Hey! In IELTS reading matching sentence endings is a strange question type. At first glance, they can seem simple. After all, your only task is to match the start of a sentence with its correct end. And, as all of the possible endings are given to you, the challenge seems minimal.

However, as we will see today, matching sentence endings question are unique as they rarely contain clear scaling words. This makes them unique as they are both "slow" (because identifying the sentence that contains the answer can be difficult) and "quick" (because once you find the sentence, locating the answer should be easy).

The key to finding the sentences is reading for meaning, which is what we will teach you in today's episode!

You can find out more about today's lesson at  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-matching-sentence-endings/

In this episode, we will:

1. look at the basics of matching sentence endings questions
2. examine how the question has changed over the last few years
3. explain why you cannot use skimming or scaling to tackle the questions
4. answer a set of questions from Cambridge 14 while demonstrating what happens in the mind of a reader who is interacting with a text

Useful Links 

• Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
• Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
• Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-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

Support the show

I repeat the YouTube channel is live! Yes, this is just a short reminder that from 7am GMT today, you will be able to watch 8 My IELTS Classrooms lessons for free on our YouTube channel. Just click here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg

Plus, we will be releasing a video every day in the coming week, including 3 that have only ever been available to my paying subscribers. 

Then, from March 25th, we will be releasing totally new weekly content every Friday!!!

If you are a fan of the podcast, I promise that you will love the video lessons. Plus, every view and subscription will be helping Nick and I spread the word about My IELTS Classroom.

So, what are you waiting for? Click on the link and go starting studying with us face to face! 

Support the show

Hey everybody. This week Nick and I have a huge announcement to make. Can you guess what it is? No, we are not getting married (don't worry Nick), but we are finally launching our YouTube channel. Join us today to find out what content we plan to release. Plus, Shelly will share the techniques she used to get over her mental block over the channel - I mean, she has been promising to launch for 3 years, so what changed in the last few weeks?

You can sign up the channel on this link. The first lessons will drop at 7am on Friday March 11th. If you enjoy the podcast, then this is your chance to support Nick and Shelly as they take a big step forward in growing My IELTS Classroom.

You can read more about today's episode and watch the preview of the new channel at  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/my-ielts-classroom-youtube/

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/

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 by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom

Support the show

In recent weeks, Nick and I  have spent a lot of time talking about Academic Writing Task 1, so we thought that today it was time that we gave some love to our General Training students!

Join us as we rank the four prompts in the new  Cambridge IELTS 16  in order of difficulty from easiest to most challenging. Trust me, the Cambridge IELTS 16 letters are NOT the same as previous Cambridge  books! The letter to Mrs Barrett is worth the price on its own!

You can read more about today's episode at:  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-16-letters/

In this episode, we will 

1. rank each of the 4 letter prompts in Cambridge 16
2. look at what makes each of the letter prompts easy or difficult
3. share useful lexis for some of the more challenging bullet points
4. give you simple sentence structures that you can use to make your letter sound more natural

Useful Links

• Watch the first three lessons in our GT Task 1 Writing Course here: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
• 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/

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 by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom

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Hey! This week, Nick and I look at how you should tackle IELTS Object Cue Cards, which are one of the most common in Part 2 of the exam. We will start with a brief review of IELTS Speaking Part 2 (as it has been along time since we did a speaking episode!), and then share a range of useful lexis to describe objects. Finally, we will demonstrate how you can put all of these skills together by completing one 2-minute turn each.

You can read more about today's episode at:  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-object-cue-cards/

In the episode, we will 

• go through the basics of IELTS Speaking Part 2
• give you BUCKETS of lexis that you can use to describe any object for your cue card
• demonstrate how you can use the lexis by completing a cue card each

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/
• How long should you speak for in Part 1? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-long-talk-ielts-speaking-part-1/
• When IELTS Speaking Part 1 becomes strange: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/when-ielts-speaking-part-1-gets-strange/

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 continue our series on writing both paragraphs by looking at how to write IELTS paragraphs that contain just one idea. We will look at the different language blocks that you can use to build your paragraphs, the different sentence structures that are often used in each block, and the importance of progression. In other words, we will show you everything you need to write these paragraphs well!

You can read more about today's episode at:
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paragraph-writing/

In this episode, we will 

1. look at the building blocks that you can use to build your paragraphs 
2. explain the importance of progression in essay writing
3. give you specific examples of how to plan paragraphs that progress
4. show you the sentence structures that you can use to naturally build your paragraphs

Useful Links

• Listen to the first episode in this short series:  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paragraph/
• Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
• Read my blog post about Coherence and Cohesion: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-coherence-cohesion/
• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/

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 by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom

Support the show

I think that being able to construct a paragraph is the most fundamental IELTS writing skill. If you are able to start with a clear topic sentence and then build a logical argument, you are almost guaranteed a high score for Task Response and Coherence (and you have a good chance of a high one for Coherence and Cohesion too!)

Today, Nick and I start with the basic question "What is a paragraph?" and end by showing you how being specific in your arguments can increase your score.  However, there is a lot in between!

You can read more about today's episode at:  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paragraph/

In this episode, we will 

1. look at the basic elements of a paragraph
2. explain the importance of unity in essay writing
3. talk about the two types of topic sentence
4. show you the sentence that most students miss when they are writing a body paragraph
5. look in detail at how you can extend your ideas in a paragraph that contains two ideas
6. discuss the importance of having specific ideas if you want a very high score

Useful Links

• Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
• Read my blog post about Coherence and Cohesion: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-coherence-cohesion/
• 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: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
• Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom

Support the show

Hey! There are always times in life when things don't go as planned. You buy a wardrobe and think it will take an hour to put together, but it takes 10. Or you have a lovely week planned and then you unexpectedly have your wisdom tooth removed! But what happens if things do not go as planned in the IELTS exam? When should you complain? And, more importantly, how can you make an IELTS complaint? That is what Nick and I discuss today.

You can also listen to today's episode on our blog -  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-complaint/

In this episode, we will:

1. give you some new and important information about applying for a breakdown of results from IDP
2. read a listener's query about what is the correct procedure in an IELTS speaking test
3. outline whe n you should (and shouldn't) make an IELTS complaint 

• You can find the template for asking for a breakdown of your scores here: :https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-exam-results/ ‎
• 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: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

Can you here the trumpets playing? Yes, back by popular demand, today Nick and I break down the first IELTS essay questions 2022. As always, we will choose 6 essay topics that have been reported from recent exams that we think are difficult, and offer you our arguments and tips for organisation. You are welcome to sit and passively enjoy the episode, but you will get a lot more out of the lesson if you actively take part.

This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen:  https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-essay-questions-2022/

In this episode, we will discuss the following questions

1. Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities. Others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
2. Governments should give a basic income every to citizen, whether they are employed or not, so that they have enough money to live on. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
3. Studies have shown that many criminals have a lack of education. Therefore, some believe that the best way to reduce crime is to educate prisoners so that they can find work after they are released. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
4. Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
5. More and more people say that they do not feel safe when leave home. Why is this? What could be done to address this issue?
6. Information technology is changing many aspects of our lives and now dominates our home, leisure, and work activities. Do the benefits of information technology outweigh the disadvantages?

Useful Links 

• Learn more about brainstorming ideas - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
• Download our free guide to the band descriptors here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook/

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  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

Support the show

In 2020, Nick and I recorded an episode of the podcast that gave you a complete fail-prof system for tackling any type of IELTS line graph. You can listen to that episode here.

We went through the basics, such as the vocabulary you need to describe changes and how to organise your paragraphs, to more complex advice such as how to find key features and write your specific details from start to finish. Plus, we also looked at a new type of key feature that IELTS had recently started using and no other teacher was talking about. In other words, I felt like we had recorded the ultimate guide to IELTS line graphs, and we would never have to talk about them again. Then came the IELTS line graph 2021!

Yes, in Cambridge 15, I noticed that IELTS had subtly introduced a new type of line graph. It wasn't obvious at first, but the came another similar chart in Cambridge 16, and suddenly I realised that a whole new system was needed to tackle this new type of chart well. That is what we are going to show you today!

This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you have this webpage open as you listen so you can see the charts and follow the class -   https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-line-graph-2021/

In this episode, we  will 

1. review the old "system" for line graphs (which still works perfectly well for 99% of charts)
2. show you how the new IELTS line graphs in 2021 are different
3. explain why you need a diferent approach to answer them well

Useful Links 

• Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
• Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
• Listen to our similar lesson for line graphs: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-line-graphs/

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