IELTS Listening Matching Type Questions: Best Approaches
When preparing for the IELTS Listening test, many of my students tell me that IELTS Listening Matching Type Questions are among the trickiest. These questions require strong focus, quick thinking, and careful note-taking. Over the years of teaching learners worldwide, I’ve noticed that even high-level candidates often lose marks here—not because they don’t understand the […]
IELTS Listening Map and Diagram Labelling: Step-by-Step Tips
If you’ve ever found IELTS Listening map and diagram labelling questions tricky, you’re not alone. As an international IELTS teacher helping students worldwide, I’ve seen many learners stumble at this stage of the test. The good news? With the right techniques, these questions can actually become your strongest area. Let me walk you through real […]
IELTS Writing Task 2 Conditional Sentences and Hypothetical Structures
One of the most powerful ways to show advanced grammar in your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is to use conditional sentences and hypothetical structures. When students ask me, “How can I make my essay sound more academic and reach Band 7–9?” I often answer: “Learn to use conditional sentences naturally. They show cause and […]
Using Active and Passive Voice in IELTS Writing Task 2
When I guide my IELTS students, one grammar question comes up often: “Should I use active or passive voice in my Task 2 essay?” The truth is, both voices are important. Active voice keeps your writing direct and clear Passive voice makes your writing formal and objective, which is useful in academic contexts Mastering IELTS […]
IELTS Writing Task 2 Subject-Verb Agreement and Tense Accuracy
When my students ask why their IELTS Writing Task 2 essays stay stuck at Band 6 or 6.5, one of the first areas I check is grammar accuracy. Two of the most common reasons for lost marks are: ❌ Incorrect subject-verb agreement ❌ Inconsistent or incorrect tense usage Both of these issues are part of […]
IELTS Writing Task 2 Complex Sentences for Band 9
One of the most common questions my IELTS students ask me is: “Do I need to write complex sentences to score Band 9 in IELTS Writing Task 2?” The answer is yes—but with a very important rule: complex sentences must be accurate and clear. In IELTS Writing Task 2, grammar accounts for 25% of your […]
Common Grammar Mistakes in IELTS Writing Task 2
When I check my students’ IELTS essays, I often see the same grammar mistakes again and again. These errors may seem small, but in IELTS Writing Task 2, grammar counts for 25% of your score under Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Even strong ideas can lose marks if your essay has tense mistakes, article errors, or […]
IELTS Writing Task 2 Grammar for Band 7–9
When I teach IELTS students around the world, one question comes up again and again: “How can I improve my writing score from Band 6 to Band 7 or even 9?” The answer is grammar and accuracy. IELTS writing grammar plays a major role in your Writing Task 2 score, because Grammatical Range and Accuracy […]
IELTS Writing Task 2 Band 9 Collocations and Expressions
When I teach IELTS Writing Task 2 to students across the globe, one question comes up repeatedly: “How can I make my essay sound natural, cohesive, and Band 9 ready?” The answer is collocations and formal expressions. IELTS collocations for writing task 2 are word pairs or phrases that native speakers naturally use together. When […]
Formal and Informal Word Choices for IELTS Writing Task 2
When I guide IELTS students across the globe, one common issue I notice is informal word usage in Writing Task 2. Phrases like “a lot of people,” “kids,” or “really good” may be natural in speech, but in IELTS Academic Writing, they lower your Lexical Resource score. To reach Band 7–9, you must replace casual […]