Most Popular
Reading
Grammar Essentials: What is the passive voice?
Have you heard the words 'active' and 'passive' used to talk about verbs in English? Do you know what they mean? These are not tenses, they are voices. Put simply, the active voice shows what something does while the passive voice shows what happens to something. Today we will look at the structure of the passive, why we use it and when you might need it in IELTS.
25 May, 2020
Speaking
IELTS Speaking Game: Don't Say It!
When you're speaking in English, do you sometimes find that halfway through a sentence you can't remember the word you want? Or do you find yourself talking about something and realise that you don't actually know the word you need in English? Don't worry â it's not just you â it's a very common problem.
17 April, 2020
Speaking
Prepare for IELTS Speaking with our NEW podcast
We're pleased to announce the launch of our podcast, 'All you need for IELTS success'. This podcast is for anyone taking the IELTS test. Every episode we'll be joined by experts from the world of IELTS (teachers, authors and former IELTS examiners) to help you prepare for your test. We know preparing for IELTS can be challenging, which is why we're here to help.
6 May, 2020
Recent Posts
Speaking
Everyday English: Ordering Coffee
Preparing for your IELTS test is really important, but what about real life English? Could you order a coffee in a busy coffee shop?
20 November, 2020
Speaking
Talking about your hometown
When we meet new people, especially people from other parts of the world, it's natural to be curious about where they come from.
16 November, 2020
Reading
Academic question types in IELTS Reading
Do you want to see all the IELTS Reading tasks at a glance? Today, I'm sharing the questions types in Academic Reading to help you understand the different types of questions that come up.
22 August, 2020
TopTips
How to choose the right IELTS course or tutor
Getting help with your IELTS preparation may be the best decision you can make.
11 November, 2020
TopTips
8 websites to help you prepare for IELTS
In this blog I want to share some of my favourite websites and apps with you to help your IELTS preparation. These links are not all IELTS focussed, some of them are just for fun, and yes, I know that you're preparing for IELTS and that you're focussed on the test, but it's equally important to work on your general English.
6 November, 2020
Speaking
Essential Grammar in IELTS Speaking
In this post, I will focus on grammar as a speaking subskill. It's common to feel anxious about using the correct grammar when speaking, but your grammar doesn't need to be 100% accurate to get a good mark in the IELTS Speaking test.
4 November, 2020
Writing
How to write a semi-formal letter for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
If you read my posts on how to write a formal or informal letter for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you may be wondering what a semi-formal letter is.
29 October, 2020
TopTips
Top tips for describing maps in IELTS Writing Part 1
When I was younger, I used to have a recurring dream: I would show up for an exam and fail terribly because I had studied geography but instead it was a history exam. It was extremely stressful.
27 October, 2020
TopTips
How to improve your vocabulary around personality
There are many words in English to describe someone's personality â the type of person someone is because
23 October, 2020
Reading
Improve your Academic Reading skills with IELTSi
IELTS learners often tell us that it's difficult to understand what the test is assessing, and this makes it hard to prepare for. If this is a problem for you too, don't worry â you're not alone. Why not try IELTS intelligence?
19 October, 2020
Reading
IELTSi – improve your skills the intelligent way
When preparing for the IELTS test, it can be hard to know what to focus on to make the best of your preparation time. IELTS intelligence, or IELTSi as it's also known, is a new digital tool to help you maximise your study time and develop your weaker skills.
15 October, 2020
TopTips
What is IELTS?
If you are new to the world of IELTS it can all be a bit confusing. Today we will try to answer some of your questions.
13 October, 2020
TopTips
Developing your English for work after IELTS General Training
One of my former students has become a good friend of mine. Many years ago, he hired me as a private tutor to work with him towards the General Training version of the IELTS test. He needed the test to apply for a visa to Australia in order to start a job as a carpenter.
9 October, 2020
Speaking
Essential Vocabulary in IELTS Speaking
Following on from my post on fluency, I want to focus on the subskill of vocabulary. We all know that to become more proficient in a language, we need to build our vocabulary, but how should we do this with the IELTS Speaking test in mind?
6 October, 2020
Speaking
Getting it right by using the question
IELTS is a test. This means that certain answers are considered 'right' and others are considered 'wrong'. In the Listening and Reading test, it's easy to see how this works.
30 September, 2020
Listening
Avoiding distractors in the IELTS Listening test
Why might you get an answer wrong in the IELTS Listening test?
24 September, 2020
Speaking
How to become more fluent for IELTS Speaking?
Welcome to the first in a series of 4 blog posts which will help you develop essential subskills for the IELTS Speaking test. Subskills can be defined as the smaller skills that make up a bigger skill, such as speaking. In this post, I will focus on the subskill of fluency.
18 September, 2020
Writing
Describing Maps in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
You may be asked to describe a map in Task 1 of your Academic IELTS Writing test. Today we are going to have a look at a test question, talk about some of the specific vocabulary that you would need to answer this question, and then have a go at editing an answer.
22 September, 2020
Reading
Timesaver Techniques for Multiple Choice Questions
In previous blogs, we've seen that while some types of reading questions require careful preparation, others should only be read once you've completed individual paragraphs to save time and avoid confusion. When it comes to multiple-choice questions, you'll need to combine both techniques.
16 September, 2020
TopTips
How to improve your vocabulary around energy
How electricity is produced may not be something you think about every day, but it's definitely a topic you should learn more vocabulary on for your IELTS test.
11 September, 2020
TopTips
Three ways to remember vocabulary for your IELTS test
Do you find it difficult to remember new vocabulary? If you do, you're certainly not alone. I think most language learners struggle to remember many of the new words and phrases that they note down or read in vocabulary lists.
7 September, 2020
TopTips
How to improve your vocabulary around technology
If there's one topic you should learn more vocabulary for in the IELTS test, it's probably technology<
9 September, 2020
TopTips
Your views can help learners around the world
How are you getting on with your IELTS preparation? Or perhaps you've already taken your test? We hope the materials on our website and social channels have been helpful!â¯
4 September, 2020
Writing
How to write a formal letter for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
Can you put the following examples in order from the most formal (serious and official) to the least formal (relaxed and friendly)?
3 September, 2020
TopTips
Working with a Study Buddy
It can get lonely studying on your own. It's so easy to lose your motivation when the only person cheering you on is your reflection in the mirror. You might find yourself wondering 'Does it really matter if I do this Listening task today?' Does this sound like you?
1 September, 2020
CommonMistakes
Common Mistakes: -ed or -ing for adjectives describing feelings
As you may know, in addition to writing this blog, I also teach English at University.
28 August, 2020
Writing
How to write an informal letter for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
When was the last time you wrote a letter to a friend? I'm guessing it may have been a long time (or perhaps never) because you use texts, email or social media instead.
25 August, 2020
Speaking
Using artificial intelligence to check and improve your spoken accuracy
Almost everyone has access to at least one item with this, they use it a lot of the time and it makes their lives much easier.
19 August, 2020
Writing
Comparatives in IELTS Speaking and Writing
Would you like to show your IELTS Speaking examiner how good your range of language is? Would you like to do better in your Writing test? If the answer to these questions is 'Yes!', then read on.
13 August, 2020
TopTips
Using body language to reduce stress levels and improve IELTS performance
Have you ever heard the expression 'fake it till you make it'? In today's blog I'm going to explore how by 'faking' relaxation and confidence in your body language during the Speaking test, you can impact both your stress levels and your performance.
11 August, 2020
Speaking
Top 5 ways to improve your IELTS Speaking skills every day
Being able to speak English fluently is the goal of most language learners. Speaking English when you're travelling or living abroad can make the experience easier. But if you donât live in an English-speaking country, then having the opportunity to practice speaking in English is quite difficult.
5 August, 2020
Writing
Using noun phrases to improve your writing
Have you ever wondered why academic English sounds so, well, academic? Your choice of vocabulary and linking words is certainly important, but there's another element to it that we rarely talk about, namely how we organise information within our sentences.
30 July, 2020
TopTips
How to improve your vocabulary around education
One way to improve your vocabulary for IELTS is to learn more words and phrases connected to the common IELTS topic of education.
27 July, 2020
Writing
Checklist for editing your IELTS Writing
Do you forget to leave time to check your writing at the end of a timed IELTS practice? Catching those mistakes that are easily corrected can make all the difference to your band score. Today, I'm going to give you a checklist of 10 things to look out for as you review your work.
24 July, 2020
Listening
How to speak Canadian English
After my posts on Kiwi, Australian, British and American English, this post is all about the English you may see, hear and need to use in Canada.
22 July, 2020
Reading
IELTS Reading: Using word forms and questions to complete gapfill tasks
In my last reading blog, I looked at how you can manage your time while completing gapfill tasks by searching for synonyms and by approaching the task in the most time-effective way. Today I want to share two more tips to help you get to the right answer, even if you don't know all of the vocabulary in the sentence. These two techniques work particularly well if the gapfill task is quite short, or you are trying to find an answer you have missed on reading the text for the first time.
17 July, 2020
TopTips
How to be an independent learner
It's every teacher's dream - a class full of highly motivated and independent learners. Perhaps you are one of these students. Almost certainly though, you've met one and have shared a class with them. You've probably wondered how they became like that and maybe how you could become one of these types of learners.
15 July, 2020
Speaking
Preparing for Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test
Do you find part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test difficult? You're not alone. Many people get really nervous about this. Don't panic, We Love IELTS is here to help.
9 July, 2020
TopTips
How to get a better score for grammar
Do you want to go from a good band score to a better band score? Of course you do! This blog will look at a few ways you can improve your band score in grammar. Examiners will be looking for a good 'grammatical range and accuracy'. This means using a wide variety of grammar structures and using them correctly.
7 July, 2020
TopTips
IELTS 15 - What's new?
IELTS Authentic Practice Tests are one of our bestselling books on Amazon and really popular with IELTS candidates because they are EXACTLY like the real exam. We check the practice tests with real students to make sure they are the same level as the IELTS Academic and General Training tests so you can be confident you are getting the most authentic experience possible.
2 July, 2020
Speaking
Top tips from examiners for IELTS Speaking
As an author for IELTS, I always find it's really important to fully understand the exam and hear from experiences of a really important group of people: IELTS examiners. Many of them have been doing this for a long time and have seen thousands of students.
3 July, 2020
TopTips
Find your passion and achieve your English language goals
Here at 'We Love IELTS', we love IELTS. We love it because we see the possibilities it opens up for our readers, and because we love helping you achieve the score you need. However, we don't expect you to love the exam itself, because, let's face it, very few people actually like exams.
2 July, 2020
Writing
Describing charts and graphs in Academic Writing Task 1
When you try to describe a chart or a graph, quite often you're so worried about getting the facts and the data correct that you forget to focus on the language and the grammar you are using. Does this sound familiar?
29 June, 2020
TopTips
Developing your English for university after IELTS Academic
I've spent many years as a language teacher preparing students for the IELTS exam, and during that time, I've become quite passionate about making this as positive and useful as possible and helping students get their required IELTS score.
24 June, 2020
Reading
Skimming and Scanning in IELTS Reading
The IELTS Reading Test is only 60 minutes long with 40 questions to answer from multiple texts, so reading and finding answers quickly is essential. Check out https://weloveielts.cambridge.org/prepareforielts/reading">this page on our website for a summary of the test format for Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS.
18 June, 2020
Writing
5 ways to improve your spelling
Do you get told time and time again that spelling is your weakness? Maybe it's time to do something about it. In today's blog I'll be discussing five (fun) ways to make spelling practice part of your daily routine.
15 June, 2020
Writing
How to improve your vocabulary using collocations
All students tell me they need to learn more vocabulary but what they don't often realise is that when you learn a new word, you should also learn what verb, adjective or preposition it goes with. The way words are used together is called collocation.
12 June, 2020
Writing
Grammar: What is future tense?
Grammar in English can be a love/hate thing. Some of us love completing grammar exercises and seeing how language patterns fit together, while others are just left confused and frustrated. If you're in the latter category, things aren't made any better when explanations include expressions like 'future perfect continuous'.
9 June, 2020
TopTips
A test-taker's perspective: easier said than done
Rafael, a past IELTS test taker (and now an English Teacher!), shares his experience of taking IELTS. It helped him to understand the test from his students' perspective and what's needed to prepare and pass the test to achieve band score 9.
4 June, 2020
CommonMistakes
3 mistakes to avoid with IELTS test practice
Test practice is an essential part of your IELTS preparation if you want to give yourself the best chance of getting the band score you need. But to make IELTS test practice effective, there are three common mistakes youâll need to avoid:
2 June, 2020
Writing
New Podcast Episode: Top Tips for IELTS Writing
Listen to our latest episode of our "All you need for IELTS success" podcast! IELTS teachers Emma and Liz give some top tips on the IELTS Writing Test.
29 May, 2020
Listening
What is American English?
Whether you're living in the USA or not, you'll no doubt be familiar with American English through movies and TV shows or perhaps through watching or reading the news on an American channel. I was too when I visited the USA a few years ago but unfortunately this wasn't enough to make all routine tasks easy, which was quite a surprise given that I'm from an English-speaking country!
28 May, 2020
CommonMistakes
Misusing linking expressions (Grammar)
Welcome back to the third and final part in my blog series on common mistakes in using linking expressions.
26 May, 2020
Reading
Grammar Essentials: What is the passive voice?
Have you heard the words 'active' and 'passive' used to talk about verbs in English? Do you know what they mean? These are not tenses, they are voices. Put simply, the active voice shows what something does while the passive voice shows what happens to something. Today we will look at the structure of the passive, why we use it and when you might need it in IELTS.
25 May, 2020
Listening
Using Audio Scripts to improve your IELTS listening
In my career, I have often heard teachers say, "listening cannot be taught only tested". It's true that when you do a listening exercise, it's often in the format of 'listen and answer the questions', and while practice does help improve your performance, there are a few exercises you can do to accelerate the rate at which you improve.
19 May, 2020
Reading
Time-saver strategy for IELTS Reading: Summary Completion
Today we'll be looking at the summary completion task although some of the principles outlined below also apply to sentence completion, note completion, table completion, flow chart completion and diagram label completion tasks. So, hopefully, you'll find this helpful.
15 May, 2020
Listening
What is British English?
If you're planning to live, work or study in Britain after taking your IELTS test, here are some differences in British English you might notice.
12 May, 2020
TopTips
Set SMART goals
For many students, gaining their required grade in the IELTS test isn't easy and it can be really hard to stay motivated and positive every day.
7 May, 2020
Speaking
Prepare for IELTS Speaking with our NEW podcast
We're pleased to announce the launch of our podcast, 'All you need for IELTS success'. This podcast is for anyone taking the IELTS test. Every episode we'll be joined by experts from the world of IELTS (teachers, authors and former IELTS examiners) to help you prepare for your test.
6 May, 2020
TopTips
Join or create a study group
Are you finding it difficult to stay motivated in studying for IELTS? One really good way to stay on track is working with others in a study group.
29 April, 2020
Writing
How to reach band score 7 in IELTS General Training Writing Task 2
Whether you're new to IELTS General Training or have taken the test before, it's really important to understand the types of questions you're asked and how youâll be assessed before jumping in and taking a test. So, if you need a band score 7 in IELTS General Training Writing, here are two steps you need to take before you do anything else:
27 April, 2020
Listening
5 ways to better prepare for IELTS Listening part 4
Which of the four parts of the listening exam do you think is most difficult? When students, teachers and examiners are asked this, many would probably say part 4. Why? Well, it's about an academic subject for a start â something we may not hear about if your listening tends to be from TV shows and films.
24 April, 2020
TopTips
Find the right preparation materials for you
With so many websites and books offering IELTS preparation materials out there it's difficult to know where to find reliable, authentic resources. We get a lot of questions about our bestselling authentic resources, so today I will try to answer some of them.
21 April, 2020
Writing
How to reach band score 7 in IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Can you write 250 words in 40 minutes on a topic you may or may not be familiar with? Well, if you're aiming for a band score 7 in IELTS Academic Writing, this is one of the challenges you face for Writing Task 2. Read on to learn more about this part of the Writing test and find out exactly what you need to do.
20 April, 2020
Speaking
IELTS Speaking Game: Don't Say It!
When you're speaking in English, do you sometimes find that halfway through a sentence you can't remember the word you want? Or do you find yourself talking about something and realise that you don't actually know the word you need in English? Don't worry â it's not just you â it's a very common problem.
17 April, 2020
Writing
Grammar essentials: The Definite Article
Did you know that 'the' is the most common word in English? It's also a word that many learners find very hard to use. Grammatical accuracy is important in IELTS so if you can use 'the' correctly, you will be one step closer to a high band score.
14 April, 2020
Listening
Top tips for multiple choice questions in IELTS Listening
There are many different question types in the IELTS Listening test. These can appear in any part of the Listening test (there are 4 parts) but not all types will appear in each test.
10 April, 2020
Reading
Time-saver strategy for IELTS Reading: True/False/Not Given
Welcome back to my blog series on saving time in the IELTS Reading test! Today, we're going to look at True/False/Not Given questions.
9 April, 2020
Speaking
Preparing for the IELTS Speaking Test: Part 1
The IELTS Speaking test is designed to see how well you can communicate in English. There are 3 parts to the test, each part lasts for about 5 minutes and is important!
7 April, 2020
Writing
5 ways to improve your IELTS Writing skills
Writing is a difficult skill and not just for people learning English or doing the IELTS test but for a native English speaker as well. In our day-to-day life we don't often have to write essays or describe graphs. Weâre more used to writing text messages or emails. But there are things you can do to practise and improve your writing. Here are 5 ways to improve your writing skills every single day:
4 April, 2020
CommonMistakes
Misusing linking expressions with examples (Logic and Syntax)
I'm going to outline typical examples of common mistakes students make in logic and grammar and I'll give you a few tips on how to avoid them in the exam.
20 March, 2020
TopTips
Words, words, words – here’s a challenge for you
Play our vocabulary building game, Boggle, which will push you to think about words you know, but don't use. Great for pairs or multiple players.
20 March, 2020
Writing
How to reach band score 7 in IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
As part two of our writing series, I'm focusing on Task 1 of the IELTS General Training test and how you can make it a more realistic target.
20 March, 2020
Listening
How to speak Australian English
If your plans after taking IELTS are to head 'down under' (to Australia), here are some essential Australian English words and phrases.
31 March, 2020
TopTips
5 ways to keep learning from home
Are you stuck at home, wondering how to stay focussed on your English when all classes have stopped? We Love IELTS is here to help!
20 March, 2020
Listening
How to speak Kiwi English
I'm writing this in Auckland, New Zealand and it's the middle of summer, so what better than a look at (and listen to) some Kiwi English words for the season?
1 March, 2020
TopTips
Simple ways to study for IELTS at home
Here are some simple things that you can do from home to maintain your general English level.
23 March, 2020
Reading
Time-saver strategy for IELTS Reading: matching headings
Time pressure is one of the main issues when dealing with the reading part of the IELTS test. Here's our step-by-step guide to managing your time more effectively.
2 March, 2020
Speaking
Understanding the IELTS Speaking Test
Find out more about the IELTS Speaking test to help you understand what is expected of you. This is the first step to getting the results you need.
4 March, 2020
CommonMistakes
Misusing linking expressions
Linking expressions can have a serious effects on the reader's understanding of a text. To make sure you aren't making this mistake in the IELTS exam, Sophie shares her tips!
28 February, 2020
TopTips
Creating a motivational goals board
As part of our Top Tips series, we'll explore the importance of motivation. Find out how you can keep your goals at the forefront of your mind through creating a goals board.
27 February, 2020
TopTips
Word families: learn one new word and ‘meet' two more
Looking to expand your English vocabulary? Learn more about word families and how they can help you in adding to your word list.
29 February, 2020
TopTips
5 top tips for test day
Prepare for test day with answers to five of the most frequently asked IELTS test day questions.
29 February, 2020
Writing
Grammar essentials: past simple versus present perfect
Developing your general English is essential to improving your band score. I am sharing the difference between the present perfect and past simple tenses, something lots of people have trouble with.
27 February, 2020
Writing
How to reach band score 7 in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
As part of our writing series, I'm sharing two actions you can take to make it a more realistic target.
26 January, 2020
Listening
5 ways to improve your IELTS Listening skills every day
Five practical tips you can add to your everyday routine to improve your listening skills.
26 January, 2020
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