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Use of advanced grammar in IELTS Speaking and Writing Test takers need to use around 5-6 advanced grammar structures accurately in their writing to score a high band score in the IELTS writing test. Some of the most common advanced grammar structures used in the IELTS essays are: passive voices, comparisons, tenses, conditionals, and modals.

Collocations Why are they important for IELTS Speaking? Collocations are combinations of words, such as beautiful day, unwanted consequences, etc., which frequently appear together. Words that often appear together - such as - are called collocations. The appropriate use of collocations help you score a High Band Score in Fluency & Coherence as they give your speech a smooth, natural flow and make it easier for the examiner to understand the point you are making. ...Additionally, you need to show some awareness of style and collocation to score a Band 7.0. and above in IELTS Speaking. Practice Exercise: Identify the collocations in the IELTS essay below. IELTS Essay Question: Many parents are allowing their young children access to computers and smart phones. Is this a positive development? The issue of the use of electronic devices during childhood has been given much consideration recently. Some see this as a negative trend and emphasise its adverse consequences and addictions. However, a great number of people, including myself, are of the opinion that children need this early exposure to function in our modern society to the best of their capacities. In the following paragraphs, I will explain the rationale for my viewpoint on the matter. Among many supportive claims, perhaps, the most plausible one is related to the belief that computers can help children enhance their literacy and numeracy skills. This is particularly true if kindergarten and elementary school students are encouraged to play educational games, such as Counting Pizza Party. The more children engage with these learning games, the more they improve their reading and number skills while having fun. I am not alone in this view. There is concrete evidence to support this assertion. For instance, a recent study published in a peer-reviewed journal found that students who were allowed to use smart devices during their childhood performed better in Ontario’s official tests that assessed elementary students’ skills in reading and mathematics than those who never used computers during their formative years. Not only does technology help children become more tech-savvy but it also improves their critical thinking. Take the example of modern video games. The way these games are designed often requires young players to think out of the box to accomplish a task. My nephew, Ben, is a shining example of this. Ben, until the age of five, was not able to complete even a simple puzzle. His parents were recommended to encourage him to play video games to develop his mental abilities. After playing computer games on a daily basis for a while, Ben soon improved his communication ability and resourcefulness. To conclude, as seen above, there is evidence that supports the contention that encouraging children to use electronic devices from an early age can not only prepare them for their future lives but also positively impact their development. Words: 344

What you need to do to score a 7.0 in IELTS Speaking Fluency & Coherence 1. speak at length without noticeable effort or loss of coherence... 2. may demonstrate language-related hesitation at time, or some repetition and/or self-correction 3. use a range of connectives and discourse markers with some flexibility Lexical Resource 1. use vocabulary resources flexibly to discuss a variety of topics 2. use some less common and idiomatic vocabulary and show some awareness of style and collocation, with some inappropriate choices 3. use paraphrase effectively Grammatical range & Accuracy 1. use a range of complex structures with some flexibility 2. frequently produce error-free sentences, though some grammatical mistakes persist Pronunciation 1. use a range of pronunciation features 2. show and sustain effective use of features, with some lapses 3. can be understood throughout, despite mispronunciation of some individual words or sounds

Another IELTS Success Story. Congrats to Jana who score 7.0 in IELTS at the very first attempt. Good luck with your university application, Jana!

Canada invites 27,332 immigration candidates in Saturday draw Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) on February 13. This unprecedented Express Entry invitation round only required candidates to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 75 the lowest CRS requirement ever. Today’s draw was almost six times larger than the largest Express Entry draws ever (5,000 ITAs were issued in four straight draws between November 18 and December 23 last year). Prior to today, the lowest CRS cut-off requirement ever was 199 points in the May 16, 2017 draw which only invited Federal Skilled Trades Program candidates.