepare for the IELTS listening test 
5. our top advice for scoring well in the test

Useful Links 

• Common words that repeat in General Training reading tests: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/words-that-repeat-in-the-ielts-general-training-reading-test/
• How to tackle headings match questions: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-headings-match/
• How to tackle information match questions: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-information-match-questions/
• How to tackle True / False / Not Given questions: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/

Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.

Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:

• IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
• IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
• IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
• Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

Today, Nick and I introduce you to all aspects of the IELTS listening test. This is the third episode in our IELTS 101 series and you can find the full episode notes and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/

Episode Notes

Many students find that listening is the easiest of the four tests, but it can still definitely be very tricky if you don't prepare well. As usual in our 101 series, Nick and I start the episode by giving you some basic facts about the IELTS listening test, including the types of conversation that you will hear in each part and the types of question you will have to tackle.

Then, we will go on to chat about some more complex aspects of listening such as the importance of being able to understand different accents (with Nick doing some fantastic impressions) and how you can follow conversations with more than two speakers.

In this episode, you will learn:

1. the basic facts about the IELTS listening tests (number of parts, reading time, etc)
2. the types of questions that you will have to tackle in the test
3. which listening skills IELTS tests during the exam
4. which accents you can expect to hear in the test (there are a lot!)
5. why spelling is important
6. how many questions you will need to get correct to get each band score
7. how parts 1 and 2 specifically test General Training students, and parts 3 and 4 specifically target Academic students 
8. which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 1
9. why IELTS removed the example from the start of the test
10. which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 2
11. which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 3
12. which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 4
13. our advice for how to get a high score in IELTS listening

If you are just starting your IELTS journey, then you can find out EVERYTHING you need to know about listening in this episode (plus you can practice your listening at the the same time!!!)

Useful Links 

• How many points do you need to get a particular band score: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
• Which podcasts will help you to improve your listening score: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/best-podcasts-for-ielts/
• Ted Talks: https://www.ted.com/talks

Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.

Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:

• IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
• IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
• IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
• Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

In the second episode of our IELTS 101 series, Nick and I introduce you to the IELTS speaking test. If you are just starting your IELTS preparation, then this is a great chance to understand what happens in each part of the test and what the examiner is looking for in your performance
 
You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/

Episode Notes

In this episode, Nick and I will start by taking you through all of the essential IELTS speaking test facts so that you clearly understand what the test involves and how your speaking will be assessed.

In this episode, you will learn 

1. some basic facts about the IELTS speaking exam (length, parts, etc)
2. how your seeking will be assessed by the examiner (the 4 band descriptors)
3. what you should do when you first enter the exam room to feel relaxed and make a good first impression on the examiner
4. what you will be asked to do in Speaking Part One (interview)
5. what you will be asked to do in Speaking Part Two (individual long turn)
6. what you will be asked to do in Speaking Part Three (two-way discussion)

Hopefully, by the end of the lesson, you will not only know what to expect in each part of the test, but you will also know how to approach each part to maximise your score.

Useful Links 

• How long should I speak for in Speaking Part 1: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-long-talk-ielts-speaking-part-1/
• What are the main types of Cue Card? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-cue-cards/
• Why might the examiner interrupt you in your IELTS speaking test? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/why-did-the-ielts-examiner-interrupt-me-in-my-speaking-test/

Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.

Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:

• IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
• IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
• IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
• Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com

Welcome to My IELTS Classroom podcast. In the first episode of our IELTS 101 series, Nick and I introduce you to the basics of the IELTS test. If you are just starting your IELTS preparation, then this is the perfect episode for you, as we cover everything from what "IELTS" means to how your final score is calculated (and everything in between!). You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/

Episode Notes

The world of IELTS can seem a bit scary when you first start your preparation - but I promise that it doesn't have to be! Nick and I  work hard to make taking IELTS as painless as possible (and even a little but fun!) Today, we want to start right from the very beginning by taking you through all of the basic facts about the IELTS exam.

In this episode, you will learn the answers to these questions:

1. What does the word IELTS mean (and how is it pronounced!)?
2. Who are Cambridge, IDP and the British Council?
3. How can you choose the best IELTS test centre in your local area?
4. Why do people need to take the IELTS exam?
5. What is the differences between the Academic IELTS exam and the General Training IELTS exam?
6. What do the IELTS scores mean (and how can you understand your current level)?
7. Should you sit the new computer-based IELTS test or stick with the original paper-based test?

In fact, by the end of the lesson you will have all of the information you need to start your IELTS preparation in the best possible way.

Useful Links 

• Read more about the difference between IDP and the British Council: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/british-council-vs-idp/
• Find your local test centres: https://www.ielts.org/book-a-test/find-a-test-location.
• Find your current level: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/general-english/
• Read more about the difference between the paper-based test and the computer based test: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-computer-based-test-vs-paper-test/

Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.

Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:

• IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
• IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
• IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
• Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com

Support the show