Takeaway Tips
Learn something new every week.
This is where I put the quick takeaways from the Writing and Speaking lessons.
Present Participle
The present participle has so many uses that you might not even realise you’re using it. Here are the most useful examples for IELTS.
Late submission policy
The deadline for Writing is midnight Wednesday – no ifs, no buts!
Modals Part 2 – guessing
This lesson will help you understand the basic meaning, form and uses of modals.
Modals Part 1 – the basics
This lesson will help you understand the basic meaning, form and uses of modals.
‘one of the’ vs ‘a’
Look at the 3 sentences below: I am one of the residents of Shiv Nagar who is writing to complain about the improper management of rubbish. Access to fresh water is one of the basic human rights. My mistake resulted in us losing one of the valuable clients. Now...
Formal vs Informal language
Learn the best formal and informal alternatives for both Writing Task 2 and General Training Letters.
GT Task 1: Photography competition
Informal letter features and practice: a photography competition
Task 1 line graph about electrical appliances and housework
Dynamic line graph about electrical appliances and housework.
namely, such as and including
What’s the difference between ‘namely’ and ‘such as’? Do a quick review and practice session here.
Future Continuous vs Future Perfect
What will you be doing in 10 years? What will you have achieved?
Present Perfect
How and when to use the Past Perfect.
hedging
‘Hedging’ is a skill that takes time to get right. Here’s a brief overview which takes you to the full lesson.
First and foremost
How to use ‘first and foremost’ for emphasis.
Past Perfect
The Past Perfect comes up in all parts of the IELTS test. Here’s how and when to use it.
plans
This Academic Task 1 describing changes to an airport covers the tenses and expressions we can use to talk about plans. It also reviews the language of describing changes to a map or plan.
plethora
Words that you should NOT use in IELTS.
suggest and recommend
These verbs have dangerous verb patterns. I suggest avoiding ‘suggest’ if at all possible!
commas
The 3 most common comma mistakes.
male and female
Male/female vs males/females
pie charts
Ways of describing proportion and percentages using the CRAM or MARC system.