Top advice from IELTS experts, links to prep videos, and fact sheets – all for you to use however you wish.
Expert tips for IELTS Listening
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Pronunciation at university: A case study
This study details how Ningbo University married textbook instruction of English pronunciation with digital resources. Here is how they did it.
Grammar: A refreshing revisit
Grammar has a reputation for focusing on errors. With Tense Buster, we focus on communication. Here is how.
Online learning for Syrian and Lebanese youth
The HOPES-LEB project aims to improve the chances for a better future for young people in Lebanon. Here’s how they do it.
Expert tips for IELTS Reading
We have pooled the top four pieces of advice for each skill and added links to prep videos and handy fact sheets for teachers to use however they wish.
Do students prefer digital or paper-based tests?
In a previous post, we looked at how Directors of the Language Centre at Universitas Indonesia postulated that a digital test is more appropriate for this generation of students. We have now been able to survey test takers on this question. Here are the findings.
Placement test results: what do they mean?
Andrew Stokes reminds us of the purpose of a placement test (with thanks to Laura Edwards of telc Language Tests for her input).
How to take an online test when you have no internet access
Andrew Stokes explains how an online test can support those with unreliable connectivity — or no Internet access at all.
The importance of placement testing
As both a teacher and test developer I often have the feeling that the seemingly related fields of teaching and testing are in reality worlds apart. Being active in both fields, I try to mediate, to put it in CEFR terms. On one hand, as a test developer I want to measure skills and collect empirical data on my subjects. On the other hand, I am a compassionate teacher (I think) and I really do want all my students to do well.
A world in lockdown: adapting to remote testing
Amongst the many disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic has been the closure of IELTS test centres and widespread postponement of IELTS tests. For most students, schools and universities this has brought the academic application process to a halt – but not for all.
Active Reading and ESOL Skills for Life
Elinor Stokes looks at how Active Reading can support students taking the UK’s ESOL Skills for Life qualifications — and by extension, similar tests in different countries.
The adventure of self-publishing
Have you ever wondered about the process of publishing, or becoming an author? In this mini-series, we share three different experiences of three different types of publishing. This week, Felicity O’Dell tells us how she self-published her book 100+ Tips and Tricks for Success in Language Learning.
Making EdTech projects succeed
Andrew Stokes looks at four key criteria that must be present for an IT project to succeed.
Publishing with a large publishing house
Have you ever wondered about the process of publishing, or becoming an author? In this mini-series, we share three different experiences in three different types of publishing. This week, Martin Moore shares tips on how to work with a large publishing house.
mLearning and Study Skills Success
How important is it for students to be able to access learning materials on their smartphones? This post looks at some fascinating trends.
Speaking tests: dramatically changing the outcome
In the second most popular TED Talk of all time, Amy Cuddy comes to the intriguing, evidence-based conclusion that altering the way we stand for just two minutes before an evaluative situation — a presentation or an exam — really can lead to better outcomes. ‘We know...
Free British Council IELTS prep tools
Most IELTS candidates leave their test preparation to the last minute. When they go into the test centre, they discover they don’t understand the question types, they’re not sure how to allocate their time efficiently, and they don’t know what the examiner is looking...