Quick tips to help you with the Speaking Challenge followed by a Reading Passage 2 about the tool-making abilities of crows (and what we have in common with them). True/False/Not Given. Get the full reading here https://www.ieltsetc.com/2018/11/ielts-reading-two-wings-toolkit/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ieltsetc/message

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.

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This Part 4 Listening is all about moving elephants.

In the lesson you'll learn about:

• using word prompts to keep your place
• using intonation and sentence stress to identify answers
• using spelling patterns and plurals to get the right answers

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/

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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/

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This Listening Part 4 about a writer called Victor Hugo is taken from the new Practice Book 18.

In the podcast you'll learn

• why this particular test is more difficult than usual
• how reference words give you the answer (if you can remember what they refer to)
• techniques for predicting and retaining information
• common gapfill answers and how they're related to pronunciation

Get the full video, tapescript and tips in the Members Academy Listening Course with Members bonus features for 12 months.

ieltsetc.com/courses

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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:

• Background knowledge (what you already know about holiday companies, tour itineraries, travelling/place names in the UK etc etc)
• Vocabulary (phrasal verbs, synonyms, numbers)
• Spelling (ea words, al/ol words)
• Grammar (comparisons, 'used to', perfect modals for guessing)
• Accents (Northern English 'u')
• Pronunciation features (meet you)
• Linking (However...)
• Signalling (What we do is...)
• Predicting
• Remembering

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

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