Contact Us Here
The best way to contact us is through email. We answer 100% of the email we receive.
You can contact us directly here- chris@ieltsadvantage.com
Please do not hesitate to contact us with anything you need. We are more than happy to hear from you and it is our job to help you.
We have also created the answers to some frequently asked questions below.
HELP YOURSELF TO THESE
COMMON ANSWERS
Writing Task 1
How can I improve my writing?
You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 1 page. Click the link below:
If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our online course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:
How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?
The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You’ll find a guide to answering this question in this article.
If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online IELTS Writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:
Can you correct my writing?
Sure!
Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:
Will using ‘high level’ or ‘academic’ words help me improve my score?
Probably not.
Check out our Task 1 Grammar and Vocabulary Guide below for more help with this:
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four:
Introduction
Overview
Details 1
Details 2
You can put the overview at the end if you’d like.
Can I use idioms?
No, you should typically avoid using idioms in Writing Task 1.
The only time this is acceptable is if you are taking the General Training test and must write an informal letter.
Should I write a conclusion for Task 1 Academic?
No. A conclusion is a summary of YOUR ideas and your opinion. Task 1 is simply reporting what you see, so there shouldn’t be any of your ideas or your opinion.
Instead of a conclusion, you should write an overview.
The reason lots of people get confused about this is that some teachers, books and even one British Council website call the overview a ‘conclusion’. It’s not a conclusion, it’s an overview.
Finally, it does not matter where you put the overview paragraph. We teach our students to put it after the introduction, but it is also fine to have it as your final paragraph.
How many words should I write?
You must write at least 150 words in Writing Task 1 (yes, the examiners will count them!)
I would suggest that you aim to write around 160-170 words for Task 1. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.
Will I lose marks if I don’t write enough words?
Yes. If you don’t write the required number of words, you will lose marks in ‘Task Achievement’ for not answering the question fully. Read more here.
Can I use contractions?
No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay or formal letter. However, it is fine to use contractions in an informal letter.
When should I write formally?
There are a few signposts that indicate when you should write formally or informally. Watch our video lesson to find out what they are:
IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training: Formal or Informal Letters?
Writing Task 2
How can I improve my writing?
You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:
We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:
If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:
How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?
The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You’ll find a guide to answering this question in this article.
If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:
Can you correct my writing?
Sure!
Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:
Will using ‘high level’ or ‘academic’ words help me improve my score?
Probably not.
Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:
Can I use idioms?
No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.
Can I use personal pronouns?
You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.
Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?
Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven’t finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:
How many paragraphs should I write?
Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:
- Introduction
- Supporting Paragraph 1
- Supporting Paragraph 2
- Conclusion
However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:
Do I need to plan my essay?
I would highly recommend planning your essay.
A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here:
How many words should I write?
You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.
I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.
Will I lose marks if I don’t write enough words?
Yes, if you don’t write the required number of words, you will lose marks in ‘Task Achievement’ for not answering the question fully. Read more here.
Can I use contractions?
No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.
Speaking
How can I improve my speaking?
Head over to our Speaking page where you'll find all of the free materials you’ll need to improve your speaking skills and get a higher score.
Click the link below:
How can I practice my speaking?
Most people think that it's difficult to practice speaking at home, but there are lots of options - all you have to do is look.
First of all, you can practice past exam questions at home by yourself and record your answers. Listening back to these will really help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.
Click this link to watch my video lesson on practising speaking from home.
Should I use lots of idioms and phrasal verbs to get a high score?
Idioms and phrasal verbs will help boost your score for vocabulary, which is 25% of your total mark, but only if you use them correctly.
If you use them incorrectly, it will lower your score.
Below is a full guide on this:
Do I need a British or American accent?
Absolutely not! You’ll probably sound a bit silly. There are no extra marks for having a ‘British’ accent. The key is to sound clear and for the examiner to be able to understand what you’re saying.
How do I improve my pronunciation?
Click the link below for more help with pronunciation:
How can I improve my fluency?
Fluency is your ability to speak smoothly (not quickly) without noticeable effort or loss of coherence. You’ll find a guide to improving your fluency here:
Can I send you a recording of my speaking?
No, we don’t have the capacity to provide feedback on everyone’s speaking recordings. If you’d like a one-to-one session with an IELTS expert you can check out our mock speaking sessions:
If you need serious help improving your speaking skills, you can join the waiting list for our VIP Course:
Can I use contractions?
Yes, it is good to use contractions when you speak as this is how most native English speakers talk.
Reading
How can I improve my reading?
You will find all of the free guidance you’ll need for IELTS Reading on my Reading Mini-Course.
It’s completely free to join and has all the free strategies you will need to improve your IELTS Reading exam skills.
Click the link below to get started:
Can I use all capital letters?
Yes, as long as you are consistent with your answers.
How do I answer _____ questions?
You’ll find strategies for each question type listed on the page below:
Do you have practice questions?
We do, but they are only available to our VIP Students.
You will find free and reliable practice questions at the following websites:
Cambridge
You will also find these in the Cambridge Past Paper books, available in any good book store.
How can I read faster?
This depends on a number of factors, but you’ll find our guide to improving your reading speed here:
How can I complete the reading test on time?
In short: improve your exam technique and your reading speed. You’ll find a strategy for improving both of these features at the link below:
How many questions do I need to answer correctly?
That depends on the score you need to achieve. You’ll find help with calculating your score here:
Do skimming and scanning work?
To a very limited extent. Read the following article if you wish to gain a comprehensive understanding of skimming and scanning and when to use them:
Listening
How can I improve my listening?
You will find all the free materials, video lessons and practice tools that you’ll need on our Listening Page.
It has lots of helpful articles that will help you succeed.
Click the link below:
For a step-by-step guide to answering any IELTS Listening question type, you should join my free Fundamentals Course. You can learn more here:
Can I use all capital letters?
Yes, this is fine, as long as you are consistent with your answers.
How do I answer _____ questions?
You’ll find strategies for each question type listed on the page below:
How can I stay focused in the listening exam?
You’ll find a number of methods to help you stay focused in the Listening exam below:
How many questions do I need to answer correctly?
That depends on the score you need to achieve. You’ll find help with calculating your score here:
Writing Correction and Online course
Do you have an online course?
Yes, I do. It is called IELTS VIP and it is a complete step-by-step guide for people hoping to get a 7 or above.To hear more about it, send our team an email at chris@ieltsadvantage.com.
Still have a question?
So, you still have a question, eh? Excellent! I’d love to hear from you.
To email me, please send me an email to- chris@ieltsadvantage.com