Useful Websites & Resources for IELTS

This page contains useful links to the best IELTS websites to help you develop your IELTS skills, IELTS information and tips as well as English language. These websites cover both the Academic and General Training IELTS tests with useful resources to help you practice at home.

IELTS Official Websites

• The Official IELTS Website
  • http://www.ielts.org/
• British Council Website for IELTS (the BC is one of the three owners of IELTS)
  • https://ielts.britishcouncil.org/
• IDP Website for IELTS (IDP is one of the three owners of IELTS)
  • http://www.idp.com

Find an IELTS Test Center & Application

• Find a Test Center near You
• IELTS Test Dates
• IELTS Application Form
• Application information

Free IELTS Practice Tests Online

Authentic papers published by IELTS.

• IELTS Listening Practice Test
• IELTS Reading Practice Test: Academic
• IELTS Reading Practice Test: General Training
• IELTS Writing Practice Test: Academic
• IELTS Writing Practice Test: General Training

IELTS Band Score Descriptors 

These are the assessment criteria for IELTS writing (both academic and general training) and speaking. Each marking criterion is explained for each band score. These public band scores are published by IELTS to help you understand the requirements of each band score and to learn how you are assessed by the examiner.

• IELTS Band Scores Explained (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
• IELTS Speaking: Public Band Score Descriptors
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Public Band Score Descriptors
  • IELTS Writing Task 2: Band Scores Explained from 5 to 8 with Tips
• IELTS Writing Task 1: Public Band Score Descriptors

IELTS Answer Sheets

It is useful to practice doing a full test using the answer sheets before your test. Remember you get an extra 10 mins for transferring answers in listening but no extra time for transferring answers to the answer sheet in reading.

• IELTS Listening Answer Sheet
• IELTS Reading Answer Sheet
• IELTS Writing Answer Sheet
  • Task 2 Answer Sheet
  • Task 1 Answer Sheet

Other Useful Links

• IELTS Academic Reading Practice: PDFs
  • Matching Headings – Passage 1
  • Summary completion and T/F/NG – Passage 2
  • Matching Paragraph Info & Short Answer Questions – Passage 3
  • Answer Key to all Passages
• Listening and Reading Topics (this may not be IELTS but it will help you improve your skills)
• Listening Topics and Practice (a great website for plenty of  general listening practices (not IELTS) on all different topics at easy, medium and difficult levels)
• Listening Quizzes (good for extra practice)
• Funny Stories: these stories are informal and the vocabulary in them will help you with your speaking
• Spelling Practice (improve your spelling with quizzes for all levels)
• Grammar Practice (great practice exercises to improve most aspects of your English grammar)
• Basic Pronunciation Practice (minimal pairs etc)
• Learn English with the British Council: free exercises for all skils
• BBC World News (good for developing academic reading as well as some listening. Also good to keep up with current world issues)
• The Economist (Science, Business, Economics, News etc)
• The New Scientists (Technology, Science, Environment etc)
• The National Geographic (Animals, Environment, Travel, Photography etc)
• Focus Magazine Online (Science and Technology)
• BBC Radio (Interviews with People)
• Ted.com (Non-Academic Talks from various People)

TOP 20 SENTENCE PATTERS OF ENGLISH

There are around 20 top sentence patterns of English. Learning these patterns will teach you how to combine short,  basic sentences into longer ones and so to express your ideas in a more elegant way.

PATTERN 2 

Subject - Verb - Direct Object or Subject Complement ; Subject - , ( in the place of the omitted verb ) - Direct Object or Subject Complement

This pattern can be used when you don't want to repeat the same verb in the second or third clause. To use it successfully, you have to develop your feeling whether the sentence sounds clear or not. If it does not, it might be not the right time to use this pattern.

EXAMPLES

His mother told him to rent a car; his sister, to pack the suitcase.

For many of us, the new math teacher was a savior; for others, a pain.


PROFESSIONAL EXAMPLES

'Thought is the blossom; language , the bud; action, the fruit.' Ralph Waldo Emerson


ALSO READ OUR POST ABOUT PATTERN 1


Source : adapted from " The Art of Styling Sentences' by A. Longknife & K. D. Sullivan   Find this book on Amazon

        UPDATES FROM LINGUA LAB CLUB      

Lingua Lab Club is a network of the staff, present and past students , and friends of Lingua Lab.

Learning,Life,Love- To Share And To Be Shared

IELTS  -  SEPTEMBER 2012 

  RECENT  WRITING   TOPICS  

1.    Many countries spend large amounts of money on world sporting events such as the Olympic Games and football World Cup. Instead these monies can be spent on encouraging young children to take up sports at a young age. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

2.   Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art which helps to develop quality in people’s life. However, governments should spend money on other things rather than art. Do you agree or dis agree? Give your opinion.

Your Assignments, Reports, Thesis -- Academic Writing for Science & Technology.

  Many students who are studying  Science, IT, Technology, and Engineering face problems writing  a paper in a good academic style without grammar and vocabulary errors. To those who want to write well, we suggest to explore the 3 links given below to develop their writing skills.

1. Writing Guidlines for Engineering and Science Students
2. A Course in Analytical Writing for Science and Technology
3. Manchester University Phrasebank

  These sites provide a wealth of knowledge for self-study.
  Of course, it is essential to have a teacher to check your assignments carefully and show you what is wrong and how to correct it. Each student makes different errors and needs a different guidance to learn well and fast. However, self-study makes you better prepared for the sessions with a teacher. You can get  much more benefit from them if you have studied on your own before that.
  Usually, 3 or 4 sessions of The Intensive Writing Workshop at Lingua Lab are enough to enable a student to perform the task of writing his/her academic papers much better.

        UPDATES FROM LINGUA LAB CLUB     

Lingua Lab Club is a network of the staff, present and past students , and friends of Lingua Lab.

Learning,Life,Love- To Share And To Be Shared

Hi, everybody! 

Here are the recent topics for IELTS Writing Task 2.

• Some developing countries invite large foreign companies to open offices and factories in order to help their economy. However, others feel that foreign companies should be shut out and instead the government should help the local companies to contribute to the economic growth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• It is not necessary to go to a place to know about the place because we can see the places from books, TV and internet. Do you agree or disagree.
• What are the benefits of living in big cities, as opposed to rural areas? What are the problems of rural areas and how can they be solved?
• Recently the freedom to work and live anywhere has become the main trend due to the development of communication technology and transportation. Do the advantages of these developments outweigh the disadvantages? Discuss
• Some say that public health is important and there should be more sports facilities. Others say that they have small impact on individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Many people believe that teachers should also teach students how to judge right from wrong and how to behave, while others think they should just teach academic subjects. What is your opinion?
• In many countries crime is increasing. What are the main reasons for this? What can be done to improve the situation? Support your position with relevant examples and include your own experience.
• Reducing global environmental damage should be handled by governments rather than individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

                             GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EXAM ! 

      

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