IELTS Energy English 7+

Get our FREE IELTS VIDEO TRAINING NOW Are you preparing for IELTS in a way that works with your personality? Do you assume that because you’re an introvert, you can’t succeed on the Speaking test? What’s the difference between an introvert and an extrovert: Introvert: You lose energy from being around people and stimulation Extrovert: You can get energy from outside stimulation like interaction with people, music, crowds, etc. Come back to our site to get more advice for IELTS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have a HOT new IELTS video training out! Get it here and learn how to get a 7 or higher on your IELS exam. This morning one of our listeners just took the Speaking test and we got a great question from her. She had two questions: 1- “Is it bad that the examiner asked me to speak louder?” 2- “Is it ok that I took a quick sip of water during the test?” Neither of these issues is a problem that will affect your grade. But you must speak loudly enough that the examiner can hear you of course. Come back to our site for more tips and advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our FREE IELTS VIDEO TRAINING HERE Are you using crutches when it comes to the IELTS Speaking test? Today you’ll find out why crutches can be deadly on the IELTS exam. Language crutches in English are “like,” “um,” “uh” and words like those. When you use those on the IELTS Speaking test you lose points for both fluency and vocabulary. You lose fluency points because you are repeating yourself and you lose vocabulary points because it sounds like you don’t have the vocabulary words that you need. You have to stop using them on the exam even though you hear native speakers using them all of the time and they are natural. Come back to our site to find out how to stop using these crutches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our free 3-part IELTS video training course now! Do you ever run out of things to say on the IELTS Speaking test? What should you do in this situation? This happens a lot in Part 2 of the Speaking test. Follow two steps if your mind goes blank and you run out of ideas: Be honest. Say something like “That’s all I can think of to say on that topic.” “I can’t believe it’s not two minutes yet.” This will also help with your anxiety. If you say what you are experiencing, you will feel much more relaxed. Next, think of something else to say. Think of anything in your personal experience that connects to the topic in any way. Follow these two steps the next time you run out of ideas on the Speaking test and let us know how it goes. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our FREE IELTS Video Training Course Now Do you know what the biggest myth about writing and speaking on the IELTS is? What should you do if the questions that you get on the speaking test are too broad? You should talk about examples from your personal life. Tell your own stories. Think about your most recent experiences from the topic. For example: Q: Do you enjoy exercise? A: Yeah just yesterday I was going on a bike ride and I saw cherry blossoms. Don’t be afraid to “boast” about yourself. Also use linking phrases to get a higher fluency and coherence score. Examiners listen for them. Use linking words like: “In fact…” “Indeed” “Actually” What questions do you have about the IELTS exam? Let us know in the comments below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our FREE IELTS VIDEO TRAINING COURSE NOW! Did you know that you should spend LESS time on grammar when you prepare for the IELTS exam? Does that sound strange to you? If it does then you should listen to today’s episode. Why shouldn’t you focus on grammar? It’s not worth the time and it’s almost impossible to improve your grammar score for the speaking section quickly. Don’t waste your time on grammar textbooks. Instead of doing grammar exercises, you should try reading a newspaper to improve your reading score. In speaking, you are graded on 4 things: fluency and coherence- keep talking and don’t use “ums” and “uhs’ vocab- use exaggerated language, slangs, and idioms to get a 7 pronunciation- get a 7 by using intonation and emotions grammar- this will be much harder to improve Remember, your speaking score is an average. You can still get a speaking score of 7 without focusing on grammar. What do you think? Are you focusing a lot on grammar? Are you going to change your strategy after today’s episode? Let us know below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your FREE IELTS CHEAT SHEET NOW What is the IELTS? Who takes it, and why? Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss all the basics of the IELTS exam! The IELTS is an exam that’s usually taken by non-native English speakers. The academic version of the exam is for students who want to study in a English-language university. A more general IELTS exam is taken by job candidates who want to work in English-speaking countries. The two versions are very similar – the only difference is that the academic test has more difficult reading and writing sections. IELTS is completed with pencil and paper, and by speaking with a real person. This is very different from something like TOEFL, which is computerized. However, the IELTS does have very specific rules. This means that knowing what to expect can help you get a better score. If you’re at intermediate level and you’re planning to take the exam, you should begin preparing for it least 3-6 months ahead. Also, be aware that the IELTS is very popular, so seats fill up fast. Ielts.org has a list of where and when you can take the exam. Many people who take the test don’t get the score they need the first time. Don’t worry, you can take it again! The best way to improve your chances is to know what to expect, and to prepare. More details are coming soon about our 3 Keys IELTS System! Stay tuned to learn more! Are you going to take the IELTS? Tell us why, and how you’re preparing for it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your FREE IELTS CHEAT SHEET Do you want to impress the examiner in the IELTS speaking section? Today, find out why exaggerating will give you a better score! If you want to stand out in the IELTS speaking section, you need to energize the English you’re using. You can’t just say something boring like “I’m hungry” when you can get more attention by saying “I’m starving – if I don’t eat now, I’m gonna die!” Of course, you don’t need to exaggerate all the time when you speak English, but doing it during your speaking exam will definitely impress your teacher. Use adverbs to magnify your adjectives, and use idioms and metaphors to add color to what you’re saying. Also, use excited and dramatic intonation to show emotion. Doing these will make you a more interesting and natural-sounding speaker, and get you a better score. Here are some examples: “I totally love my bedroom. It’s by far the best room in my house!” “The couch is so soft it’s like sitting on a cloud.” “I like days when the sun’s beating down on me in total brilliance.” How can you talk like a drama king or queen? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your FREE IELTS CHEAT SHEET: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Let's talk about it- leave us a question at http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-american-british-english/ Should you speak American English or British English on the IELTS? Today, Jessica and Lindsay talk about accents, and what you can expect on the exam! The IELTS was developed in Cambridge, United Kingdom. So does that mean you should speak English with a British accent when you take the exam? The answer is no. English is now a global language, and the IELTS is a global exam. On the listening section, you are likely to hear American, British, Indian and other kinds of English accents. And it doesn’t matter which you use when you speak – as long as your pronunciation is clear! It’s a good idea to get used to different accents so you don’t have trouble understanding them on test day. Consider listening to podcasts from the different places, and don’t be afraid to work with a teacher from anywhere. Which English accents are you used to hearing? Which ones are difficult for you to understand? Let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your FREE IELTS CHEAT SHEET: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Come back to http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-examiner-stop-speaking-test/ and leave a comment Why does the IELTS examiner stop you in the speaking test? Today, Jessica and Lindsay talk about why this happens, and why you shouldn’t worry about it! It can be frustrating if the IELTS examiner asks you a question, and you begin answering it, and then they stop you while you’re speaking. You might think that you made an English mistake, or the examiner doesn’t like your answer. But that’s not what’s happening. Timing is the issue. The examiner has only a certain amount of time to ask you about specific things. As part of their job, they must stop you – and it has nothing to do with the quality of your English, or your answer. Don’t let an abrupt interruption like this cause you extra anxiety! Expect it to happen, and don’t take it personally. All tests have to follow their timing. Do you think being interrupted while you’re English speaking might cause you anxiety? What do you plan to do about it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our free IELTS Cheat Sheet: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Get a summary of today's episode: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-unfamilar-speaking-question-un-freeze-speaking-section/ What's your target score on the Speaking test? Come back to our site and let us know! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nervous about the IELTS Speaking test? Get our free IELTS Cheat Sheet and learn what the Examiner wants: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Get a summary of today's episode here: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-attack-writing-task-2/ Tell us what your target score is and when your next exam date is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our free IELTS Cheat Sheet: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Get a summary of today's episode: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-anxious-nervous-scared-go-happy-place-comes-ielts/ Come back to our site and leave a comment. Let's have a conversation about the IELTS! Let us know your next test date. We are here to support you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the Examiner wants on the Speaking test: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Here is the summary of today's show: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-resources-like-preparation-need/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our free IELTS Cheat Sheet! Find out what the examiner wants on the speaking test: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Get a summary of this episode here: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-how-to-beat-writing-task-1-on-the-ielts/ Come back to our site and ask us your IELTS question! We want to have a conversation with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Come back to our blog and have a conversation with us! http://allearsenglish.com/ielts-writing-time-strategy/ Also get our IELTS Cheat Sheet to find out what the Examiner wants on the Speaking test: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Are you getting ready for your IELTS exam? One big challenge on the IELTS is timing on the Writing test. Today we’ll help you with a great time-management strategy. You have a total of 60 minutes to do the whole Writing test. Task 2 is 250 words and Task 1 is 150 words so you need to spend more time on Writing Task 2. We recommend 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. However, don’t start with Writing Task 2. Do Task 1 first. You also need to allow time for planning. It really depends on you and how you prefer to write but we recommend that you practice and see what’s right for you in terms of planning time. As a general guideline, you could spend 4 minutes planning and then spend a few minutes after to check your work. When you practice brainstorming and coming up with ideas in the planning step, don’t forget to write down everything you think of. In Task 2, spend 5 minutes planning, 30 minutes writing, 5 minutes to check. You need to practice the timing for all of these steps and adjust it based on what you need. Practice is the key with time management. The biggest mistakes that people make with time management on IELTS Writing is when they skip both planning and checking at the end. When you check, look for spelling, grammar, vocabulary, etc. Listen to this episode to learn more about how to check your own IELTS Writing test. What other questions do you have about IELTS Writing? Let us know in the comments below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that being imaginative and creative can get you a 7 on the IELTS exam? This is especially true when it comes to the IELTS Speaking test. Your ideas don’t need to be 100% realistic. What’ more important is the way you deliver your ideas. You can make stuff up and have fun with it! Today we’ll show you how! What should you do when you get a Speaking question about the future and you don’t know how to answer the question? You need to open your mind and be willing to make up your own ideas quickly. In Part 3 of the Speaking test, they often ask you to guess or predict the future. For example, they might ask, “How might the way people travel change in the future?” With this question you need to make up a creative answer. A good response is this: “I predict that by 2025 we will all be riding in flying cars.” This is also useful because when you make up a funny idea, it makes you laugh, which makes you relax and makes you speak more like a real person. This will also help your vocabulary because you will end up using less common vocabulary when you make up ideas about the future. If you aren’t used to coming up with your own ideas or if you haven’t learned this in school you can train your mind to be creative. You already have the ability but you just need to practice it. Creativity is a muscle. Flex your imagination! Try this: Look at the news and look at the topics in the newspaper. Come up with a prediction for each article headline that you read. Predict what will happen with that specific topic in the future. Try to entertain the Examiner. The Examiner is going to give you your score right after Part 3 of the Speaking so it’s good to leave them on a funny and positive note because this could influence your overall Speaking score. If you are already a naturally funny person then you should amplify that in the Speaking test. Don’t be afraid of your own ideas and your own personality. If you are enjoying yourself during the test then your Examiner is probably having fun too. Do you have other questions about the Speaking test? Let us know in the comments below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you nervous about the IELTS Speaking test? Most people get super nervous about this part of the test! Part of why you are nervous is because you don’t know what kind of questions to expect from the Examiner. Today we’re going to show you what questions the Examiner is likely to ask on the Speaking test. We’re also going to show you how to prepare for these questions. On Part 1 of the Speaking test you will always have to talk about: Work Study Home Sample questions for Speaking Part 1: Do you like your apartment? Are there many shops near your apartment? What are you studying? Why did you choose this subject? What will you do when you finish? Clothes Driving a car Excercise Food Health School- what do you remember about your high school? Who was your favorite teacher? What do you like to read? Do you enjoy reading before you go to bed? ** Remember! You can’t give one-word answers. You must expand on your ideas. Give complete sentences or you will get marked down. When the Examiner asks, “What are you studying?” don’t say “English” instead you can say “At the moment I am studying English at the university downtown. You can practice Part 1 with a language exchange partner. Speaking Part 2 and Speaking Part 3: Questions in Part 2 and Part 3 will always be linked to each other. Topic: Movies Part 2: Describe your favorite movie (who, what, when, where, why). You can practice this part by yourself to get comfortable speaking for two minutes. Part 3: What makes a movie successful? Do you think the director or the actors are more important? For part 3, you should have 3 things in your answer: Give your opinion Give an example of your opinion Give a concluding sentence When you prepare for the test, you should write out your answers ahead of time. Later, when you get comfortable with that you can stop writing them out and get better at responding quickly. Remember, planning ahead and preparing is the key to getting more confidence. Final tip- check out the NY Times and look at the newspaper sections- those are typical IELTS Speaking topics. What other questions do you have for the Speaking test? Please ask us in the comments below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Today find out how to get a 7 on all 4 sections of the IELTS! In the Speaking Section: The examiner looks for four things: Fluency and coherence: Use linking words, don’t pause, don’t repeat yourself Vocabulary: Use a few slang words, a few idioms, a few phrasal verbs- get away from the textbook Grammar: It’s hard to get a 7 in grammar. The only way you can do it is if most of your sentences don’t have mistakes but it’s ok not to get a 7 in grammar because the score is an average. Think about where your strengths are and if they are not in grammar then focus on other areas. Pronunciation: This is the easiest one to get a 7. You can do it! Show some personality. Use some intonation. Use drama! You don’t need “perfect English pronunciation.” The Writing Section: Task 1: Task achievement- you have to include all of the important numbers and you have to have an overall trend. For example, “Overall, numbers increase in this period.” Task 2: They grade you on task response. Did you answer the question? Answer every single part of the question. Also, cohesion and coherence are important. Use linking words and have clear paragraphs. Have an obvious main idea. Vocabulary: You need to use academic phrases and academic linking words. Grammar: It’s hard to get a 7 on this. You need a variety of sentence structures and not a lot of mistakes. The Reading and Listening Sections: At least 27 correct answers out of 40 will get you an “acceptable” score Now you know exactly what you need to do to get a 7 on all 4 sections of the IELTS. Now go get started on your preparation and you will be ready to get that 7! Let us know your questions in the comments section. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Today you’ll get 3 sentence structures to improve your grammar grade on IELTS Writing Task 1. On IELTS Task 1 you are shown a graph, table, pie chart, or bar chart. They have numbers and you have to compare and contrast how they change. You will see a graph that shows “Change Over Time” The examiner wants you to use different sentence structures for this category. Here they are: 1) Subject + verb + adverb : “The numbers increased dramatically in 2008.” 2) There was + adjective + noun: “There was a dramatic increase in 2008.” 3) Before +verb-ing: “Before increasing in 2008, the number of surfers experienced a decline.” Where can you find graphs to use to practice these sentences? Find IELTS forums Go to IELTS.org Go to a bookstore and write down some sentences with your notebook New York Times and USA Today Google Images, type in “bar chart” or “pie chart” Where else have you found resources like pie charts or graphs to practice these sentence structures for Writing Task 1? Let us know your ideas below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Are you nervous about your IELTS Speaking test? Did you know that there are some easy things that you can do to increase your chances of a higher score on the Speaking test? The IELTS exam is not completely objective because another person is giving you the score. Yes, they are trained and there are very specific requirements for each score but they are still human and you can influence the examiner in a positive way to increase your score. How to build a rapport with the examiner or get their attention: Don’t shake the examiner’s hand. This is not a business deal. Do follow their instructions about where to sit and be respectful. Don’t try to negotiate with the examiner to get a better score. Don’t ask the examiner how you did right after the speaking test is over. The final few minutes before you leave the room are very important so don’t make the examiner angry. Do use your personality. Do Tell personal stories. Don’t say what you think the examiner wants to hear. Do relax, smile, laugh a little bit. Do be polite. Do make eye contact if you can. If you can’t do that then you can look beyond the examiner. Approach the Speaking section like a formal interview but also show a positive attitude. It’s supposed to be formal but relaxed. Do you have any other questions about the Speaking test on the IELTS? Please ask your question below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Are you nervous about talking for two minutes in speaking section 2 of the IELTS? Today, get some note taking strategies you can use to ace the IELTS speaking section! In the IELTS speaking part 1, the examiner asks you about three topics. But in part 2 you are given a single topic card. No matter what this topic is, you cannot change it. You have one minute to prepare to speak for two full minutes. How you spend that minute is important. Because you will have such a specific topic, and such a short amount of time, it’s probably best to write everything you can think of about the topic. You could do this in a bullet list, or as a mind map. But you need to have enough to say for those two minutes. If you do not have practice brainstorming like this, you may want to practice. Use a topic from a newspaper as an example. Give yourself a minute (or more) to make a list of notes on the topic. Then, see if you can use them to speak for two minutes. Other tips: Practice brainstorming/note-taking every day if possible. You’re training your brain for thinking, speaking and writing in English. Take all of these notes in English, not your native language! Ideally, your notes will provide you enough to tell a story. Telling a story will enable you to speak for the full two minutes, and help you remain coherent. Do you have much experience brainstorming? How do you think it would go for the IELTS speaking section part 2? Let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS What’s the difference between the IELTS and the TOEFL? Today, learn what makes these two tests distinct, and how to choose between the them! The IELTS and the TOEFL have some significant differences. But that doesn’t mean one is easier than the other. Many universities will accept either test, so you might be able to choose which one works best for you. That means it’s a good idea to know how each is unique. Here is are some points of difference between the two tests: The IELTS exam is completed on paper and by speaking to a person. The TOEFL is done entirely on a computer (even the speaking portion). For some people, IELTS might feel more “natural.” The listening section in TOEFL uses only North American accents. IELTS, on the other hand, uses a range of English accents from around the world. If you have trouble with accents, you might find IELTS more difficult. But IELTS is more predictable. For example, the test has three reading passages every time. TOEFL, on the other hand, always has a different number of reading passages. It also might have longer listening and reading sections. With TOEFL, on one section you have to listen to a conversation and give your opinion. This means it’s both a writing and speaking section. IELTS only has distinct listening and reading sections. Which exam sounds easier to you? Let us know why in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher How can you increase your IELTS vocabulary range? Today, learn 3 steps for building a more dynamic vocabulary for the IELTS exam! You need to have words that are useful for academia and formal situations, but also with your friends on the street. This is key to having a more natural sounding English. But how do you build this range of vocabulary? Jessica has three steps for building it. They include: Getting the vocabulary: Newspapers are a great resource for this. A newspaper like the USA Today is more understandable, while the New York Times is written at a higher level. A magazine like the Economist is even higher. Recording it: For every article you read, choose maybe five new words to learn. Keep them in context. Maybe write a summary of the article that uses these new words. Remembering it: Develop a system for studying these new vocabulary words. Try to review the words at least two or three times a week. Also, try to use these new words in conversation. What are you doing to build a range of vocabulary? Tell us what you’re doing in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Today you’ll find out why some students lose focus and energy easily and quickly on the IELTS and why others are able to stay awake and energized throughout the entire exam. How to Keep Your Energy High for IELTS Day: Eat Breakfast: You need protein that will stick with you all day like eggs as well as carbohydrates that will give you the energy that you need like oatmeal. You can also try almond milk, nuts, fruit, etc. Bring Water to the Test: Remember that when you bring your water bottle into the IELTS exam, you cannot have a label on the bottle. Tear the label off before you go in. Prepare for this ahead of time. Get Fresh Air and Exercise: This is a great way to keep your focus alive and to keep your mind awake. Ty to get in a short, brisk walk before you check in and at noon after you finish the Writing section. This will help you be ready for the Speaking test in the afternoon. Do you have great strategies to maintain your energy on IELTS test day? Let us know your ideas in the comments below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Today you’ll find out which accents will be on the listening section of the IELTS and where you can practice those accents for free. Are you confused about which English accents will be on the IELTS? There are a variety of accents on IELTS. If you buy books from a British publisher then you will hear mostly British accents. However, on the test you will hear a variety of accents from around the world. Still, you need to get used to British English and other accents. You can find British accents on Luke’s English Podcast. Here are a few other resources with a mix of accents but also a lot of videos from England: ESLvideo.com EnglishCentral.com ** You can also view transcripts and take quizzes on these sites. BBC Learning English Engvid More Hot Resources! Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals Real Life English Podcast Have you found any other great resources to prepare with a variety of accents? Please let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get our 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS Today you’ll learn what grammar risks you should take on IELTS to get a 7 and when to play it safe with your grammar choices. Do you know how complex your grammar needs to be to get a score of 7? For a 7 you need a mix of sentence structures. To get a 7 you need simple (subject + verb “I go to the store”) and compound sentences (two simple sentences put together using conjunctions “I go to the store and I like to shop”) and complex sentences (adding a dependent clause such as “I go to the store which is near my house because I love to buy the food that they have”). However, you also need to be sure that you don’t have a lot of mistakes. It’s ok to make some mistakes. You can make mistakes up to a band score of 8. You should play it safe on the IELTS and use the grammar structures that you are comfortable with. Don’t try using rare grammar tenses like the past perfect. Don’t experiment with new tenses on the IELTS exam. To sum up, to get a 7 you need 80% of your sentences to have no mistakes. You should get comfortable with relative clauses because it’s a great way to mix in the more advanced grammar that you need and they are easy. How can you add these more complex grammar points? Try to make it relevant to you when you practice. What tenses have you used on the IELTS exam? Tell us in the comments! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CLick here to get our 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on the IELTS Get show notes on this episode here: http://allearsenglish.com/ie-8-how-can-you-correct-your-own-writing-for-the-ielts-writing-section/ Can’t find anyone to correct your IELTS writing practice? A lot of people have this problem but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do some great preparation for the test by yourself! Today you’ll find out exactly how to create a checklist for your writing to grade it yourself. When you create your checklist you should organize it based on the descriptors. Descriptors are what the examiner looks at in order to give you a grade. What to look for when you correct your own writing practice tests: Task achievement/task response: Do you complete the required task? Do you actually answer the question? For Task 1, you need to include all the key points. You need a summary or overall trend. You need to say what happens to the numbers in general. For Task 2, did you stick to the topic and fully answer every part of the question. For example, if it’s an argument essay, did you talk about every part of the question? Organization: Does every sentence connect to the topic? Are you repeating anything? Are you being direct and concise? Coherence and Cohesion: Do you have good paragraphs? Do you use linking words between every sentence? Examiners look for the linking words! Don’t forget them. They are important! Don’t let your writing be choppy. It needs to flow with linking words. Do your ideas make sense? Vocabulary: Look for repeated words and circle them. Try to think of different ways to say words when you have repeated them. Grammar: Look for a variety of sentence structures. Underline the complex sentences. Make sure you included them in your writing. A complex sentence is where you use a dependent clause with a simple sentence. Here is an example: “I like writing which has a lot of linking words.” Mistakes: Make a list of the most common errors. Look at verb tenses, circle the different tenses. Make sure you are using them correctly. It’s better to have a real person correct your IELTS writing but if you can’t do that, try using this checklist above. Set up a very specific study schedule. Work on it every single day. Leave yourself plenty of time ahead of the test to prepare and you can do it! Leave us a comment below! Have you tried correcting your own IELTS writing? How did it go? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your free Cheat Sheet! Find out what the examiner wants on the speaking section of the IELTS: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Get show notes here:http://allearsenglish.com/how-to-succeed-on-the-ielts-speaking-exam/ Today you'lll find out how to stay cool and confident on the speaking section of the IELTS! Here are 3 tips from Cathey: Step 1: Practice and prepare Step 2: Get out of your head Step 3: Recognize your current emotions, try to put them out of your head and focus on what you are trying to accomplish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the Examiner wants on the speaking section of the IELTS: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation Leave a comment and get show notes: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-impress-examiner-5-english-phrasal-verbs/ Do you want that extra edge or advantage to push your score to a 7 on the IELTS exam? You need some English phrasal verbs to stand apart from the crowd! Today, Lindsay and Jessica share 5 English phrasal verbs you can use to stand out and get the score you need! You will probably be asked to talk about the topics of home, shopping, food and studying in Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking Section. You need to prepare for this. One way you can do that is have some phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are a way to sound more natural and native when speaking informally. Though there are many of these to choose from, you only need to use of a few to stand out. Here are five that are easy to use and will impress your examiner: Bone up on: This means to learn. It’s not only a phrasal verb, but also an idiom. “I had to bone up on my English studies.” Figure out: This means to learn the details of something, or discover how it works. “I figured out how to fix the television.” Goof off: When you are having fun, but not working or studying, you can say “I spent the afternoon goofing off.” Clam up: This is another phrasal verb and idiom. It means that you’re so nervous you couldn’t think of what to say. “I clammed up when she asked me to answer the question.” Catch up: If you’re behind, and you’re trying to shorten the distance, you might need to catch up. This can be used physically, like you’re chasing someone, or with your studies. “I fell behind in my homework and have to catch up.” Do you have any other phrasal verbs you’d like to use in the IELTS exam? Let us know what they are in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Come back to our site to leave a comment and get show notes: http://allearsenglish.com/ielts-speaking-avoid-dangers-part-1/ Get your free Cheat Sheet: What the Examiner Wants: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation What’s so difficult about the IELTS Speaking Part 1? What can you do to prepare? Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss some tactics for avoiding the dangers and allowing yourself to stand out! Speaking Part 1 of the IELTS includes questions about yourself. You will be asked about three topics, and though it may seem like simple stuff, the danger is that you might become too relaxed and start using one-word answers. You want to do better than that. In fact, ideally your answers will be 2-4 sentences each! How can you do come up with that? Do some brainstorming. Think of the question words. Question words can help you think of better answers. Vocabulary is also important in Speaking Part 1. If you want to achieve a higher score, you will need to use a range of vocabulary, including slang and idioms. The examiner wants to hear that you know more than what’s in your textbook. A good strategy is to have a short list of slang and idioms ready to use. What are some good English slang words or idioms that might be helpful to have for Speaking Part 1 of the IELTS test? Let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leave us a comment here: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-reading-skim-scan/ Get your IELTS cheat sheet here: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation How can you prepare for the Reading Section of the IELTS? Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss two strategies to help you answer questions quickly and correctly! Timing and strategy are important for success on any test. For a reading test, you need to be able to figure out answers quickly without having to re-read. Jessica has two suggestions to help you with this. Skim: Take one minute to skim the title, subtitle, and beginning of each paragraph. This opens your “brain box,” and prepares you to understand what the passage is about. If you can follow the passage more easily, you will be able to answer the questions faster. Scan: When you read the text, look for names and key words, and underline them. For many taking the IELTS exam, the most difficult part of the Reading Section are the matching questions. Scanning for key words and underlining them is an active behavior that will help you answer these faster. Do you use the strategy of skimming and scanning? Let us know how it works for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get more info here: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-listening-on-the-ielts-exam/ How do you build a “Brain Box” for the IELTS Listening Exam? Today Lindsay and Jessica talk about two strategies to make the listening part of the IELTS exam easier! If you have a strategy or a system to approach the IELTS Listening Exam, you’ll probably do better. Your first step should be to listen to the introduction. It will tell you who will be talking, and what they’re talking about. Many people who take this exam skip the introduction because they think they don’t need it. This is a mistake, because the context will help you understand. The “brain box” concept is that your brain puts topics in “boxes,” and accessing a specific box will put a conversation into context, and make it easier to comprehend. After you’ve listened to the introduction, you will then have about ten seconds to read the questions before you hear them. Use this time to circle the key words before they’re read aloud. Making note of these key words will prepare you to answer the question quickly. Speed is important, because you don’t want one question mix you up on the next one, and then the next one. How do you plan to prepare for the listening portion of the IELTS exam? Tell us about it in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Visit us online to leave a comment at: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-happens-ielts-exam-day-2/ What should you bring to your IELTS exam? When should you go, and what should you watch out for? Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss how you can be prepared to succeed on your IELTS test day! On your IELTS exam day you should try to arrive 45 minutes early. It’s critically important that you get there on time. If you are late, you will miss the first section and can’t make it up. Missing an entire section will make it impossible to get a good overall score. You should plan to bring your passport for identification. It is also okay to bring a bottle of water, but you must remove the label. Your belongings will be stored in a separate room while you take the test. Usually all four sections of the exam occur in a single day. In the morning you will have the reading, writing and listening sections. In the afternoon, you will have the speaking section. It’s important to understand that the morning will probably be more stressful because it will be so busy. On the other hand, you will likely have time to wait in the afternoon. Some speaking sections are scheduled as late as 6PM! For this reason, it is a good idea to know if there’s anyway near the test station where you could pass the time – a park, for example. What else do you want to know about the IELTS exam? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To comment on this episode, visit us at http://allearsenglish.com/aee-ielts-pros-prepare-ielts/ Are you preparing to take the IELTS exam? Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss what you need to know to pass with the score you want! There are lots of questions about the IELTS exam. It’s not an easy test to take, but it is the most widely accepted test for getting into universities and even for immigration and work visas. One reason for this is that the test is face-to-face with another person, which makes it more real. Though this might sound intimidating, many testers actually find it more relaxing when the examiner is another person, rather than a computer. When students take the test and don’t get the score they wanted, it’s usually because they didn’t have enough real-life speaking practice – they only worked out of textbooks. You need to practice speaking with an actual person. You also need to be honest with yourself about where you are with your English abilities so that you have an obtainable goal. How are you preparing to take the IELTS exam? Let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices