IELTS with Fiona: a comprehensive guide to IELTS

This is my walkthrough of an Academic Passage 1 about Stonehenge. Keyword before you listen: ‘Winter solstice’ - the shortest day of the year (December 21st) Meaning: to stand still The solstice (combining the Latin words sol for “sun” and ‘sistere’ for “stand still”) is the point where the Sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest point in the sky for the year and thus ancient astronomers came to know the day as one where the sun appeared to stand still. Become a member to get the full tapescript, wordlist and video. ieltsetc.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This listening about a research project contains several examples of ‘academic’ language (language related to studying at university) that you need to understand Listening Part 3. It's about a volcanic eruption, and is adapted from a Cambridge Past Paper (Book 18). Get the full lesson notes and video in the Bronze Membership on my website ieltsetc.com and the Listening Course in the Members Academy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This Part 4 Listening is all about moving elephants. In the lesson you'll learn about: The full transcript is available in the Bronze Membership on my website. https://ieltsetc.com/2023/10/ielts-listening-part-4-keeping-up-with-the-speaker/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This is a relatively easy Passage 2 from a Cambridge Past Paper, with 3 sets of questions [Matching Information, Categorising and Gapfill]. https://ieltsetc.com/2023/10/ielts-reading-forest-management/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This Listening Part 4 about a writer called Victor Hugo is taken from the new Practice Book 18. In the podcast you'll learn Get the full video, tapescript and tips in the Members Academy Listening Course with Members bonus features for 12 months. ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This is a Passage 3 review about a book about The Birth and Growth of Manhattan's Skyscrapers. Seriously, I don't expect anyone to listen to this for more than 5 minutes. If you've got the text in front of you, it might help, but not much. All I can do is give you strategy tips for this one because trying to explain the answers is painful. The only good thing about this text is that everything goes in COMPLETE ORDER and we know where everything is because it goes from 'Chapter 1' to 'Chapter 10'. Actually the Yes, No, Not Given questions are pretty ok too. But the last Gapfill Summary with Answers is a nightmare. Good luck with it! All the best Fiona from IELTS with Fiona --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

Farming and agriculture is my Number 1 Vocabulary topic for IELTS, and I noticed that most of the readings in this new Cambridge Practice Test Book (18) are related either to the environment (Week 1 of my vocab course) or to cities/architecture/buildings (Week 2 in my Vocabulary course - the Man-Made Environment). So make sure you re-read this text for the useful vocabulary e.g. sustainable, organic, intensive farming. Members: the video version of this podcast with pdf download is now available for you to watch. Get my Members Academy Reading package (2 full courses plus all the new lessons over 12 months, plus Members Academy benefits - Private blog, live zoom meetings, private community, daily tips, Writing coaching lessons etc). As I add more materials and benefits, the price will only increase, so join sooner rather than later so you can get the most of the resources before your test. https://ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

This is a pretty straighforward Academic Part 2 about Stadiums. In this podcast we'll go through 3 question types (Matching Statements, Gapfill Summary and Choosing from a list.) Get more in the Members Academy https://ieltsetc.com/courses. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

I guarantee that you can do this in under 10 minutes if you follow my system. Find the Reading online and do it yourself before you listen. Learn more about my IELTS Reading techniques with TWO courses in the Members Academy. ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

Get the full blog with audio on my website: https://ieltsetc.com/2023/04/ielts-listening-tips-complete-guide/ In this lesson, I examine the MACRO and MICRO skills you need to get all of the answers right in this Section 2 IELTS Listening about a holiday company. For example: The Members Academy teaches all of these skills in a variety of easy-to-follow short courses with quick video guides and plenty of practice. Join today https://ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

There are many free online IELTS Writing checkers available, and they can be useful when you’re starting your IELTS preparation. Online writing checkers such as Grammarly can give you simple feedback on your grammar, vocabulary and linking words. There are more sophisticated versions available that claim they can assess your IELTS writing using the Band Criteria, and give you a grade and feedback in a matter of seconds. But how accurate and reliable are they? I tested a few and here are my results. The one I mention in the podcast is testpredikt.com. Check out my blog here: ⁠https://ieltsetc.com/2023/03/best-online-ielts-writing-checker/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

[Skip the 5-minute introduction if you want to just get to the question types!] Different websites have different ways of categorising IELTS Reading Question types. See my latest blog for all the details: https://ieltsetc.com/2023/03/how-many-ielts-reading-question-types/ In my online courses, I follow the official IELTS.org guidelines, and I have simplified the types so that you focus more on developing your reading skills. Developing good reading skills will enable you to answer all question types. The 3 basic categories are: Matching thingsFilling in gapsChoosing from a list In this blog, I examine the official 11 Question Types as outlined on IELTS.org and explain how other teachers and websites might label them. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

The best thing about the IELTS Test is that you cannot fail it. The test simply takes a ‘snapshot’ of your current level of English. So if you’ve suddenly realised that you need to take the test in 10 days don’t panic too much. Consider it a ‘practice run’. 10 days is just enough time to familiarise yourself with the test requirements so you can give yourself the best chance of getting the best indicator of your overall ability. Here’s what I would do in the next 10 days. Read the blog here https://ieltsetc.com/2023/02/how-to-prepare-for-ielts-in-10-days/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

There are 7 key features of fast speech and pronunciation that you need to develop a better understanding of in order to increase your Listening Score: Read the full blog here. https://ieltsetc.com/2023/02/ielts-pronunciation-tips-listening-test/ Buy the workbook guide here: https://payhip.com/b/HzVmy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

In this Listening Section 2 we look at: - Multiple choice questions - distractors - matching from a list - the word 'staff' and how it's repeated 32 times - how to pronounce 'staff' - academic language you can use in Task 2 Improve your IELTS score with my intensive Listening Course: ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

What will you do differently in 2023? Here are my 7 resolutions to help you get the IELTS test over and done with once and for all. Get all the tips on my Daily Tips page https://app.getbeamer.com/ieltswithfiona/en and get all my lessons on my website ieltsetc.com. Join the Members Academy to make faster progress. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

In this episode, I'll take you through one of my Guided Readings - it's an Academic Passage 3 from Book 17 and, unusually, it's a book review. Follow my Advent Challenge on my website: https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-advent-adventure/ Join the Members Academy: https://ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

Question: "How do I cope with so much information when I'm preparing for the IELTS test?" Answer: "Just do as much as you need to do for the Band score that you want." In all aspects of life, there are different levels of expertise and knowledge. Deciding what you want to do with your IELTS score will help you manage your time and your learning. I've carefully programmed this into the Members Academy. Aiming for Band 6? Just watch the videos. Need to get Band 7? Watch the videos and do the practice. Want Band 8/9? Do the EXTRA practice that I include in every lesson. Enrol today https://members.ieltsetc.com/academy This podcast talks about managing your learning according to what level of expertise you need to acquire. I call it the traffic-light system. GREEN: Band 6 - INTERESTED (do a single course) YELLOW: Band 7 - COMMITTED (join the Members Academy - do all the courses) RED: Band 8+ - OBSESSED ("To be the best, you have to be obsessed": do the Coaching Program) But remember this - what is the opposite of "too much information"? The opposite is "not enough information". Not enough info is worse than too much info when it comes to preparing for IELTS because it is not a subject - it's a language and a skill. Can fluent speakers have "too much English knowledge"? I don't think that's possible. Let me know if you've got any questions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

Can you guess the answers to the gapfill before you listen? In this episode I talk you through a Passage 4 where I think about 60% of the answers are guessable! Thinking of becoming a Member of my Academy? Find out more on my website: ieltsetc.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

A tricky GT Part 3 Reading with Matching Headings, Multiple Choice, and Matching Sentence Endings. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message