Have an IELTS speaking test with TJ (Tyson), a teaching professional from Australia. I have been trained in IELTS assessment and looking to tutor students to prepare them for the speaking and writing sections of the IELTS exams. I offer a comprehensive IELTS speaking mock test, coupled with detailed feedback on your performance and tailored … Read more
Writing Common Mistake: Weak Conclusions A well-structured conclusion is an essential component of a high-scoring IELTS essay. Unfortunately, many candidates neglect this part of their writing, either by: Weak conclusions can leave your essay feeling incomplete, which negatively impacts your score in Task Achievement/Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion. The conclusion should effectively summarise your … Read more
Writing Common Mistake: Copying the Task Prompt One of the simplest yet most detrimental mistakes candidates make is copying phrases or entire sentences from the task prompt verbatim. This can severely affect your score in the Task Achievement/Task Response and Lexical Resource criteria. Examiners look for your ability to paraphrase and demonstrate a wide range … Read more
Writing Common Mistake: Not Supporting Ideas with Examples In IELTS Writing, particularly in Task 2, it’s not enough to simply state your ideas. Many candidates lose marks because they fail to provide specific examples to support their arguments. Without examples, your points may seem vague, underdeveloped, or lacking in credibility. For instance, consider the following … Read more
Writing Common Mistake: Grammar Mistakes 1. Understanding the Mistake Grammar is a core component of the IELTS Writing test, as it directly impacts your score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Common grammar mistakes include: These errors can hinder the clarity and flow of your writing, making it difficult for examiners to follow your argument and … Read more
Writing Common Mistake: Incorrect or Limited Vocabulary Vocabulary, or lexical resource, is a critical component of the IELTS Writing test. It assesses your ability to use a wide range of words and phrases accurately and appropriately. However, many candidates fall into one of two traps: Both issues can result in a lower band score. For … Read more
Writing Common Mistake: Lack of Coherence and Cohesion Coherence and cohesion are essential elements of a well-structured IELTS essay. Coherence refers to the logical flow of ideas, while cohesion is the use of linking devices to connect sentences and paragraphs. Many test-takers lose marks by presenting disorganised ideas or failing to use appropriate linking words. … Read more
Writing Mistake: Poor Time Management Time management is a crucial skill for the IELTS Writing test, where candidates have only 60 minutes to complete both tasks. The recommended time allocation is 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. However, many test-takers struggle to manage their time effectively.Some common time management issues … Read more
About Mike
I’m Mike Wattie from Australia. I have been teaching IELTS for over 20 years in Asia and Australia.
I have written IELTS books and this enables me to be an effective tutor. This is because I understand the main problems that students have taking the test and also the ways to overcome them.
Maybe you would like me to teach you the necessary skills and strategies to pass your test.
IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia and they jointly manage the IELTS test. This website is for test preparation only and has nothing to do with the administration of IELTS tests This website is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.
