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Simone Braverman

Simone Braverman is the founder of IELTS-Blog.com and the author of several renowned IELTS preparation books, including Ace the IELTS, Target Band 7, the High Scorer's Choice practice test series, and IELTS Success Formula. Since 2005, Simone has been committed to making IELTS preparation accessible and effective through her books and online resources. Her work has helped 100,000's of students worldwide achieve their target scores and live their dream lives. When Simone isn't working on her next IELTS book, video lesson, or coaching, she enjoys playing the guitar or rollerblading.

Update from an Academic IELTS exam, Australia

For this update we should thank Kamal – good job, pal!

Listening test

All I could remember is

Section 1. Two students were asking their professor about an assessment.
Questions: We had to fill in the blanks the kind of assessment, length requirement, other criteria.

Section 2. A student was asking about what information he can get form the company on work placement.

Reading test

Confusing!
Passage 1. Let’s go bats.
Passage 2. About crocodiles.
Passage 3. About an experiment involving walking on different mats and an invention called “rounded soles shoes”

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (a report

There were two diagrams of an island – before and after and a comparison was needed.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that the government should pay the tuition fees for the university students, do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test

Interview

– Do you study or work?
– Do you have friends in you class?
– Would you like to be friends with them after you finish studying?
– How often do you go shopping (for clothes)?
– How important is color when we choose clothes?

Cue Card

Talk about the favorite book of your childhood.

Discussion

– What is the important thing about the library in your town?
– The effect of internet on reading and writing skills.

Success in IELTS – what’s involved

If I had a dollar for every email I’ve ever received, saying “My IELTS is in 3 weeks and I need a Band 7 in every section, what should I do?” – I’d be filthy rich! Everyone wants to know this – how do you succeed in IELTS in such a short time?

My answer is – there are 2 stages to this process.

Stage one: learn the techniques to handle tasks in a fast and efficient way. This part is mostly theoretical – and you all know that theory alone is never enough.

Stage two: practice and apply all of those techniques while solving as many tasks, answering as many questions, and writing as many essays, letters and reports as possible.

In the past IELTS-Blog.com was focusing more on the techniques and less on practicing – but not any more!

Our new IELTS Online Prep Platform will help you get ready for the test.

The idea of this new website section is very simple – you go there to practice and get in shape before the IELTS exam. Think of it as a gym, because it gives you sets of exercises to do online, each with immediate feedback. Every skill is covered: the reading, writing, listening and speaking. All you need to use the IELTS Online Prep Platform is Internet access and speakers or headphones.

Enough said – check it out. Sign up for a free trial here. Get access to a complete practice test by logging in with your Google account (anyone who uses Gmail has it) or creating a username and password, your choice.

The IELTS Online Prep Platform looks just like the computer-delivered IELTS, and it was designed to be accessed from a computer (not a mobile device). If you are reading this on mobile and can’t wait to log in, watch this video to see what you get on the platform, and then log in from a computer: