My IELTS Classroom Podcast
Welcome to the podcast where two ex-examiners sit down every week to discuss all thing IELTS. It doesn't matter if you are new to IELTS or have been struggling to achieve your band scores for a long time, Nick and Shelly will help you complete your IELTS journey in the least painful way possible. So, if you are looking for two teachers who offer clear practical advice about how to prepare for the IELTS test, have over 30-years teaching experience, and make IELTS enjoyable, then you are in the right place! Oh, we also believe that lessons should be fun and interactive too, so be prepared to take part in every class so that you can say "This is My IELTS Classroom" too. New episodes every Tuesday.
Episodes
153 episodes
Join us for an IELTS Christmas special!
Hello? Is anybody still out there? It has been 410 days since we last released a podcast, but Nick and I are back to spread some Christmas IELTS joy! Is this the start of a new run of My IELTS Classroom episodes, or just some festi...
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18:11
We’re back! And talking about UK university life!
Yes, after 76 days of silence, Nick and I are back to start a new season of My IELTS classroom!Today, we consider how much IELTS actually prepares you for university life in the UK. We will consider what skills you need to succeed in a ...
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38:39
Let's do a Cambridge IELTS 18 Reading Test!
Hey! Today Nick and I tackle a reading from the new Cambridge IELTS 18 book. We choose to passage 3 from Test 2, which is titled "An Ideal City". Why? Well, it's because it contains a rather unusual summary completion question. Us...
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52:43
Let's do the IELTS Cambridge 18 Test 4 listening test!
Hey! Today, Nick and I tackling the listening test from IELTS Cambridge 18 Test 4. This is the latest book of past test papers, so is a great chance for you to practice the most recent IELTS test format.Plus, Nick and I will analyse all...
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1:29:15
IELTS Q&A Part 2 - more questions answered by two ex-examiners!
Hey. Last week Nick and I answered 6 of your questions about the IELTS exam. Today, we go though more of my mailbox to give you answers to enquiries such as how can you tell if a letter is semi-formal or informalwhen y...
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46:22
IELTS Q&A - your questions answered by two ex-examiners!
Every week I get dozens of emails from our My IELTS Classroom students, podcast listeners, YouTube followers and Newsletter subscribers asking questions about the IELST exam. They range from questions are about exam procedures to questions abou...
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37:29
Cambridge IELTS 18 essays analysed!
Yes! Finally, on our third attempt, Nick and I have managed to successfully record an episode analysing the essays in the new Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic book. We offer our ideas and insights into the new questions, including how we will organi...
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46:35
Why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing?
Today, Nick and I discuss one of the most important IELTS questions - why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing? Is it because there is a conspiracy to trick test-takers, or are there other less sinister reasons? You can find th...
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1:14:53
New IELTS Band Descriptors for Writing in 2023?
Hey! A couple of weeks ago, we received an email from one of our listeners (thanks Adam!) asking if all the fuss happening on YouTube about the "NEW IELTS Band Descriptors" was true. My immediate reaction was "probably not", but when I did a de...
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47:41
Unreal Conditionals in IELTS Listening!
Today, we continue our journey into the world of IELTS listening any how the exam writers try to confuse you by playing with opposites. This week, we move away from lexis and into the word of grammar. In particular, the 2nd and 3rd conditionals...
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40:25
Opposites - the listening trick that IELTS loves not the least!
Hey! Nick and I have recorded many episodes about IELTS listening. Usually, we focus on one particular type of question and break down which listening skills it is testing, and how you should approach it best. Plus, for everyone type of questio...
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37:17
Level up your lexis score with phrasal verbs!
Hey! Today, Nick and I continue our journey into idiomatic language by looking at phrasal verbs. We will explain what phrasal verbs are, how some are separable and some are inseparable, and demonstrate phrasal verbs in action in Speaking Part 1...
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40:35
Should you use idioms in your IELTS speaking test?
Hey! One of the criteria to score a 7.0 or higher in the IELTS speaking test is being able to show good use of "idiomatic language". But, what is idiomatic language, and when should you introduce it into your vocabulary. Join Nick and I today t...
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53:18
Let's get motivated for IELTS in 2023!
Hey! It is the first podcast episode in May, which can only mean one thing - it is time to get motivated! Spring can be a great time of year to start new patterns of living and affect change in our lives. So, why not join Nick and I tod...
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53:19
The Ultimate Guide to IELTS Bar Charts
We have spoken in depth on the podcast about IELTS maps, and IELTS line graphs b...
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59:43
A technique for really difficult IELTS listening matching questions!
Hey! Way back in 2020, Nick and I discussed the basic techniques for completing IELTS listening matching questions. However, these are some of the most difficult question in the exam, especially in Part 3, and we have noticed that many students...
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58:49
Six real IELTS essay questions from 2023 analysed!
Join Nick and I today as we look at six essay questions that have recently appeared in the IELTS Academic and General Training exams. We will discuss our ideas for each topic, explain what our positions would be, and give each question a diffic...
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1:00:15
2 ex-examiners give IELTS Speaking Part 3 feedback!
Hey! 2 weeks ago Nick and I set you to the challenge of recording your answers to 5 very difficult Speaking Part 3 questions. Today, Nick and I listen to the recordings sent by our our listeners to give feedback. We will considerthe...
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49:17
IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Rerun)
Hey! We have a technical difficulty here at My IELTS Classroom - the wind is blowing a gale and it has knocked out Shelly's Wifi, so Nick and I couldn't record an episode this week. Therefore, we are re-running our original episode on S...
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56:48
Reminder to send us your IELTS Speaking Part 3 recording!
Just a reminder that we are giving you the chance to record your own responses to five IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and send them to us for feedback on next week’s episode.Record your answers to the following questions on...
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1:40
Unlocking the Questions in IELTS Speaking Part 3
Take part in our competition to win a free One Month Subscription to all the My IELTS Classroom videos and live lessons, plus a free piece of marking by leaving a comment on one of our YouTube videos that includes the word "podcast"
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1:02:19
How to develop the arguments in your IELTS essay!
Last year, Nick and I recorded two episodes about how to build paragraphs. They are among our most popular content and have been viewed over 20,000 times. However, even when students extend their ideas and try to justify their position, they ca...
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45:42
All IELTS Cambridge 17 Academic Report Questions analysed!
Hey! I have always loved teaching IELTS Academic Task 1. Many students are afraid of charts, but I have always found that if you teach test-takers some basic principles, then it is always possible to find the key features and organise the repor...
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1:00:30
Let's do the IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 3 listening test!
Hey! Today, Nick and I are travelling back in time to complete the IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 3 listening test, which was first published in 2007. Why? Well, it's not because we were younger and better looking then, but because we want to give you ...
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1:03:15
Is the format of the IELTS exam changing in 2023?
Hey! Please do NOT panic! There are no major changes happening to the IELTS exam (that I am aware of) in 2023 - they are not adding a new section to the speaking exam, or changing the amount of time that you have for each section, or making the...
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45:25