Talk about an exciting message that you have received by email or phone. You should say: who sent it to you what the message was about who you shared it with IELTS Speaking Answer | An Exciting Message Okay, so about a month ago my friend called me to let me know some important news. She has been accepted for a really interesting position at an international company. She is going to work in recruitment selection, I think they call it head hunting or executive search selection. She has been trying to get into this line of work for some time now, so I'm really happy for her because I know that she really wants to do this type of work. We spent about two hours talking that evening, most of it was about her new job, but we also spoke about some other things. She was very excitied by the news and couldn't stop telling me how delighted she was to finally get such a position. Apparently she will have to do quite a bit of traveling, visiting clients and doing research as ...

IELTS Writing IELTS General Writing Task 1 Here is a sample of an email inviting a friend to a concert. This is one of the questions asked in the writing section of the IELTS test. Sample email inviting to a concert IELTS Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write an email to your friend inviting him/her to a music concert. Please say: where and when the concert is going to be what type of music will be played there, and why your friend will enjoy it. Write at least 150 words. Sample Answer Hi John, I hope you’re well and thanks for your last email. I was really happy to hear about your new boyfriend. I just wanted to know if you’d be interested in going to the Taylor Swift concert next month in London. One of my friends, Julie, who works in the events department at the stadium where Taylor’s appearing has managed to get some tickets and I know you’re a big fan of disposable pop music, so I thought I’d see if you’re up for going, I’m sure you’ll ...

Number of students studying abroad at UK elite universities doubles in 10 years The quantity of students electing to study abroad at top UK universities has almost doubled in the last 10 years according to figures just released. Official data provided by top UK universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Birmingham and Durham clearly demonstrate a growing trend in the quantity of undergraduate students who have chosen to study abroad in the UK, an overall increase of around 192% since 2005. Among the UK universities considered as the top academic establishments in the country, Exeter University has experienced the largest increase in international students studying there – an increase of around 367%. In many cases, the largest single group of international students is young Chinese who have opted to study in the UK. Sheffield University reported that their Chinese student population was less than 1,000 in 2005 but it has grown to more than 4,000 currently - a staggering 580%...

This latest book (April 2015) in the well established exam preparation series from Cambridge English gives IELTS candidates the chance to become familiar with the format of the IELTS test and learn to apply specific IELTS test strategies with these authentic IELTS exam papers compiled by Cambridge. The book has four different Academic IELTS tests, each one complete with Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections. There are also Reading and Writing sections for the IELTS General Training exam. Cambridge IELTS 10 includes an overview of each IELTS exam section as well as a comprehensive guide to how the IELTS exam is evaluated in terms of the different IELTS Band scores. Also included in Cambridge IELTS 10 is a complete answer key for all sections and transcripts of all the audio recordings, making it an ideal self-study resource for candidates preparing for the IELTS exam, or students who do not have access to an IELTS preparation course or IELTS tutors. Cambridge IE...

Studying abroad compared to a UK university education Now that annual tuition fees for many UK universities are around £9,000 it raises the question: can British students get better value for money studying abroad? In many cases British students are finding equivalent educational opportunities at much lower costs outside the UK. So how does studying abroad stack up against studying in the UK? One British student decided to study European Studies, in the Netherlands, at Maastricht University, where she will shortly begin her second academic year of study. She calculated that studying in the UK for a similar degree would leave her with at least £27,000 of student debt based on tuition fees, plus other possible associated costs. Meanwhile the undergraduate European Studies Degree course she is attending at Maastricht University costs just £1,500 for tuition annually and her course is taught in English, as are ten other undergraduate courses at the same university. So basically ...

Modal Verbs Quiz 5 Present & Future Forms 1. We _____ have a barbeque later if the weather stays nice. might can't must 2. She's really good at her job, she's _____ to get a promotion soon. is able must bound 3. There's a package to be collected, but it _____ be today if you're too busy. doesn't have to can't mustn't 4. _____ take the train? It's really boring! Should we Could we Do we have to 5. Let's ask that man for directions - he _____ know. might can shouldn't Score = Correct answers: Quiz 6

Modal verbs can could In English grammar , the modal verbs ( can, could, may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, ought to, need ) are auxiliary verbs used to describe ability , possibility or necessity . Use an English modal verb + infinitive form of the verb without to . Do not change their form: She could speak German and Spanish .(NOT She could to speak...) Could you speak German before you went to live in Germany? (NOT Did you could speak German...) 1. Ability Use the following English modal verbs to express ability: Present tense : can, can’t, be able to, manage to I can’t drive. I manage to concentrate, but it’s difficult sometimes. I’m able to speak three languages. Past tense : could, couldn’t, be able to, manage to They weren’t able to find the address of the shop. Perfect tenses : be able to, manage to Have you managed to complete the assignment yet? Future tense : be able to, manage to He won’t be able to come to the meeting this afternoon. Use...

IELTS Challenge #7 Today’s IELTS topic | Natural Resources & Alternative Fuels 1. Brainstorm as many verbs, adjectives, phrases and other vocabulary related to natural resources and alternative fuels as you can in 2 minutes. 2. Can you name 4 fossil fuels? Can you name 7 natural energy resources? Choose two of the examples you thought of and list the advantages and possible problems associated with each. 3. Road traffic is considered to be one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution. Why? What is the name of the substance that is produced by cars, buses, trucks and other methods of transport which use fossil fuels? 4. How can we reduce the amount of this substance being produced? Can you think of any examples of schems in your country to try and reduce these emissions? What is involved? How are they organised? Are they successful? Why/why not? 5. Give examples of actions individuals can take to change the way they use energy at home/at work. What shou...

IELTS workout of the day (WOD) #6 Today’s topic | Hobbies / Pastimes / Leisure activities 1. Brainstorm 5 indoor activities, 5 outdoor activities and 5 activities which can be done both indoors and outdoors. 2. Give 5 examples of hobbies / pastimes / leisure activities which are popular in your country. Now think of 5 different adjectives to describe each of your examples. 3. Give 2 reasons why you think each one is popular. 4. Many people think it is important to have a hobby / pastime. - Think of 3 possible benefits of having a hobby / pastime. - Now, using modal verbs of possibility/probability, make suppositions about why some of the hobbies / pastimes you identified earlier might offer benefits to those people who do them. Example: People who do a lot of sport may feel better and could be healthier. 5. Identify 3 reasons why a person might take up a hobby or pastime. 6. Do you have a hobby / pastime? Can you write a paragraph explaining what your hobby / past...

IELTS workout of the day (WOD)#5 Today’s topic | The Media 1. How many different types of media can you think of in 1 minute? 2. Brainstorm as many verbs or phrases associated with the media as you can in 1 minute. 3. Which is the most popular form of media for news in your country? - for adults - for young people Is it different? Can you give two or three reasons why different ages prefer different media? 4. Prepositions: Here are some sentences related to the media. Each sentence contains a preposition. Decide if the preposition is the correct one or not in each case. Many people love commenting in social media pages. Satellite TV programs are broadcast all over the world. Most national newspapers are published in a daily basis. The man read the headlines on the newspaper. 5. Can you think of 5 adjectives commonly used to describe news stories. 6. Identify 5 sections which normally appear in a newspaper, news website or similar publication. What kind of content would you...

IELTS workout of the day #4 Today's topic | The Economy 1. Think about the economy of your country. What are the main sectors? Can you name at least 5 of them? 2. How would you describe your country? Is it an importer of goods or an exporter of goods? What kinds of things does it import/export? TIP: If you’re not sure – go to Wikipedia and look for the relevant information about your own country. 3. What are the main challenges/problems facing the economy in your country at the moment? Examples: unemployment, loss of traditional industry, international competition How many problems can you identify? Can you describe a fast-moving sector of your national economy? What is it and why do you think it’s growing rapidly? 4. Can you think of 5 adverbs to describe changes in the economy or markets? 5. Identify 5 factors which can affect the economy. How can these factors be an influence on the economy of a country? Write 5 sentences (one for each factor) describing the poss...

IELTS workout of the day (WOD) #3 IELTS workout of the day (WOD) is designed to help you develop your speed and thinking skills, as well as review and learn vocabulary and grammar related to common IELTS topics. They are NOT all-inclusive vocabulary or grammar resources. They are designed to get you thinking and focussing on typical vocabulary you may need for the IELTS test. If you think these IELTS exercises are difficult, then you probably need to learn more vocabulary first, or review grammar (there are many books and other resources here you can access for this.) IELTS WODs are a challenge, you should try and do them as fast as you can. Take note of the parts that cause problems for you - and then study to improve your knowledge. You should be able to complete this WOD in around 30 minutes. If it takes you more time, don't worry, just keep practising and you will get faster, better and more confident. Good Luck! Today's topic | Buildings 1. Brainstorm 15 vocabul...

IELTS workout of the day #2 Today's topic | Health You should be able to complete this WOD in around 30 minutes. If it takes you more time, don't worry, just keep practising and you will get faster, better and more confident. Good Luck! 1. Brainstorm 10 common health problems/conditions. 2. Give 5 examples of adjectives you could use in relation to health. 3. Identify at least 3 life threatening diseases/conditions. 4. What are the most common causes of these diseases/conditions? 5. Describe the typical treatment or solution for one of these diseases/conditions in no more than three sentences. 6. Rewrite the following sentence in as many different ways as you can in 1 minute. In many developed countries, obesity is overtaking smoking as one of the leading causes of health problems. 7. Give 3 examples of things/activities/habits which are detrimental to your health in general, and 3 examples of good/healthy lifestyle choices. 8. Complete the following 5 condi...

IELTS Challenge #1 IELTS challenges are designed to help you practise/learn using vocabulary and grammar closely associated with topics and skills require in the IELTS test. They are designed to help you think faster, develop wider vocabulary and variety in expressing your ideas and to make you more creative when tackling IELTS topics, especially in the speaking and writing sections. You should be able to complete this WOD in around 30 minutes. If it takes you more time, don't worry, just keep practising and you will get faster, better and more confident. Good Luck! IELTS Challenge #1 | The Environment Write down 20 words associated with the environment. Identify at least 3 environmental problems. Identify a minimum of 3 causes of pollution. Describe a solution for one of the above (an environmental problem or cause of pollution)in no more than three sentences. Rewrite the following sentence in as many different ways as you can in 1 minute: The threat of climate change ...

Writing Practice for IELTS Task 1 General Training IELTS Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You’ve recently found an object and you think that it might be of some historical value. Write a letter to the director of the museum asking for some information on the object. Give a description of that object. Tell them where you found it. Ask for information you are seeking. Write at least 150 words. IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 Answer Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to ask you for advice regarding an item I recently came across while carrying out some construction work. The item in question was unearthed while excavating new foundations for an extension to a house, and was found at one of the deepest points of excavation on the site. The item has the appearance of some kind of cooking or kitchen utensil rather like a shallow bowl or frying pan. I have enclosed a photograph so you can see the object and possibly of...

Describing a graph & describing trends | Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 To get a high score in Task 1 of IELTS Academic Writing test you need to show you have a good range of vocabulary to descrive visual information.  You also need to be  accurate when you use adjectives, adverbs and phrases to describe the information. Here are some useful words and phrases to help describe trends. Nouns a rise an increase a growth a surge a fall a decline a drop a decrease a peak a fluctuation a variation a period of stability a plateau a plateux Verbs to rise to increse to grow to surge to fall to drop to decline to decrease to peak to fluctuate to vary to stabilize to plateau Phrases to show an upward trend to show a downward trend to hit the lowest point to hit a trough to reach a peak to show some fluctuation to show some variation to remain stable to remain constant to reach a plateau to level off to flatten out Adjectives & ...

TOEFL Integrated Speaking Questions 4 and 6 This video gives an overview of the TOEFL Integrated Speaking questions 4 and 6. These questions are about academic subjects. You will learn about: The structure of these questions Tips on how to approach these questions How the questions are scored A high-score sample answer Tips to build and develop your TOEFL speaking skills The video shows the structure of the questions, what they ask, how you should approach these questions, and how your answers are scored. There is also a high-score sample and tips for improving your own speaking skills for TOEFL. This is the format of Question 4: Reading passage Listening passage 30 seconds preparation time 60 seconds response time You will be given a passage to read relating to an academic topic. You will then hear part of a presentation (lecture) on the same topic. You will be given 30 seconds preparation time and then 60 seconds when you record your response to the question. This...

Here's some authentic writing practice for IELTS exam preparation. This is Cambridge 9 Test 1 Writing Task 2 : Children learning a foreign language at primary school IELTS Writing Task 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. International English Language Testing System How would you answer this IELTS Academic writing test question? Writing Practice for IELTS Sample Answer Learning a second language has many benefits for children apart from simply additional linguistic ability. Experts have already shown that bilingual children are more adept at problem solving and processing informatio...

English Grammar Common mistakes when using 'the' Many people are worried about the bad effects of mobiles on brain. [incorrect] Many people are worried about the bad effects of mobiles on the brain. [correct] We need to look at factors such as the availability of health care. [correct] We need to look at factors such as availability of health care. [incorrect] We use the before nouns which describe a general type of thing rather than a specific example of that thing: These are problems for students living away from the family . We don’t know the effects of such chemicals on the body . The role of the student at university level varies greatly from country to country. Most of our business is carried out over the telephone . The is also used before abstract nouns which describe a situation, a quality, a process or a change. These words are often followed by of something. There is a problem with the availability of clean water in som...

Crime & Law 2 | English Vocabulary Quiz 1. The Police don't have a __________ yet, so I wouldn't expect an arrest anytime soon. lawyer suspect jury 2. The two men were __________ to three months in jail for selling stolen goods. sentenced arrested suspended 3. The government has promised to crack down on football __________ . criminals vandals hooligans 4. Last week a _________ broke into my house and stole my laptop. burglar pickpocket shoplifter 5. She took the newspaper to __________ and won the case. law justice court Score = Correct answers: Try this next quiz on crime and law vocabulary to improve your writing skills. Related