IELTS Learning Tips

02/04/2026

HAPPY EASTER

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20/03/2026

HAPPY EID

To all who are celebrating

(Designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik)

29/01/2025

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR

to all who are celebrating :-)

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08/01/2025

MAKE 2025 YOUR IELTS YEAR!

A new year is the best time to take new steps, make new commitments, and really keep all those New Year resolutions.

WHAT RESOLUTIONS CAN YOU MAKE FOR YOUR IELTS?

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

>>>>Make an effective study plan and stick to it

>>>>Get as much exposure as possible to English (movies, songs, socialising..)

>>>>Speak more English (find a way if it's not around you)

>>>>Have some fun with it - IELTS doesn't;t have to be all work!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐒 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?

𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑦 - 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑒𝑦

>>>>Be realistic - make changes you can work with

>>>>Focus on what you really want - not what you think you 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑

>>>>Share your goal - once you tell people then it helps you to keep going - they may help you or check in on your progress

>>>>Don't be too hard on yourself - we all stumble at times, just get up and start again :-)

20/12/2024

HERE ARE THE WORDS FOR YOU TO SING ALONG TO THIS VERY POPULAR AND FAMOUS CHRISTMAS SONG
ENJOY IT!

Favorite Christmas song Twelve Days of Christmas beautifully sung by top talented choir - great for Christmas concerts, performances, choirs and churches. Me...

20/12/2024

https://jlcards.com/F0sN65

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13/12/2024

CAN YOU ‘SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES’ IN IELTS?

I love this expression in English because it describes what many of us do throughout our lives with everything we try to achieve. If you don’t know it, it means:

‘understanding what is important in a situation rather than thinking too much about small details’

In my experience, many students don’t see the wood for the trees!
I spoke to a student a few days ago who wanted to know if instead of giving his opinion, he should discuss all aspects of the topic from two sides, as some of his fellow students had suggested.
Another student asked if they should avoid firstly, secondly, etc.

**The point is that:**

>>>It all depends on the question >>>

The key in IELTS writing is to answer the question that is given.

>>>Not ALL IELTS questions are about 2 points of view.

>>>Whether you use firstly, secondly, etc. will depend on how you construct your paragraphs. You cannot ‘pre-prepare’ your answer. There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer.

Sadly, many students spend a lot of time searching for these things instead of just getting on with writing the tasks and developing their writing.

Another student was explaining his reading process :

>>>First, he went through the passage underlining keywords

>>>Then through all the questions underlining numbers, dates, names and other ‘useful’ words.

>>>After that, he read the passage and then went back to the questions to complete them one by one.

I was wondering if he actually managed to complete even one passage!

How did he know which words he underlined would be important?

Why read all the questions but not solve them simultaneously?
Why waste so much precious time?

Another student was telling me about not being able to find a speaking partner,

>>>He was very specific about the kind of person he wanted to buddy with

>>>He only wanted to discuss specific topics

>>>He only wanted someone who was looking for the exact, same, bands he needed

Not surprisingly he hadn’t been able to find a suitable candidate and was still without any speaking practice.

What all these students were unable to realise is that they were overlooking what was really important:

>>>Getting some writing down on paper

>>>Actually answering the reading questions

>>>Making sure speaking practice really happens

None of them could see the wood for the trees and as a result, they were all missing golden opportunities to improve their skills and therefore also their IELTS band.

The key is to - get started - get on with it - and stop overthinking everything.

Again and again, I see how students make IELTS far more complicated than it really needs to be.

If you want help to 'see the trees' then I'd love to speak to you. DM me and we can prepare a plan.

29/11/2024

DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR IELTS GOAL

I was speaking to two IELTS students Mita and Sara recently. They are both doing really great work and making fantastic progress. Both should reach her IELTS Band very soon.

Mita is a 'perfect student' - systematic, thorough, patient, dedicated and focused. She also takes advantage of everything that is available – daily lessons in her IELTS plan, all the extra exercises, asking questions when she needs to and engaging with other students for extra practice which all contribute to her IELTS success being inevitable.

Sara is also a perfect student, she has set herself a goal of band 8 in everything – this is a very bold goal.

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵?

Yes, I think so because she is preparing for this goal in the right way, creating a timetable, collecting the materials she needs, giving herself enough time to achieve those bandsl and most vital of all looking for the support that she needs.

Maintaining focus on your goal is very important, but unless you create a path that leads to the goal, follow it systematically day by day and look for help and support when you meet roadblocks, your goal will not be possible.

𝗔 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝

𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 – 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱

*****A really bold goal will get you out of bed every day and into action

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹

*****How much time can you spend?
*****Will you study online or use books (or both)?
*****Will you find a teacher?
Use as wide a range of things as possible.

𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀

*****How much study can you manage in a day?
*****Work out a timetable.
*****Make sure you balance all the topics - grammar and vocabulary, as well as IELTS skills.

𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀

*****IELTS practice
*****Grammar resource
*****Vocabulary resources

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴

*****Mix and match the concentrated exercises with more fun things

𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰

*****Follow a system
*****Create a set pattern of study
*****Record your scores so you can measure these and see your progress,

𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲

*****Set new targets,
*****Change direction
*****Get your work assessed so you know if you are on track.

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

*****Being a lone-ranger is a lonely journey
*****Find others who can share your journey,
*****Join groups.
*****Get a teacher to help you.

And if you want some help putting all this in place I’d love to speak to you
https://ieltslearningtips.com/breakthrough/

04/11/2024

THE IELTS LOTTERY

I read the experience of one student today who had taken the exam 4 times over a short period and her results had more or less remained the same. It seemed to me like she was thinking about IELTS like a lottery. Buy a ticket and hope that you get lucky.

Another student hadn’t got his results and really needed to take it again as he had one chance left to gain a scholarship. He only had 2 weeks and was planning to jump in on the very next test to try again. From the scores it was clear that he needed to get some help with both writing and speaking and the chances of much improvement in this short time was limited.

It flagged up to me two things that IELTS students often do:

***Don’t trust the results they receive and think that taking another test is the answer

***Take the exam without really understanding whether they are ready to get the result they want or not.

In both approaches, a kind of lottery is going on – will I win?
If I don’t win this time, let me get another’ ticket’ (exam) next week, next month.

Just like the lottery, there is no process, no system – it is all just luck and chance.

Learning a language is a slow process which takes time, patience and regular, consistent practice. It also needs oversight – that means that you need to know that you are on the right track. This is especially true for writing and speaking – these are almost impossible by yourself - unless you are already a good user and even then it seems crazy to me not to get your work checked.

All writers, even professionals have their work proofread!

So if your approach to IELTS sounds like this then stop playing the IELTS Lottery and make sure that you really focus systematically to achieve your band.

I’m always happy to speak to you about your IELTS - DM me or follow the link below:
https://ieltslearningtips.com/breakthrough/

01/11/2024

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.

𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙-𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛!

Perhaps some of you were struggling with IELTS and got to the stage where you really didn’t know how to get through the exam when you received an email from a teacher or school, or perhaps one of your friends recommended someone and suddenly everything changed and you found the support you needed to get your IELTS band.

It happens all the time. In our DIY (Do It Yourself) world you can learn everything you need to know practically on YouTube and you can seek and find a lot of help and support via social media but although this is all at your fingertips, it doesn’t always result in success. I find myself stuck often with technical things and I seek an answer on YouTube and follow the steps laid out and I still can’t manage to solve the problem. Then somebody says it’s very easy and they demonstrate and hey presto it’s solved. I’m sure you have had this experience too.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀?

I hope it tells us that teachers are still necessary!! Otherwise, I will be in trouble ☹.

But, more seriously I think it tells us that while we are all very engaged in the online world and can learn amazing things, it is still sometimes essential to have someone who is an expert to lead us through the process.

So, when it comes to IELTS, especially, writing, it may be sensible to seek the help of an expert.

I was working with one of my students today and she told me after just 3 meetings she was feeling far more confident about her IELTS. She has managed to reduce the time for reading and writing and can manage all the questions far better and importantly she is beginning to enjoy her IELTS study and her scores are showing this!
That is a huge breakthrough! After just three lessons.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗦 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻:

**Save you a lot of time
**Save you a lot of heartache too
**Give you confidence
**And maybe save you money in the long run

I’m not suggesting you choose me as your IELTS teacher – although it would be nice 😊There are many out there and I am sure that there will be the perfect one for you.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁.

**If you are finding the whole process challenging
**If you don’t feel as though you are making any progress
**If you are putting off your IELTS practice because it is a big chore
or
**Engaging in any other ‘avoidance tactics’ then maybe it is the right time for your IELTS teacher to ‘appear!’

If you want to talk about your IELTS then click the link and let me know 😊
https://ieltslearningtips.com/breakthrough/