IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2026
Welcome! I'm Liz. Develop your IELTS exam skills to maximise your score.
In the IELTS listening test, you often need to listen for plurals. If the answer is “projects” and you write only “project”, your answer will be marked wrong.
This IELTS listening video lesson looks at tips and practice to help you listen for plurals.
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Below is a model answer for an IELTS invitation letter. This particular invitation letter was reported in the IELTS exam last week. The aim of the invitation is a public event. Other invitations can sometimes include holiday invites, private celebration invites or even formal invites from a business perspective.
Instructions:
Writing Task 1: Write a letter to your friend who lives in another country and in your letter:
Hi Dave,
How have you been since we last met?
I thought I’d drop you a line and see if you fancy coming over for Bonfire night which is on November 5th.
Bonfire night is a great event in England, particularly in my hometown. It starts as soon as the sun has set because the event is held around a huge bonfire. As the weather is cold, the bonfire adds wonderful warmth. On the fire, there’s a guy which represents Guy Fawkes, a man who once tried to blow up Parliament. On top of that there’s also fireworks and a chance to cook your own food on the fire, which I’m sure you’ll love.
While you’re over, we’ll be able to do a trip to London as I know you’ve always wanted to visit. The Christmas lights will have been switched on by then and they are amazing. You’ll also be able to visit the Christmas markets and do all your Christmas shopping.
I really hope you’ll be able to come over. It won’t be the same without you.
Write back soon,
Sandra
Words = 183
Essential Tips for IELTS Letter Writing
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The IELTS diagram below shows two diagram processes in two different time periods – present and future. The diagram was reported in the test twice and will likely appear again as IELTS do recycle writing tasks. This is also known as an IELTS Process.
For diagrams, you must pay attention to key stages of the process. All IELTS writing task1 reports will have an overview and this includes diagrams. The overview is the key paragraph and must summarise the key stages but without writing a list. See the model answer below to learn about this.
Below you will find a band score 9 model answer for an IELTS Diagram/Process.
Note: When you read the model answer below, pay attention to the different tenses used. See if you can spot the future passive voice.
The diagram illustrates the way the water supply system currently works in Australia and how the system will be changed in the future.
Overall, although both systems use the dam as a water supply, the present system returns both storm and waste water directly or indirectly to the river, whereas the future system plans to recycle both forms of water.
The current water supply system shows that water is stored in a dam before being transferred to a city to be used by households, shops and factories. From the city, storm water is directed straight into the river, by contrast waste water is sent to a water treatment plant to be processed. After the waste water is treated, it is safe to be released into the river.
Regarding the future water supply system, water will be brought from the dam for the same uses as in the present. However, both the storm water and waste water from the city are to be directed to the water treatment plant for processing after which they will both be recycled for use in the city. It is planned that no water will be released back into the river.
195 words
Three Key Points:
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Hi guys,
I’d like to introduce you to a new blog about insects. It’s written by a guy called Chris who is an entomologist, which is a person who studies insects.
As you know insects is a topic that has appeared in IELTS reading quite a few times and is very difficult because of the academic vocabulary involved. So, this blog can help you become more familiar with this topic. Some of the posts on Chris’s blog are very high level with a lot of technical language for other entomologists. However, other posts are written for people without knowledge of insects and are very interesting to read, particularly for band score 7, 8 and 9 level students.
The aim of his blog is to share information and teach people about insects that pollinate and insects that are pests. Here’s a link: pests and pollinators by Chris
Liz
The IELTS diagram below was reported by a student called Fay in her IELTS test, Oct 10th in the USA. The diagram has been drawn by Fay. This is for the IELTS academic test, not the GT test.
Please note:
This diagram has been altered and is now available to see on this page: IELTS Rainwater Diagram
A model answer is currently available on this page: IELTS Rainwater Diagram
The diagram shows how rain water is collected and prepared for use as drinking water for an Australian town.
I will post a model for this diagram soon. Meanwhile, feel free to post your own writing.
Tips:
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Learn about how your IELTS writing test is scored. Many students ask me if writing task 1 and task 2 are worth the same points and how the examiner gives a final total score. This page will explain how your score is calculated for IELTS writing.
Yes. The marking criteria for task 1 are slightly different to task 2. The same examiner will mark both your task 1 report and your task 2 essay. After that, your final IELTS writing band score is calculated.
No, they are not. Writing task 2 is worth more than writing task 1. You get twice the points for writing task 2 than you get for writing task 1. In other words, writing task 2 is about 66% of your marks and writing task 1 is about 33%. For this reason, you are advised to spend about 20 mins in task 1 and about 40 mins on task 2. However, even though task 1 is worth a lot less, it is often the marks for task 1 that can cause you to fail to get the score you want. So, task 1 is still crucial to prepare for.
For example:
Please note that these scores are only estimated calculations. Your estimated score will be accurate within 0.5 band score.
Almost all test centers do not offer a break down of your scores. However, I have heard of one or two centers that do in some countries. So, it is worth checking with your test center.
No. Each writing task 1 is scored using 4 assessment criteria. Each of the criteria is worth 25% of your marks for that task. 3 of those marking criteria are the same for task 1 and task 2. But one of the marking criteria is different See below:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Scoring & Tips
IELTS Writing Task 1 Scoring & Tips
All IELTS Band Scores Explained
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Below is an IELTS writing task 1 table and 3 pie charts reported last week on 19th Sept. I will post a model answer later this week. Follow the link to see a model of the task 1 below: table with 3 pie charts.
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Below are the IELTS speaking part 1 questions with some model answer for the topic of snacks currently being used in the speaking test. As with all topics in IELTS Speaking, they are recycled most years.
The word snacks does not mean junk food. A snack is any food that is eaten between a meal. A snack might be something healthy, such as fruit, or it might be unhealth, like biscuits. So, this topic opens up various directions for you when you give your answer.
There are two optional answers for each question. If you want to post your own answers, put them in the comments box below.
Q) Do you like snacks?
A) No, not really. I generally prefer to eat at meal times rather than graze between meals.
A) Yes, I do. Around mid morning I usually have some fruit and then about 3pm I have some biscuits or something like that.
Q) What kinds of snacks are popular in your country?
A) Well, I guess that most people eat junk food like crisps, chocolate and biscuits for their snacks.
A) I suppose official workers mainly eat junk food like biscuits but other people sometimes eat fruit or something healthier.
Q) Do you think eating snacks is good for your health?
A) I think that if you’re hungry, it’s perfectly fine to have some fruit but if people eat junk food between meals, then it’s really unhealthy.
A) I think all kind of snacking between main meals is bad for your health. If people avoided snacking, they would be much healthier and less over weight.
Speaking Part 1 Topics and Questions
IELTS Speaking Test Practice Video with Model Answers
IELTS Speaking Tips: How long should my answer be?
All IELTS Speaking Lessons, Tips, Model Answers & Free Videos
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Hi, my name is Elizabeth (Liz). I am your teacher and the author of this website. I am an experienced, qualified English teacher specialising in IELTS test preparation since 2008. Please enjoy the 300 plus pages of free lessons, tips, model answers, topics etc.
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