Exam tips: the Cambridge English Advanced and IELTS interview
Upper intermediate to advanced levels (B2-C1)
You only have a short time to show how good your English is in the Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) or IELTS interview. How can you do it? Continue reading
IELTS interview
How to get a good IELTS score
Almost all exam interviews begin with simple questions about you and your life. This is helpful because it means you can prepare some impressive answers. Continue reading
IELTS: Life Skills by Skype exam preparation
New English test at A1 and B1 level
Since April 2015 there have been two new IELTS tests. The A1 IELTS Life Skills test is designed for people who need a ‘Family of a Settled Person’ visa. The B1 test is suitable for people applying for ‘indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or citizenship’. You can prepare for IELTS Life Skills by Skype. Continue reading
New English requirements for working in the UK
Foreign doctors working in the UK already need to have English at IELTS level 7.5. Today, a Government minister has just announced that people who work with the public in the state sector will need to have fluent English. This includes NHS and state school staff. Continue reading
Writing: keeping it simple and clear
Intermediate to advanced level (B1-C2)
Have you ever read a piece of writing and then asked yourself ‘What did that mean?’? I certainly have. I’m not talking about short emails from friends but rather longer, more complicated essays or reports. Continue reading
IELTS: about the Academic version
Upper-intermediate to advanced level (B2-C2)
There are two IELTS exams: the General and the Academic version. Continue reading
Here are some useful websites if you are looking for a dictionary. There is also a really useful website for seeing how words are used in a sentence and an interesting website which helps you understand phrases. There are also websites about English exams, business articles in English and a link to a reading level test. Continue reading
IELTS: Writing
Yesterday I was grading some IELTS writing (academic module second task, 250 words). Here are some tips to help you with this question in the exam. Continue reading
International English Language Testing System
IELTS scores range between 1 and 9 but most people get a score between 4.5 and 7.5. If you go to a typical language school you can expect to improve your IELTS score by 1 point approximately every 12 weeks. Continue reading