Can you hear the sound of bells jingling? That't right! It the final Tuesday before the 25th of December, which can mean only one thing - it is our annual Christmas IELTS Quiz.

Only this year, there are absolutely NO questions about IELTS whatsoever, so it really us just a chance for Nick and I to let our hair down and talk about the Christmas traditions we enjoyed growing up in the UK.

Obviously, if you are preparing for your exam and sitting first, you may want to skip this episode and go back to one of the 145 in our back catalogue to work on your IELTS skills. You can find them all on this page: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/category/podcast/

But, if you have been listening for a few months (or all year), then why not take this opportunity to sit back, relax, and find out more about life in the UK.

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/

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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

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At the end of last week's episode (in which Nick and I explained how the examiner will band your speaking performance for Fluency and Coherence, I sent out a call on social media for our listeners to record themselves attempting four current speaking part two questions. We will highlight some common errors and give expected scores based on the public band descriptors.

Useful Links 

• Join our next 5-day intensive speaking course:  https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
• If you are just starting IELTS, then find out more about what happens in the exam in our Introduction to IELTS Speaking episode : http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
• You may find our episode about the speaking band descriptors useful as well: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-speaking-band-descriptors/

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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

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In the IELTS Speaking exam, the examiner will give you a score in 4 areas: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Range, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Your final score will be the average of these four scores rounded down.

However, recently I realised that that there is a lot of confusion among students as to exactly what the examiner is looking for when they grade Fluency and Coherence. Fluency is relatively clear and easy to understand - that is your ability to speak without pauses or hesitations for languages. But what exactly is "coherence"? The band descriptors tell us that it is the use of "connective devices and discourse markers", but are discourse markers the same as transition signals? And what exactly are connective devices in speech? That is what Nick and I discuss in today's episode.

Plus, if you would like to join our IELTS speaking challenge next week, you can choose from the following questions and email your recording to [email protected]

• a well-known and popular person in your country
• a time when you made a hard decision which had a positive result
• something you do to stay fit & healthy
• a traditional product from your country

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

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Hey everyone. IELTS reading MCQs have always been one of the most difficult to tackle in IELTS. That is because they can either test your understanding of the information given in the passage of your understanding of the writer's purpose or aim.

Until now, 90% of questions have focussed on the former, but I noticed that in Cambridge IELTS Academic 17, almost ALL of the questions asked you to analyse what the writer was doing. This is obviously a massive change and one that could be challenging for many students.

Today, Nick and I look at the MCQ's from Test 1, Passage 3 To Catch a King  to show you how you should approach this type of task.

This is an interactive lesson, so we recommend that you follow along while reading the passages on this link: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-mcqs/

In the lesson we will

• explain how you can look for the writer's "main purpose"
• outline the importance of summary words
• show you how to understand why a reader has included particular examples
• plus, you should learn the value of reading the whole paragraph before attempting these questions

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

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Every few weeks I get an email from a student who would like to know how to prepare for the IELTS Life Skills test. Sadly, I know nothing about the test, so I usually just point them in the direction of the official website and wish them luck.

However, this week Nick discovered that one of his friend's had recently taken the test, so today he is going to explain to me exactly what the test is, who needs to take it, and how it is marked.

Even if you don't need to take the test, this is an interesting insight into a different test works, and you will get to hear my brain explode!

Useful Links

• Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
• 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

Use code BLACK15 to get a 15% discount on all our courses this week. Find out more on this link: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing

Hey! IELTS is well-known for recycling the same topics for Speaking Part 2 again and again. However, they do sometimes introduce new topics into the exam, which can confuse some students.

Today, Nick and I analyse 5 new IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics from 2022 to show you how you can come up with ideas quickly for ANY topic. Plus, we will provide model answers for two questions.

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

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Shelly is sick today, so we are planning a re-run of our most popular ever episode - how to nail IELTS Listening Part 3!

Many students find Part 3 of the IELTS listening test the most difficult. There are a number of reasons for this: there are more than two voices, the questions usually focus on the outcome of a discussion in which many views are offered, and you may also be asked to locate a person's feelings (and we all know that feelings are much harder to find than facts!)

You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-part-3/

Episode Notes

In today's episode, Nick and I try make Part 3 slightly easier by going through FOUR of the common "tricks" used by IELTS test writers that you can avoid being fooled by them.

In this episode, we will:

1. remind you of the basic information about Listening Part 3
2. examine the Rapid Fire Key Words Trick 
3. examine the Synonyms Trick
4. the Have You Read the Question Properly Trick
5. the Several Speakers Trick

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

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Last week, IELTS IDP announced that they are planning to introduce a new test called the IELTS One Skill Retake. This will give students the opportunity to retake only one section of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) in the IELTS test if they did not achieve the score they aimed for the first time around.

Obviously, this could make a HUGE difference to the experience test-takers have of the IELTS exam, but there are still many questions left unanswered at this stage. For example, will you be able to take the One Skill Retake once, or many times? How much will it cost? And will all professional bodies and governments accept the One Skill Retake certificate?

This is what Nick and I will be discussing in today's episode. You can read more at:  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-one-skill-retake/

Useful Links

• Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
• 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, Nick and I take you on a tour of IELTS spelling. We will cover the basic spelling rules that every test-taker needs to know, such as when you should replace a -y with an -ies, and when you have to double consonants in a word.

Then, we will look at words that are commonly spelt incorrectly by IELTS test-takers, before finishing with a light hearted quiz to see if you can spell better than a native speaker! I am 100% sure that you can do better than Shelly!

Useful Links

• Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
• 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

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Yes! That's right - this week Nick and I are looking at a grammar point - parallelism! This is not a topic that is widely discussed in the IELTS world, but if you are looking for a score of 7.0 or higher in Writing, it is definitely something that you should pay attention to.

In today's lesson, Nick and I will explain what parallelism is, and take you through the different situations it should be used. We will start with simple examples about parallelism in lists, before moving on to how parallelism should be used in compare and contrast sentences.

You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/what-is-parallelism/

Useful Links

• Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
• 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