My IELTS Classroom Podcast

Hey! A couple of weeks ago, we received an email from one of our listeners (thanks Adam!) asking if all the fuss happening on YouTube about the "NEW IELTS Band Descriptors" was true. My immediate reaction was "probably not", but when I did a deep dive, it turned out that it was!

Yes, IELTS have finally released the examiner version of the band descriptors for writing. Let me be clear, this will NOT change the way that your writing is marked in any way. However, it does give students a better idea of the "ceiling scores" that can prevent you getting a high score.

Find out what those ceiling scores are and how you can avoid them in today's episode.

Useful Links

• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
• Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg

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, we continue our journey into the world of IELTS listening any how the exam writers try to confuse you by playing with opposites. This week, we move away from lexis and into the word of grammar. In particular, the 2nd and 3rd conditionals. 

Nick and I will explain exactly what the 2nd and 3rd conditional are, how they are formed, and how IELTS using them in listening recordings to confuse you!

This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities. 

Useful Links 

• Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
• Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training

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

Hey! Nick and I have recorded many episodes about IELTS listening. Usually, we focus on one particular type of question and break down which listening skills it is testing, and how you should approach it best. Plus, for everyone type of question, there are two or three "tricks" that IELTS uses to try to force you to choose the wrong answer (although these are not really "tricks" but good testing methods that check that you really understand the recording!)

 Today, we are doing something different. Today, we really are looking at a trick that IELTS uses in a range of questions. That' s using "opposites". Join Nick and I as we explain how the "opposite" trick works, and then show it to you in action using four questions from the Cambridge IELTS books.

This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities. 

Useful Links 

• Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
• Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training

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

Hey! Today, Nick and I continue our journey into idiomatic language by looking at phrasal verbs. We will explain what phrasal verbs are, how some are separable and some are inseparable, and demonstrate phrasal verbs in action in Speaking Part 1!

Useful Links 

• Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/

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

Hey! One of the criteria to score a 7.0 or higher in the IELTS speaking test is being able to show good use of "idiomatic language". But, what is idiomatic language, and when should you introduce it into your vocabulary. Join Nick and I today to discuss 

1. the path that most English language learners take when they are learning lexis
2. when idioms should be introduced
3. the problems second-language learners face when using idioms
4. which idioms we fee could be useful for IELTS test-takers

And finally, we introduce you to another type of idiomatic language that could be more useful in your exam than pure idioms.

Useful Links 

• Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/

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

Hey! It is the first podcast episode in May, which can only mean one thing - it is time to get motivated! Spring can be a great time of year to start new patterns of living and affect change in our lives.

So, why not join Nick and I today as we go back and look at some of the motivational techniques that we have recommended in previous years to see if we still feel they work. Plus we will offer a brand new technique (The "Do Something" principle), and Shelly will share a personal story that she hopes may motivate you even further!

Useful Links

• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
• Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg

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

We have spoken in depth on the podcast about IELTS maps, and IELTS line graphs before, but today it is the turn of IELTS bar charts. I would say of all the possible charts that you could be given on your exam day, IELTS bar charts are the most versatile. Why? Well, not only can they be used to represent change or to show comparisons individually, but they can also be used to show changes without time! Intrigued? You should be!

In this episode, Nick and I will clearly explain

• how you should look for the key features in both change and compare IELTS bar charts
• how you can organise the items on IELTS bar bar charts into logical specific details paragraphs
• how you should approach writing the specific details paragraphs i.e. what language you should use and which information you should present first
• how you should tackle IELTS bar charts that ask you to compare different age groups

Plus, we will look at charts that do not follow the usual pattern so that you can be prepared for all IELTS bar charts on your exam day. 

Useful Links

• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
• Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg

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

Hey! Way back in 2020, Nick and I discussed the basic techniques for completing IELTS listening matching questions. However, these are some of the most difficult question in the exam, especially in Part 3, and we have noticed that many students still struggle answering them even when they know the basic principles.

That's why today, we want to share a more advanced technique that can help you deal with tricky questions in the exam. Plus, we will attempt one of the most difficult questions that we have ever seen in the new Cambridge 17 book - and you will come along with us for the ride.

You can listen to the original IELTS  listening matching episode here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-matching-questions/

This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities. 

Useful Links 

• Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
• Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training

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

Join Nick and I today as we look at six essay questions that have recently appeared in the IELTS Academic and General Training exams. We will discuss our ideas for each topic, explain what our positions would be, and give each question a difficulty rating.

You will get far more from this episode if you spend 2 or 3 minutes looking at each question and planning your IELTS essay now

• Some people think that water is the most important natural resource. Others believe that other resources (such as oil and gold) are more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Too much emphasis is placed on education. More government money should be spent on providing free-time activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 
• Celebrities and famous people require constant attention from the media (newspapers, Internet). Do you agree or disagree?
• Many students find it harder to study at university or college than when they were at school. What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve the issue?
• Many places of natural beauty like mountains, lakes, and beaches are spoiled by the rubbish that people leave there. Why do people do this? What can be done about this problem? 
• In many cities and towns today, few people know their neighbours. What are the effects of this trend? What can be done to resolve the issue?

 Useful Links

• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
• Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg

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

Hey! 2 weeks ago Nick and I set you to the challenge of recording your answers to 5 very difficult Speaking Part 3 questions. Today, Nick and I listen to the recordings sent by our our listeners to give feedback. We will consider

• the quality of the students' ideas (and how they could be improved)
• the appropriacy of the vocabulary used in the responses
• the impact of L1 on pronunciation
• the affect of small grammar errors on a test-takers's score

Thank you to everybody who sent us a recording - we will email everybody who did not appear on the show with feedback this week.

Useful Links 

• Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/

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